Method and system for assigning and binding a network address of a ballast

• US 6,831,569 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ling, Wacyk, Ihor
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/802,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 340/325.5, 340/52, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.21, 340/3.5, 340/3.52, 315/149, 315/291, 315/294, 315/312, 315/317, 370/449, 370/463, 362/251, 362/394, 710/9, 710/4
• US Class Current: 340/9.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A system for implementing a method for initializing and binding ballasts is disclosed. The system comprises a remote control having a master controller and the ballasts each having a slave controller. The master controller and the slave controllers are operated to implement routines whereby the master controller generates a clock sequence of a plurality of clock cycles, and the slave controllers randomly generate addresses and direct a transmission of signals indicative of the generated random addresses to the master controller during corresponding clock cycles. In response thereto, the master controller assigns network addresses corresponding to the random addresses as indicated by the corresponding clock cycles. The master controller and the slave controllers are further operated to implement routines for verifying the assigned network addresses and routines for binding each network address to a command of the remote control.

Claims

1. An operating method of a remote control for assigning addresses to a plurality of wireless-controlled lighting circuits, said method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to the lighting circuits, said first signal being indicative of a start of a clock sequence including a plurality of clock cycles, said lighting circuits being associated with respective ones of said clock cycles; and

assigning addresses to the lighting circuits in response to a receipt of signals from the lighting circuits associated with said respective ones of said clock cycles.

2. The method of claim 1 where the lighting circuits have generated addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

3. The method of claim 1 where the lighting circuits themselves generate the addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

4. An operating method of at least one of a plurality of wireless-controlled lighting circuits for receiving an assignment of address, said method comprising:

associating the at least one lighting circuit with a respective one of a sequence of clock cycles; and

transmitting a signal indicative of the respective clock cycle with which said at least one lighting circuit is associated.

5. The method of claim 4 where the lighting circuits have generated addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

6. The method of claim 4 where the lighting circuits themselves generate the addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

7. A method for operating a remote control and a plurality of wireless-controlled lighting circuits, said method comprising:

associating the lighting circuits with respective ones of a sequence of clock cycles;

operating the remote control to transmit a signal indicative of a start of said sequence of clock cycles;

operating the lighting circuits to transmit a signals to the remote control indicating which of said clock cycles have been associated with respective ones of the lighting circuits; and

operating the remote control to assign respective addresses to the lighting circuits associated with said clock cycles.

8. The method of claim 7 where the lighting circuits have generated addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

9. The method of claim 7 where the lighting circuits themselves generate the addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

10. A computer readable medium including a computer program for assigning addresses to a plurality of wireless-controlled lighting circuits associated with respective ones of a sequence of clock cycles, said computer program comprising:

a first computer readable code for generating the sequence of clock cycles; and

a second computer readable code for assigning the addresses to the lighting circuits in response to signals received from said lighting circuits indicating the respective clock cycles with which they are associated.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 where the lighting circuits have generated addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10 where the lighting circuits themselves generate the addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

13. A system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless-controlled lighting circuits for association with respective ones of a sequence of clock cycles, said lighting circuits being operable to transmit signals indicative of the clock cycles with which they are associated; and

a remote control operable to assign addresses to the lighting circuits in response to a reception of said signals.

14. The system of claim 13 where the lighting circuits have generated addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.

15. The system of claim 13 where the lighting circuits themselves generate the addresses that are associated with respective ones of the clock cycles.