System for individual and remote control of spaced lighting fixtures

• US 20010040805A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Mayo, Noel, Spira, Joel S., Miller, Scott C., MacAdam, Russell L., Rowbottom, Ian, Lansing, Adam T., Reiss, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,667,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A plurality of spaced ceiling mounted fixtures or other controllable electrical appliances have radiation detectors mounted within each fixture and wired internally of the fixture to a dimming circuit or to a ballast. The radiation detectors have sensitivity over a wide angle and have elongated plastic radiation conduction rods which extend to or beyond the plane of the lens of the fixture to be located free of shadow effects of reflections of the fixture lens. A flexible end light fiber optics can be used in place of the acrylic rods. A narrow beam radiation transmitter selectively illuminates one of the rods or end light fiber optics without illuminating the others. The dimming circuits or ballasts within the fixtures can be further controlled by external dimmers, occupancy sensors, timeclocks, photosensors and other types of input devices. The radiation detector and ballast can occupy a common housing and share the same power supply and circuit board. The microcontroller for the radiation detector operates with a 4 of 4 voting mode until a valid signal is detected to switch the system to a 3 of 4 voting mode. A novel mounting adaptor for mounting a visible light fiber optic cable is disclosed with the visible light fiber optic cable conducting infrared radiation for up to 24 inches.

Claims

1. A light dimming system comprising in combination:

a fixture housing adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

said fixture housing having an interior volume and an open bottom area;

a dimming ballast fixed within said interior volume of said fixture housing;

at least one lamp mounted within said interior volume of said fixture housing and connected to said ballast;

a fixture lens extending in a plane across the said bottom area of said fixture housing;

a radiation receiver circuit fixed within said fixture housing interior volume and having a radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver being connected to said dimming ballast interiorly of said fixture housing, and containing a dimmer control circuit therein and being operable to adjust the output of said dimming ballast to said at least one lamp in response to the reception of a coded radiation signal by said radiation sensor;

a portable hand-operated radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation toward said radiation sensor from a position removed from said fixture housing, to adjust the dimming level of said at least one lamp by adjusting the output of said radiation receiver;

and an elongated radiation lens having one end disposed adjacent said radiation sensor and a free end disposed in a position which is flush with or penetrates beyond the plane of the bottom of said fixture lens.

2. The system of

claim 1

in which said fixture housing has a wire-way cover;

said wire-way cover having an opening in communication with said radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver being fixed to an interior surface of said wire-way cover;

said opening being in communication with said radiation sensor.

3. The light dimming system of

claim 1

in which said elongated radiation lens is a thin, elongated rod selected from the group of plastics which conduct infrared radiation including polycarbonates and acrylics.

4. The light dimming system of

claim 3

in which said elongated radiation lens is a thin, elongated acrylic rod.

5. The system of

claim 1

wherein the free end of said elongated radiation lens is operable to receive input coded radiation over a wide angle.

6. The system of

claim 1

wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

7. The system of

claim 5

wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

8. The system of

claim 6

wherein said narrow beam is 8°

.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein said radiation receiver circuit has a wall box insulation housing with a plastic yoke cover fixed thereto and disposed across said radiation sensor;

said yoke cover having an opening therein in registry with said radiation sensor;

said dimmer circuit being mounted on a circuit board with said radiation sensor;

said circuit board being supported across the interior of said wall box housing and generally parallel to said yoke cover.

10. The system of

claim 9

in which said fixture housing has a wire-way cover;

a second opening being formed in said wire-way cover;

securement means for mounting said radiation receiver circuit to an interior surface of said wire-way cover;

said second opening being in communication with said opening in said yoke.

11. The system of

claim 10

wherein said securement means for mounting said radiation receiver circuit to said interior surface of said fixture housing comprises double sided adhesive tape.

12. The system of

claim 1

which further includes a plurality of said fixture housings, dimming ballasts, lamps, and radiation receivers;

each of said fixtures being spaced from one another on a ceiling by at least two feet in all directions.

13. The system of

claim 3

which further includes a plurality of said fixture housings, dimming ballasts, lamps, and radiation receivers;

each of said fixtures being spaced from one another on a ceiling by at least two feet in all directions.

14. The device of

claim 1

which further includes an external switch means mounted remotely of said fixture housing and connected to said dimmer control circuit and operable to modify the output of said dimmer control circuit;

said external switch means being operable to override the operation of said radiation transmitter.

