LIGHTING DEVICE AND APPARATUS WITH MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS FOR PROCESSING A COMMON SENSED CONDITION

• US 20150235528A1
• Filed: 05/01/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramer, David P., Rains, Jack C. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,089,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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 device or an apparatus for use with a light source has one or more sensors, intelligence in the form of programmed processors and communication capabilities. Each sensor is configured to monitor one or more conditions external to a lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device. Programming provides a standardized interface to enable processing of sensed conditions from sensors of different types.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor coupling configured to present a standardized sensor connection interface, the standardized sensor connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors;

a sensor connected to the standardized sensor connection interface of the sensor coupling, the sensor being of one of the different types and located so as to sense one of a plurality of conditions not directly related to operation of the light source, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the sensed condition via the standardized sensor connection interface of the sensor coupling;

a processor coupled to the sensor coupling;

a communication interface accessible by the processor;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming stored in the memory, wherein execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, in a standardized signal format, the signal from the sensor;

deliver, in a standardized data format and based at least in part on the signal, first data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a first application program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor;

deliver, in the standardized data format and based at least in part on the signal, second data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a second application program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor;

enable processing of the first data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the first application program;

enable processing of the second data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the second application program;

communicate, in a standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a first destination, first information resulting from processing of the first data representing the sensed condition; and

communicate, in the standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a second destination, second information resulting from processing of the second data representing the sensed condition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the function to communicate the first information and the function to communicate the second information both utilize the communication interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second communication interface, wherein:

the function to communicate the first information utilizes the communication interface; and

the function to communicate the second information utilizes the second communication interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a local wireless transceiver coupled to the second communication interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a module housing containing at least the processor, memory and communication interface,

wherein the housing is configured for mounting together with a fixture containing the light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor also is coupled to control the light source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the light source, the second sensor being configured to output a second signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the light source,

wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the second signal from the second sensor;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source to the second application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source by the processor on behalf of the second application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, in the standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to the second destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first and second application programs;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the second signal is received in the standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source is delivered in the standardized data format.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the light source, the second sensor being configured to output a second signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the light source,

wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the second signal from the second sensor;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source to a third application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source by the processor on behalf of the third application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, in the standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a third destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first, second and third application programs;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the second signal is received in the standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source is delivered in the standardized data format.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first and second application programs;

the programming implements a different standard application programming interface for the third application program;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the implemented different standard application programming interface defines;

a different standardized signal format; and

a different standardized data format;

the second signal is received in the different standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source is delivered in the different standardized data format.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an output driver, coupled for control by the processor, configured to drive an information output device coupled to the apparatus,

wherein further execution of the programming by the processor further configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, from the network via the communication interface and in the standardized communication format enabled by the programming, information for local output; and

operate the at least one output driver to cause the information output device to reproduce the received information.

15. A lighting device, comprising:

a light source;

a sensor coupling, configured to present a sensor connection interface standardized across at least a plurality of the lighting devices, the standardized connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors;

a sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling, the sensor being of one of the different types and located so as to sense one of a plurality of conditions external to the lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the lighting device, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the one sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling;

a processor coupled to the sensor coupling;

a communication interface accessible by the processor;

a memory accessible to the processor;

programming stored in the memory, wherein execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, in a standardized signal format, the signal from the sensor;

deliver, in a standardized data format and based at least in part on the signal, first data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a first application program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor;

deliver, in a standardized data format and based at least in part on the signal, second data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a second application program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor;

enable processing of the first data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the first application program;

enable processing of the second data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the second application program;

communicate, in a standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a first destination, first information resulting from processing the first data representing the sensed condition; and

communicate, via the communication interface and in a standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a second destination, second information resulting from processing of the second data representing the sensed condition.

16. The lighting device of claim 15, wherein the function to communicate the first information and the function to communicate the second information both utilize the communication interface.

17. The lighting device of claim 15, further comprising a second communication interface, wherein:

the function to communicate the first information utilizes the communication interface; and

the function to communicate the second information utilizes the second communication interface.

18. The lighting device of claim 17, further comprising a local wireless transceiver coupled to the second communication interface.

