RF controlled sequential lighting system

• US 20080224026A1
• Filed: 03/06/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barton A Pasternak (Barton)
• Original Assignee: Barton A Pasternak (Barton)
• Inventors: Pasternak, Barton A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,772,540 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/206
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An RF controlled lighting system that activates lights in adjacent spaces when a person walks into a first space and then traverses the spaces in sequence. A detection device senses the entry of a person into a first space controlled by the system. A micro-controller activates the lights in that space for immediate light and in the adjacent spaces in preparation for the person to traverse the spaces in either direction from the origin space. As the person traverses the contiguous spaces, controllers in each space sense the person'"'"'s presence and communicate by RF signals to activate lights along the person'"'"'s path. The controllers extinguish their lights a predetermined time after the person passes or no one enters a space.

Claims

1. An RF controlled lighting system for automatically controlling lights in adjacent spaces according to detected motion comprising:

one or more lights in each of a plurality of adjacent spaces;

a motion sensor in each of the plurality of adjacent spaces;

a light controller in each of the plurality of adjacent spaces for activating and deactivating the lights within each space independent of every other space;

an RF communication transceiver associated with each controller to communicate between controllers in adjacent spaces such that motion detected in any space activates lights in that space and any immediately adjacent controlled space not already active.

2. The RF controlled lighting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a digital storage device containing computer readable code for operating the light controller to accomplish at least the following steps;

a. detecting the entry of a person into the space controlled by said light controller;

b. activating lights in the space controlled by said light controller;

c. broadcasting an RF signal containing a message directed to the immediately adjacent spaces to activate their lights.

3. A digital storage device containing computer readable code for operating a lighting control system to accomplish sequential illumination of contiguous spaces, such as the adjacent levels of a stairwell, said device-resident code comprising at least the following steps:

a. detecting the entry of a person into the space controlled by said light controller;

b. activating lights in the space controlled by said light controller;

c. broadcasting an RF signal containing a message directed to the immediately adjacent spaces to activate their lights.