System for individual and remote control of spaced lighting fixtures

• US 6,667,578 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Mayo, Noel, Spira, Joel S., Miller, Scott C., MacAdam, Russell L., Rowbottom, Ian, Lansing, Adam T., Reiss, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Jimmy T
• Application Number:
  US09/837,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 362/583, 362/284, 362/293, 250/338.1, 315/292, 315/149, 315/158, 315/295, 315/119
• US Class Current: 315/119
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A plurality of spaced ceiling mounted fixtures or other controllable electrical appliances have radiation detectors mounted within each fixture and wired internally of the fixture to a dimming circuit or to a ballast. The radiation detectors have sensitivity over a wide angle and have elongated plastic radiation conduction rods which extend to or beyond the plane of the lens of the fixture to be located free of shadow effects of reflections of the fixture lens. A flexible end light fiber optics can be used in place of the acrylic rods. A narrow beam radiation transmitter selectively illuminates one of the rods or end light fiber optics without illuminating the others. The dimming circuits or ballasts within the fixtures can be further controlled by external dimmers, occupancy sensors, timeclocks, photosensors and other types of input devices. The radiation detector and ballast can occupy a common housing and share the same power supply and circuit board. The microcontroller for the radiation detector operates with a 4 of 4 voting mode until a valid signal is detected to switch the system to a 3 of 4 voting mode. A novel mounting adaptor for mounting a visible light fiber optic cable is disclosed with the visible light fiber optic cable conducting infrared radiation for up to 24 inches.

Claims

1. An infrared radiation transmitting structure for transmitting an infrared signal, said radiation transmitting structure comprising a flexible infrared conducting member which is bendable by hand and which retains its shape after being bent.

2. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 1, wherein said radiation transmitting structure is a partially polymerized silicone acrylic polymer.

3. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 1, wherein the infrared radiation transmitting structure transmits an infrared signal having a wavelength of about 880 nanometers.

4. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 3, wherein the infrared transmitting structure has a length of less than about 24 inches and a minimum bend radius of about one inch.

5. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 2, wherein the partially polymerized silicone acrylic polymer comprises a silicone monomer gel core.

6. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 5, wherein the silicone monomer gel core has a diameter of about ⅛

inch.

7. The infrared radiation transmitting structure of claim 5, wherein the gel core is wrapped in a plastic sheath and a black plastic jacket.