AMBIENT LIGHT REGULATION METHODS

• US 20150145418A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated), RF Micro Devices Incorporated (Qorvo, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pope, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,470,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/152
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• 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

A lighting fixture includes a solid-state light source and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to receive one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to the amount of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor, and determine a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor. The control circuitry is then configured to drive the solid-state light source such that the one or more ambient light level measurements received from the ambient light sensor fall within the determined range of values.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture comprising:

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to the amount of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor;

determine a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

drive the solid-state light source such that the one or more ambient light level measurements falls within the determined range of values.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 further including the ambient light sensor.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the range of values is about 2% of the total range of the ambient light level measurements.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein determining the range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a second level; and

determining the range of values based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 5 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 4 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 9 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

11. A lighting fixture comprising:

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to the amount of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor;

determine a setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

adjust the determined setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements based on a drive signal provided to the solid-state light source.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 11 further including the ambient light sensor.

13. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein determining the setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a second level; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

14. The lighting fixture of claim 13 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

15. The lighting fixture of claim 14 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

16. The lighting fixture of claim 13 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

17. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

19. The lighting fixture of claim 18 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

20. A lighting fixture comprising:

a solid-state light source; and

control circuitry configured to;

receive one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding to the amount of ambient light detected by an ambient light sensor;

determine a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

adjust the determined range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements based on a drive signal provided to the solid-state light source.

21. The lighting fixture of claim 20 further including the ambient light sensor.

22. The lighting fixture of claim 20 wherein the range of values is about 2% of the total range of the ambient light level measurements.

23. The lighting fixture of claim 20 wherein determining the range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a second level; and

determining the range of values based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

24. The lighting fixture of claim 23 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

25. The lighting fixture of claim 24 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

26. The lighting fixture of claim 23 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

27. The lighting fixture of claim 20 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

28. The lighting fixture of claim 20 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

29. The lighting fixture of claim 28 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

30. A method of operating a lighting fixture including a solid-state light source comprising:

receiving one or more ambient light level measurements from an ambient light sensor;

determining a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

driving the solid-state light source such that the one or more ambient light level measurements falls within the determined range of values.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the range of values is about 2% of the total range of the ambient light level measurements.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein determining the range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source drive at a second level; and

determining the range of values based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

40. A method of operating a lighting fixture including a solid-state light source comprising:

receiving one or more ambient light level measurements from an ambient light sensor;

determining a setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

adjusting the determined setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements based on a drive signal provided to the solid-state light source.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein determining the setpoint for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a second level; and

determining the setpoint based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.

49. A method of operating a lighting fixture including a solid-state light source comprising:

receiving one or more ambient light level measurements from an ambient light sensor;

determining a range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with a desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor; and

adjusting the determined range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements based on a drive signal provided to the solid-state light source.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the ambient light sensor is included in the lighting fixture.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the range of values is about 2% of the total range of the ambient light level measurements.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein determining the range of values for the one or more ambient light level measurements corresponding with the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor comprises:

reading one or more first ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a first level;

reading one or more second ambient light level measurements from the ambient light sensor with the solid-state light source driven at a second level; and

determining the range of values based on a difference between the one or more first ambient light level measurements and the one or more second ambient light level measurements.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven to a fully on state.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being off.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein the first level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a first dimming level and the second level corresponds to the solid-state light source being driven at a second dimming level, which is different from the first dimming level.

56. The method of claim 49 wherein the desired amount of light detected by the ambient light sensor corresponds to a reference light level being reflected off of a task surface that is at least partially illuminated by the lighting fixture.

57. The method of claim 49 wherein the solid-state light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one LED that emits light at a first color and at least one other LED that emits light at a second color that is different from the first color.