Universal Lighting Source Controller with Integral Power Metering
First Claim
1. A lighting control system, comprising:
- a lighting control circuit operable to receive a control signal comprising a command to energize a light source and allow electrical energy to flow to the light source in response to the command; and
a controller communicably coupled to the lighting control circuit, the controller operable to transmit the control signal to the control circuit,wherein the lighting control circuit is electrically coupled to the light source, andwherein the lighting control circuit is operable for use with at least two of fluorescent, incandescent, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, light emitting diode (LED), high intensity discharge (HID), neon, and cold cathode light sources.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal lighting source controller including integral power metering for use with substantially all light source types including fluorescent, incandescent, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, light emitting diode (“LED”), high density discharge (“HID”), neon, and cold cathode. The lighting source controller includes a line voltage dimming circuit that can control the intensity of light sources in a lighting circuit and measures the actual amount of power consumed by the light sources. The line voltage dimming circuit includes a triac circuit for controlling this intensity and current and voltage detection circuits for measuring the power consumption. The lighting source controller can also include low voltage dimming circuits to provide a control signal to light sources having electronic or magnetic dimming ballasts to set the intensity of these light sources.
61 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A lighting control system, comprising:
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a lighting control circuit operable to receive a control signal comprising a command to energize a light source and allow electrical energy to flow to the light source in response to the command; and a controller communicably coupled to the lighting control circuit, the controller operable to transmit the control signal to the control circuit, wherein the lighting control circuit is electrically coupled to the light source, and wherein the lighting control circuit is operable for use with at least two of fluorescent, incandescent, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, light emitting diode (LED), high intensity discharge (HID), neon, and cold cathode light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A lighting circuit control card for use with a plurality of types of lighting sources, comprising:
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a control circuit, electrically coupled to at least one light source, the control circuit operable to receive a control signal comprising an indication that the at least one light source should be energized and operable to permit electrical energy to flow to the at least one light source in response to the indication; and a power metering circuit operable to determine an amount of electrical power consumed by the at least one light source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a light source, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a control signal at a lighting control circuit, the control signal comprising a command to energize the light source and a desired intensity level for the light source; in response to receiving the control signal, allowing, by the lighting control circuit, electrical energy to flow to the light source; and measuring, by the lighting control circuit, an amount of electrical energy used by the light source, wherein the lighting control circuit is operable for use with at least two of fluorescent, incandescent, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, light emitting diode (“
LED”
), high density discharge (“
HID”
), neon, and cold cathode light sources. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A lighting system, comprising:
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a lighting controller operable to send control signals to line voltage dimming cards; one or more line voltage dimming cards communicably coupled to the lighting controller, each line voltage dimming card comprising; a control circuit, electrically coupled to a lighting circuit comprising at least one light source, the control circuit operable to receive a control signal comprising an indication that the at least one light source should be energized and a desired intensity level for the at least one light source, the control circuit further operable to permit electrical energy to flow to the at least one light source in response to the indication and control an intensity level of the at least one light source in response to the desired intensity level; and a power metering circuit operable to determine an amount of electrical power consumed by the at least one light source in the lighting circuit; and a user interface communicably coupled to the lighting controller and operable to receive configuration information for the panel controller and the one or more line voltage dimming cards and further operable to output a representation of the amount of electrical power consumed by the at least one light source from the lighting controller, wherein each of the line voltage dimming cards is operable for use with at least two of fluorescent, incandescent, magnetic low voltage, electronic low voltage, light emitting diode (“
LED”
), high density discharge (“
HID”
), neon, and cold cathode light sources. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification