Registering a replaceable RF-enabled fluorescent lamp starter unit to a master unit
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- (a) registering a wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit to a master unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A replaceable fluorescent lamp starter unit of a fluorescent light fixture has a built-in RF transceiver, and communicates wirelessly with a motion-detecting master unit. The starter unit can be controlled to turn off and turn on the fluorescent lamp of the fixture. The starter unit is registered to the master unit so that the starter unit will not respond to wireless communications from other sources. During registration, registration information is loaded into the starter unit and stored in non-volatile memory. The stored registration information is later usable to determine whether subsequently received wireless communications are for the starter unit. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can turn off the lights to conserve energy if room occupancy is not detected. The master unit can control lamp fixtures individually or as a group.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
(a) registering a wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit to a master unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
providing a wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit adapted to be registered with a master unit, whereupon after registration of the starter unit with the master unit the starter unit is usable to turn off a fluorescent lamp. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit, comprising:
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a first terminal; a second terminal; a receiver that receives a wireless communication onto the wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit; fluorescent lamp interface circuitry coupled to the first terminal to the second terminal; and a microcontroller that executes an amount of firmware, wherein the microcontroller stores registration information and causes the starter unit to use the registration information to determine whether the wireless communication is intended for the wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit, wherein the microcontroller is adapted to control the fluorescent lamp interface circuitry such that a fluorescent lamp coupled to the first and second terminals can be selectively turned on under firmware control and turned off under firmware control. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit, comprising:
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a first terminal; a second terminal, wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are adapted to be coupled to a fluorescent lamp; a Radio-Frequency (RF) receiver that receives an RF communication onto the wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit; fluorescent lamp interface circuitry coupled to the first terminal to the second terminal; and means for receiving registration information and for causing the registration information to be used by the wireless lamp starter unit to determine whether the RF communication is intended for the wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit, wherein the means is also for controlling the fluorescent lamp interface circuitry such that the fluorescent lamp is turned off in response to receiving of the RF communication onto the wireless fluorescent lamp starter unit. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification