Apparatus and Method for Power Management of a System of Indicator Light Devices

• US 20120280793A1
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banner Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Banner Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Fayfield, Robert T., Marjamaa, Roman York
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

Indicator light devices are useful in many applications for indicating properties of physical spaces respectively associated therewith and in physical proximity thereto. The indicator light devices are network-enabled and self-powered, and capable of participating in coordinated power-managed operation to provide a sufficient service life and lower installation and replacement costs. The indicator light devices may be used with or without associated sensors. The various embodiments described herein use various power management techniques singly or in combination to greatly increase the service life of self-power indicator light devices without diminishing their effectiveness in the application. These techniques include operating only the indicator light devices associated with the physical spaces having properties of interest, operating the indicator light devices with synchronized flashing, operating the indicator light devices in accordance with the detection of specific conditions, relevant time operation, in-vicinity activation, and ambient light responsiveness.

Claims

1. A method of operating a plurality of indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility and networked over a wireless network for indicating a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, comprising:

identifying a first subset of the physical locations having a first condition of interest, a first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the first subset of physical locations; and

operating the first subset of indicator light devices to provide a visual indication of the first subset of physical locations to the user;

wherein the operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information conveyed over the wireless network to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices without simultaneously flashing any of the indicator light devices outside of the subset of indicator light devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is vacant parking spots; and

the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition of interest.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second subset of the physical locations having a second condition of interest, a second subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the second subset of physical locations; and

operating the second subset of indicator light devices to provide a visual indication of the second subset of physical locations to the user;

wherein the second subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the second subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information to visually indicate the second subset of physical locations to the user.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source of a first color and a second light source of a second color different than the first color, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices at first times; and

the second subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the second subset of indicator light devices at second times different than the first times.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source of a first color and a second light source of a second color different than the first color, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest; and

the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices at first times; and

the second subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the second subset of indicator light devices at the first times.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source and a second light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is vacant parking spots;

the first color is green;

the second condition of interest is occupied parking spots; and

the second color is red.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source and a second light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is vacant parking spots;

the first color is green;

the second condition of interest is handicapped parking spots; and

the second color is blue.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source and a second light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is handicapped parking spots;

the first color is blue;

the second condition of interest is occupied parking spots; and

the second color is red.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a second subset of the physical locations having a second condition of interest, a second subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the second subset of physical locations; and

operating the second subset of indicator light devices to provide a visual indication of the second subset of physical locations to the user, further comprising synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the second subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information to visually indicate the second subset of physical locations to the user;

identifying a third subset of the physical locations having a third condition of interest, a third subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the third subset of physical locations; and

operating the third subset of indicator light devices to provide a visual indication of the third subset of physical locations to the user, further comprising synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the third subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information to visually indicate the third subset of physical locations to the user;

wherein each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first, second and third conditions of interest;

wherein the facility is a parking garage;

wherein the first condition of interest is vacant parking spots;

wherein the first color is green;

wherein the second condition of interest is handicapped parking spots;

wherein the second color is blue;

wherein the third condition of interest is occupied parking spots; and

wherein the third color is red.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the indicator light devices are self-powered.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising installing the indicator light devices in the facility, wherein each of the indicator devices comprises:

a light source for providing the visual indication;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the light source and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the light source, and the wireless communications node.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising installing a plurality of object sensing devices physically associated with the physical locations in the facility for sensing presence or absence of an object, wherein each of the object sensing devices comprises:

an object sensor;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the object sensor and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the object sensor comprises a magnetometer, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising installing the indicator light devices in the facility, wherein each of the indicator devices comprises:

a light source for providing the visual indication;

an object sensor for sensing presence or absence of an object;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the light source, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the light source, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the object sensor comprises a magnetometer, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user based on presence of the user.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating one or more indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user at varying intensities during relevant times.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user at varying intensities based on ambient light.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user (a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user, (d) at varying intensities during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensities based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating step further comprises adjusting respective intensities of flashing of one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the intensities adjusting step further comprises adjusting flash rate, flash pattern, flash duty cycle, light power, or any combination thereof, of one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the facility is a warehouse;

the first condition of interest is available items in bins; and

the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition of interest.

26. A system comprising:

a wireless network;

a plurality of indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility for indicating a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the indicator light devices being networked over the network; and

a synchronization controller networked to the indicator light devices over the network for providing synchronization information to a first subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices, the first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a first subset of the physical locations having the condition or conditions of interest to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the synchronization controller is disposed in at least one of the indicator light devices.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the synchronization controller is distributed among the indicator light devices.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the synchronization controller is disposed in a unit that is separate and distinct from the indicator light devices.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a gateway; and

the indicator light devices are nodes networked to the gateway.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a master; and

the indicator light devices are slaves networked to the master.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a host; and

the indicator light devices are networked to the host.

33. The system of claim 26 further comprising

a plurality of additional indicator light devices physically associated with respective additional physical locations in a facility for indicating the condition or conditions of interest at the additional physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the additional indicator light devices being networked over the network;

and

an additional synchronization controller networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network for providing synchronization information to a subset of the additional indicator light devices to synchronously flash the subset of additional indicator light devices, the subset of additional indicator light devices being physically associated with a subset of the additional physical locations having the condition or conditions of interest to visually indicate the subset of additional physical locations to the user;

34. The system of claim 33 further comprising

a gateway device networked to the indicator light devices over the network, the gateway devices comprising the synchronization controller;

and

an additional gateway device networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network, the additional gateway devices comprising the additional synchronization controller.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a host networked to the gateway device and the additional gateway device.

36. The system of claim 33 further comprising

a client device networked to the indicator light devices over the network, the client devices comprising the synchronization controller;

and

an additional client device networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network, the additional client devices comprising the additional synchronization controller.

37. The system of claim 36 further comprising a server networked to the client device and the additional client device.

38. The system of claim 26 wherein the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition of interest.

39. The system of claim 26 wherein the synchronization controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network for providing synchronization information to a second subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the second subset of the indicator light devices, the second subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a second subset of the physical locations having a second condition of interest to visually indicate the second subset of physical locations to the user.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source and a second light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the system controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network for providing synchronization information to a third subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the third subset of the indicator light devices, the third subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a third subset of the physical locations having a third condition of interest to visually indicate the third subset of physical locations to the user.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first, second and third conditions of interest.

43. The system of claim 26 wherein the facility is a parking garage, and the first condition of interest is vacant parking spots.

44. The system of claim 26 wherein the facility is a warehouse, and the first condition of interest is available items in bins.

45. The system of claim 26 further comprising a light controller networked to the indicator light devices over the network for operating one or more of the indicator lights devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user:

(a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user, (d) at varying intensities during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensities based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

46. An indicator light device for use on a wireless network in a facility along with a plurality of networked indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility for indicating a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the indicator light device comprising:

a light source for providing the visual indication;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the light source and the wireless communications node; and

a computer-readable medium accessible to the controller, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises controller-executable program instructions for;

identifying a first subset of the physical locations having a first condition of interest, a first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the first subset of physical locations; and

providing synchronization information to the first subset of the indicator light devices via the wireless communications node to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices and visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user.

47. The indicator light device of claim 46 further comprising an object sensor for sensing presence or absence of an object, wherein the controller further is for controlling the object sensor.

48. The indicator light device of claim 47 further comprising a self-power source for powering the controller, the computer-readable medium, the light source, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node.

49. The indicator light device of claim 46 further comprising a self-power source for powering the controller, the computer-readable medium, the light source, and the wireless communications node.

50. The indicator light device of claim 46 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises controller-executable program instructions for operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user:

(a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user, (d) at varying intensity during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensity based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.