Single zone lighting controller

• US 4,461,977 A
• Filed: 12/01/1982
• Issued: 07/24/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Weeks, Dan M., Pierpoint, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Harold
• Application Number:
  US06/445,877
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214, 315/159, 315/360, 315/361, 315/308, 340/573
• US Class Current: 315/159
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The single zone lighting controller controls the lights in a zone or area integrating external control signals for daylighting and occupancy with a local override function. The daylighting signal is from a master photoelectric control, and occupancy signal is from a time-clock or electronic occupancy sensor; the local override, activated by an occupant provides a fixed override period before the single zone lighting controlled again responds to the external control signals. Shortly before the override period is over, the single zone lighting controller warns the occupant, e.g., by blinking the lights that the override is about to end.

Claims

1. A system for controlling lighting in a predetermined zone illuminated by natural light and/or artificial light and controlled by both lighting and occupancy paterns, together with a local override function, comprising:

a. electronic switching means connected to one or more lighting devices in said predetermined zone;

b. a light sensing means, in said predetermined zone, connected to said electronic switching means;

c. an occupancy signal means, in said predetermined zone, connected to said electronic switching means;

d. said electronic switching means being operative to automatically switch on said lighting devices only when both said light sensing means indicates insufficient light in said predetermined zone and said occupancy signal means indicates occupancy of said predetermined zone;

said electronic switching means being automatically operative to switch off said lighting devices when at least one of said light sensing means and said occupancy signal means indicates sufficient daylighting or no occupancy, respectively;

e. an override means operatively connected to said electronic switching means for overriding the indications of said light sensing means and said occupancy signal means for controlling said switching means to turn OFF the lighting devices in said zone and also to turn ON the lighting devices in said zone for a fixed period of time;

f. said override means, when operating to override and turn ON said lighting devices for a fixed time period, also operating to provide a signal to occupants in said predetermined zone when the fixed time period is about to end prior to switching OFF said lighting devices and reverting to automatic switching by said electronic switching means in response to said light sensing means and said occupancy signal means.

2. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein photodetector means is used to sense the amount of daylighting in the predetermined zone to be illuminated.

3. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein said occupancy signal means is a timeclock.

4. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein said occupancy signal means senses motion or movement of occupants.

5. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein a building is divided into a plurality of zones, the lighting in each zone being controlled by individual such systems.

6. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein said override means includes electronic clock and counter means.

7. A single zone lighting control system as in claim 1 wherein override means is manually operated by occupants in said predetermined zone.