System bridge and timeclock for RF controlled lighting systems

• US 6,927,547 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Kruse, Glen Andrew, Keagy, Jon Michael, Craze, Jason Douglass, Walko, Robert Francis Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US10/681,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315293-295, 315312-318, 340/825.06, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/527, 340/531, 340/538, 340/539
• US Class Current: 315/316
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A method for operatively interconnecting a first and second lighting control subnet is disclosed. In the method, a link claim is transmitted to the first and second lighting control subnets from a bridge. The link claim directs the first and second lighting control subnets to wait for a lighting control command, which is transmitted to the lighting control command to the first lighting control subnet. A random wait time is assigned to the first lighting control subnet and a maximum random wait time is assigned to the second lighting control subnet. Finally, an acknowledgement is received from the first lighting control subnet.

Claims

1. A wireless lighting control system, wherein all wireless transmissions are on the same Radio Frequency (RF), the system comprising:

a first lighting control subnet operatively connected to a first lighting device;

a second lighting control subnet operatively connected to a second lighting device; and

a bridge in wireless and operative communications with the first and second lighting control subnets and the first and second lighting control devices, wherein said bridge transmits a link claim to the first and second lighting control subnets after waiting for a backoff time after the RE signal has ended, transmits a command to the first lighting control subnet with respect to the first lighting device, assigns a random wait time to said first lighting control subnet, and assigns a maximum random wait time to said second lighting control subnet, and receives an acknowledgement from said first lighting control subnet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge receives a RF signal from said first lighting control subnet.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the RF signal comprises a lighting scene identifier associated with a lighting scene stored in the bridge.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the RF signal comprises a lighting command associated with a lighting scene, and wherein the bridge determines the lighting scene associated with the lighting command.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the RF signal is responsive to a button press on a master control in said first lighting control subnet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said bridge further comprises a display, wherein said display indicates a status of the first and second lighting devices according to the command.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the display is a LCD screen.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the display is a LED display.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first lighting control subnet comprises a master control.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said master control comprises an indicator, wherein said indicator displays a status of the first lighting device according to the command.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the indicator is a LED display.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the indicator is a LCD screen.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first lighting control subnet comprises a lighting control device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the lighting control device is a dimmer.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge further transmits a second link claim to said first and second lighting control subnets, transmits a second command to said first lighting control subnet with respect to the first lighting device, assigns a second random wait time to said first lighting control subnet, and assigns a second maximum random wait time to said second lighting control subnet, and receives a second acknowledgement from said first lighting control subnet.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge further transmits a second link claim to said first and second lighting control subnets, transmits a third link claim to said first lighting control subnet, transmits a second command to said second lighting control subnet with respect to the second lighting device, assigns a second random wait time to said second lighting control subnet, and assigns a second maximum random wait time to said first lighting control subnet, and receives a second acknowledgement from said second lighting control subnet.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the bridge is operatively connected to an external device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the bridge is operatively connected to the external device by way of an RS-232 connection.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the bridge receives time information from the external device, determines when a sunrise and sunset time will occur based on a location of the bridge, and transmits the link claim relative to the sunrise and sunset times.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the bridge receives time information from the external device and transmits the link claim in response to received time information.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the bridge transmits the link claim in response to an alarm received from the external device.

22. A method for operatively interconnecting a first and second lighting control subnet, wherein each subnet operates at the same RF, comprising:

(a) transmitting a link claim to the first and second lighting control subnets from a bridge, wherein the link claim directs the first and second lighting control subnets to wait for a lighting control command;

(b) transmitting the lighting control command to the first lighting control subnet;

(c) assigning a random wait time to the first lighting control subnet;

(d) assigning a maximum random wait time to the second lighting control subnet; and

(e) receiving an acknowledgement from the first lighting control subnet.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising executing step (a) in response to a button press on the bridge.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising executing step (a) in response to receiving a RF signal transmitted by a master control of the first lighting control subnet.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising waiting for a random backoff time before executing step (a).

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the RF signal is transmitted by the master control in response to a button press.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the RF signal comprises a lighting scene identifier associated with a phantom button stored on the bridge.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the RF signal comprises a second lighting control command associated with a lighting scene.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining a phantom button associated with the lighting scene according to the lighting control command.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising repeating steps (a)-(d).

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying, on the bridge, a status of each subnet according to the acknowledgement.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein displaying a status comprises illuminating a LED.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(t) transmitting a second link claim to the first and second lighting control subnets;

(g) transmitting a second lighting control command to the first lighting control subnet;

(h) assigning a second random wait time to the first lighting control subnet;

(i) assigning a second maximum random wait time to the second lighting control subnet; and

(j) receiving a second acknowledgement from the first lighting control subnet.

34. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

(f) transmitting a second link claim to the first and second lighting control subnets;

(g) transmitting a third link claim to the first lighting control subnet;

(h) transmitting a second lighting control command to the second lighting control subnet;

(i) assigning a second random wait time to the second lighting control subnet;

(j) assigning a second maximum random wait time to the first lighting control subnet; and

(k) receiving a second acknowledgement from the second lighting control subnet.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving time information;

determining, based on stored information and the received time information, a sunset and sunrise time; and

executing step (a) in response to said determination.

36. The system of claim 22, further comprising receiving time information and executing step (a) in response to said time information.

37. The method of claim 22, further comprising executing step (a) in response to an alarm condition received by the bridge.