Interactive photometric calculations system

• US 6,463,436 B1
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Knoble, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/258,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/104, 707/104.1, 709/202, 709/217, 705/1, 379/220, 379/917, 379/900
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/42 Systems for two-way working , e.g. conference systems H04N1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An interactive system on a server via which a client can remotely submit data used to making photometric calculations in which the system has one or more interrogative interfaces is provided. Data is requested from the client via the interrogative interfaces when the client accesses the system. Data is received from the client by the interactive system. Photometric calculations are performed using the data received from the client and the results of the photometric calculations are delivered to the client.

Claims

1. A method of providing photometric calculations for lighting applications, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive system on a server via which a client can remotely submit data used in making photometric calculations, said system having one or more interrogative interfaces;

requesting said data from the client via said one or more interrogative interfaces when said client accesses the system;

receiving said data from the client;

performing photometric calculations using said data;

delivering the results of said calculations to the client;

said photometric calculations including determining the number of fixtures needed to properly illuminate a room to a desired illumination level.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of requesting said data further comprises the step of providing an option for the user to backup one level in the system.

3. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving data further comprises the step of providing default values as an option for selection by the user.

4. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of receiving said data from the client further comprises the step of repeating the step of requesting said data from the client when the client improperly enters said data.

5. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the results is verbal.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the results is via facsimile.

7. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of delivering the results is both verbal and via facsimile.

8. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of recommending a lighting fixture for the lighting application based on said data.

9. The method in claim 1, further wherein the step of requesting said data further comprises the step of assigning a personal identification number to the client.

10. The method in claim 1, wherein the step of requesting said data further comprises the steps of:

requesting an application area;

requesting dimensional data relevant to the application area;

requesting a work surface height relevant to the application area;

requesting reflectance data based on the application area;

requesting a desired illumination; and

requesting a product type.

11. A method of providing photometric calculations for lighting applications, comprising the steps of:

providing an interactive system;

communicating with a remote client via said interactive system;

prompting interrogative interfaces from said client, said interrogative interfaces including requesting an application area, dimensional data relevant to the application area, a work surface height relevant to the application area, reflectance data based on the application area, desired illumination, and a product type;

receiving the data from said client;

selecting default values based on said step of receiving data from the client;

executing photometric calculations using the data;

delivering results of said photometric calculations to said remote client in real time;

wherein said photometric calculations include determining the number said products needed to properly illuminate a room to a desired illumination level based upon said responses to said interrogative interfaces.

12. The method of providing photometric calculations for lighting applications of claim 11 wherein said photometric calculations include calculation for a number of said products necessary to produce said requested illumination based upon said data obtained from said interrogative interfaces, said data including a wall, a ceiling and a floor reflectance.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said method further includes the step of calculation of an illumination level for said application area dependent upon said dimensional area, said number of said products and said reflectance data.

14. A system for determining the number of lighting units required to properly light a work area, comprising:

a server, said server operably connected to a communications network;

said server having instructions thereon for performing the steps of;

prompting responses from a client, said responses including data representative of an application area to be illuminated, dimensional data of said application area, reflectance data of said area to be illuminated, work surface height in said application area and an illumination source product type;

performing photometric calculations based upon said responses from said client;

determining a number of illumination source product type necessary to properly illuminate said application area based upon said photometric calculations.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said photometric calculations include calculation of a coefficient of utilization based upon said responses prompted form said client.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said reflectance data and said illumination source product type is derived data.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said photometric calculations include calculation of a room cavity ratio and a light lost factor for determining said number of illumination source product type.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said illumination source product type is at least one illumination source product type provided to said client for selection.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said at least one illumination source product type is a plurality of illumination source product types.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein each of said plurality of illumination source product types provided for said client for selection has an associated data file, said associated data file including photometric information.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said associated data file has custom keyword data.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said system calculates said number of illumination source product types based upon said associated data file.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said system calculates an average maintained illumination based upon said responses from said client and said associated data file.

24. A system for determining the number of lighting units required to properly light a work area, comprising a server, said server operably connected to a communications network, said server having instructions thereon for performing the steps of:

prompting responses from a client, said responses including data representative of an application area to be illuminated;

supplying to said client default values, said default values including data representing necessary lighting level for said application area;

providing to said client by said system through said communications network based upon said responses at least one light fixture for selection by said client;

associating by said system a data file to each of said at least one light fixture presented to said client, said data file having photometric information;

performing photometric calculations based upon said responses from said client and said associated data file;

determining a number of light fixtures selected by said client to properly illuminate said application area based upon said photometric calculations.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said system provides default data to said client representative of reflectance for the ceiling, wall and floor of said application area.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said photometric calculations include calculation of room cavity ratio and light loss factor for determining said number of light fixtures.

27. A method of supplying a number of light fixtures needed to properly illuminate an application area over a communication network, comprising:

obtaining responses from a client through said communication network, said responses including data representative of an application area to be illuminated;

supplying to said client default values, said default values including data representing necessary lighting level for said application area as well as reflectance data for the ceiling, wall and floor of said application area

providing to said client through said communications network based upon said responses at least one light fixture for selection by said client;

associating a data file to each of said at least one light fixture presented to said client, said data file having photometric information;

performing photometric calculations based upon said responses from said client and said associated data file;

determining a number of light fixtures selected by said client to properly illuminate said application area based upon said photometric calculations, including calculation of room cavity ratio and light lost factor for determining said number of light fixtures.