LIGHTING CONTROL SWITCH APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 20110187275A1
• Filed: 12/27/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YWire Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: YWire Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Cassani, Pablo, Smith, R. Kyle, Tabba, Omar, Giltaca, Rod M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,544,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/159
• 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: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An improved hardware light switch and a system comprising at least one of the light switches and control/monitoring means is disclosed. The improved light switch and system provide a more flexible, convenient and economical means to reduce energy consumption both at the switch and remotely. In a first configuration, the improved light switch comprises an electronic switch, a broadband powerline communication (PLC) transceiver that includes processing ability, a unique MAC address and a TCP/IP stack.

Claims

1. An addressable controller comprising:

at least one relay;

a powerline communication module; and

a processor.

2. The addressable controller of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a manual override.

3. The addressable controller of claim 2, wherein the manual override is actuated by a user in a space.

4. The addressable controller of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises an embedded web page that displays data that regulate the functioning of the controller.

5. The addressable controller of claim 4, wherein the embedded web page allows said data to be changed by a user.

6. The addressable controller of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises at least one voltage input.

7. The addressable controller of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises at least one sensory element.

8. The addressable controller of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensory element is selected from the group consisting of:

a passive infrared sensor, and a light level sensor.

9. The addressable controller of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensory element is installed at a location apart from the controller, and is in a logical relationship with said controller.

10. The addressable controller of claim 7, wherein the at least one sensory element further includes at least one potentiometer for manual adjustment of said at least one sensory element.

11. A system for lighting a space comprising:

at least one addressable controller connected to a powerline network;

at least one light fixture;

wherein said at least one light fixture is coupled to the at least one addressable controller; and

wherein said at least one addressable controller is configured to replace an existing standard light switch without installation of additional wiring.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises a front end.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises at least one Ethernet-to-powerline router.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises at least one web server.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises at least one combination Ethernet-to-powerline router/web server.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises at least one ballast and wherein said ballast is connected to the at least one addressable controller.

17. A method of controlling lighting in a space, wherein the method comprises:

detecting motion in a space;

checking the status of a relay in an addressable controller;

initiating a time delay countdown when the relay is energized;

de-energizing the relay upon expiry of the time delay;

checking a light level sensor for an ambient light level;

comparing said ambient light level to a user-defined setpoint; and

energizing the relay when the ambient light level is below the user-defined setpoint.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

sending an operation status to an authority when the time delay countdown is initiated.

19. A method of controlling lighting in a space, wherein the method comprises:

detecting motion in a space;

checking the status of an analog output coupled to a dimmable ballast;

initiating a time delay countdown when the analog output is energized;

ramping down to zero the analog output upon expiry of the time delay;

checking a light level sensor for an ambient light level;

comparing said ambient light level to a user-defined setpoint;

holding the analog output at a set value for a set time duration;

checking for expiry of the time delay countdown; and

ramping up the analog output when the ambient light level is below the user-defined setpoint, until the ambient light level matches the user-defined setpoint.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

actuating a manual override;

re-checking the status of the analog output;

re-checking the light level sensor for the ambient light level when the analog output is not energized; and

ramping down to zero the analog output when the analog output is energized.