LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100262297A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumetric Lighting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HID Laboratories
• Inventors: Davis, Gregory, Shloush, Moshe
• Granted Patent: US 8,143,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Lighting devices are configured to communicate with one another and with external systems. Sensors located at such lighting devices communicate with the external systems and with others of the lighting devices. Lighting is controlled to maintain safety, to drive customer traffic within a retail facility, or to conserve energy. An application programming interface provides a common mechanism for control of various lighting device types.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a first device comprising at least one of;

a luminaire, a fan, an HVAC unit, and an alarm system, the first device having a control circuit with a processor, a first port operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to provide communication between the processor and a peripheral device, the peripheral device comprising at least one of;

a data device, an occupancy sensor, a motion sensor, and a camera;

a second device comprising at least one of;

a luminaire, a fan, an HVAC unit, and an alarm system; and

a remote computer system, operatively coupled to the first device and the second device, the remote computer system adapted to provide commands enabling autonomous operation of the first device responsive to detection of the processor, the remote computer system further adapted to provide signals controlling operation of the second device responsive to characterization of the second device as not having on-board processing configured for direct communication with the remote computer system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to control output from the first device responsive to operation of the peripheral device.

3. A lighting system, comprising:

a lighting device having control circuit with a processor;

a sensor operatively coupled to the processor, the sensor comprising at least one of;

a light sensor, a fixture voltage sensor, an operating hour timer, a traffic sensor, an occupancy sensor, a motion sensor, a weather sensor, a pollution sensor, an audio sensor, and a local conditions sensor; and

a remote device operatively coupled to the processor, the remote device configured to operatively communicate with the processor and take at least one of the following actions in response to operation of the sensor;

communicate with the lighting device, communicate with a third device, store information related to operation of the sensor, and display information related to operation of the sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the remote device is a computer system adapted to provide at least one of:

event signals;

control commands for the lighting device;

control commands for at least one additional lighting device;

commands to process information from the sensor.

5. A lighting system, comprising:

a first lighting device having a control circuit with a processor, the first lighting device having a first light output covering a first service area;

a second lighting device operatively coupled to the first lighting device, the second lighting device having a second light output covering a second service area;

a remote computer operatively coupled with the processor and configured to provide programming instructions to the processor for autonomous control of the first lighting device; and

a sensor operatively coupled to the processor, the sensor comprising at least one of;

an ambient light sensor, a traffic sensor, an occupancy sensor, a weather sensor, a noise sensor, and a local conditions sensor, wherein the processor is configured to control, responsive to the operation of the sensor and time of day, the first light output relative to the second light output.

6. A lighting system, comprising:

a first lighting device having a having a first light output covering a first service area;

a second lighting device having a second light output covering a second service area; and

a remote computer operatively coupled with the first lighting device and the second lighting device, the remote computer selectively controlling the first light output relative to the second light output responsive to a set of control conditions, the control conditions including at least one of;

desired paths for customer movement through the first service area and the second service area based on time of day, desired emphasis of the first service area for customer attention based on marketing considerations, desired safety levels in the first service area based on conditions sensed in the first service area, desired safety levels in the first service area based on conditions sensed in the second service area, lack of traffic in the first service area, differences in ambient light levels between the first service area and the second service area, parameters relating to energy efficiency, parameters relating to energy cost;

parameters relating to energy availability, danger levels in the first service area and the second service area, presence of operating machinery in the first service area, service levels of operating equipment in the first service area.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, further comprising a third device operatively coupled to the remote computer, the third device including at least one of an HVAC system, an alarm system, and an access control system, wherein the remote computer is configured to control the third device responsive to the set of control conditions.

8. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the remote computer includes a common programming interface, the common programming interface comprising a plurality of modules for configuration of the system with a plurality of device types, the common programming interface further including a user interface providing operational device control over a set of parameters determined by the configuration.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the common programming interface includes a hardware abstraction layer to enable communication with the plurality of device types and with device drivers for select ones of the plurality of device types.

