Lighting control systems and methods

• US 20050035717A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colorado vNet, LLC
• Inventors: Hesse, Scott, Adamson, Hugh P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,211,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/150
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

Implementations of lighting control systems and methods are described and claimed herein. An exemplary remote control system comprises a wireless interface configured to receive instructions from a wireless station in a building automation network. A ballast table identifying ballast control points is stored in computer-readable memory. A processor operatively associated with the wireless interface and the ballast table uses the ballast table to generate electronic control signals identifying ballast control points corresponding to the instructions received at the wireless interface.

Claims

1. A remote lighting control system comprising:

a wireless interface configured to receive instructions from a wireless station in a building automation network;

a ballast table stored in computer-readable memory, the ballast table identifying ballast control points; and

a processor operatively associated with the wireless interface and the ballast table, the processor using the ballast table to generate electronic control signals identifying ballast control points corresponding to the instructions received at the wireless interface.

2. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising a digital to analog converter to convert digital electronic control signals generated by the processor into analog electronic control signals for delivery to at least one ballast.

3. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, wherein said processor maintains the electronic control signals substantially constant until another instruction is received.

4. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising scripts stored in computer-readable memory, the processor executing the scripts to generate the electronic control signals.

5. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the ballast table defines digital electronic control signals corresponding with variable combinations of luminescent levels.

6. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising a light harvester providing lighting feedback to the processor.

7. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising a power converter for receiving electrical power from at least one ballast.

8. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, wherein said wireless interface includes a unique identification for receiving instructions.

9. The remote lighting control system of claim 1, wherein said instructions are encrypted.

10. A building automation network with remote lighting control system comprising:

a CAN bus;

a keypad device connected to the CAN bus, the keypad issuing lighting commands over the CAN bus;

a wireless station connected on the CAN bus, the wireless station converting lighting commands issued over the CAN bus by the keypad into wireless instructions, and the wireless station issuing the wireless instructions; and

a remote lighting controller communicatively coupled to the wireless station, the remote lighting controller generating electronic control signals for at least one ballast corresponding to control points for the at least one ballast based on the wireless instructions.

11. The building automation network with remote lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a wireless interface at the remote lighting controller, the wireless interface receiving the wireless instructions from the wireless station.

12. The building automation network with remote lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a ballast table stored in computer-readable memory at the remote lighting controller, the ballast table identifying the control points.

13. The building automation network with remote lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a processor at the remote lighting controller, the processor generating the electronic control signals.

14. The building automation network with remote lighting control system of claim 10, wherein said lighting controller provides substantially constant electronic control signals to the at least one ballast until another instruction is received.

15. The building automation network with remote lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising scripts stored in computer-readable memory at the lighting controller, the scripts executing to generate the electronic control signals.

16. A method of remotely controlling at least one ballast in a building automation network comprising:

receiving wireless instructions from a wireless station in the building automation network;

determining ballast control points based on the wireless instructions;

generating electronic control signals identifying the ballast control points based on the wireless instructions; and

issuing the electronic control signals to the at least one ballast.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising maintaining substantially constant output by the at least one ballast until another wireless instruction is received.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising executing scripts to generate the electronic control signals.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising converting digital electronic control signals into analog electronic control signals for issuing to the at least one ballast.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving light level feedback wherein determining the ballast control points are based at least in part on the light level feedback.