Systems and methods for programming illumination devices

• US 20020145394A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Frederick, Lys, Ihor A., Chemel, Brian, Ducharme, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,161,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for specifying and/or assigning one or more addresses in a lighting system. In one example, a user interface is coupled to a programming device that is adapted to provide one or more selected addresses to a programmable lighting system, based on user input via the user interface. The system is also adapted to store the one or more selected addresses in memory.

Claims

1. A method for assigning at least one address in a lighting system, comprising steps of:

selecting the at least one address via a user interface of a programming device;

communicating the selected at least one address from the programming device to the lighting system; and

storing the at least one selected address in memory in the lighting system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises an LED lighting system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the lighting system comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the lighting system includes a processor that controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of communicating the at least one selected address from the programming device to the lighting system is accomplished through wired transmission.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of communicating the at least one selected address from the programming device to the lighting system is accomplished through wireless transmission.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory further comprises non-volatile memory.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reading a unique identifier from the lighting system; and

communicating the unique identifier and the at least one selected address to a central controller.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming device further comprises a second memory.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of selecting the at least one address further comprises a step of storing the selected address in the second memory.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting the at least one address comprises a step of automatically generating a new address at the programming device.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

21. A method for selecting an address in a system including a lighting system and a programming device, the programming device comprising a processor, a user interface associated with the processor adapted to receive user input, and a communication port associated with the processor and adapted to communicate with the lighting system, the method comprising steps of:

selecting an address on the programming device using the user interface; and

communicating the selected address from the programming device through the communication port.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication port is adapted to communicate wired transmissions.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein the communication port is adapted to communicate wireless transmissions.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein the programming device further comprises a memory wherein the memory is associated with the processor.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of selecting an address on the programming device using the user interface further comprises storing the selected address in the memory.

37. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of selecting an address on the programming device using the user interface comprises arranging the programming device to automatically generating a new address.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

47. The method of claim 38 wherein the communication port is adapted to receive wired transmission.

48. The method of claim 38 wherein the communication port is adapted to receive wireless transmission.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

53. The system of claim 49 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

54. The system of claim 49 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

57. The system of claim 55 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

58. The system of claim 49 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate to the lighting system through wired transmission.

59. The system of claim 49 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate to the lighting system through wireless transmission.

60. The system of claim 49 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

61. The system of claim 49 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

63. The system of claim 49 wherein the memory further comprises non-volatile memory.

64. The system of claim 49 wherein the processor is adapted to read a unique identifier from the lighting system.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number.

66. The system of claim 49 wherein the programming device further comprises a second memory wherein the second memory is associated with the second processor.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the second processor is adapted to store a selected address in the second memory.

68. The system of claim 49 wherein the second processor is adapted to automatically generate a new address.

70. The device of claim 69 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

71. The device of claim 69 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

72. The device of claim 69 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

73. The device of claim 69 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

74. The device of claim 69 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

75. The device of claim 74 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

76. The device of claim 75 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

77. The device of claim 75 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

78. The device of claim 69 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address from the programming device to a lighting system through wired transmission.

79. The device of claim 69 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address from the programming device to a lighting system through wireless transmission.

80. The device of claim 69 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

81. The device of claim 69 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

82. The device of claim 81 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

83. The device of claim 69 wherein the programming device further comprises a memory wherein the memory is associated with the processor.

84. The device of claim 83 wherein the programming device is further adapted to store the selected address in the memory.

85. The system of claim 49 wherein the processor is adapted to automatically generate a new address.

38. A method for setting at least one address of a lighting system, the lighting system comprising memory, a processor associated with the memory, and a communication port associated with the processor adapted to communicate with a remote programming device, the method comprising steps of:

receiving via the communication port at least one address from the remote programming device; and

storing the received at least one address in the memory.

49. A system, comprising:

a lighting system comprising memory and a processor associated with the memory;

a programming device comprising a second processor; and

a user interface associated with the second processor and adapted to receive user input to select an address;

wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address to the lighting system; and

wherein the lighting system is adapted to receive the address and store the address in the memory.