10. A lighting system, comprising:

a first device having a having a first sensor and a controllable first output covering a first service area, the first device including at least one of;

a luminaire and an HVAC system;

a second device having a second sensor and a controllable second output covering a second service area, the second device including at least one of;

a luminaire and an HVAC system; and

a remote computer operatively coupled with the first device and the second device, the remote computer selectively controlling the first output and the second output responsive to operation of the first sensor and the second sensor and responsive to at least one of;

predicted weather conditions, actual weather conditions, predicted activity in the first service area, predicted activity in the second service area, predicted energy cost, actual energy cost;

predicted peak grid load, actual peak grid load, time of day, operational status of equipment in the first service area, and operational status of equipment in the second service area.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote computer is configured to maintain a log of operation of the first sensor to determine at least one of:

traffic patterns, activity levels, length of day, presence of open doors, and personnel habits.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote computer is configured to selectively control, responsive to the log, at least one of an HVAC system, an access control system, an alarm, and an energy management system.

13. A lighting control device, comprising:

a control circuit, communicating with and controlled by a processor, and configured to programmably provide power to a lamp;

a data device port operatively connected to the processor and the control circuit, the data device port being configured for connection with at least one of a computer, a terminal, and a data device and to provide communications therewith; and

a sensor port operatively connected to the processor and the control circuit, the sensor port being configured for connection with at least one of a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a camera, an occupancy sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, an audio sensor, a weather sensor, and an alarm sensor, and to provide communications therewith.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the data port includes a plurality of connection types, including a plural subset of:

an Ethernet TCP/IP connection, a USB connection, a single-wire bus connection, a wireless connection, an RS-485 connection, an RS-232 connection, a serial connection, a device bridge, a daisy-chain connection, a repeater connection, an analog connection, a unidirectional IN connection, a unidirectional OUT connection, a bidirectional connection, and a zone control connection.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the data port is configured for connection with a second device such that the processor controls the second device.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the data port and the sensor port includes a plurality of connection types, including a plural subset of:

an Ethernet TCP/IP connection, a USB connection, a single-wire bus connection, a wireless connection, a serial connection, a serial ring connection, an analog connection, a unidirectional connection, and a bidirectional connection.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensor port and the data port is adapted for automatic detection and configuration.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the sensor port and the data port is adapted for connection to a camera, and wherein the processor is adapted to calibrate a lighting level responsive to lighting conditions sensed by the camera.

19. A system, comprising:

a first subsystem including a first load, a first processor and a first sensor;

a second subsystem including a second load;

the second subsystem adapted for communication with the first subsystem, the second load being responsive to environmental conditions sensed by the first sensor and corresponding operation of the first processor; and

a remote computer subsystem operatively connected to the first subsystem and adapted to store data corresponding to the environmental conditions.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein a serial ring network provides communications between the first subsystem and the second subsystem.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first subsystem is configured to transmit to the second subsystem an event signal responsive to operation of the first sensor, and wherein the second subsystem is configured to, when in a first state, take a first action responsive to the event signal and, when in a second state, take a second action responsive to the event signal.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a notification subsystem operatively connected to the remote computer subsystem and adapted to issue a maintenance message in response to the data indicating at least one of:

a change in lamp characteristics indicating a potential for lamp failure, flicker in lamp output, change in color temperature in lamp output, change in lumens in lamp output, and change in lamp current.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second remote computer subsystem operatively connected to the first subsystem and adapted to correlate a logical address of the first subsystem with a physical location of the first subsystem.

24. The system of claim 19, further comprising a gateway operatively connected to the first subsystem and the remote computer, the first subsystem being adapted to route communications from the gateway to the second subsystem.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the first load is a legacy load subsystem.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the environmental conditions include at least one of:

length of day, input voltage;

ambient light, and occupancy.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor determines from an output of the first sensor a plural subset of:

ambient light, output of a lighting device, occupancy, predicted maintenance costs;

resource allocation requirements, and security breach.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the second subsystem includes a second sensor, and wherein the environmental conditions are determined using outputs from the first sensor and the second sensor.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the first sensor is a camera providing output comprising a matrix of pixels, and wherein the environmental conditions are determined based on levels of a subset of said pixels.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein a processor determines the environmental conditions by application of hysteresis processing to output from the first sensor.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein the first sensor further comprises a connector, the connector being configured such that the first subsystem identifies a type for the sensor based on characteristics of the connector.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein the first subsystem includes a network IN connector, the first subsystem being adapted to self configure as a master responsive to absence of connection at the IN connector and as a slave responsive to presence of connection at the IN connector.

