Systems and methods for programming illumination devices

• US 7,161,556 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Frederick, Lys, Ihor A., Chemel, Brian, Ducharme, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad; Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheng; Tom
• Application Number:
  US10/078,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/307, 315/312, 315/292, 315/200.R, 340/815.45, 340/309.16, 340/825.52, 345/1.1, 362/800
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• 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: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

lighting system. In one example, a user interface is coupled to a programming device that is adapted to provide one or more selected addresses to a programmable lighting system, based on user input via the user interface. The system is also adapted to store the one or more selected addresses in memory.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an LED lighting system, comprising steps of:

selecting at least one address via a user interface of a programming device;

selecting at least one parameter of a lighting control program via the user interface, the at least one lighting control program for execution by the LED lighting system to generate a lighting routine;

communicating the selected at least one address and the selected at least one parameter from the programming device to the LED lighting system;

storing the at least one selected address and the at least one selected parameter in a memory in the LED lighting system; and

using the at least one selected address to communicate a command to the LED lighting system to execute the lighting control program in accordance with the at least one selected parameter to generate a range of colors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the LED lighting system comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the LED lighting system includes a processor that controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of communicating from the programming device to the LED lighting system is accomplished though wired transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of communicating from the programming device to the LED lighting system is accomplished though wireless transmission.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory further comprises non-volatile memory.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reading a unique identifier from the LED lighting system; and

communicating the unique identifier and the at least one selected address to a central controller.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the programming device further comprises a second memory.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of selecting the at least one address further comprises a step of storing the selected address in the second memory.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting the at least one address comprises a step of automatically generating a new address at the programming device.

17. A method for controlling a system including a LED lighting system and a programming device, the programming device comprising a processor, a user interface associated with the processor adapted to receive user input, and a communication port associated with the processor and adapted to communicate with the LED lighting system, the method comprising steps of:

selecting an address on the programming device using the user interface;

selecting a parameter of a lighting control program for execution by the LED lighting system to generate a lighting routine;

communicating the selected address and the selected parameter from the programming device though the communication port; and

using the selected address to communicate a command to the LED lighting system to execute the lighting control program in accordance with the selected parameter to generate a range of colors.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the LED lighting system further comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the communication port is adapted to communicate wired transmissions.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the communication port is adapted to communicate wireless transmissions.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein the programming device further comprises a memory wherein the memory is associated with the processor.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the steps of selecting an address on the programming device and selecting a parameter further comprise storing the selected address and the selected parameter in the memory.

29. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of selecting an address on the programming device using the user interface comprises arranging the programming device to automatically generate a new address.

30. A method for controlling an LED lighting system, the LED lighting system comprising a memory, a processor associated with the memory, and a communication port associated with the processor adapted to communicate with a remote programming device, the method comprising steps of:

receiving via the communication port at least one address from the remote programming device; and

receiving via the communication port a parameter of a lighting control program for execution by the LED lighting system lighting system to generate a lighting routine;

storing the received at least one address and the received parameter in the memory; and

receiving a command to execute the lighting control program in accordance with the received parameter to generate a range of colors, the command directed to the at least one address.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the LED lighting system further comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein the communication port is adapted to receive wired transmission.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein the communication port is adapted to receive wireless transmission.

37. A system, comprising:

an LED lighting system comprising a memory and a processor associated with the memory;

a programming device comprising a second processor; and

a user interface associated with the second processor and adapted to receive user input to select an address and to select a parameter of a lighting control program;

wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address and the selected parameter to the LED lighting system;

wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to receive the address and the parameter and to store the address and the parameter in the memory; and

wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to execute the lighting control program in accordance with the parameter to generate a range of colors upon receipt of a command directed to the address.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the LED lighting system further comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

42. The system of claim 37 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate to the LED lighting system though wired transmission.

43. The system of claim 37 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate to the LED lighting system though wireless transmission.

44. The system of claim 37 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

45. The system of claim 37 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

47. The system of claim 37 wherein the memory further comprises non-volatile memory.

48. The system of claim 37 wherein the processor is adapted to read a unique identifier from the LED lighting system.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the unique identifier comprises a serial number.

50. The system of claim 37 wherein the programming device further comprises a second memory wherein the second memory is associated with the second processor.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the second processor is adapted to store a selected address in the second memory.

52. The system of claim 37 wherein the second processor is adapted to automatically generate a new address.

53. A programming device, comprising:

a processor; and

a user interface associated with the processor adapted to receive user input to select an address and to select a parameter of a lighting control program,

wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate the selected address and the selected parameter from the programming device to an LED lighting system located remotely from the programming device; and

wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate a command to the LED lighting system to execute the lighting control program in accordance with the selected parameter to generate a range of colors, the command being directed to the selected address.

54. The device of claim 53 wherein the LED lighting system further comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

55. The device of claim 54 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

56. The device of claim 55 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

57. The device of claim 55 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

58. The device of claim 53 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate from the programming device to the LED lighting system though wired transmission.

59. The device of claim 53 wherein the programming device is adapted to communicate from the programming device to the LED lighting system though wireless transmission.

60. The device of claim 53 wherein the user interface is at least one of a dial, slider, switch, and button.

61. The device of claim 53 wherein the user interface further comprises a screen to display information.

62. The device of claim 61 wherein the screen further comprises at least one of an LCD, plasma display and LED display.

63. The device of claim 53 wherein the programming device further comprises a memory wherein the memory is associated with the processor.

64. The device of claim 63 wherein the programming device is further adapted to store the selected address in the memory.

65. The system of claim 53 wherein the processor is adapted to automatically generate a new address.

66. An LED lighting system, comprising:

a memory and a processor associated with the memory;

wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to receive an address and a parameter for a lighting control program from a remote programming device and to store the received address and the received parameter in the memory; and

wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to execute the lighting control program according to the received parameter to generate a range of colors upon receipt of a command from the remote programming device directed to the received address.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the LED lighting system further comprises at least two different colored LEDs.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the processor controls at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with a PWM signal.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein the processor controls the at least one of the at least two different colored LEDs with an analog signal.

71. The system of claim 66 wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to receive an address and a parameter from a remote programming device though wired transmission.

72. The system of claim 66 wherein the LED lighting system is adapted to receive an address and a parameter from a remote programming device though wireless transmission.