METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE ZONAL TRANSMISSION OF DATA USING BUILDING LIGHTING FIXTURES

• US 20140285091A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Convergence Wireless, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Convergence Wireless, Inc.
• Inventors: Franklin, Philip G.
• Application Number:
  US14/163,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20140285091A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/382 with galvanic isolation between input and output
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

This invention relates to systems and methods for the transmission of data by a wireless controller connected between a power source and a lighting device. The wireless controller wirelessly receives control signals to control dimming and on/off operation of the lighting device. Furthermore, energy use of the lighting device is monitored and information about the energy use is sent wirelessly to a receiver.

Claims

1. A wireless controller configured for connection between a power source and a ballast, comprising:

a control signal circuit configured to wirelessly receive control signals to control dimming and on/off operation of the ballast;

a switching circuit configured to control power to the ballast in accordance with the wirelessly received control signal; and

a monitor circuit configured to;

monitor energy use controlled by the control circuit, including energy use of the ballast or one or more luminaires associated with the ballast, and

wirelessly send information about the energy use to a receiver.

2. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the control signal is decoded in one or more computer processors with an algorithm.

3. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the one or more computer processors comprises at least a microprocessor.

4. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the receiver is at least one of the group consisting of:

a peer device, a host computer, and a remote host computer.

5. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit is configured to control the power to the ballast with one or more computer processors that execute an algorithm.

6. The wireless controller of claim 1 further comprising an optical light sensor configured to measure a light level.

7. The wireless controller of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit is further configured to encode a message as an optical signal by generating a plurality of frequencies to modulate electrical energy supplied to each luminaire so as to modify light output level.

8. The wireless controller of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor enabled control circuit configured to transmit an encoded message via power lines to a base station.

9. A method of wireless controlling a ballast, comprising:

wirelessly receiving control signals at a control signal circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control dimming and on/off operation of the ballast;

controlling the power provided to a ballast in accordance with the wirelessly received control signal;

monitoring energy use controlled by the control circuit, including energy use of the ballast or one or more of the luminaires associated with the ballast, and

wirelessly sending information about the energy use to a receiver.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the control signal is decoded in one or more computer processors with an algorithm.

11. The wireless controller of claim 9 wherein the one or more computer processors comprises at least a microprocessor.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the receiver is at least one of the group consisting of:

a peer device, a host computer, and a remote host computer.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising controlling the power to the ballast with one or more computer processors that execute an algorithm.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising measuring a light level with an optical light sensor.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising encoding a message as an optical signal by generating a plurality of frequencies to modulate electrical energy supplied to each luminaire so as to modify light output level.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising a microprocessor enabled control circuit configured to transmit an encoded message via power lines to a base station.

17. A wireless controller configured for connection between a power source and an LED power circuit, comprising:

a control signal circuit configured to wirelessly receive control signals to control dimming and on/off operation of the LED power circuit;

a switching circuit configured to control power to the LED power circuit in accordance with the wirelessly received control signal; and

a monitor circuit configured to;

monitor energy use controlled by the control circuit, including energy use of the LED power circuit or one or more luminaires associated with the LED power circuit, and

wirelessly send information about the energy use to a receiver.

18. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the control signal is decoded in one or more computer processors with an algorithm.

19. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the one or more computer processors comprises at least a microprocessor.

20. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the receiver is at least one of the group consisting of:

a peer device, a host computer, and a remote host computer.

21. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the switching circuit is configured to control the power to the LED power circuit with one or more computer processors that execute an algorithm.

22. The wireless controller of claim 17 further comprising an optical light sensor configured to measure a light level.

23. The wireless controller of claim 17 wherein the switching circuit is further configured to encode a message as an optical signal by generating a plurality of frequencies to modulate electrical energy supplied to each luminaire so as to modify light output level.

24. The wireless controller of claim 17 further comprising a microprocessor enabled control circuit configured to transmit an encoded message via power lines to a base station.

25. A method of wireless controlling an LED power circuit, comprising:

wirelessly receiving control signals at a control signal circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to control dimming and on/off operation of the LED power circuit;

controlling the power provided to an LED power circuit in accordance with the wirelessly received control signal;

monitoring energy use controlled by the control circuit, including energy use of the LED power circuit or one or more of the luminaires associated with the LED power circuit, and

wirelessly sending information about the energy use to a receiver.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the control signal is decoded in one or more computer processors with an algorithm.

27. The wireless controller of claim 25 wherein the one or more computer processors comprises at least a microprocessor.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the receiver is at least one of the group consisting of:

a peer device, a host computer, and a remote host computer.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising controlling the power to the LED power circuit with one or more computer processors that execute an algorithm.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising measuring a light level with an optical light sensor.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising encoding a message as an optical signal by generating a plurality of frequencies to modulate electrical energy supplied to each luminaire so as to modify light output level.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising a microprocessor enabled control circuit configured to transmit an encoded message via power lines to a base station