WIRELESS LIGHTING CONTROL METHODS

• US 20140152188A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Egan, Corey, Bora, Swapnil
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/210
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method for controlling lighting devices includes providing the lighting devices. Each lighting device includes two or more LEDs, an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs. One or more control signals are generated using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit. An on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED is generated using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED. A blended light is produced having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED; and

producing a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

executing one or more modes or programs using the controller/processor that control the LED current control circuit to produce a light in accordance with the one or more modes or programs; and

the one or more modes or programs comprise one or more default modes or programs, one or more user created modes or programs, one or more user profiles, an application programming interface program, a diagnostic/testing program, a user interface, or a combination thereof.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs include a reintegration mode that when executed performs the step of reconnecting the lighting device to the one or more other lighting devices.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs when executed performs the steps of:

selecting a level of control of the lighting device;

converting the selected level of control into one or more light control settings; and

transmitting the one or more light control settings to the lighting device for execution by the controller/processor.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs when executed performs the steps of:

selecting the lighting device or one or more other lighting devices; and

assigning the selected lighting device(s) to a new or existing group of lighting devices.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs when executed performs the steps of:

selecting the lighting device, one or more other lighting devices or one or more groups of lighting devices;

selecting a configuration or one or more settings for the selected lighting device(s);

selecting a timing condition when the selected configuration or settings are to executed; and

saving the selected timing condition and selected configurations or settings as an automated mode or program.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs includes a soft reset process.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs includes a visual or virtual representation of the lighting device located within one or more spaces.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, the controller/processor includes a security program that when executed performs the step of preventing unauthorized access to the one or more modes or programs.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, at least one of the one or more modes or programs are assigned a priority.

11. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise a scheduling program.

12. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise an energy reduction program, energy monitoring program, energy reporting program, or a combination thereof.

13. The lighting device as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise a data program that when executed performs the step of translating a data feed into one or more light settings or commands based on one or more user-defined or default settings.

14. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise an image reflection program that when executed performs the step of translating one or more images, sequences of images or characteristics of images into one or more lighting conditions.

15. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise a quick scene creation program that when executed performs the steps of capturing, saving and executing one or more scenes or settings.

16. The method as recited in claim 2, the one or more modes or programs comprise a location services and interactions program.

17. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED; and

producing a blended light having a specified color by turning ON the first type or color LED for a first portion of the cycle time and turning ON the second type or color LED for a second portion of the cycle time.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, the first type or color LED is not turned ON at the same time as the second type or color LED.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, each LED is turned ON and OFF for a time period calculated using a count corresponding to a color and brightness combination.

20. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor,

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs, the LED current control circuit comprising a PWM driver, a switching or multiplexer circuit, or one or more LED driver circuits;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED; and

producing a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a panel housing, wherein the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, the controller/processor and the LED current control circuit are disposed within the panel housing;

a wire, a cable or a connecting strip electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

an electrical connector electrically connected to the wire, the cable or the connecting strip;

the two or more LEDs are affixed to the panel housing and electrically connected to the electrical connector; and

a heat sink disposed within or integrated into the panel light housing.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising a hard reset circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising one or more sensors communicably coupled to the controller/processor or remotely located with respect to the lighting device and communicably coupled to the controller/process via the wireless transceiver circuit and antenna.

24. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor,

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs, the LED current control circuit comprising a PWM driver, a switching or multiplexer circuit, or one or more LED driver circuits;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED;

producing a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time;

providing one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof;

establishing one or more communications between the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof and the controller/processor of the one or more lighting device using the wireless transceiver circuit, the antenna and one or more communication protocols; and

displaying the one or more lighting devices or the one or more other lighting devices on the remote controller, wireless controller or wireless device in accordance with a default setup process, a user-defined filter or a user-defined sorting based on one or more criteria.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more commands from the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof; and

executing the one or more commands using the controller/processor.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, the one or more commands comprise one or more voice commands.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling one or more groups of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

28. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling one or more favorites of lighting devices or one or more screens of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

29. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling one or more modes or programs of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

30. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling a color, a brightness or a saturation of one or more groups of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.