CONTROL SYSTEM FOR LIGHTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20130257291A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kent Tabor
• Original Assignee: Kent Tabor
• Inventors: Tabor, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/152
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• 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

A lighting system includes a light emitting element operable to emit light at a level between zero and 100 percent, a light level sensor positioned to detect a total level of light, and a motion detector positioned to detect a motion in a predefined space. A controller is coupled to the light emitting element, the light level sensor, and the motion detector and is operable to compare a measured total level of light to a set point and to activate the light emitting element in response to the measured total light level being below the setpoint. The controller is further operable to activate the light emitting element in response to the detection of motion within the space.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a light emitting element operable to emit light at a level between zero and 100 percent,

a light level sensor positioned to detect a total level of light;

a motion detector positioned to detect a motion in a predefined space;

a controller coupled to the light emitting element, the light level sensor, and the motion detector and operable to compare a measured total level of light to a set point and to activate the light emitting element in response to the measured total light level being below the setpoint, the controller further operable to activate the light emitting element in response to the detection of motion within the space.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the light emitting element includes a plurality of fluorescent lights.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluorescent lights are operable to emit an amount of light between zero and 100 percent.

4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein each of the fluorescent lights of the plurality of fluorescent lights is operable to emit one of no light or 100 percent of its capacity and wherein a portion of the plurality of fluorescent lights are operated at 100 percent to achieve a level of emitted light from the plurality of fluorescent lights that is below 100 percent.

5. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein each of the fluorescent lights of the plurality of fluorescent lights is operable to emit a level of light between zero and 100 percent such that the level of emitted light from the plurality of fluorescent lights can be set at any point between zero and 100 percent.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a remote sensor coupled to the controller, the remote sensor operable to remove a signal indicative of the setpoint, the controller operable to adjust the setpoint in response to receipt of the signal.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the remote sensor is an infrared (IR) sensor operable to detect an infrared signal.

8. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the remote sensor is a radio frequency (RF) sensor operable to detect a radio frequency.

9. A lighting system comprising:

a plurality of fluorescent light emitting units arranged to emit light in an area between a level of zero and 100 percent;

a light level sensor positioned to detect a total level of light and transmit a signal indicative of a measured light level;

a controller operable to receive the measured light level and compare the measured light level to a pre-set desired light level and to adjust the plurality of fluorescent light emitting units in response to that comparison to emit a level of light between zero and 100 percent in order to change the measured light level to substantially match the preset desired light level; and

a remote control device operable from a position apart from the controller to change the preset desired light level.

10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein each of the fluorescent light emitting units of the plurality of fluorescent light emitting units is operable to emit one of no light or 100 percent of its capacity and wherein a portion of the plurality of fluorescent light emitting units are operated at 100 percent to achieve a level of emitted light from the plurality of fluorescent light emitting units that is below 100 percent.

11. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein each of the fluorescent lights of the plurality of fluorescent lights is operable to emit a level of light between zero and 100 percent such that the level of emitted light from the plurality of fluorescent lights can be set at any point between zero and 100 percent.

12. The lighting system of claim 9, further comprising a remote sensor coupled to the controller, the remote sensor operable to receive a signal indicative of the desired light level, the controller operable to adjust the preset desired light level in response to receipt of the signal.

13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the remote sensor is an infrared (IR) sensor operable to detect an infrared signal.

14. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the remote sensor is a radio frequency (RF) sensor operable to detect a radio frequency.

15. A method of controlling a light level within a space, the method comprising:

sensing a current light level at a predetermined location;

storing a first desired light level in a controller;

comparing the sensed light level with the first desired light level;

adjusting the light output of a plurality of fluorescent lights in response to the comparison of the sensed light level to the first desired light level until the sensed light level is about equal to the first desired light level;

remotely adjusting the desired light level to a second desired light level; and

adjusting the light output of the plurality of fluorescent lights in response to a comparison of the sensed light level to the second desired light level until the sensed light level is about equal to the second desired light level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjusting the light output of the plurality of fluorescent lights includes activating a portion of the plurality of fluorescent lights at 100 percent of their light emitting capacity and deactivating the remainder of the plurality of fluorescent lights such that the total amount of light emitted by the plurality of fluorescent lights is less than 100 percent of the total possible amount of light emitted from the plurality of fluorescent lights.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the adjusting the light output of the plurality of fluorescent lights includes dimming each of the plurality of fluorescent lights such that each light emits light at a level between zero and 100 percent of its capacity and the total amount of light emitted by the plurality of fluorescent lights is between zero and 100 percent of the total capacity.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the remotely adjusting step includes emitting an infrared signal from a remote transmitter and receiving that signal at an infrared receiver, the infrared receiver communicating with a controller to adjust the desired light level in response to the signal.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the remotely adjusting step includes emitting a radio-frequency signal from a remote transmitter and receiving that signal at a radio-frequency receiver, the radio-frequency receiver communicating with a controller to adjust the desired light level in response to the signal.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising detecting motion within a predefined area and activating a portion of the plurality of fluorescent lights in response to the detected motion.