CLOSED LOOP DAYLIGHT HARVESTING LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AUTO-CALIBRATION
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- activating at least one lighting fixture to illuminate an area at a highest level achievable by the at least one lighting fixture;
monitoring an illumination level of the area over a predetermined period of time to determine a lowest illumination level occurring during the predetermined period of time; and
setting a target illumination level of a lighting control system to the lowest illumination level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for enabling an automatic calibration sequence for a light control system having a daylight harvesting scheme is disclosed herein. An ambient light sensor connects to a detection circuit for detecting the amount of ambient light within a given zone. A microprocessor connects between the detection circuit and a dimming circuit for providing control to initiate dimming and to start the auto-calibration sequence. Responsive to the amount of ambient light detected, the dimming circuit controls the power supplied to a plurality of electrical loads. A storage unit connects to the microprocessor for storing minimum light levels assessed during the auto-calibration sequence wherein the ambient light levels are monitored for a predetermined amount of time to determine the lowest level of ambient light generated for the purpose of setting and storing a target voltage level associated with such.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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activating at least one lighting fixture to illuminate an area at a highest level achievable by the at least one lighting fixture; monitoring an illumination level of the area over a predetermined period of time to determine a lowest illumination level occurring during the predetermined period of time; and setting a target illumination level of a lighting control system to the lowest illumination level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a light sensor; and a control device including logic to; force one or more electrical loads to a predetermined illumination for a defined period of time; disable a control device input to each electrical load during the defined time period; monitor the light sensor during the defined time period; detect the light level sensed by the light sensor; compare a detected light level with a previously stored light level; determine which light level is the lowest light level; generate a target level based upon the lowest light level; and store the target level. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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generating a first signal in response to sensing ambient light; generating a second signal in response to detecting the first signal; controlling a plurality of electrical loads in response to the second signal; and performing an auto-calibration process for a predetermined period of time including; disabling control of one or more of the plurality of electrical loads; forcing the one or more of the plurality of electrical loads to a predetermined illumination level; setting a target signal level substantially equal to the second signal level and storing the target signal level at the beginning of the predetermined period of time; monitoring the second signal for the predetermined period of time; comparing the second signal with the stored target signal level to determine which is a lower signal; and storing the lower signal level as the target signal level. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A light harvesting system comprising:
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a dimming circuit to control a lighting load in a space; and logic to; force the lighting load to a defined level during an auto-calibration period; monitor the light level in the space during the auto-calibration period; determine the target light level by comparing a light level monitored during the auto-calibration period to other light levels monitored during the auto-calibration period; and save the target light level for a light harvesting operation in the space. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification