Photosensor and control system for dimming lighting fixtures to reduce power consumption

• US 6,583,573 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Bierman, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG V
• Application Number:
  US10/007,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/150, 315/156, 315/158, 315/159, 315/294, 250/214.AL
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/042 by measuring the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting control system provides a desired illumination level at a task location while saving power. Controlled electric light is produced having an intensity responsive to a control signal. The system comprises at least one light fixture and a photosensor that is configured to provide the control signal to the light fixture. The control signal is responsive to an illumination level at a sensor location and ratios of illumination levels at the sensor location to task location for uncontrolled (e.g., solar) light and controlled electric light. The photosensor has the ability to self-commission. In one embodiment, the photosensor includes a self-powered photocell unit that transmits a wireless sensor signal responsive to the illumination level at the photocell unit. This photocell unit can be moved for use at different locations during photosensor commissioning.

Claims

1. A lighting control system for providing a desirable illumination level at a task location illuminated by controlled electric light while saving power, the system comprising:

at least one lighting fixture producing the controlled electric light having an intensity responsive to a control signal provided to the lighting fixture; and

a photosensor configured to provide the control signal to the lighting fixture responsive to an illumination level at an operational sensor location and ratios of illumination levels at the sensor location to task location for uncontrolled light and the controlled electric light,

wherein the photosensor can self-commission.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the photosensor includes a self-powered, wireless photocell that can be movably positioned at the task location and at the sensor location for commissioning measurements.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the photocell transmits a wireless sensor signal proportional to the illumination level at the location of the photocell.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the photocell includes a photodiode that generates an sensor signal responsive to an illumination level at the photocell and an amplifier with an auto-ranging circuit for adjusting the range of the sensor signal from the photodiode.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the lighting fixture includes a control ballast for dimming and brightening the lighting fixture.

6. A lighting control system for providing desirable illumination at a task location while saving power, the system comprising:

at least one lighting fixture having a control ballast and producing controlled electric light with an intensity responsive to a control signal provided to the control ballast; and

a photosensor which generates the control signal, the photosensor including;

a self-powered wireless photocell unit having a photocell for generating a sensor signal responsive to the illumination level and a wireless to transmitter for transmitting the sensor signal, and

an interface control unit wired to AC power and the lighting fixture and adapted for receiving the sensor signal and providing the control signal to the lighting fixture;

wherein the control signal is responsive to illumination measured by the photocell, differences in the ratios of illumination at the task location to an operational sensor location for uncontrolled light and controlled electric light, and a user preference.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensor signal is transmitted as an RF transmission.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensor signal is transmitted as an IR transmission.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the photosensor further includes a microprocessor programmed to generate the control signal responsive to measured sensor signal values for uncontrolled light and for combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light taken with the photocell unit positioned at each of the task location and the operational sensor location.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to commission the photosensor using sensor signal values in the presence of uncontrolled illumination with the photocell unit positioned at the task location and at the operational sensor location with and without controlled electric lighting at each position.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein an operator is prompted to position the photocell unit at each location and provide a continuation input.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the user preference is independent of the commissioning circuit.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein the interface control unit is configured for installation in place of a standard lighting switch.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein the photocell unit is configured to be movable between the task location and the operational sensor location for use in commissioning.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein the photocell unit includes an auto-ranging feature for the sensor signal.

16. A photosensor for use in a lighting control system including a self-powered wireless photocell unit configured to be movably positioned for commissioning the photosensor for differences in task-to-sensor illumination between uncontrolled light and controlled electric light.

17. The photosensor of claim 16 further comprising an interface control unit wired to AC power and to a lighting fixture producing the controlled electric light and adapted for receiving a sensor signal from the photocell unit and providing a control signal to the lighting fixture, wherein the control signal varies in response to the sensor signal and the illumination output of the lighting fixture is responsive to the control signal.

18. The photosensor of claim 17 wherein the photosensor commissioning procedure includes providing prompts for an operator to move the photocell unit.

19. The photosensor of claim 17 wherein the control signal can be incrementally modified by a manual input.

20. The photosensor of claim 17 wherein the control signal can be overridden by a manual input.

21. A method for commissioning a photosensor for use in a lighting control system comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a photosensor including a self-powered wireless photocell unit configured to be movably positioned for commissioning and a digital processing unit;

(b) positioning the photocell unit at a task location;

(c) initiating a commissioning procedure programmed in the processing unit, wherein the photosensor measures a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at the task location, turns off an electrical lighting fixture providing the controlled electric light, measures an uncontrolled light illumination level at the task location, turns on the electrical lighting fixture, and prompts an operator to move the photocell unit;

(d) positioning the photocell unit at an operational sensor location; and

(e) continuing the commissioning procedure, wherein the photosensor measures a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at the operational sensor location, turns off the electrical lighting fixture, measures the uncontrolled light illumination level at the operational sensor location, turns on the electrical lighting fixture, and calculates set-points for an illumination control algorithm using the measured illumination levels.

22. A method for commissioning a photosensor for use in a lighting control system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at a task location;

(b) turning off an electrical lighting fixture providing the controlled electric light;

(c) measuring an uncontrolled light illumination level at the task location;

(d) turning on the electrical lighting fixture;

(e) prompting an operator to move a photocell unit;

(f) measuring a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at an operational sensor location;

(g) turning off the electrical lighting fixture;

(h) measuring an uncontrolled light illumination level at the operational sensor location;

(i) turning on the electrical lighting fixture; and

(j) calculating a set-point and ratios for an illumination control algorithm using the measured illumination levels.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the set-point and ratios are calculated by a microprocessor.

24. A machine-readable medium having encoded on the medium a program code, wherein, when the program code is executed by a machine, the machine implements a method for commissioning a photosensor for use in a lighting control system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at a task location;

(b) turning off an electrical lighting fixture providing the controlled electric light;

(c) measuring an uncontrolled light illumination level at the task location;

(d) turning on the electrical lighting fixture;

(e) prompting an operator to move a photocell unit;

(f) measuring a combined uncontrolled light and controlled electric light illumination level at an operational sensor location;

(g) turning off the electrical lighting fixture;

(h) measuring an uncontrolled light illumination level at the operational sensor location;

(i) turning on the electrical lighting fixture; and

(j) calculating a set-point and ratios for an illumination control algorithm using the measured illumination levels.