15. The light dimming system of

claim 14

, wherein said external switch means is at least one device selected from the group consisting of an on-off switch, an occupancy sensor, a time clock and a central relay system.

38. The system of

claim 1

wherein said dimming ballast and said radiation receiver circuit are mounted within a common housing.

39. The system of

claim 38

wherein said dimming ballast and said radiation receiver each have power supply inputs;

and a single, common power supply connected to said power supply inputs for said dimming ballast and for said radiation receiver.

60. The device of

claim 1

in which said fixture lens has a plurality of louvers which extend generally perpendicularly from the interior of said fixture and terminate on a common plane.

62. The device of

claim 60

wherein said elongated radiation lens is disposed between one side edge of said fixture lens and said fixture.

16. A light dimming system comprising in combination:

a fixture housing adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

said fixture housing having an interior volume and an open bottom;

a dimming ballast fixed within the interior of said fixture housing;

at least one lamp mounted within said interior volume of said fixture housing and connected to said ballast;

a generally planar fixture cover extending in a plane across the said bottom area of said fixture housing;

a radiation receiver circuit fixed within said fixture housing and having a radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver being connected to said dimming ballast interiorly of said fixture housing, and containing a dimmer control circuit therein and being operable to adjust the output of said dimming ballast to said at least one lamp in response to the reception of a coded radiation signal by said radiation sensor;

a portable hand-operated radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation toward said radiation sensor from a position below said fixture housing, to adjust the dimming level of said at least one lamp by adjusting the output of said radiation receiver; and

an elongated radiation lens having one end disposed adjacent said sensor extending through an opening in said fixture cover such that its said free end is located to maximize the direct line-of-sight reception of radiation at said free end of said lens.

17. The system of

claim 16

, wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

18. The system of

claim 17

, wherein said narrow beam is 8°

.

19. The system of

claim 16

, wherein said radiation receiver circuit has a wall box insulation housing with a plastic yoke cover fixed thereto and disposed across said radiation sensor;

said yoke cover having an opening therein in registry with said radiation sensor;

said dimmer circuit being mounted on a circuit board with said radiation sensor;

said circuit board being supported on said yoke cover and generally parallel to said yoke cover.

20. The light dimming system of

claim 16

in which said elongated radiation lens is a thin, elongated plastic rod.

21. A lighting system comprising at least first and second lighting fixtures mounted in the ceiling of a room having a height of approximately 8 feet;

each of said lighting fixtures having respective dimmer circuits and radiation sensors whereby the output light of each of said first and second lighting fixtures can be adjusted by illuminating said radiation sensors with infrared radiation;

said radiation sensors having respective portions thereof which extend beyond the surfaces of said lighting fixtures to be exposed to illumination by said infrared radiation, free of shadowing by the structure of said fixture;

said first and second lighting fixtures being spaced by greater than two feet; and

a portable radiation transmitter having an output infrared beam with a beam angle of about 8°

;

each of said radiation sensors having an angle of reception which is greater than about 30°

, whereby the radiation sensor of either of said first or second lighting fixtures can be illuminated by the output beam of said radiation transmitter without illuminating the other.

22. The lighting system of

claim 21

, wherein said radiation sensors each include elongated plastic rods having one end fixed at a location adjacent their respective said radiation sensor, and a free end at a location exterior of the boundary of said fixture.

23. A radiation receiver for receiving and processing an infrared signal;

said radiation receiver comprising;

an infrared responsive circuit component;

a control circuit coupled to said infrared responsive component for producing an output related to signal information contained in the infrared signal received by said radiation receiver;

a housing; and

an infrared conducting member extending through said housing and supported by said housing and having a fixed end disposed adjacent said infrared responsive circuit component and a free end disposed exteriorly of said housing for the reception of an infrared signal.

24. The receiver structure of

claim 23

wherein said infrared conducting member is a plastic rod.

25. The receiver structure of

claim 24

wherein said plastic rod is straight.

26. The receiver structure of

claim 24

wherein said plastic rod has at least one bend therein.

27. The receiver structure of

claim 24

wherein said fixed end has a radiused curve and said free end is a square end which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said rod.

28. The receiver structure of

claim 23

wherein said elongated member is rotatable about its axis.

29. The receiver structure of

claim 28

, wherein said fixed end has a radiused curve and said free end is a square end in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said rod.

30. The receiver structure of

claim 26

wherein said elongated member is rotatable about its axis.