33. A system for controlling an electrical load, comprising:

a first subsystem including an occupancy sensor;

a second subsystem adapted to determine an activity level of equipment located in an area served by the electrical load; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the second subsystem and adapted to control the load responsive to operation of the first subsystem and the second subsystem.

34. A system for controlling an electrical load, comprising:

a first subsystem including an occupancy sensor;

a second subsystem adapted to determine an ambient light level of an area served by the electrical load; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the second subsystem and adapted to control the load responsive to operation of the first subsystem and the second subsystem

35. The system of claim 34, wherein each of the first and second subsystems includes a video camera and wherein the first ambient light level and the second ambient light level are determined from brightness levels of select video camera pixels.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the first and second subsystems produce pixels indicative of brightness and the processor determines by analysis of select ones of the pixels whether changes in brightness are indicative of at least one of shadows, movement of objects of various colors within the area, changes in lighting produced by a lamp, and available ambient light.

37. A lighting system, comprising:

a first subsystem adapted to control a first lamp;

a second subsystem adapted to control a second lamp; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the second subsystem and adapted to control at least one of the first lamp and the second lamp in accordance with lamp characteristics to achieve at least one of simultaneous dimming, uniform dimming and linear dimming.

38. A lighting system, comprising:

a first subsystem adapted to identify a lamp based on the operating characteristics of the lamp;

a second subsystem adapted to control the lamp; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the second subsystem and adapted to direct operation of the second subsystem based on identification of the lamp provided by the first subsystem.

39. A lighting system, comprising:

a first subsystem adapted to control a lamp;

a visual subsystem including a camera and configured to provide as output a plurality of pixels corresponding to an area; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the visual subsystem and adapted to generate, responsive to levels of the pixels, output messages relating to a plural subset of;

dimming lighting for the area, changing a state of the lamp, indicating that the area is over an allowable capacity, indicating that an energy requirement for environmental control of the area may be altered, and providing a security status.

40. A lighting system, comprising:

a first subsystem adapted to determine whether a lamp is in a fired state;

a second subsystem adapted to control the lamp by selective provision of one of a plurality of waveforms to the lamp; and

a processor operatively coupled to the first subsystem and the second subsystem and adapted to direct operation of the second subsystem based on whether the lamp is in a fired state as indicated by the first subsystem.

41. A system, comprising:

a first subsystem including a first load, a first processor and a first sensor, the first subsystem controlling the first load and being configured to generate an event signal responsive to operation of the first sensor; and

a second subsystem including a second load, the second subsystem configured to receive the event signal and, when in a first state, take a first action on the second load responsive to the event signal and, when in a second state, take a second action on the second load responsive to the event signal.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein a serial ring network provides communications between the first subsystem and the second subsystem.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the environmental conditions include at least one of:

length of day, input voltage;

ambient light, and occupancy.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the second subsystem includes a second processor and a second sensor and is configured to generate a second event signal responsive to operation of the second sensor, the first subsystem configured to receive the second event signal and take an action on the first load responsive to the second event signal and to a first subsystem state.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the second subsystem includes a second sensor, and wherein the environmental conditions are determined using outputs from the first sensor and the second sensor.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the first sensor is a camera providing output comprising a matrix of pixels, and wherein the environmental conditions are determined based on levels of a subset of said pixels.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein a processor determines the environmental conditions by application of hysteresis processing to output from the first sensor.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the first sensor further comprises a connector, the connector being configured such that the first subsystem identifies a type for the sensor based on characteristics of the connector.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the first subsystem includes a network IN connector, the first subsystem being adapted to self configure as a master responsive to absence of connection at the IN connector and as a slave responsive to presence of connection at the IN connector.