Wireless Lighting Control Module

• US 20170135186A1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eptronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eptronics, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neil, Tom, Chiang, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A Zigbee Lighting Control Module is described which can be connected to the input of an analog dimming LED driver so that a Zigbee controlled analog signal can be applied to the dimming input of the LED driver. Particular features of the module are the capability to apply a chosen nonlinear transform between the digital Zigbee input signal and the 0-10V analog output signal, and the use of a relay to cut off power to the driver being controlled when the analog output signal goes below a chosen level. The module can provide 100 mA output currents allowing large numbers of LED drivers to be controlled at once.

Claims

1. A wireless lighting control module comprising:

a. a wireless receiver receiving an input wireless control signal;

b. an analog control output, wherein the analog control output conforms to a 0-10V format; and

c. a microcontroller, connected to the wireless receiver and receiving the input wireless control signal from the wireless receiver, wherein the microprocessor regulates the analog control output, wherein the analog control output has a predetermined cutoff level, wherein a lighting power output is controlled by the microcontroller and cut off by opening a relay when the analog control output is below the predetermined cutoff level.

2. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the predetermined cutoff level of the analog control output is 0.5V.

3. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the analog control output is configured to provide an output current of more than 50 mA.

4. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply a non-linear relationship between the wireless signal at the input and the analog output signal.

5. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the wireless lighting control module is configured to observe the commanded output analog control signal level, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below said predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled.

6. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microprocessor monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

7. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the predetermined cutoff level of the analog control output is 0.5V, wherein the analog control output is configured to provide an output current of more than 50 mA.

8. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply a non-linear relationship between the wireless signal at the input and the analog output signal, wherein the wireless lighting control module observes the commanded output analog control signal level, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below a predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

9. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below the predetermined cutoff level, where in the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

10. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the predetermined cutoff level of the analog control output is 0.5V, wherein the analog control output is configured to provide an output current of more than 50 mA, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply a non-linear relationship between the wireless signal at the input and the analog output signal, wherein the wireless lighting control module observes the commanded output analog control signal level, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below said predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

11. The wireless lighting control module of claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver also includes a wireless transmitter so that the wireless receiver is a wireless transceiver.

12. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the predetermined cutoff level of the analog control output is 0.5V.

13. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the analog control output is configured to provide an output current of more than 50 mA.

14. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply a non-linear relationship between the wireless signal at the input and the analog output signal.

15. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the wireless lighting control module observes the commanded output analog control signal level, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below the predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled.

16. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

17. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the predetermined cutoff level of the analog control output is 0.5V, wherein the analog control output is configured to provide an output current of more than 50 mA.

18. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the microcontroller is configured to apply a non-linear relationship between the wireless signal at the input and the analog output signal, wherein the wireless lighting control module observes the commanded output analog control signal level, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below a predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.

19. The wireless lighting control module of claim 11, wherein the lighting control module turns off a relay when the commanded output analog control signal level is below a predetermined cutoff level, wherein the relay supplies power to a lighting device being controlled, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a request for a change in dimming level, wherein the microcontroller monitors for a dimming response curve selection and then adjusts the analog output level to a value corresponding to the chosen dimming response curve, which is applied to the input wireless control signal.