System and architecture for controlling lighting through a low-voltage bus

• US 20070145826A1
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Nunoz, Daniel, Clark, Walter, Bourne, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A system and architecture for managing lighting through a seamless low-voltage bus network is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of control units that serve as nodes for integrating devices, such as light fixtures, control switches and sensors into the bus. Each of the control units preferably includes a printed circuit board and node interconnects for assembling the low-voltage bus and for integrating the devices. Alternatively, the system comprises a central hub with a master printed circuit control board and a plurality of interconnects for assembling the bus and for integrating the devices.

Claims

1. A decentralized low-voltage bus for managing a load circuit with lights, the decentralized low-voltage bus comprising a plurality of control units for integrating a sensor and a control switch into the decentralized low-voltage bus.

2. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, further comprising cables for integrating the control units, the sensor and the control switch.

3. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 2, wherein the control units and the cables comprise RJ45 interconnects for electrically coupling to the cables.

4. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 3, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the decentralized low-voltage bus, the second sensor coupled to the sensor via the cable.

5. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 2, wherein the sensor and the control switch are low-voltage periphery devices.

6. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 5, wherein power is provided to the low-voltage periphery devices via the cables.

7. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 5, wherein control signals are provided from the low-voltage periphery devices via the cables.

8. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein each control unit comprises an LED display for indicating a mode of operation.

9. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein each control unit comprises dip switches for changing a mode of operation of the sensor or the control switch.

10. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein a second sensor is coupled to the decentralized low-voltage bus by connecting the second sensor to the sensor.

11. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein the lights are coupled to an external power source.

12. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 11, wherein each light comprises one of the plurality of control units, and the low-voltage power is supplied by the lights to the decentralized low-voltage bus via the control units within the lights.

13. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, further comprising a relay assembly to interface the decentralized lo-voltage bus, the lights, and an external power source.

14. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 13, wherein the relay assembly includes one of the plurality of control units to provide low-voltage power to the decentralized low-voltage bus and to receive control signals from the sensor and the control switch.

15. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 14, wherein the relay assembly is coupled to the load circuit.

16. A power distribution system comprising a hub, the hub comprising connection ports for coupling to low-voltage periphery devices and for distributing power to the low voltage periphery devices.

17. The power distribution system of claim 16, wherein the hub is coupled to a high-voltage line and configured to control a load through the high voltage line.

18. The power distribution system of claim 17, further comprising cables with connection features configured to securely engage the connection ports.

19. The power distribution system of claim 18, wherein the connection ports comprise female RJ45 connectors and the connection features of the cables comprise male RJ45 connectors.

20. The power distribution system of claim 16, further comprising a printed circuit board for distributing low voltage between the plurality of connection ports.

21. The power distribution system of claim 16, further comprising a switching means for controlling a high-voltage device.

22. The power distribution system of clam 21, wherein the switching means is configured for controlling the high voltage device in response to control signal received from one or more of the low-voltage periphery devices.

23. A light control hub configured to couple to a plurality of light fixtures and to one or more low-voltage periphery devices, the light control hub is configured to control levels of light output from the plurality of light fixtures based on received control signals from the one or more low-voltage periphery devices.

24. The light control hub of claim 23, comprising a printed logic circuit for distributing low voltage power to the one or more low-voltage periphery devices and for receiving commands from one or more of the low-voltage periphery devices.

25. The light control hub of claim 23, wherein at least one of the low-voltage periphery devices comprises a sensor.

26. The light control hub of claim 23, wherein at least one of the low-voltage periphery devices comprises a control switch.

27. A canopy installation kit for controlling light fixtures, the kit comprising;

a) a controller unit configured to generate control signals based on a condition;

b) a hub with a circuit configured to receive the control signals from the controller unit and control loads to light fixtures based on the control signals; and

c) interconnecting cables for coupling the controller unit to the hub.