Wireless lighting system for staircases and passageways

• US 20100060173A1
• Filed: 08/25/2009
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation Sports, Inc. (Ossur hf)
• Original Assignee: Innovation Sports, Inc. (Ossur hf)
• Inventors: Scharf, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/153
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The invention discloses an illumination system having a first proximate detector with a first zone detector, which is capable of detecting the passing of a human body. Also part of the proximate detector is a first transmitter that is capable of sending a signal upon the activation of the first zone detector. The invention also has a first staircase illuminator capable of illuminating a first staircase area. Once the first zone detector is activated, the first transmitter sends a signal to a receiver on a second staircase illuminator, which is capable of illuminating a second staircase area. A second zone detector is included that is capable of detecting the passing of a human body, which also causes a second transmitter to send a signal to a receiver on the first staircase illuminator or any other staircase illuminator that is part of the illumination system. Included also is the second staircase illuminator that is capable of illuminating the second staircase area. Therefore, briefly, when a person passes near the first proximate detector, the first zone detector is activated and a signal is sent from the first transmitter to the receiver, causing the receiver to direct the second staircase illuminator to illuminate the second staircase area, while the first staircase area is being illuminated by the first staircase illuminator. By the same token, when a person passes near the second proximate detector, the second zone detector is activates and a signal is sent from the second transmitter to the receiver on a third staircase illuminator, which triggers an illumination of a third staircase area, or back to the receiver on the first staircase illuminator. The process of transmitting, receiving and illuminating may continue for as long as there are devices within the illumination system that have not yet been illuminated.

Claims

1. An staircase illumination system comprising:

a first proximate detector, the proximate detector having;

a first zone detector, the first zone detector capable of detecting the passing of a human body; and

a first transmitter, the first transmitter capable of sending a signal upon the activation of the first zone detector; and

a first staircase illuminator, the first staircase illuminator capable of illuminating a first staircase area;

a receiver, the receiver having

a second staircase illuminator;

the second staircase illuminator capable of illuminating a second staircase area;

a second zone detector, the second zone detector capable of detecting the passing of a human body; and

a second transmitter, the second transmitter of sending a signal upon the activation of the second zone detector;

a second staircase illuminator, the second staircase illuminator capable of illuminating the second staircase area;

so that when a person passes near the first proximate detector, the first zone detector is activated and a signal is sent from the first transmitter to the receiver, wherein the receiver illuminates the second staircase area; and

wherein the first staircase illuminator illuminates the first staircase area;

and so that when a person passes near the second proximate detector, the second zone detector is activate and a signal is sent from the second transmitter to the receiver, wherein the receiver illuminates the third staircase area;

and wherein the receiver illuminates the second staircase area.

2. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the proximate detector is an infrared sensor.

3. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the proximate detector is a photocell.

4. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the zone detector is activated from 0 to 10 minutes.

5. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the zone detector is activated from 0 to 1 minute.

6. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits on a frequency of approximately 315 Mhz

7. The staircase illumination system as in claim 1 wherein the transmitter transmits on a frequency in the range of 400 to 500 Mhz.

8. An illumination system comprising:

a first proximate detector, the proximate detector having a first illuminator;

a first transmitter, the first transmitter capable of sending a signal upon the activation of the first proximate detector;

a first staircase illuminator;

at least a second illuminator having a receiver capable of receiving the signal from the first proximate detector and activating the second illuminator.

9. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein said first staircase illuminator further comprises said receiver.

10. The illumination system of claim 9, further comprising a remote control having a light switch activator and remote control transmitter, wherein said light switch activator capable of sending a signal from said remote control transmitter to said receiver on said first illuminator and at least said second illuminator.

11. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein the proximate detector is an infrared sensor.

12. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein the proximate detector is a photocell.

13. The illumination system of claim 8, further comprising a timer mechanism, said timer mechanism capable of deactivating said first staircase illuminator and at least said second illuminator after a passage of time ranging between 30 seconds and 10 minutes.

14. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein said first transmitter transmits within a frequency between 300 Mhz-500 Mhz.

15. The illumination system of claim 8, further comprising multiple said second illuminators.

16. The illumination system of claim 8, further comprising multiple said first proximate detectors.

17. An illumination system comprising:

a first illuminator having a first proximate detector;

a second illuminator, optionally having a second proximate detector;

said first and said second illuminators each having a first transmitter a receiver, and a power source;

said first proximate detector capable of detecting a passing of a human body and sending a signal activating said first illuminator, said first transmitter capable of sending a signal upon activation of said first illuminator to said receiver on at least said second illuminator;

said second proximate detector capable of detecting a passing of a human body and sending a signal activating said second illuminator, wherein said first transmitter is capable of sending a signal upon activation of said second illuminator to said receiver on at least said first illuminator.

18. The illumination system of claim 17, further comprising a remote control having a light switch actuator and a remote control transmitter, wherein said remote control transmitter is capable of sending a signal activating at least said first illuminator.

19. The illumination system of claim 17, further comprising a timer mechanism, the timer mechanism capable of disabling said first and said second illuminator upon passage of time between 30 seconds and 10 minutes.

20. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein the first proximate detector or said second proximate detector is an infrared sensor.

21. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein the first proximate detector or said second proximate detector is a photocell.

22. A method of illuminating a contiguous illumination system comprising the steps of:

activating a proximate sensor by passing a transient object within a monitored zone;

transmitting an activation signal to all staircase illuminators within a contiguous illumination system;

illuminating all staircase illuminators within said contiguous illumination system;

using a timer to send a deactivation signal to all light fixtures within said contiguous illumination system;

disabling illumination by all staircase illuminators within said contiguous illumination system.

23. The method of illuminating a contiguous illumination system of claim 22, further comprising the step of sending a remote control activation signal to illuminate all staircase illuminators within said