31. The receiver structure of

claim 23

wherein said elongated infrared conducting member is a flexible end light fiber optics adapted for conducting visible light and having a length of less than about 24 inches.

32. The receiver structure of

claim 31

wherein said flexible end light fiber optics comprises a gel core surrounded by a light reflecting layer and by an outermost ultraviolet-opaque layer.

33. The receiver of

claim 28

which further includes support means for supporting said elongated infrared conducting member;

said support means including a flange and snaps which are integral with said light pipe end wherein said flange and snaps are axially spaced from one another by about the thickness of said wall;

said snaps being forced through said opening in said wall with said flange being trapped against the surface of said wall which is opposite to the surface engaged by said snaps.

34. The receiver structure of

claim 31

which further includes a ceiling tile support structure for supporting said free end of said elongated infrared conducting member;

said support structure comprising a bushing having an elongated tubular sleeve having a flange at one end thereof and a trim member which is slidably received in the free end of said tubular sleeve;

said tubular sleeve extending through a ceiling tile and having its said flange bearing on one surface of said ceiling tile and said trim member bearing on the opposite surface of said ceiling tile;

said free end of said elongated conducting member extending through the centers of said flange, said tubular sleeve and said trim member, thereby to be exposed to external radiation at the surface of said ceiling tile which receives said trim member.

35. The receiver structure of

claim 34

wherein the end of said tubular sleeve opposite to said flange has a serrated, saw-tooth periphery adapted for cutting a circular opening through a ceiling tile which is to receive said cylindrical sleeve.

36. A structure for forming an opening through a thin, flat, rigid, sawable body;

said structure comprising a bushing having an elongated tubular sleeve having a flange at one end thereof and a free end and a trim member which is slidably received in the free end of said tubular sleeve;

said tubular sleeve extending through said body and having its said flange bearing on one surface of said body and said trim member bearing on the opposite surface of said body with said tubular sleeve extending through said body;

the free end of said tubular sleeve having a serrated, saw-tooth periphery adapted for cutting a circular opening through said body;

said serrated periphery being covered by said trim member.

37. The structure of

claim 36

wherein said body is a ceiling tile.

40. In combination, a controllable lighting ballast circuit and an integral radiation responsive control structure therefor;

said radiation responsive control structure including a radiation sensor;

said ballast circuit and said radiation responsive control structure being mounted within a common enclosing housing which has wires extending therefrom for connection to lamps and which is connectable to a lighting fixture;

each of said ballast circuit and said radiation responsive control structure having respective power supply input terminals; and

a common single power supply circuit connected to said power supply input terminals of said ballast circuit and said radiation responsive control structure.

41. The combination of

claim 40

wherein said common housing has an opening in registration with said radiation sensor;

said opening being adapted to pass radiation from the exterior of said fixture to said radiation sensor.

42. The process of adjusting the sensitivity of a signal sensor which has a quiescent state and an operating state, comprising the steps of monitoring an operating signal for a valid signal as contrasted to ambient noise, reducing the sensitivity of said signal sensor in the absence of a valid operating signal so that said signal sensor is less responsive to ambient noise, and increasing the sensitivity of said signal sensor in the continuing presence of a valid signal and thereafter reducing the sensitivity of said signal sensor if a valid signal disappears for a predetermined length of time.

43. The process of

claim 42

wherein said valid signal comprises a sequence of a predetermined number of high start bits followed by a predetermined number of data bits.

44. The process of

claim 43

wherein each of said bits is sampled a predetermined number of times and wherein when said signal is first received, said samples for each bit must all agree as to the state of said bit to switch said circuit from a quiescent state to said operating state and wherein fewer than all samples of succeeding bits must agree during operation in said operating state.

45. The process of

claim 43

wherein said circuit operates with 4 of 4 voting in said quiescent state and with 3 of 4 voting in said operating state.

