Intelligent and Emergency Light Control

• US 20120326608A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Ashar, Premal, Perkins, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,363,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems of an intelligent light controller controlling a light, are disclosed. One method includes interpreting a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply. Upon interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, the intelligent light controller controllably powers the light for a predetermined period of time. Further, the intelligent light controller executes an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

Claims

1. A method of an intelligent light controller controlling a light, comprising:

interpreting a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply;

powering, as controlled by the intelligent light controller, the light for a predetermined period of time upon interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

executing, by the intelligent light controller, an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

sensing motion; and

reactively adjusting an intensity of the light based at least in part on the sensed motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

sensing surrounding light; and

reactively adjusting the intensity of the light based at least in part on the sensed surrounding light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

monitoring at least one of a time, a day, a week, or a type of day; and

reactively adjusting the intensity of the light based at least in part on the time, day, week, or type of day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises a rebooting of the intelligent light controller.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprising:

initiating, by the intelligent light controller, communication with a non-emergency device;

confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises receiving an indication from a device that has control over the intelligent light controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device comprises an authorized device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises:

initiating, by the intelligent light controller, communication with a non-emergency device;

interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating, by the intelligent light controller, communication with a non-emergency device;

over-riding the powering of the light for the predetermined period of time if the initiated communication is successful during the predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent light controller comprises multiple personality modes, comprising at least an emergency mode for when the intelligent light controller interprets a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply, and an energy-savings mode for when the intelligent light controller is executing the energy-savings behavior control of the light.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the intelligent light controller additionally includes a manual mode, wherein the intelligent light controller can be given instructions to set the light intensity for a specified length of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the intelligent light controller additionally includes an ordinary light mode.

14. An intelligent light apparatus, comprising:

a light;

a controller, the controller operative to;

interpret a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply;

control powering of the light for a predetermined period of time upon interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply; and

execute an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

at least one of a motion sensor sensing motion, a light sensor for sensing surrounding light, or a monitored time and date; and

the controller operate to reactively adjust an intensity of the light based at least one of the sensed motion, the sensed light, or the monitored time or date.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprising a rebooting of the controller.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the controller confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprising the controller initiating communication with a non-emergency device, and the controller confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises the controller receiving an indication from an authorized device that has control over the intelligent light controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises the controller initiating communication with a non-emergency device, and the controller interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising the controller initiating communication with a non-emergency device, and the controller over-riding the powering of the light for the predetermined period of time if the initiated communication is successful during the predetermined period of time.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the intelligent light apparatus comprises multiple personality modes, comprising at least an emergency mode for when the controller interprets a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply, an energy-savings mode for when the controller executes the energy-savings behavior control of the light, a manual mode for when the controller sets a fixed intensity of the light for a period of time.

22. A lighting system, comprising:

at least one emergency-designated intelligent light;

at least one non-emergency-designated device;

wherein each emergency-designated intelligent light comprises;

a light;

a controller, the controller operative to;

interpret a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply;

control powering of the light for a predetermined period of time upon interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply; and

execute an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises a rebooting of the controller.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising the controller confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprising the controller initiating communication with at least one non-emergency-designated device, and the controller confirming the interpretation of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises the controller receiving an indication from an authorized device that has control over the intelligent light controller.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller interprets the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply comprises the controller initiating communication with at least one non-emergency-designated device, and the controller interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, if the initiated communication is not successful.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising the controller initiating communication with at least one non-emergency-designated device, and the controller over-riding the powering of the light for the predetermined period of time if the initiated communication is successful during the predetermined period of time.