METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING RELATIVE POSITIONS OF LED LIGHTING UNITS
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- A) addressing each addressable LED-based lighting unit of a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) arranged in a linear configuration on a communication bus (204) comprising a data line (206a, 206b, 206c), a power line (206a, 206b, 206c), and a ground line (206a, 206b, 206c); and
B) counting, for each addressable LED-based lighting unit (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d), a number of times a change in an electrical property at least partially dependent on current occurs on the data line or the power line or the ground line in response to A).
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for determining the relative electrical positions of lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) arranged in a linear configuration along a communication bus (204) are provided. The methods may involve addressing each lighting unit (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) of the linear configuration once, and counting a number of detected events at the position of each lighting unit. The number of detected events may be unique to each electrical position, thus providing an indication of the relative position of a lighting unit within the linear configuration. The methods may be implemented at least in part by a controller (210) common to multiple lighting units of a lighting system, or may be implemented substantially by the lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) themselves.
107 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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A) addressing each addressable LED-based lighting unit of a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) arranged in a linear configuration on a communication bus (204) comprising a data line (206a, 206b, 206c), a power line (206a, 206b, 206c), and a ground line (206a, 206b, 206c); and B) counting, for each addressable LED-based lighting unit (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d), a number of times a change in an electrical property at least partially dependent on current occurs on the data line or the power line or the ground line in response to A). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of operating a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) arranged in a linear configuration on a communication bus (204), the method comprising:
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A) sending a signal to a first addressable LED-based lighting unit of the plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d); and B) monitoring, at an electrical position of each of the plurality of LED-based lighting units, an electrical property of the communication bus at least partially dependent on current for a change in current resulting from the first addressable LED-based lighting unit responding to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one addressable LED (202a, 202b, 202c, 202d) for receiving a signal from a communication bus (204); a sensor (208a, 208b, 208c, 208d) for monitoring, at an electrical position of the at least one addressable LED, an electrical property of the communication bus at least partially dependent on current; and a counter (210a, 210b, 210c, 210d) coupled to the sensor (208a, 208b, 208c, 208d) for counting a number of times the sensor detects a change in the electrical property of the communication bus (204). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification