SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• US 20160091217A1
• Filed: 09/21/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: VANGEEL, JURGEN MARIO, VERBERKT, MARK HENRICUS, NARAYAN, LOKESH, RIETMAN, WIJNAND JOHANNES, DINGLE, SIMON, DE LAAT, JULES MARTINUS ADRIANUS GERARDUS, BHAT, SANJAY, VAN ENDERT, TONY PETRUS, VERSCHOOR, MICHAEL PETRUS FRANCISCUS, LENOIR, PETRUS JOHANNES
• Granted Patent: US 10,602,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/163 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart, intelligent house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25022 LAN local area network for controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25257 Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 : for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 : Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/502 : LED transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/681 : using addresses for wireless personal area networks or wireless sensor networks, e.g. Zigbee addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 : for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3921 : with possibility of light intensity variations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 : using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 : Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• 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: H05B 47/135 : by determining the type of light source being controlled electrical parameters of light source being controlled H05B47/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 : by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 : Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 : via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 : the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 : Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 : with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for adjusting environmental conditions based on automatically and manually generated requests. A commissioned unit comprising at least one IP luminaire (140, 150), transmits a signal comprising one or more identification codes. The signal may be, for example, a coded light signal. An environment control device (160) receives the signal, detects user input indicating one or more preferred environmental conditions, and transmits an environment control request comprising the one or more preferred environmental conditions. An environment manager module (110) receives the environment control request, generates an environment control command using the control request, and transmits the environment control command to one or more commissioned units to alter environmental conditions in a space in accordance with the user input.

Claims

1. A system for managing environmental conditions within a physical structure, the system comprising:

at least one commissioned unit configured to transmit a coded light signal comprising one or more identification codes;

an environment control device configured to receive the coded light signal from the at least one commissioned unit, to detect user input indicating one or more preferred environmental conditions, and to transmit an environment control request comprising the one or more preferred environmental conditions;

one or more processors executing an environment manager module configured to receive the environment control request, to generate an environment control command using the control request, and to transmit the environment control command to the commissioned unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the environment manager module is configured to monitor usage of the at least one commissioned unit, and to provide one or more user interfaces for visualizing usage data associated with the commissioned unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one commissioned unit is configured to receive power from a PoE switch, and comprises a plurality of IP luminaires, each IP luminaire being communicatively connected with one or more sensors, one or more controllable light sources, and a luminaire control module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the environment manager module is configured to determine at least one of:

whether a type of control associated with the received environment control request is enabled with respect to the commissioned unit, the type of control comprising personal control; and

whether the received environment control request conflicts with another higher-priority control request associated with the commissioned unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more processors executing a commissioning module for associating one or more devices with the system for managing environmental conditions, the commissioning module being configured to:

localize one or more devices, the localization comprising mapping each device to at least one physical location within the physical structure;

associate, in a first memory, at least one of the one or more devices with a first commissioned unit; and

link the first commissioned unit with a second commissioned unit, the linking comprising associating, in a second memory, the first and second commissioned units.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first memory is accessible to at least the one or more devices associated with the first commissioned unit, and the second memory is accessible to at least the one or more devices associated with the first and second commissioned units.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the commissioning module is configured to update at least one memory accessible to the environment manager module, using at least one value representing a parameter associated with one or more of:

the one or more devices, the first commissioned unit and the second commissioned unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the commissioned unit is further configured to alert any commissioned units with which it is linked, of changes in its own operational status and changes in the status of a zone with which it is associated.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

one or more processors executing a gateway module communicatively connected to the commissioning module and to the environment manager module, the gateway module being configured to;

receive an environment control command from one of;

the environment manager module, the commissioning module, a device and a commissioned unit; and

convert the control command into a format suitable for at least one of;

a destination device or a destination commissioned unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gateway module is further configured to:

receive monitoring data comprising operational status and energy consumption data from one or more commissioned units or devices; and

convert the received monitoring data into a format suitable for the environment manager module.

11. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to:

detect at least one of;

motion, occupancy, sound, and the presence of one or more gases, or measure at least one of;

illumination, humidity, and temperature.

12. A system for managing environmental conditions within a physical structure, the system comprising:

a sensor in a designated zone within the physical structure configured to produce data indicative of at least one of;

motion, occupancy, sound, the presence of one or more gases, illumination, humidity, and temperature; and

a commissioned unit communicatively connected to at least the sensor and an environment manager module, the commissioned unit being configured to;

receive the data produced by the sensor,

determine that the sensor data represents a status change associated with the designated zone, and

update one or more memories accessible to the environment manager module in accordance with the data representing the status change.

13. A system for managing environmental conditions within a physical structure, the system comprising:

at least one commissioned unit configured to transmit a first signal comprising one or more identification codes;

an environment control device configured to receive the first signal from the at least one commissioned unit, to detect user input indicating one or more preferred environmental conditions, and to transmit an environment control request comprising the one or more preferred environmental conditions; and

one or more processors executing an environment manager module configured to receive the environment control request, to generate an environment control command using the control request, and to transmit the environment control command to the commissioned unit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first signal is a coded light signal.

15. A method for identifying devices, for association as a single commissioned unit, within a system for managing environmental conditions, the method comprising:

a first plurality of devices, each transmitting a coded light signal comprising a unique identification code;

a mobile device, receiving the coded light signals from the first plurality of devices, and transmitting a commissioning request comprising unique identification codes of a second plurality of devices located in a region proximate to the mobile device, the second plurality of devices comprising one or more devices from the first plurality of devices; and

a commissioning module receiving the commissioning request and associating, in a memory, the second plurality of devices with a first commissioned unit.