19. The lighting device of claim 15, further comprising:

another sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the lighting device, the other sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device, wherein;

the processor is also coupled to control the light source; and

further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device;

deliver, based at least in part on the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device, third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device to the second application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device by the processor on behalf of the second application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device.

20. The lighting device of claim 19, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, in the standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to the second destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device.

21. The lighting device as in claim 19, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first and second application programs;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is received in the standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is delivered in the standardized format.

22. The lighting device of claim 15, further comprising:

another sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the lighting device, the other sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device, wherein;

the processor is also coupled to control the light source; and

further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device;

deliver, based at least in part on the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device, third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device to a third application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device by the processor on behalf of the third application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device.

23. The lighting device of claim 22, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, in the standardized communications format enabled by the programming and to a third destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device.

24. The lighting device of claim 22, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first, second and third application programs;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is received in the standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is delivered in the standardized data format.

25. The lighting device of claim 22, wherein:

the programming implements a standard application programming interface for the first and second application programs;

the programming implements a different standard application programming interface for the third application program;

the implemented standard application programming interface defines;

the standardized signal format; and

the standardized data format;

the implemented different standard application programming interface defines;

a different standardized signal format; and

a different standardized data format;

the signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is received in the different standardized signal format; and

the third data representing the sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device is delivered in the different standardized data format.

26. An apparatus for use with a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition not directly related to operation of the light source, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the sensed condition;

a processor having access to the sensor;

a communication interface accessible by the processor;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming stored in the memory, wherein execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to;

receive the signal from the sensor;

based at least in part on the signal, deliver first data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a first application program corresponding at least in part to the type of the sensor;

based at least in part on the signal, deliver second data representing the condition sensed by the sensor to a second application program corresponding at least in part to the type of the sensor;

enable processing of the first data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the first application program;

enable processing of the second data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the second application program;

communicate, to a first destination, first information resulting from processing of the first data representing the sensed condition; and

communicate, to a second destination, second information resulting from processing of the second data representing the sensed condition.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the function to communicate the first information and the function to communicate the second information both utilize the communication interface.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a second communication interface, wherein:

the function to communicate the first information utilizes the communication interface; and

the function to communicate the second information utilizes the second communication interface.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a local wireless transceiver coupled to the second communication interface.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a module housing containing at least the processor, memory and communication interface,

wherein the housing is configured for mounting together with a fixture containing the light source.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor also is coupled to control the light source.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a second sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the light source, the second sensor being configured to output a second signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the light source,

wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the second signal from the second sensor;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source to the second application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source by the processor on behalf of the second application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, to the second destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a second sensor of a type and located so as to sense a condition related to operation of the light source, the second sensor being configured to output a second signal responsive to the sensed condition related to operation of the light source,

wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to;

receive the second signal from the second sensor;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source to a third application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source by the processor on behalf of the third application program; and

control operation of the light source at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

communicate, to a third destination, third information resulting from processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the light source.

36. An article of manufacture, comprising:

non-transitory computer readable medium; and

programming embodied in the medium, wherein execution of the programming by a processor associated with a lighting device configures the processor to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, from a sensor, a signal responsive to a sensed condition not directly related to operation of the lighting device;

deliver, based at least in part on the signal, first data representing the sensed condition to a first application program corresponding at least in part to the sensor;

deliver, based at least in part on the signal, second data representing the sensed condition to a second application program corresponding at least in part to the sensor;

enable processing of the first data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the first application program;

enable processing of the second data representing the sensed condition by the processor on behalf of the second application program;

communicate, to a first destination, first information resulting from processing of the first data representing the sensed condition; and

communicate, to a second destination, second information resulting from processing of the second data representing the sensed condition.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the first and second application programs are embodied in the medium.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

receive, from a second sensor, a second signal responsive to a sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device to the second application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device by the processor on behalf of the second application program; and

control operation of the lighting device at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein further execution of the programming by the processor configures the processor to implement further functions, including functions to:

receive, from a second sensor, a second signal responsive to a sensed condition related to operation of the lighting device;

deliver, based at least in part on the second signal, third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device to a third application program;

enable processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device by the processor on behalf of the third application program; and

control operation of the lighting device at least in part responsive to the processing of the third data representing the condition related to operation of the lighting device.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 39, wherein the first, second and third application programs are embodied in the medium.