SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A LAMP AS A FUNCTION OF AT LEAST ONE OF OCCUPANCY AND AMBIENT LIGHT

• US 20070273539A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Gananathan, Ranjit Devanesan
• Application Number:
  US11/420,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273539A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/615
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

System for controlling a lamp as a function of at least one of occupancy and ambient lighting level.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting one of;

motion within a region; and

a lighting level within the region; and

adjusting a lamp output in response to the detected one of motion and lighting level.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting one of;

motion within a region; and

a lighting level within the region; and

means for adjusting a lamp output in response to the detected one of motion and lighting level.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion;

a photo sensor configured to detect a lighting level; and

a lamp comprising an adjustable output based on the motion and the lighting level.

4. A method, comprising:

activating a node comprising a lamp;

after activating the node, operating the lamp at full power until;

cumulative operation of the lamp equals at least about 100 hours, and

operation of the lamp since a most recent power interruption equals at least about 15 minutes; and

then

activating a multi-level operation mode of the lamp, wherein the multi-level operation mode comprises;

operating the lamp at a first compensating power level until the expiration of a timer, at which time operation of the lamp is halted; and

restarting the timer and resuming operation of the lamp at a second compensating power level until the timer again expires, wherein the timer is restarted in response to receiving a signal, and wherein the signal is generated in response to a detected motion;

wherein the first and second compensating power levels are each configured to energize the lamp to compensate for the difference between a predetermined light level and a detected daylight level.

5. A method of operating a node comprising a lamp, comprising:

if a burn-in time expires when a new lamp burn-in state is active, transitioning to a start-to-high state;

if a start-to-high time expires when the start-to-high state is active, transitioning to a heartbeat state and;

if a heartbeat timer is 0, deactivating a lamp relay by setting a 0-10V control to 0V;

or

if the heartbeat timer is not 0, activating the lamp relay by setting the 0-10V control to a last known value;

if a heartbeat timer expires when the heartbeat state is active, deactivating the lamp relay by setting the 0-10V control to 0V;

if a heartbeat message is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when the start-to-high state is active, refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when the heartbeat state is active, refreshing the heartbeat timer, caching a 0-10V value, and activating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to the cached 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when a locked state is active, refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a radio-frequency (RF) command is received when the heartbeat state is active, setting the 0-10V control to a requested value, starting a lock timer, and transitioning to the locked state;

if an RF command is received when the locked state is active, setting the 0-10V control to a requested value and refreshing the lock timer;

if the lock timer expires when the locked state is active, transitioning to the heartbeat state and;

if the heartbeat timer is 0, deactivating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to 0V, or

if the heartbeat timer is not 0, activating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to a last known value;

if a new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the new lamp burn-in state is active, resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the start-to-high state is active, transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the heartbeat state is active, transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the locked state is active, transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if a panic start command is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, caching the new lamp burn-in state and transitioning to a panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the start-to-high state is active, caching the start-to-high state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the heartbeat state is active, caching the heartbeat state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the locked state is active, caching the locked state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic stop command is received, transitioning to a cached state;

if an evacuation start command is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, caching the new lamp burn-in state and transitioning to an evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the start-to-high state is active, caching the start-to-high state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the heartbeat state is active, caching the heartbeat state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the locked state is active, caching the locked state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the panic state is active, caching the panic state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the evacuation state is active, resetting an evacuation timer; and

if the evacuation stop command is received, transitioning to a cached state.

6. A system, comprising:

means for activating a node comprising a lamp;

after activating the node, means for operating the lamp at full power until;

cumulative operation of the lamp equals at least about 100 hours, and

operation of the lamp since a most recent power interruption equals at least about 15 minutes; and

then

means for activating a multi-level operation mode of the lamp, wherein the multi-level operation mode comprises;

means for operating the lamp at a first compensating power level until the expiration of a timer, at which time operation of the lamp is halted; and

means for restarting the timer and resuming operation of the lamp at a second compensating power level until the timer again expires, wherein the timer is restarted in response to receiving a signal, and wherein the signal is generated in response to a detected motion;

wherein the first and second compensating power levels are each configured to energize the lamp to compensate for the difference between a predetermined light level and a detected daylight level.

