Administration device for lighting fixtures

• US 6,388,400 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Feelux Company Limited, Feelux Lighting Company Limited (Feelux Company Limited), Feelux Lighting Incorporated (Feelux Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: BoAm R&D Company Limited
• Inventors: Noh, Shi Youl
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/512,271
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/209.R, 315/294, 315/307, 315/297, 315/312, 315/318, 315/360, 315/362, 315/DIG.4
• US Class Current: 315/318
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lighting administration device of the present invention has a main controller which converts a dimming signal from a remote controller into coded signals that are used to control a plurality of decoders. The decoders may be connected to the main controller in series, using a data line. A plurality of ballasts are connected to respective decoders in series. The decoders are each assigned an address, and each coded signal generated by the main controller bears the address of a corresponding decoder. The main controller may also have a timer function that causes the power to be shut off are a predetermined period of time elapses.

Claims

1. An administration device for lighting fixtures, comprising:

a main controller which converts a dimming signal into coded signals that are used to control a plurality of decoders;

a plurality of decoders connected to said main controller such that the decoders can receive and interpret the coded signals; and

a plurality of ballasts connected to each decoder, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is assigned a unique address, and wherein each of the coded signals generated by the main controller includes an address of a corresponding decoder.

2. The administration device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is configured to act only in response to coded dimming signals that include its unique address.

3. The administration device of claim 1, wherein the coded signals have a RS232C communication format.

4. The administration device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of decoders are connected to the main controller in series.

5. The administration device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of decoders are connected to the main controller according to a RS232C communication format.

6. The administration device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ballasts connected to each decoder are connected in series.

7. The administration device of claim 1, wherein the main controller has a timer function that is configured to cause the decoders to shut off power after a predetermined period of time elapses.

8. The administration device of claim 1, further comprising a remote controller connected to the main controller, wherein the remote controller generates a dimming signal that is sent to the main controller.

9. A system for controlling a plurality of lighting devices, comprising:

a controller configured to generate coded dimming signals, wherein each coded dimming signal includes dimming information and an address of a decoder; and

a plurality of decoders configured to receive and interpret the coded dimming signals generated by the controller, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is assigned a unique address, and wherein each decoder is connected to at least one ballast configured to control a lighting device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is configured to act only in response to coded dimming signals that include its unique address.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is connected to a plurality of ballasts that are configured to control lighting devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein each decoder is connected to a plurality of ballasts in a series fashion.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to generate coded dimming signals in a RS232C communications format.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of decoders are configured to receive and act on coded dimming signals that are in a RS232C communications format.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of decoders are connected to the controller in a series fashion.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising a remote controller that is configured to generate a control signal, wherein the controller is configured to receive the control signal and to generate coded dimming signals based on the control signal.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the coded dimming signals generated by the controller can be used to individually control each of the plurality of decoders so that one decoder can operate at a first dimming level while a second decoder operates at a second dimming level.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of decoders is connected to a plurality of ballasts configured to control lighting devices, and wherein each ballast will operate a lighting device based on the coded dimming signals addressed to the decoder to which it is connected.