Daylight control system device and method

• US 7,626,339 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Paton, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; David Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tung X
• Application Number:
  US11/657,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/295, 315307-308, 315149-152, 315155-159, 340/531, 340/506, 362/276
• US Class Current: 315/155
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system and device for and a method of programming and controlling light fixtures is disclosed. A system in accordance with the present invention includes a stationary controller unit that is electrically coupled to the light fixtures. The stationary controller unit is configured to be remotely programmed with a portable commissioning device to automatically control the lights fixtures. The stationary controller unit and the portable commissioning device include light sensors, micro-computers and transceivers for measuring light levels, running programs, storing data and transmitting data between the stationary controller unit and the portable commissioning device. In operation, target light levels selected with the portable commissioning device and the controller unit is remotely programmed to automatically maintain the target level.

Claims

1. A portable device for commissioning light fixtures to provide a target light levels, the portable device comprising:

a) a first light sensor for measuring light values in a work plane of the light fixtures as the light fixture is operated over a range of voltages; and

b) means for calibrating light values measured by a control unit with a second light sensor to the light values measured by the first light sensor and remotely programming the control unit to automatically maintain light outputs at target values based-on the light values measured by the first light sensor.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the first light sensor comprises one or more light-emitting-diodes.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the means for calibrating light values measured by the control unit with the second light sensor to the light values measured by the first light sensor and remotely programming the control unit comprises a wireless transceiver.

4. The portable device of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is an infrared transceiver configured to provide two-way communication between the portable device and the controller unit with a compatible infrared transceiver.

5. The portable device of claim 1. further comprising a power source, the power source being selected from the group consisting of a battery and a solar cell.

6. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface to allow a user to select the target values and initiate programming.

7. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a micro-processor and a data storage unit for running software to program the control unit and for storing program data.

8. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising means to transmit data to a remote host computer.

9. A system for managing light fixtures, the system comprising:

a) controller units with light sensors coupled to the light fixtures for regulating light outputs from the light fixtures in accordance with a program to maintain target light levels measured in a work plane, wherein the program correlates light levels measures by the light sensors over a range of applied voltages with light levels measured in the work plane; and

b) a commissioning device with a light sensor for measuring the light levels in the work plane, the commissioning device being configured to remotely program the controller units to regulate the light outputs at the target light levels, according to the program and independent of the commissioning device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the light sensor of the commissioning device is a photodiode with photopically correcting filters.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller units comprises a micro-computer for running the program and for storing operating data.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a wireless communication means, wherein the commissioning device is configured to remotely program the controller units through the wireless communication means.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication means comprises transceivers coupled to the commissioning device and the controller units.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the correction factor is determined by measuring voltage inputs to the light fixtures and comparing the voltage inputs with corresponding light outputs from the light fixtures to determine the correction factor for remotely programming the controller units.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising an override device for overriding the controller units and directly controlling light outputs from the light fixtures.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the override device is selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor and a manual switch.

17. A method for commissioning a light fixture, the method comprising:

a) measuring a light level from a portable commissioning device having a first light sensor in a working plane to determine a target light level in the working plane; and

b) remotely programming a control unit having a second light sensor using the portable commissioning device, such that the control unit maintains the target light level from the light fixture based on a light level measured by the second light sensor that is calibrated with the light level measured by the first light sensor at the target light level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein remotely programming the controller unit comprises initiating a calibration sequence from the portable commissioning device, whereby the portable commissioning device instructs the controller unit to operate the light fixtures over a range of applied voltages and measures the corresponding light outputs to determine a calibration factor that is used to program the control unit to maintain the target light level from the light fixture.

19. A system comprising:

a) a control unit electrically coupled a voltage source for powering lights, wherein the control unit includes first light sensor and wherein the control unit controls voltage outputs from the voltage source based on control signals from the first light sensor; and

b) a portable commissioning device with second light sensor and means for programming the control unit to control the voltage outputs according to a calibrated response of the control signals from the first light sensor, wherein the calibrated response is determined by measuring a range of light outputs from the light over a range voltage outputs from the voltage source using the second light sensor.