Method and Device for Grouping at Least Three Lamps

• US 20080225521A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wendt, Matthias, Waffenschmidt, Eberhard
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for grouping at least three lamps (1) and for assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit. It is time-intensive to equip one or a plurality of rooms or halls within a building with lamps (1), particularly a grouping of lamps (1), and assigning lamps (1) to at least one operating unit. Therefore, grouping of lamps (1) and assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit should be simplified. In accordance with the invention, a lamp (1) emits light and the other lamps (1) measure light, and distances between the lamps (1) are determined in dependence upon at least one light value and the lamps (1) are assigned to at least one operating unit in dependence upon the distances.

Claims

1. A method of grouping at least three lamps (1), which comprise an illumination means (2), a lamp socket (3), a sensor (4), and a control device having an identification and are connected to a power supply, and of assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit for switching the lamps (1) on and off by means of a control device, the method comprising the following steps:

A switch-on signal is applied to one lamp (1) for emitting light and to the other lamps (1) for measuring light,

One lamp (1) emits light and the other lamps (1) measure light,

At least one other lamp (1) transmits a response signal, which comprises a value of the light received,

Distances between the lamps (1) are determined in dependence upon at least one light value, and

The lamps (1) are grouped in dependence upon the distances and assigned to at least one operating unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in a first step, at least one lamp (1) transmits its identification after a request signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the other lamps (1) respond in a time-dependent way.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the other lamps (1) respond upon request.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a communication between the control device and the lamps (1) takes place via a power supply.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a communication between the control device and the lamps (1) takes place via a broadcast signal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a communication between the control device and the lamps (1) takes place via a light modulation.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a communication between the control device and the switches takes place via a power supply.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the operating unit has a plurality of switches.

10. A device for grouping at least three lamps (1), which comprise an illumination means (2), a lamp socket (3), a sensor (4) and a control device having an identification and are connected to a power supply, and for assigning the lamps (1) to at least one operating unit for switching the lamps (1) on and off by means of a control device, characterized in that the control device applies a switch-on signal to one lamp (1) for emitting light and to the other lamps (1) for measuring light, in that one lamp (1) emits light and the other lamps (1) measure light, in that at least one other lamp supplies a response signal (1), which comprises a value of the light received, in that distances between the lamps (1) are determined in dependence upon at least one light value, and the lamps (1) are grouped in dependence upon the distances and assigned to at least one operating unit.