Sensor Interface for Wireless Control

• US 20110112702A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Corr, Michael, Huizenga, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1793 Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/20 using multiple transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling communication with a wired sensor are provided. A wired sensor may be adapted for wireless communication using a sensor interface. A sensor interface is communicatively coupled with a wired sensor that provides information about a detected environmental condition. The sensor interface wirelessly transmits information received from the wired sensor to a controller that may control an electrical load based on the wirelessly transmitted information.

Claims

1. A system for enabling wireless communication with a wired sensor, the system comprising:

a power source for supplying continuous power to an electrical load device, the operation of the electrical load device controlled by a controller; and

a sensor interface communicatively coupled to a wired sensor, wherein the sensor interface;

receives information indicating an environmental condition detected by the wired sensor, and

wirelessly transmits the information received from the wired sensor to the controller, wherein the controller controls operation of the electrical load device based on the information wirelessly transmitted from the sensor interface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing preferences set by an administrator, the preferences concerning operational parameters of the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor interface is further configured to determine a type of environmental condition detected by the wired sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor interface is further configured to analyze the received information based on the determined type.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor interface is further configured to set a threshold associated with the detected environmental condition and wherein the information is wirelessly transmitted to the controller when the threshold is met.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor interface is further configured to receive updates wirelessly sent from an administrator and wherein the threshold is updated based on the received updates.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the threshold is further based on specified parameters concerning conditions other than the detected environmental condition.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical load device is a lighting fixture and controlling the electrical load device includes providing stepped lighting levels by individually activating one or more lights of a plurality of lights in the lighting fixture.

9. A method for enabling wireless communication with a wired sensor, the method comprising:

monitoring a wired sensor for generation of a signal indicating detection of an environmental condition,

receiving the signal from the wired sensor at a sensor interface, the signal including information regarding the environmental condition detected by the wired sensor; and

wirelessly transmitting the information regarding the detected environmental condition from the sensor interface to a wireless controller, wherein the wireless controller controls operation of an electrical load device based on the information wirelessly transmitted from the sensor interface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing preferences in a memory associated with the sensor interface, the preferences concerning operational parameters of the sensor.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a type of environmental condition detected by the wired sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising analyzing the received information based on the determined type.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting a threshold associated with the detected environmental condition, wherein the information is wirelessly transmitted to the controller when the threshold is met.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving updates wirelessly sent from an administrator and updating the threshold based on the received updates.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the threshold is further based on specified parameters concerning conditions other than the detected environmental condition.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical load device is a lighting fixture, wherein the signal wirelessly transmitted to the controller indicates a detected lighting level, and wherein responsive control of the electrical load device includes providing stepped lighting levels by individually activating or deactivating one or more lights of a plurality of lights in the lighting fixture.

17. An apparatus for enabling wireless communication with a wired sensor, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface for;

receiving a signal from a wired sensor determined to be present in the network, the signal including information regarding an environmental condition detected by the wired sensor;

wirelessly transmitting the information regarding an environmental condition to a controller for controlling an electrical load device based on the information; and

a memory to store information detected by the wired sensor.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a processor for executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor:

determines a type of environmental condition detected by the wired sensor; and

analyzes the received information based on the determined type, wherein analysis includes setting a threshold associated with the determined type of the detected environmental condition, wherein the information is wirelessly transmitted to the controller when the threshold is met.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communication interface receives updates wirelessly sent from an administrator and wherein the threshold is updated based on the received updates.

20. (canceled)