Addressable light fixture module

• US 7,024,119 B1
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mier-Langner, Alejandro, Kuchar, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, QUAN ZHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/024,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 398/106, 398/107, 398/108, 398/109, 398/111, 398/112, 398/118, 362/251, 362/233, 362/276, 362/295, 362/802, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/545.3, 348/734
• US Class Current: 398/106
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An addressable light fixture is described wherein a light fixture module is individually addressable for programming by remote control. The remote control may individually select each light fixture module through visible and narrowly defined selected light followed by transmission of programming commands for programming of pre-defined scenes, functions or other user defined and desired effects. Each of the fixture modules may be selected or de-selected through the use of laser light and a plurality of track control modules may be collectively programmed through the use of a repeater module, all of the modules communicatively connected to each other and selectable by a visible narrow light source such that the user may readily activate or de-activate programming sequences.

Claims

1. An individually selectable light track fixture, comprising:

a light fixture housing, said housing having a lamp, at least one track runner, a visible light sensor, an infrared receiver, a microprocessor operably connected to memory, said memory having instructions thereon to respond to commands from a remote control unit and a track repeater module and able to;

enter into a programming mode when activated by said visible light sensor;

adjust the brightness of said lamp when said infrared receiver receives associated commands;

store data representing said brightness of said lamp into said memory; and

,

recall said stored data when said infrared receiver receives associated commands.

2. The light track fixture of claim 1 in combination with said remote control unit, said remote control unit having a visible laser and an infrared transmitter.

3. The light track fixture of claim 2 wherein said remote control unit further comprises a microprocessor operably connected to said memory, said memory having stored thereon a plurality of light fixture commands.

4. The light track fixture of claim 1 wherein said light fixture housing further has a visible light programming interface wherein said visible light programming interface is activated when said light track fixture is in said programming mode.

5. The light track fixture of claim 1 further comprising a concentrating lens, said concentrating lens overlaying said visible light sensor.

6. The light track fixture of claim 5 wherein said visible light sensor is comprised of a photo diode.

7. The light track fixture of claim 6 wherein said photo diode has a half power angle of 40°

.

8. The light track fixture of claim 1 wherein said infrared receiver has a detection angle of about 90°

.

9. The light track fixture of claim 1 further comprising a user defined memory address stored in said memory.

10. The light track fixture of claim 1 wherein said memory further comprises a plurality of memory storage addresses for said data representing said lamp brightness.

11. The light track fixture of claim 1 wherein said at least one track runner is electrically connected to a light fixture track.

12. The light track fixture of claim 1 wherein said light fixture housing is comprised of a light fixture caddy in combination with a light track fixture, said light fixture caddy having a caddy track, said visible light sensor, said infrared receiver, said microprocessor operably connected to said memory, and a caddy track, said light track fixture electrically connected to said caddy track.

13. A track fixture luminaire, comprising:

a housing, said housing having a lamp, a track runner, a laser sensor, an infrared receiver, lamp control electronics, a visible light programming interface, and control circuitry, said control circuitry including programmable storage memory, a programmable address identifier and a microprocessor wherein said memory is operably connected to said microprocessor and operable to enter into a programming mode when activated by said laser sensor, said memory operable in response to a remote control unit or a track repeater module electrically connected to a track and in associated electrical connection with said track fixture luminaire, to;

adjust the brightness of said lamp using said lamp control electronics;

store data representing said brightness of said lamp in said memory;

recall said stored data when said infrared receiver receives commands.

14. The track fixture luminaire of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of memory storage addresses for said data representing said lamp brightness.

15. A light track fixture caddy, comprising:

a caddy track for receiving a track light fixture, a track runner, a laser light sensor, an infrared receiver, lamp control electronics, and control circuitry, said control circuitry having a microprocessor operably connected to storage memory wherein said control circuitry is operable to adjust the power supplied to said caddy track;

wherein said memory has instructions stored thereon for control of said microprocessor, said instructions operable to;

store data representing said power supplied to said caddy track in said memory;

recall said stored data when said infrared receiver receives associates command;

or

recall said stored data when said caddy receives associated commands through said track runner.

16. A caddy track fixture, comprising:

a visible light sensor, an infrared receiver, a caddy track, a microprocessor operably connected to storage memory, control electronics, a track runner wherein said control electronics are operable to adjust power supplied to said caddy track, further wherein said memory has instructions stored thereon to;

enter into a programming mode when activated by said visible light sensor;

adjust the power to said caddy track when associated commands are received by said infrared receiver;

store data representing said power supplied to said caddy track into said memory; and

,

recall said stored data when said infrared receiver receives associated commands.

17. A programmable light fixture, comprising:

a visible light sensor, an infrared receiver, a caddy track, a microprocessor operably connected to storage memory, and control electronics, wherein said control electronics are operable to adjust power supplied to said light fixture, further wherein said memory has instructions stored thereon to;

enter into a programming mode when activated by said visible light sensor;

adjust the power to said light fixture when associated commands are received by said infrared receiver;

store data representing said power supplied to said light fixture into said memory;

store data representing angular positioning for said light fixture into said memory; and

,

recall said stored data when said infrared receiver receives associated commands from said infrared receiver or from signals received on a track runner.