Light Management System Having Networked Intelligent Luminaire Managers with Enhanced Diagnostics Capabilities

• US 20080147337A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acuity Brands, Inc.
• Inventors: WALTERS, Jeff D., Darnell, Charles J., Gibler, Zachary S., Henderson, David A., Minarczyk, Michael M., Holland, William Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A network operation center for a light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers. A plurality of networked luminaire managers, each collocated with a respective luminaire, monitor the status of their respective luminaires. The luminaire managers include transmitters for transmitting status information about their respective luminaires and third-party devices to a network server. The network server forwards the received status information from the networked luminaire managers to a computer of an owner/operator of the plurality of luminaires and/or a third-party user. The luminaire managers communicate with each other, whereby they form a network.

Claims

1. An intelligent luminaire manager, comprising:

a voltage sensor for measuring a voltage provided to a luminaire;

a current sensor for measuring a current provided to the luminaire;

a controller coupled to the voltage sensor and the current sensor; and

a luminaire diagnostic program stored in a memory of the controller,

wherein the luminaire diagnostic program calculates power for the luminaire and generates a lamp cycling message if the calculated power is less than a first threshold value.

2. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 1, wherein the lamp cycling message is generated only if a current measured by the current sensor is greater than a second threshold value.

3. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 2, wherein the lamp cycling message is generated if a change in the current is greater than a third threshold value.

4. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 1, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a bad lamp message if power continues to change during a specified period of time.

5. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 1, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a bad fixture message if the calculated power is less than a second threshold value.

6. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 5, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the bad fixture message if a current measured by the current sensor is less than a third threshold value.

7. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 1, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a predicted lamp failure message if the calculated power is not changing after a first specified time.

8. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 7, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if the calculated power is changing after a second specified time.

9. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 8, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if the calculated power is less than a second threshold value after a third specified time.

10. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 9, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if a DC component of a voltage measured by the voltage sensor is greater than a selected percentage of the voltage.

11. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 9, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if a DC component of a current measured by the current sensor is greater than a selected percentage of the current.

12. An intelligent luminaire manager, comprising:

a controller coupled to a voltage sensor and a current sensor;

a luminaire diagnostic program stored in a memory of the controller, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program calculates power for a luminaire, based on voltage and current measurements, and generates a lamp cycling message if the calculated power is less than a first threshold value; and

an enclosure that houses the controller, the enclosure having a three-prong plug for attaching to a streetlight fixture.

13. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 12, wherein the lamp cycling message is generated only if a current measured by the current sensor is greater than a second threshold value.

14. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 12, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a bad lamp message if power continues to change during a specified period of time.

15. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 12, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a bad fixture message if power is less than a second threshold value.

16. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 12, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a bad fixture message if a current measured by the current sensor is less than a second threshold value.

17. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 12, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates a predicted lamp failure message if power is not changing after a first specified time.

18. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 17, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if power is changing after a second specified time.

19. The intelligent luminaire manager of claim 18, wherein the luminaire diagnostic program generates the predicted lamp failure message if power is less than a second threshold value after a third specified time.