Control and communication processor potentiometer system for controlling fluorescent lamps

• US 5,381,078 A
• Filed: 03/15/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North American Philips Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: North American Philips Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Szuba, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KORYTNYK, PETER G
• Application Number:
  US08/031,440
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 315/313, 315/316, 315/324, 315/292
• US Class Current: 315/316
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3921 with possibility of light intensity variations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A wall-mounted electronic potentiometer system is provided for controlling fluorescent lamps by way of ceiling mounted controllers. This enables control of the control information by way of a 2-wire communication bus to selected ceiling mounted controller using a serial data format.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of ceiling mounted fluorescent lamps comprising

(a) at least one electronic potentiometer means disposed on a wall for adjusting light levels of a plurality of fluorescent lamps disposed on a ceiling, said at least one electronic potentiometer means including a local operating network system;

(b) at least one electronic controller means disposed on said ceiling for controlling ballasts of said fluorescent lamps, said at least one electronic controller means also including a local operating network system; and

(c) a 2-wire communication bus connecting said at least one electronic potentiometer means to said at least one electronic controller means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electronic potentiometer means includes an electronic key-pad, local microprocessor control circuitry providing said local operating network system, transceiver means for sending electrical signals to said at least one electronic controller means, and an LED display means, and wherein said at least one electronic controller means includes second transceiver means for receiving and sending data from said fluorescent lamps to said electronic potentiometer means, second local microprocessor control circuitry providing said local operating network system, D/A converter circuits, and a ballast driver circuit.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said first and second local processor controls circuitry and said first and second transceiver means are provided by a NEURON-type chip.