Data distribution in lighting systems

• US 5,821,703 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John K. Chester, Michael Callahan, Robert M. Goddard
• Original Assignee: John K. Chester, Michael Callahan, Robert M. Goddard
• Inventors: Callahan, Michael, Goddard, Robert M., Chester, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US08/854,643
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 315/317, 315/295, 315/294, 315/324, 315/291, 315/194, 315/199, 323/277, 323/271, 323/267, 323/237, 323/242, 323/235, 323/319, 323/905
• US Class Current: 315/317
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/44 Circuits or arrangements for compensating for electromagnetic interference in converters or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/2937 using whole cycle control, i.e. switching an integer number of whole or half cycles of the AC input voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/048 with reverse phase control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/083 by the variation-rate of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/905 Lamp dimmer structure

Abstract

A lighting system made up of a plurality of light fixtures which each produce a light beam, in which each of a plurality of varying devices, each having an input and an output, and each capable of varying at least one parameter of the light beam from at least one of the light fixtures, is responsive to a first value received at the input, where the first value corresponds to the desired adjustment of a parameter of the light beam. Each of the varying devices is also capable of generating a second value which represents status information, and transmitting the second value via the output. A controller produces the first value and sends it to an output which is coupled to the input of the varying device. A monitoring device has an input and is separate from the controller, and its input is coupled to the output of the varying device.

Claims

1. A lighting system including a plurality of light fixtures, each of said light fixtures producing a light beam, comprising:

a plurality of means for varying, each of said means for varying having an input and an output, and capable of varying at least one parameter of said light beam of at least one of said plurality of light fixtures, responsive to a first value received at said input, said first value corresponding to a desired adjustment of said at least one parameter, each of said means for varying capable of generating at least one second value and providing said at least one second value at said output, said at least one second value representing status information;

a controller, said controller having at least one output, and capable of producing at said output a plurality of first values for said plurality of means for varying;

means for monitoring having at least one input, said means for monitoring separate from said controller; and

means for coupling said at least one output of said controller with said input of each of said plurality of means for varying, and for coupling said output of each of said means for varying with said at least one input of said means for monitoring.

2. In a lighting system including a plurality of light fixtures, each of said light fixtures producing a light beam, a device comprising:

a plurality of means for varying, each of said means for varying having a data input, and capable of varying at least one parameter of said light beam of at least one of said plurality of light fixtures, responsive to a first value received at said input, said first value corresponding to a desired adjustment of said at least one parameter, each of said means for varying further responsive to a second value received at said data input;

a controller, said controller having at least one output, and capable of producing at said output said first values for said plurality of means for varying; and

means for inserting, said means for inserting having an input coupled with said at least one output of said controller, and having at least one output, said output of said means for inserting coupled with said data input of at least one of said plurality of means for varying, said means for inserting inserting said second value into data received at said data input of at least one of said plurality of means for varying.

3. A lighting system including a plurality of light fixtures, each of said light fixtures producing a light beam, comprising:

a plurality of means for varying, each of said means for varying having an input and an output, and capable of varying at least one parameter of said light beam of at least one of said plurality of light fixtures, responsive to a first value received at said input, said first value corresponding to a desired adjustment of said at least one parameter, each of said means for varying capable of generating at least one second value and providing said at least one second value at said output, said at least one second value representing status information;

a controller, said controller having at least one output, and capable of producing at said output said first values for said plurality of means for varying;

means for distributing, said means for distributing coupling said at least one output of said controller with said input of each of said plurality of means for varying; and

means for consolidating, said means for consolidating having a plurality of inputs, said output of each of said plurality of means for varying being connected with only one of said inputs, such that said at least one second value is transmitted from each of said plurality of means for varying independently, said means for consolidating consolidating said second values.

4. A lighting system including a plurality of light fixtures, each of said light fixtures producing a light beam and having preselected characteristics, comprising:

a plurality of means for varying, each of said means for varying having an input, and capable of varying an intensity of said light beam of at least one of said plurality of light fixtures, responsive to a first value received at said input, said first value corresponding to a desired adjustment of said intensity;

a controller, said controller having at least one output, and capable of producing at said output a plurality of first values for said plurality of means for varying;

means for maintaining a database describing said preselected characteristics of each of said light fixtures;

means, coupled to and operable in proximity to said plurality of light fixtures, for designating at least one of said plurality of light fixtures; and

means for presenting said preselected characteristics of said designated light fixture.