7. A system for operating a node comprising a lamp, comprising:

if a burn-in time expires when a new lamp burn-in state is active, means for transitioning to a start-to-high state;

if a start-to-high time expires when the start-to-high state is active, means for transitioning to a heartbeat state and;

if a heartbeat timer is 0, deactivating a lamp relay by setting a 0-10V control to 0V;

or

if the heartbeat timer is not 0, means for activating the lamp relay by setting the 0-10V control to a last known value;

if a heartbeat timer expires when the heartbeat state is active, means for deactivating the lamp relay by setting the 0-10V control to 0V;

if a heartbeat message is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, means for refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when the start-to-high state is active, means for refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when the heartbeat state is active, means for refreshing the heartbeat timer, means for caching a 0-10V value, and means for activating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to the cached 0-10V value;

if a heartbeat message is received when a locked state is active, means for refreshing the heartbeat timer and caching a 0-10V value;

if a radio-frequency (RF) command is received when the heartbeat state is active, means for setting the 0-10V control to a requested value, means for starting a lock timer, and means for transitioning to the locked state;

if an RF command is received when the locked state is active, means for setting the 0-10V control to a requested value and refreshing the lock timer;

if the lock timer expires when the locked state is active, means for transitioning to the heartbeat state and;

if the heartbeat timer is 0, means for deactivating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to 0V, or

if the heartbeat timer is not 0, means for activating the relay by setting the 0-10V control to a last known value;

if a new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the new lamp burn-in state is active, means for resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the start-to-high state is active, means for transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the heartbeat state is active, means for transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if the new lamp burn-in time is reset via RF command when the locked state is active, means for transitioning to the new lamp burn-in state and resetting the new lamp burn-in time;

if a panic start command is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, means for caching the new lamp burn-in state and transitioning to a panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the start-to-high state is active, means for caching the start-to-high state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the heartbeat state is active, means for caching the heartbeat state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic start command is received when the locked state is active, means for caching the locked state and transitioning to the panic state;

if the panic stop command is received, means for transitioning to a cached state;

if an evacuation start command is received when the new lamp burn-in state is active, means for caching the new lamp burn-in state and transitioning to an evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the start-to-high state is active, means for caching the start-to-high state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the heartbeat state is active, means for caching the heartbeat state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the locked state is active, means for caching the locked state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the panic state is active, means for caching the panic state and transitioning to the evacuation state;

if the evacuation start command is received when the evacuation state is active, means for resetting an evacuation timer; and

if the evacuation stop command is received, means for transitioning to a cached state.

8. A method, comprising:

detecting one of;

motion within a region; and

a lighting level within the region;

adjusting a lamp output in response to the detected one of motion and lighting level;

delaying triggering the multi-level operation mode until the lamp has been continuously energized in another mode for at least a predetermined duration; and

wirelessly communicating a heartbeat signal in response to at least one of the detected motion and the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein the method is a method of controlling wirelessly mesh networked nodes within the region to control a total lighting level within the region;

wherein detecting the lighting level comprises detecting an ambient lighting level within the region;

wherein detecting comprises detecting the motion within the region and the lighting level within the region;

wherein adjusting the lamp output comprises adjusting the lamp output in response to the detected motion and the detected lighting level;

wherein detecting comprises detecting the motion within the region and the lighting level within the region;

wherein adjusting the lamp output comprises adjusting an extent to which a lamp within the region is energized in response to the detected motion and based on the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized substantially compensates for a difference between the ambient lighting level and a lighting level attainable by controlling the lighting level within the region at full power for full light output;

wherein adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises triggering a multi-level operation mode of the lamp;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 15 minutes after power to the lamp is interrupted;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 100 hours;

wherein detecting the ambient lighting level employs a photo sensor comprising a photo sensing range;

wherein adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized is in response to an ambient lighting level signal representing an increment of the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of a plurality of increments regularly spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of ten regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 100 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 1000 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises reducing a lamp energizing signal from a maximum value to a reduced value based on the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises reducing a lamp energizing signal to X % of a maximum lamp energizing signal, wherein X substantially equals the difference between detected ambient lighting level and the maximum lighting level detectable by the photo sensor.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting one of;

