WIRELESS LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170171950A1
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAB Lighting Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RAB Lighting Incorporated
• Inventors: Barna, Ross A., Case-Hayes, Michael Theodore, Sanghvi, Ankit, Oliver, Jason Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Wireless lighting control systems and methods for controlling the illumination of one or more light fixtures are disclosed. Embodiments include a server connected to a wide area network and having software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting fixtures at a site. The control system also includes a wireless gateway at the site communicating with the server via cellular. Wireless devices communicate with the wireless gateway via a mesh network and each wireless device is wired to control at least one lighting fixture. A user interface can connect to the wide area network and enable a user to access server control software. Control instructions entered on the server by the user interface are communicated from the server to the wireless gateway and to the wireless devices. A user site device may be connected to the site mesh network enabling a user to configure, monitor, and control lighting fixtures at the site.

Claims

1. A device for a wireless device control system, the device powered by an AC supply, the device comprising:

a zero-cross detection circuit coupled to the AC supply, the zero-cross detection circuit including a timer having a preset time, the timer reset by a zero-cross detection, and the zero-cross detection circuit detecting loss of the AC supply upon the timer reaching the preset time without resetting;

a first voltage regulator including a rectifier and having an input coupled to the AC supply and an output providing a first DC supply;

a diode having a cathode and an anode, the anode coupled to the output of the first voltage regulator;

a wireless transmitter having a power input, the wireless transmitter for communicating with at least one other component of the wireless device control system; and

at least one first capacitor coupled to the cathode of the diode and to the power input of the wireless transmitting; and

wherein the at least one capacity provides energy storage sufficient to power the wireless transmitter for a duration long enough to transmit one message upon of the AC supply the cathode of the diode coupled to the at least one capacitor.

2. The device of claim 1, comprising a second voltage regulator having an input coupled to the cathode of the diode and an output providing a second DC supply, the output coupled to the at least one capacitor and to the power input of the wireless transmitter.

3. The device of claim 2, comprising a second capacitor coupled to the anode of the diode, and wherein detection of a decrease in voltage across the second capacitor detects loss of the first DC supply and confirms loss of the AC supply.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the zero-cross detection circuit includes an A-to-D converter and a controller, the A-to-D converter providing an AC voltage level to a controller, the controller capable of detecting zero-crossings of the AC voltage level, and the controller coupled to the wireless transmitter and providing a power loss message to the wireless transmitter upon the timer reaching the preset time.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the controller includes a port coupled to the second capacitor to detect a decrease in voltage of the output of the first DC supply upon loss of the AC supply.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the port is configurable as an input or output mode port and detection of a decrease in voltage of the output of the first DC supply includes the steps of:

setting the port to output mode;

pushing the port to a low output state;

setting the port to input mode; and

detecting whether the voltage at the port remains at a low state, indicating loss of the AC supply; and

wherein driving the port low provides a faster detection of loss of AC than the time required for the port to change states from high to low upon discharge of the second capacitor from loss of the AC supply.

7. A method for a gateway to monitor a device status in a wireless lighting control system, comprising:

monitoring communication between the device and gateway;

monitoring power supplied to the device;

detecting power loss to the device;

powering the device after power loss with a capacitive circuit;

sending a power loss message from the device to the gateway upon detection of the power loss;

detecting loss of communication between the device and gateway; and

determining the loss of communication was not from power loss when no power loss message was received by the gateway.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device is a controller coupled to and selectively powering a light fixture.

9. The method of claim 7, comprising selecting an action for the device upon the device determining a loss of communication with the gateway, and wherein the step of detecting loss of communication is periodically completed by at least the device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication between the device and gateway includes a wireless mesh network.

11. A wireless lighting control system, comprising:

a server connected to a wide area network and having control software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting devices at a site;

a wireless gateway located at the site and including a cellular modem to communicate with the server via a cellular network and a communications module to communicate with the lighting devices via a wireless mesh network; and

,

a plurality of wireless devices having a radio module to communicate with the wireless gateway via the wireless mesh network, and at least one of the plurality of wireless devices including an output module to control a light fixture and including a preset emergency action for the light fixture in the event of a loss of communications with the gateway; and

,

wherein one of the plurality of wireless devices periodically determines whether communication with the gateway has been lost and upon detecting loss of communication, the one of the plurality of wireless devices selecting the preset emergency action.

12. The wireless lighting control system of claim 11, wherein the server is a cloud-based server.

13. The wireless lighting control system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of control devices has an input module receiving data from a sensor used for lighting control.

14. The wireless lighting control system of claim 11, further comprising:

a user device connected to the wide area network and having an application enabling a user to access the server control software; and

wherein control instructions entered on the server through the application are communicated from the server to the wireless gateway via the cellular network and then from the wireless gateway to at least one of the plurality of lighting devices.

15. The wireless lighting control system of claim 11, further comprising a user device having a radio module to communicate via the mesh network with the gateway and with at least one of the plurality of control devices, the user device having an application enabling a user to control at least one of the plurality of control devices without communicating through the gateway.