Wireless Remote Control Lighting Unit and Wireless Remote Control Lighting System and Control Method Thereof

• US 20110248643A1
• Filed: 03/27/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Richtek Technology Corporation (MediaTek, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tu, Shen, Liu, Jing-Meng
• Granted Patent: US 8,410,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

The present invention discloses a wireless remote control lighting unit and a wireless remote control lighting system and a control method thereof. The wireless remote control lighting unit comprises a power on detection circuit, which detects and counts the power on times of a power source during a predetermined period. When the power on times reach a threshold number, the wireless remote control lighting unit enters an address setting mode to set its address.

Claims

1. A wireless remote control lighting unit which receives power from a power source, the wireless remote control lighting unit comprising:

a lighting unit;

a power circuit coupled to the lighting unit;

a driver circuit controlling the power circuit to supply current or voltage to the lighting unit for lighting; and

a power on detection circuit detecting and counting power on times of the power source during a predetermined period, wherein when the power on times reach a threshold number, the wireless remote control lighting unit enters an address setting mode to set an address of the wireless remote control lighting unit.

2. The wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor coupled to the power on detection circuit, the capacitor supplying power to the power on detection circuit when the power source is powered off during the predetermined period.

3. The wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 1, further comprising a receiver circuit configured to receive a remote control signal, wherein the remote control signal includes an address signal for setting the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit.

4. The wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the wireless remote control lighting unit compares the address signal with its current address to determine whether or not to set the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit according to the address signal.

5. The wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power on detection circuit detects and counts the power on times of the power source during the predetermined period in a manner selected from one or a combination of two or more of the followings:

counting total power on times of the power source during a preset period, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement, counting total power off times of the power source during a preset period, counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, or counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement.

6. A wireless remote control lighting system, comprising:

a remote controller transmitting a remote control signal, wherein the remote control signal contains an address signal;

a wireless remote control lighting unit which receives power from a power source and receives the remote control signal, the wireless remote control lighting unit including a power on detection circuit which detects and counts power on times of the power source during a predetermined period, wherein when the power on times reach a threshold number, the wireless remote control lighting unit enters an address setting mode to set an address of the wireless remote control lighting unit.

7. The wireless remote control lighting system of claim 6, wherein the wireless remote control lighting unit further includes a capacitor coupled to the power on detection circuit, the capacitor supplying power to the power on detection circuit when the power source is powered off during the predetermined period.

8. The wireless remote control lighting system of claim 6, wherein the wireless remote control lighting unit compares the address signal with its current address to determine whether or not to set the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit according to the address signal.

9. The wireless remote control lighting system of claim 6, wherein the power on detection circuit detects and counts the power on times of the power source during the predetermined period in a manner selected from one or a combination of two or more of the followings:

counting total power on times of the power source during a preset period, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement, counting total power off times of the power source during a preset period, counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, or counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement.

10. A control method for a wireless remote control lighting unit, the wireless remote control lighting unit receiving power from a power source, the method comprising:

detecting and counting power on times of the power source during a predetermined period;

entering an address setting mode for setting an address of the wireless remote control lighting unit when the power on times reach a threshold number;

receiving a remote control signal, wherein the remote control signal includes an address signal; and

setting the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit according to the address signal.

11. The control method for a wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the step of setting the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit according to the address signal comprises:

comparing the address signal with a current address of the wireless remote control lighting unit in the address setting mode;

keeping the current address of the wireless remote control lighting unit when the address signal is the same as the current address; and

setting the address of the wireless remote control lighting unit according to the address signal when the address signal is not the same as the current address.

12. The control method for a wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 10, further comprising:

leaving the address setting mode when address setting is not completed within an address setting period.

13. The control method for a wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the step of detecting and counting the power on times of the power source during the predetermined period includes one or a combination of two or more of the followings:

counting total power on times of the power source during a preset period, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, counting power on times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement, counting total power off times of the power source during a preset period, counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power on times meets a predetermined requirement, or counting power off times of the power source when an interval between two successive power off times meets a predetermined requirement.

14. The control method for a wireless remote control lighting unit of claim 10, further comprising:

dividing a plurality of wireless remote control lighting units into several groups, wherein each of the groups includes at least one wireless remote control lighting unit; and

providing each of the groups with a switch, wherein one of the groups receives the power from the power source through the corresponding switch.