46. A light dimming system comprising in combination:

a fixture housing adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

said fixture housing having an interior volume and an open bottom area;

a dimming ballast fixed within said interior volume of said fixture housing;

at least one lamp mounted within said interior volume of said fixture housing and connected to said ballast;

a generally planar fixture cover extending in a plane across the said bottom area of said fixture housing and being removable from said bottom area to permit the connection and removal of said at least one lamp;

a radiation receiver circuit fixed within said fixture housing interior volume and having a radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver being connected to said dimming ballast interiorly of said fixture housing, and containing a dimmer control circuit therein and being operable to adjust the output of said dimming ballast to said at least one lamp in response to the reception of a coded radiation signal by said radiation sensor;

a portable hand-operated radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation toward said radiation sensor from a position removed from said fixture housing, to adjust the dimming level of said at least one lamp by adjusting the output of said radiation receiver;

and an elongated radiation lens having one end disposed adjacent said radiation sensor and a free end disposed within said interior volume of said fixture housing in a position which is between a surface of said fixture cover and a plane which is parallel to the bottom of said fixture cover and is spaced therefrom by less than about ½

inch.

47. The system of

claim 46

in which said fixture housing has a wire-way cover;

said wire-way cover having an opening in communication with said radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver being fixed to an interior surface of said wire-way cover;

said opening being in communication with said radiation sensor.

48. The light dimming system of

claim 46

in which said elongated radiation lens is a thin, elongated rod selected from the group of plastics which conduct infrared radiation including polycarbonates and acrylics.

49. The system of

claim 46

wherein the free end of said elongated radiation lens is operable to receive input coded radiation over a wide angle.

50. The system of

claim 46

wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

51. The system of

claim 49

wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

52. The system of

claim 50

wherein said narrow beam is 8°

.

53. The system of

claim 46

wherein said radiation receiver circuit has a wall box insulation housing with a plastic yoke cover fixed thereto and disposed across said radiation sensor;

said yoke cover having an opening therein in registry with said radiation sensor;

said dimmer circuit being mounted on a circuit board with said radiation sensor;

said circuit board being supported across the interior of said wall box housing and generally parallel to said yoke cover.

54. The system of

claim 53

in which said fixture housing has a wire-way cover;

a second opening being formed in said wire-way cover;

securement means for mounting said radiation receiver circuit to an interior surface of said wire-way cover;

said second opening being in communication with said opening in said yoke.

55. The system of

claim 54

wherein said securement means for mounting said radiation receiver circuit to said interior surface of said fixture housing comprises double sided adhesive tape.

56. The system of

claim 46

which further includes a plurality of said fixture housings, dimming ballasts, lamps, and radiation receivers;

each of said fixtures being spaced from one another on a ceiling by at least two feet in all directions.

57. The system of

claim 48

which further includes a plurality of said fixture housings, dimming ballasts, lamps, and radiation receivers;

each of said fixtures being spaced from one another on a ceiling by at least two feet in all directions.

58. The device of

claim 46

which further includes an external switch means mounted remotely of said fixture housing and connected to said dimmer control circuit and operable to modify the output of said dimmer control circuit;

said external switch means being operable to override the operation of said radiation transmitter.

59. The light dimming system of

claim 58

, wherein said external switch means is at least one device selected from the group consisting of an on-off switch, an occupancy sensor, a time clock and a central relay system.

61. The device of

claim 46

in which said fixture cover is a prismatic lens cover;

wherein said free end of said elongated radiation lens is disposed adjacent the interior surface of said prismatic lens cover.

63. A light dimming system comprising in combination:

a fixture housing adapted for mounting in a ceiling;

a dimming ballast fixed within the interior of said fixture housing;

at least one lamp mounted on said fixture housing and connected to said ballast;

a radiation receiver circuit fixed within said fixture housing and having a radiation sensor;

an elongated radiation lens extending from the exterior of said fixture housing to a position adjacent said radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver containing a dimmer control circuit therein and being operable to adjust the output of said dimming ballast to said at least one lamp in response to the reception of a coded radiation signal by said radiation sensor;

a portable hand-operated radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation toward said radiation sensor from a position below said fixture housing, to adjust the dimming level of said at least one lamp by adjusting the output of said radiation receiver.

64. The system of

claim 63

, wherein said transmitter is operable to transmit a narrow beam of infrared radiation with selected codings for varying the dimming condition of said at least one lamp.

65. The system of

claim 64

, wherein said narrow beam is 8°

.

66. The system of

claim 63

, wherein said radiation receiver circuit has a wall box insulation housing with a plastic yoke cover fixed thereto and disposed across said radiation sensor;

said yoke cover having an opening therein in registry with said radiation sensor;

said dimmer circuit being mounted on a circuit board with said radiation sensor;

said circuit board being supported on said yoke cover and generally parallel to said yoke cover.

67. The light dimming system of

claim 63

in which said elongated radiation lens is a thin, elongated plastic rod.