69. A programming device, comprising:

a processor; and

a user interface associated with the processor adapted to receive user input to select an address,

wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address from the programming device to a remote lighting system.

86. A lighting system, comprising:

memory and a processor associated with the memory;

wherein the lighting system is adapted to receive an address from a remote programming device and to store the received address in the memory.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

88. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

89. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

90. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

91. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

92. The system of claim 91 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

94. The system of claim 92 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

95. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system is adapted to receive an address from a remote programming device through wired transmission.

96. The system of claim 86 wherein the lighting system is adapted to receive an address from a remote programming device through wireless transmission.

97. A method for selecting a mode of a lighting system, comprising:

providing a lighting system wherein the lighting system comprises memory, a processor associated with the memory, and a communication port associated with the processor adapted to communicate with a programming device;

wherein at least two lighting modes are stored in the memory;

providing a programming device wherein the programming device comprises a second processor, a user interface adapted to receive user input and communicate with the second processor, and a second communication port associated with the second processor adapted to communicate with the lighting system;

reading the at least two modes from the memory using the programming device; and

having a user select at least one mode from the at least two modes using the user interface.

99. The method of claim 97 further comprising the step of communicating the selected mode to the lighting system.

101. The method of claim 97 wherein the communication port and the second communication port are adapted to communicate through wired transmission.

102. The method of claim 97 wherein the communication port and the second communication port are adapted to communicate through wireless transmission.

103. The method of claim 102 wherein the wireless transmission comprises at least one of radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), microwave, acoustic, and electromagnetic transmission

104. The method of claim 101 wherein the wired transmission comprises at least one of wired, cable, network, and optical transmission.

105. The method of claim 97 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

106. The system of claim 97 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system that generates a range of colors.

107. The system of claim 97 wherein the lighting system further comprises an LED based lighting system that generates a range of colors.

108. The system of claim 97 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least one LED.

109. The system of claim 97 wherein the lighting system further comprises a lighting system with at least two different colored LEDs.

110. The system of claim 109 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

111. The system of claim 110 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

112. The system of claim 110 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

114. The method of claim 113 further comprising:

initiating the execution of at least one lighting mode on the processor upon receipt of the mode indicator from the programming device.

115. The method of claim 113 wherein the at least two lighting modes comprise at least two lighting programs.

117. The method of claim 116 wherein the memory comprises non-volatile memory.

118. The method of claim 116 wherein the step of communicating the at least one mode from the programming device to the lighting system is accomplished through wired transmission.

119. The method of claim 116 wherein the step of communicating the at least one mode from the programming device to the lighting system is accomplished through wireless transmission.

120. The method of claim 116 wherein the programming device comprises a hand-held programming device.

98. The method of 97 wherein the step of reading the at least two modes from the memory using the programming device comprises reading a mode indicator from the memory using the programming device;

and

the step of having a user select at least one mode from the at least two modes using the user interface comprises having a user select at least one mode from the at least two mode indicators using the user interface.

100. The method of claim 98 wherein the at least two lighting modes comprise at least two lighting programs.

113. In a system including a lighting system and a programming device, the lighting system comprising memory, a processor associated with the memory, and a communication port associated with the processor adapted to communicate with the programming device, wherein at least two lighting modes are stored in the memory, the programming device comprising a second processor, a user interface adapted to receive user input and communicate with the second processor, a second memory and a second communication port associated with the second processor adapted to communicate with the lighting system, a method for selecting at least one lighting mode of the lighting system, comprising steps of:

selecting a mode indicator on the programming device using the user interface; and

communicating the selected mode indicator from the programming device to the lighting system.

116. In a system including a lighting system and a programming device, the lighting system comprising memory, a processor associated with the memory, and a communication port associated with the processor adapted to communicate with the programming device, the programming device comprising a second processor, a user interface adapted to receive user input and communicate with the second processor, a second memory and a second communication port associated with the second processor adapted to communicate with the lighting system, wherein at least one mode is stored in the second memory, a method for downloading the at least one mode to the lighting system, comprising steps of:

communicating the at least one mode from the programming device to the lighting system; and

storing the at least one mode in the memory of the lighting system.