LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110010019A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• 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 8,670,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• 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 system for control of a set of powered utilities comprising:

a first device being configured to alter a first state of a first powered utility; and

a second device being configured to alter a second state of a second powered utility, said first and second powered utilities being utilized by consumers;

wherein said first device alters said first state to decrease said first powered utility'"'"'s power consumption by a first percentage;

wherein said second device alters said second state to decrease said second powered utility'"'"'s power consumption by a second percentage; and

wherein said first and second percentages minimize disruption for said consumers utilizing said first and second powered utilities.

2. The system from claim 1, wherein said first and second powered utility are one of a luminaire and an HVAC system.

3. The system from claim 1, further comprising:

a data port being located on said first device, said data port being configured to receive a signal;

wherein said signal is received from a utility company; and

wherein said first and second percentages are selected based on said signal.

4. The system from claim 1, wherein said first and second percentages are selected based on information regarding an actual usage scheme of said first and second powered utilities engaged in by said consumers.

5. The system from claim 4, further comprising:

a sensor port being located on said first device, said sensor port being configured to receive sensor data from a sensor;

wherein said sensor data is used to determine said actual usage scheme.

6. The system from claim 5, wherein said sensor data is logged and trended using fuzzy logic to determine said actual usage scheme.

7. The system from claim 4, further comprising:

a central controller capable of receiving sensor data from a set of sensors, and sending controller messages to said first and second devices;

wherein said sensor data is used to determine said actual usage scheme.

8. The system from claim 7, wherein said sensor data is combined with environmental, cultural, or climate-related information to determine said actual usage scheme.

9. The system from claim 8, wherein:

said first powered utility is located in a first facility; and

said second powered utility is located in a second facility.

10. A method for controlling a set of powered utilities comprising the steps of:

altering a first state of a first powered utility to decrease the power consumption of said first powered utility by a first percentage using a first device;

altering a second state of a second powered utility to decrease the power consumption of said second powered utility by a second percentage using a second device, said first and second powered utilities being utilized by consumers; and

selecting said first and second percentages to minimize disruption for said consumers utilizing said first and second powered utilities.

11. The method from claim 10, wherein said first and second powered utility are one of a luminaire and an HVAC system.

12. The method from claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from a utility company; and

delivering said signal to said first device using a data port located on said first device;

wherein said selecting is conducted automatically based on said signal.

13. The method from claim 11, further comprising the step of:

determining an actual usage scheme of said first and second powered utilities engaged in by said consumers;

wherein said selecting is conducted based on said actual usage scheme.

14. The method from claim 13, further comprising the step of:

receiving sensor data from a sensor using a sensor port on said first device;

wherein said determining is conducted based on said sensor data.

15. The method from claim 14, further comprising the step of:

logging said sensor data;

wherein said determining is conducted using fuzzy logic.

16. The method from claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

receiving sensor data from a set of sensors using a central controller; and

sending controller messages to said first and second devices using said central controller;

wherein said determining is conducted based on said sensor data.

17. The method from claim 16, wherein said determining is conducted based on environmental, cultural, or climate-related information.

18. A system for providing power to a set of facilities comprising:

a first data line configured for communication with a first energy load reduction system at a first facility;

a second data line configured for communication with a second energy load reduction system at a second facility; and

a control system configured to send a first message on said first data line and a second message on said second data line;

wherein said first and second messages instruct said first and second facilities to reduce power consumption by a first percentage and a second percentage respectively; and

wherein said control system selects said first and second percentages to minimize disruption at said first and second facilities.

19. The system from claim 18, wherein said control system is configured to select said first and second percentages based on information regarding an actual usage scheme of said first and second utilities engaged in by said consumers.

20. The system from claim 18, wherein said first and second messages are sent when said control system detects a potential brownout.