68. A light dimming system comprising in combination:

a fixture housing adapted for mounting to a room surface;

said fixture housing having an interior volume and a planar open bottom area;

a dimming structure;

at least one lamp mounted within said interior volume of said fixture housing and connected to said dimming structure;

a radiation receiver circuit fixed adjacent said fixture housing interior volume and having a radiation sensor;

said radiation receiver circuit being connected to said dimming structure, and containing a dimmer control circuit therein and being operable to adjust the output of said dimming structure to said at least one lamp in response to the reception of a coded radiation signal by said radiation sensor;

a portable hand-operated radiation transmitter for transmitting radiation toward said radiation sensor from a position removed from said fixture housing, to adjust the dimming level of said at least one lamp by adjusting the output of said radiation receiver;

and an elongated radiation lens having one end disposed adjacent said radiation sensor and a free end disposed in a position which can be illuminated by infrared radiation from a remote transmitter.

69. The system of

claim 68

in which said lamp is an incandescent lamp.

70. An infrared radiation transmitting structure for transmitting an infrared signal, said infrared radiation structure comprising:

a flexible infrared conducting member; and

a flexible support wire operatively coupled to said conducting member and secured in an infrared shielding sheath.

71. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of

claim 70

, wherein the combination of said conducting member, said support wire and said sheath are bendable by hand.

72. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of

claim 71

, wherein the combination of said conducting member, said support wire and said sheath retain their shape after being bent.

73. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of

claim 72

, wherein the combination of said conducting member, said support wire and said sheath may be repeatedly bent by hand and retain the shape into which they are bent after each such bend.

74. The combination of the infrared radiation transmitting structure of

claim 70

and an infrared radiation responsive circuit component, said infrared radiation transmitting structure receiving infrared radiation and supplying it to said infrared radiation responsive circuit component.

75. A radiation receiver for receiving and processing an infrared signal;

said radiation receiver comprising;

an infrared responsive circuit component;

a control circuit coupled to said infrared responsive component for producing an output related to signal information contained in the infrared signal received by said radiation receiver;

a housing;

an infrared conducting member extending through said housing and supported by said housing and having a fixed end disposed adjacent said infrared responsive circuit component and a free end disposed exteriorly of said housing for the reception of an infrared signal;

wherein said infrared conducting member is covered with an infrared blocking cover along its length except at said free end.

76. The radiation receiver according to

claim 75

, wherein said infrared blocking cover is an opaque plastic tube.

77. A radiation receiver for receiving and processing an infrared signal;

said radiation receiver comprising;

an infrared responsive circuit component;

a control circuit coupled to said infrared responsive component for producing an output related to signal information contained in the infrared signal received by said radiation receiver;

a housing;

an infrared conducting member extending through said housing and supported by said housing and having a fixed end disposed adjacent said infrared responsive circuit component and a free end disposed exteriorly of said housing for the reception of an infrared signal;

wherein said infrared conducting member is covered with an infrared blocking cover along its length except at said free end;

wherein said infrared conducting member is covered with a radiation focusing structure for focusing infrared signals onto said infrared conducting member.

78. The radiation receiver according to

claim 77

, wherein said radiation focusing structure comprises an inverted cone for focusing incoming infrared signals onto the free end of said infrared conducting member and an infrared blocking sheath which covers said infrared conducting member except at said free end.

79. The radiation receiver according to

claim 78

, wherein the inverted cone is parabolic in shape.

80. An infrared radiation transmitting structure for transmitting an infrared signal, said radiation transmitting structure comprising a flexible infrared conducting member which is bendable by hand and which retains its shape after being bent.

81. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of

claim 80

, wherein said radiation transmitting structure is a partially polymerized silicone acrylic polymer.

82. A combination, comprising:

an infrared responsive circuit component;

an infrared radiation transmitting structure for transmitting an infrared signal to said infrared responsive circuit component, said radiation transmitting structure comprising a flexible infrared conducting member.

83. The combination of

claim 82

, wherein said infrared radiation transmitting structure is bendable by hand.

84. The combination of

claim 83

, wherein said infrared radiation transmitting structure retains its shape after being bent.

85. The combination of

claim 82

, wherein said infrared radiation transmitting structure is repeatedly bendable by hand and retains the shape it is bent into after each bend.

86. The combination of

claim 82

, wherein said radiation transmitting structure is a partially polymerized silicon acrylic polymer.