SMART LIGHT

• US 20090195192A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: J Baxter Brinkmann International Corporation
• Original Assignee: J Baxter Brinkmann International Corporation
• Inventors: Joseph, Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US12/334,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195192A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/548 the power on the line being DC arrangements for feeding power H04L12/10; extracting feeding power from signals H04L25/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An intelligent light, such as a light for connecting with and receiving communications from a low voltage line, is provided. The intelligent light includes a power supply operable to generate a DC voltage from an input voltage communicated via a low voltage line by a power source, a receiver operable to extract a data pattern encoded in the input voltage; and output circuitry in communication with the DC voltage and the receiver operable to generate an output voltage to energize a light based on the data pattern to control operations of the light.

Claims

1. An intelligent light comprising:

a power supply operable to generate a DC voltage from an input voltage communicated via a low voltage line by a power source;

a receiver operable to extract a data pattern encoded in the input voltage; and

output circuitry in communication with the DC voltage and the receiver operable to generate an output voltage to energize a light based on the data pattern to control operations of the light.

2. The intelligent light according to claim 1, wherein the input voltage corresponds to an AC voltage with a positive cycle, negative cycle, and an intermediate platform.

3. The intelligent light according to claim 2, wherein the data pattern is encoded by varying a width of at least one of:

the positive cycle and the negative cycle.

4. The intelligent light according to claim 3, wherein the AC voltage corresponds to a square wave pulse.

5. The intelligent light according to claim 2, further comprising a processor in communication with the receiver and output circuitry operable to adjust a signal to control the output of the light to compensate for different pulse widths of the AC voltage.

6. The intelligent light according to claim 5, wherein the compensation reduces light flickering.

7. The intelligent light according to claim 5, wherein the compensation regulates an intensity of light.

8. The intelligent light according to claim 5, wherein the signal comprises a phase control signal.

9. The intelligent light of claim 5, wherein the signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal.

10. The intelligent light according to claim 1, wherein the light is within a housing, and wherein the housing is configured to be placed in an outdoor environment.

11. The intelligent light according to claim 1, wherein the operations correspond to at least one of:

turning on the light, turning off the light, and dimming the light.

12. The intelligent light according to claim 1, wherein the data pattern corresponds to a packet of bits.

13. The intelligent light according to claim 12, wherein the packet of bits includes 18 bits.

14. The intelligent light according to claim 12, wherein the packet of bits includes at least one of:

a start bit, a change bit, data bits, and a parity bit.

15. The intelligent light according to claim 14, wherein a number of data bits is 16.

16. The intelligent light according to claim 1, wherein the output circuitry includes a triac.

17. The intelligent light according to claim 1, further comprising a zero-crossing detection circuit in communication with the processor.

18. The intelligent light according to claim 17, wherein the processor is operable to determine timing information related to the data pattern based on the determined timing information.

19. The intelligent light according to claim 18, further comprising a line voltage circuit operable to produce a scaled version of the input voltage that is suitable for the processor.

20. The intelligent light according to claim 18, wherein the processor monitors the scaled version of the input voltage based on the determined timing information.