LIGHTING SYSTEM AND REMOTE CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20100244746A1
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van De Sluis, Bartel Marinus, Feri, Lorenzo
• Granted Patent: US 8,698,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Proposedis a remote control device (100), arranged to control a lighting system(1). The lighting system comprises a plurality of light-modules (10) capable of emitting modulated light comprising light module identification codes (20). The remote controldevice (100) comprises a sensor (110) arranged to switch the light modules (10) from an operational mode (210) in which the light emitted by the light modules (10) is non-5 modulated to a control mode (230) in which the light emitted by the light modules (10) is modulated. Advantageously, the invention provides a lighting system with improved energy efficiencyand EMC characteristics.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A lighting system comprising:

a plurality of light modules for emitting either modulated light comprising light module identification codes or non-modulated light, the light modules being switchable between an operational mode in which the light emitted by the light modules is non-modulated and a control mode in which the light emitted by the light modules is modulated; and

a remote control device for switching at least one of the plurality of light modules between the operational mode and the control mode.

9. A lighting system according to claim 6, further comprising a master controller for controlling the plurality of lighting modules based on control data, wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate the control data to the master controller.

10. A lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the light modules are configured to automatically switch from the control mode, the operational mode after a predetermined time interval.

16. A lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the remote control device comprises a light detector configured to detect light emitted by the light modules and to derive the light module identification codes from the detected light, and wherein the control data is based at least in part on the derived identification codes.

17. A lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the remote control device comprises a sensor for detecting operating of the remote control device by a user, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of:

push, touch, conductivity, motion, and acceleration sensors.

7-8. -8. (canceled)

11. A method to control a lighting system comprising a plurality of light modules capable of emitting either modulated light comprising light module identification codes or non-modulated light, the method comprising the steps:

providing a remote control device,

checking whether the remote control device is operated by a user, and, if so,

switching light modules from an operational mode, in which the light emitted by the light modules is non-modulated, to a control mode, in which the light emitted by the light modules is modulated.

12. A method to control a lighting system according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

defining a first group and a second group of light modules

switching only the light modules in the first group from the operational mode to the control mode.

13. A method to control a lighting system according to claim 12, further comprising the step controlling all light modules in the first group to emit light.

14. A method to control a lighting system according to claim 13, further comprising the steps:

detecting light emitted by the light modules in the first group and derive the identification codes from the light detected,

generating control data based on the light detected and the identification codes derived,

communicating the control data to a master controller of the lighting system, and

controlling the light modules in the first group using the master controller in accordance with the control data received.

15. A method to control a lighting system according to claim 14, further comprising the step switching the light modules in the first group from the control mode back to the operational mode after a predetermined time interval.