Wireless lighting control

• US 6,252,358 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul G. Angott, Thomas G. Xydis
• Original Assignee: Paul G. Angott, Thomas G. Xydis
• Inventors: Angott, Paul G., Xydis, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/134,857
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 315/295, 315/291, 315/312, 315/315, 315/324, 315/362, 315/250, 315/149, 315/158, 315/DIG.4, 359/356, 359/355, 359/362, 359/180, 359/189, 359/147, 359/142, 359/148, 362/85, 362/233
• US Class Current: 315/295
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/40 discontinuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

Abstract

An illumination level control assembly (10) includes a plurality of light bulbs (20), and a main power switch (30) for supplying electrical power to the bulbs (20). The assembly (10) includes a remote control (32) with a single button for producing a single signal, and a controller (50) responsive to the remote control (32) for sequentially and in numeric order changing the supply of electrical power to the bulbs (20), whereby successive actuations of the single button changes by one the number of bulbs (20) illuminated. The remote control (32) produces a radio frequency signal, and the controller (50) includes a radio frequency receiver (52) to receive signals from the remote control (32). The controller (50) includes a sequencer (54) for sequentially terminating electrical power to the bulbs (20) to successively terminate electric power to the bulbs (20) one at a time. The sequencer (54) includes a counter (56) for sequencing through predetermined steps, and a series of switches (58) each responsive to one of the steps for terminating electrical power to one of the bulbs (20). The assembly (10) can also include a plurality of fixtures (12,14) with each fixture (12,14) including a plurality of bulbs (20) and a plurality of ballasts (22,24,26,28) with each ballast (22,24,26,28) interconnecting two bulbs (20). Ballasts (22,24,26,28) from different fixtures (12,14) can be electrically connected to be controlled by the controller (50) in unison. In this configuration, each ballast (22,24,26,28) controls one bulb from each fixture (12,14).

Claims

1. An illumination level control assembly (10) for controlling the level of illumination in a light fixture having a plurality of bulbs (20) connected to an electric power line, said assembly (10) comprising;

a remote control (32) with a single button for producing a single signal, and

characterized by a controller (50) responsive to said remote control (32) for sequentially and in numeric order changing the supply of electrical power to the bulbs (20) whereby successive actuations of said single button changes by one the number of bulbs (20) illuminated.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said remote control (32) produces a radio frequency single signal, and said controller (50) includes a radio frequency receiver (52) to receive a single radio frequency signal from said remote control (32).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said controller (50) includes a sequencer (54) for sequentially terminating electrical power to the bulbs (20) to successively terminate electric power to the bulbs (20) one at a time.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sequencer (54) includes a counter (56) for sequencing through predetermined steps, and a series of switches (58) each responsive to one of said steps for terminating electrical power to one of the bulbs (20).

5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said remote control (32) includes code means (33) for producing an encoded message in said single signal.

6. An illumination level control assembly (10) comprising:

a plurality of light bulbs (20),

a main power switch (30) for supplying main electrical power to said bulbs (20),

a remote control (32) with a single button for producing a single signal, and

characterized by a controller (50) responsive to said remote control (32) for sequentially and in numeric order changing the supply of individual electrical power to the individual bulbs (20) whereby successive actuations of said single button changes by one the number of bulbs (20) illuminated.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a plurality of fixtures each including a plurality of said bulbs (20), a plurality of ballasts (22,24,26,28) with each ballast (22,24,26,28) interconnecting two bulbs (20), ballasts (22,24,26,28) from different fixtures being electrically connected to be controlled by said controller (50) in unison.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said remote control (32) produces a single radio frequency signal, said controller (50) includes a radio frequency receiver (52) to receive a single radio frequency signal from said remote control (4).

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said controller (50) includes a sequencer (54) for sequentially terminating electrical power to the bulbs (20) to successively terminate electric power to the bulbs (20) one at a time.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sequencer (54) includes a counter (56) for sequencing through predetermined steps, and a series of switches (58) each responsive to one of said steps for terminating electrical power to one of the bulbs (20).

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said remote control (32) includes code means (33) for producing an encoded message in said single signal.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a controller (50) for each fixture, each of said controllers (50) including a receiver and transmitter pair (53) to receive and retransmit radio frequency signals to extend said signals through said plurality of fixtures.

13. A controller (50) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said controller (50) includes a delay device between each receiver (52) and transmitter pair to delay the retransmission of radio frequency signals from fixture to fixture.

14. A controller (50) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said controller (50) includes code means (33) for producing an encoded message including the time and date.

15. A controller (50) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said controller (50) includes a time limiting device (51) between each receiver and transmitter pair (53) for limiting the period of time to receive radio frequency signals.

16. A remote control (32) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said remote control (32) is mounted in a lighting panel (60) and includes a clock (62) programmable to terminate and initiate said electric power from said main power switch (30) at predetermined times of the day.