Multi-zone lighting control system

• US 5,530,322 A
• Filed: 04/11/1994
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Zaharchuk, Walter S., Ference, Jonathan H., Hausman, Donald F., Loar, John F., Spehalski, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/226,194
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 315/292, 315/293, 315/294, 315/295, 315/297, 315/316, 315/324
• US Class Current: 315/295
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lighting control system operates to control multiple zones of lighting through multiple dimming circuits so as to achieve any one of several desired lighting scenes. The system includes a plurality of wallbox control units which collectively operate to multiplex digital lighting control information on a communications link. Each wallbox control unit includes a plurality of zone-intensity actuators which are manipulatable to alter the information transmitted by their respective wallbox control so as to vary the lighting intensity of an associated lighting zone. A central lighting control panel includes a microprocessor adapted to receive and processes the multiplexed information transmitted on the link, and re-transmit digital lighting control information, on a second multiplex link, to the dimming circuits. According to one aspect of the invention, the microprocessor is programmed to assign a preselected dimming circuit to any one of the zone-intensity actuators when that actuator is manipulated according to a predetermined sequence.

Claims

1. A multi-zone lighting control system for selectively controlling the respective light levels of a plurality of lighting zones, each of such zones comprising a dimmable light source, said lighting control system comprising:

(a) a lighting control unit for multiplexing zone-intensity information representing a desired light level for each of the plurality of lighting zones on a serial communications link, such lighting control unit including a plurality of manipulatable dimming actuators, each being adapted to adjust said information to reflect a desired change in light level for a different one of the lighting zones; and

(b) dimming control means operatively connected to the lighting control unit and responsive to the multiplexed zone-intensity information on the communications link for adjusting the light level of said dimmable light sources to achieve the desired light level in each of said lighting zones, said dimming control means comprising;

(i) a plurality of dimming circuits, each being adapted to control the luminous output of a light source in one of the lighting zones in response to receiving an input signal from said dimming control means; and

(ii) means for assigning a selected dimming circuit to a selected dimming actuator so that the corresponding input signal received by the selected dimming circuit is determined by the zone-intensity information which is adjustable by the selected dimming actuator, said assigning means comprising;

(1) means for selecting a particular dimning circuit from said plurality of dimming circuits, and (2) means for capturing the selected dimming circuit responsive to a predetermined sequence of changes in zone-intensity information as produced by a predetermined manipulation of the selected dimming actuator to assign the selected dimming actuator to the selected dimming circuit.

2. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said assigning means comprises means for storing values representing the instantaneous zone-intensity information produced by said lighting control unit, and means for monitoring said storing means for changes in said stored values.

3. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said assigning means comprises a microprocessor.

4. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said dimming actuators comprises a movably mounted member, and wherein said zone-intensity information is adjusted by movement of said member.

5. The apparatus as defined by claim 4 wherein said member is slidably mounted.

6. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein each of said dimming actuators comprises a pair of push buttons, one for changing the zone-intensity information so as to increase the luminous output produced by said dimmable light source, and one for changing the zone-intensity information so as to decrease the luminous output produced by said dimmable light source.

7. The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said predetermined sequence of changes in zone intensity information comprises reducing the zone intensity to zero, increasing the zone intensity to a predetermined level, and returning the zone intensity to zero within a predetermined time interval.

8. A multi-zone lighting control system for selectively controlling the respective light levels of a plurality of lighting zones, each of such zones comprising a dimmable light source, said lighting control system comprising:

(a) a lighting control unit for transmitting zone-intensity information representing a desired light level for each of the plurality of lighting zones on a communications link, said lighting control unit including a plurality of dimming means, each being manually manipulatable to alter said information to reflect a desired change in light level for a different one of the lighting zones; and

(b) dimming control means operatively connected to the lighting control unit and responsive to said zone-intensity information on the communications link for adjusting the light level of said dimmable light sources to achieve the desired light level in each of said lighting zones, said dimming control means comprising;

(i) a plurality of dimming circuits, each being adapted to control the luminous output of a light source in one of the lighting zones in response to receiving an input signal from said dimming control means; and

(ii) means for assigning a selected dimming circuit to a selected dimming control means so that the corresponding input signal received by the selected dimming circuit is determined by the zone-intensity information which is adjustable by the selected dimming control means, said assigning means comprising;

(1) means for selecting a particular dimming circuit from said plurality of dimming circuits, and (2) means for capturing the selected dimming circuit responsive to a predetermined sequence of changes in zone-intensity information as produced by a predetermined manipulation of the selected dimming means to assign the selected dimming means to the selected dimming circuit.

9. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein said assigning means comprises means for storing values representing the instantaneous zone-intensity information produced by said lighting control unit, and means for monitoring said storing means for changes in said stored values.

10. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein each of said dimming actuators comprises a movably mounted member, and wherein said zone-intensity information is adjusted by movement of said member.

11. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein each of said dimming actuators comprises a pair of push buttons, one for changing the zone-intensity information so as to increase the luminous output produced by said dimmable light source, and one for changing the zone-intensity information so as to decrease the luminous output produced by said dimmable light source.

12. The apparatus as defined by claim 8 wherein said predetermined sequence of changes in zone intensity information comprises reducing the zone intensity to zero, increasing the zone intensity to a predetermined level, and returning the zone intensity to zero within a predetermined time interval.