Systems and methods for controlling programmable lighting systems

• US 20030028260A1
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Blackwell, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/18
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 45/33 Pulse-amplitude modulation [PAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3577 Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/961 Operator interface with visual structure or function dictated by intended use

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a control system. The control system may be adapted to control one or more lighting systems (e.g. stand-alone or networked lighting systems). The control system may also have a user interface (e.g. dial or button) such that a user can make a program selection and/or alter a lighting control feature. The control system may also include an enablement system. In an embodiment, the enablement system may be arranged to provide a user and/or installer with the ability to enable a program, program setting or the like. For example, the control system may be programmed with three lighting control programs and the user may only want to select from two of the three programs once the control system is installed. The user may make a selection on the enablement system such that only the two desired programs are available from through the user interface.

Claims

1. A lighting control system, comprising:

a processor;

wherein the processor is associated with memory;

at least one lighting program stored in the memory; and

a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a program adapted to control the color of light generating by a lighting system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the lighting system comprises a networked lighting system.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the networked lighting system comprises an addressable controller.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the networked lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of colors.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of intensities.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a program adapted to control the intensity of light generating by a lighting system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the lighting system comprises a networked lighting system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the networked lighting system comprises an addressable controller.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the networked lighting system further comprises an LED lighting system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of colors.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of intensities.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a program adapted to control a plurality of lighting systems.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection interface comprises at least one of a switch, dial, and button.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection interface comprises a remote selection interface.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the remote selection interface communicates selection information to the processor through wireless transmission.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the remote selection interface communicates selection information to the processor through wired transmission.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection interface comprises a selection interface port adapted to receive selection information from a second processor.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a housing;

wherein the selection interface is associated with the housing.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the housing is adapted to fit into a standard wall junction box.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the selection interface is accessible to the user when the system is mounted in the standard wall junction box.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the selection interface is not accessible to the user when the system is mounted in the standard wall junction box.

29. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one second lighting program stored in the memory.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the selection interface is further adapted to enable and disable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one second lighting program.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the user interface is further adapted to select the at least one second lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input when the selection interface is arranged to enable such selection.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the user interface is adapted to select one of the at least one lighting program and the at least one second lighting program when the selection interface has been arranged to enable the selection of both the at least one lighting program and the at least one second lighting program.

33. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is further adapted to adjust at least one parameter of the at least one lighting program.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one parameter controls a rate at which a changing lighting effect changes.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the changing lighting effect comprises a color changing lighting effect.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the changing lighting effect comprises a chasing lighting effect.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the chasing lighting effect comprises a chasing rainbow lighting effect.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the changing lighting effect comprises a lighting effect that apparently moves from a first lighting system to a second lighting system.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one parameter controls a color of a generated lighting effect.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the at least one parameter controls an intensity of a generated lighting effect.

41. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication port adapted to receive program data;

wherein the lighting system is adapted to store the program data in the memory.

48. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a program adapted to control the color of light generating by a lighting system.

49. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a program adapted to control the intensity of light generating by a lighting system.

15. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of lighting systems comprises networked lighting systems.

16. The system of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of lighting systems comprises an addressable controller.

17. The system of claim 17 wherein each of the lighting systems further comprises an LED lighting system.

18. The system of claim 18 wherein each of the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of colors.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each of the LED lighting systems is adapted to generate a range of intensities.

42. A control system, comprising:

a processor;

wherein the processor is associated with memory;

at least one lighting program stored in the memory;

a user interface adapted to at least one of select the at least one lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input and adjust a parameter of the at least one lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input; and

a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard wall mounted junction box.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the standard junction box comprises a single gang box.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the standard junction box comprises a double gang box.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the housing is approximately 69 mm in length.

46. The system of claim 42 wherein the housing further comprises two mounting holes spaced approximately 81 mm apart.

47. The system of claim 42, further comprising:

a selection interface adapted to enable and disable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program; and

wherein the user interface is adapted to select the at least one lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input when the selection interface is arranged to enable such selection.

50. The system of claim 46 wherein the lighting system comprises an LED lighting system adapted to generate a range of colors.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising the step of:

using the user interface to select the at least one lighting program.

51. A method of controlling a lighting system, comprising the steps of:

providing a lighting control system wherein the lighting control system comprises a processor;

wherein the processor is associated with memory;

storing at least one lighting program in the memory;

providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program; and

making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a lighting system;

wherein the step of providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a lighting system; and

wherein the step of making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a lighting system.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a plurality of lighting systems;

wherein the step of providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a plurality of lighting systems; and

wherein the step of making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program adapted to control the color of light generated by a plurality of lighting systems.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the at least one lighting program comprises a lighting program adapted to control at least one addressable lighting system;

wherein the step of providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable a user interface'"'"'s ability to select the lighting program adapted to control at least one addressable lighting system; and

wherein the step of making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the lighting program adapted to control at least one addressable lighting system.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

providing a housing;

wherein the selection interface is associated with the housing.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of adapting the housing fit into a standard wall junction box.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the selection interface is not accessible to the user when the system is mounted in the standard wall junction box and wherein the step of making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program comprises making a selection on the selection interface to enable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program prior to installing the housing in the junction box.

59. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of:

using the user interface to adjust at least one parameter of the at least one lighting program.

60. The method of claim 51 further comprising the steps of:

providing a second user interface; and

using the second user interface to adjust at least one parameter of the at least one lighting program.

61. A method of controlling a lighting system, comprising the steps of:

providing a lighting control system wherein the lighting control system comprises a processor;

wherein the processor is associated with memory;

storing at least one lighting program in the memory;

providing a user interface adapted to at least one of select the at least one lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input and adjust a parameter of the at least one lighting program based on a user'"'"'s input; and

providing a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard junction box.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the step of providing a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard junction box comprises providing a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard single space junction box.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the step of providing a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard junction box comprises providing a housing wherein the processor and the memory are housed;

wherein the housing is adapted to mount into a standard multi-space junction box.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of:

providing a selection interface adapted to enable and disable the user interface'"'"'s ability to select the at least one lighting program.