motion within a region; and

a lighting level within the region;

means for adjusting a lamp output in response to the detected one of motion and lighting level;

means for delaying triggering the multi-level operation mode until the lamp has been continuously energized in another mode for at least a predetermined duration; and

means for wirelessly communicating a heartbeat signal in response to at least one of the detected motion and the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein means for detecting the lighting level comprises means for detecting an ambient lighting level within the region;

wherein means for detecting comprises means for detecting the motion within the region and the lighting level within the region;

wherein means for adjusting the lamp output comprises means for adjusting the lamp output in response to the detected motion and the detected lighting level;

wherein means for detecting comprises means for detecting the motion within the region and the lighting level within the region;

wherein means for adjusting the lamp output comprises means for adjusting an extent to which a lamp within the region is energized in response to the detected motion and based on the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein means for adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized substantially compensates for a difference between the ambient lighting level and a lighting level attainable by controlling the lighting level within the region at full power for full light output;

wherein means for adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises means for triggering a multi-level operation mode of the lamp;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 15 minutes after power to the lamp is interrupted;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 100 hours;

wherein means for detecting the ambient lighting level employs a photo sensor comprising a photo sensing range;

wherein means for adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized is in response to an ambient lighting level signal representing an increment of the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of a plurality of increments regularly spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of ten regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 100 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 1000 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein means for adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises means for reducing a lamp energizing signal from a maximum value to a reduced value based on the detected ambient lighting level;

wherein means for adjusting the extent to which the lamp is energized comprises means for reducing a lamp energizing signal to X % of a maximum lamp energizing signal, wherein X substantially equals the difference between detected ambient lighting level and the maximum lighting level detectable by the photo sensor.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion;

a photo sensor configured to detect a lighting level;

a lamp comprising an adjustable output based on the motion and the lighting level;

a control configured to delay triggering the multi-level operation mode until the lamp has been continuously energized in another mode for at least a predetermined duration;

a wireless communications component configured to communicate a heartbeat signal in response to at least one of the detected motion and the detected lighting level;

at least one of;

an IR beam detector;

an LED status indicator;

a lamp relay; and

a 0-10V control;

a processor configured to communicate signals between the motion sensor, the photo sensor, and an electrical ballast associated with the lamp;

wherein at least one of the motion sensor and the photo sensor is remotely located relative to the lamp;

wherein at least one of the motion sensor and the photo sensor is co-located with the lamp;

wherein the lamp is operable in a multi-level operation mode in which the lamp is energized via a plurality of different power levels;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 15 minutes after power to the lamp is interrupted;

wherein the predetermined duration comprises about 100 hours;

wherein the wireless communications component comprises a receiver configured to receive wireless communications;

wherein the wireless communications component comprises a transmitter configured to transmit wireless communications;

wherein the photo sensor is operable within a photo sensing range, and wherein the adjustable output of the lamp is adjustable in response to an ambient lighting level signal representing an increment of the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of a plurality of increments regularly spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of ten regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 100 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the increment comprises one of 1000 regular increments collectively spanning the photo sensing range;

wherein the lamp is configured such that the output is adjustable from a maximum value to a lower value based on the detected lighting level;

wherein the lamp is configured such that the output is adjustable to X % of a maximum lamp energizing signal, wherein X substantially equals the difference between the detected lighting level and the maximum lighting level detectable by the photo sensor; and

wherein the apparatus comprises one of a plurality of wirelessly mesh networked nodes and the processor comprises;

a first microprocessor configured to control networking of the apparatus with other ones of the plurality of nodes; and

a second microprocessor configured to control the motion sensor and the photo sensor and interact with the first microprocessor; and

further comprising a plurality of peripheral devices including;

an IR beam detector;

an LED status indicator;

a lamp relay;

a 0-10V control; and

a serial interface between the first and second microprocessors;

wherein the second microprocessor is configured to control the peripheral devices.