System and method for maintaining and controlling a plurality of wireless light fixtures

• US 7,859,398 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Davidson, David L., Luebke, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/610,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A method of maintaining and controlling a plurality of wireless light fixtures includes providing the light fixtures in a structure, wirelessly receiving respective operational data from each of the light fixtures at a central location, aggregating the received respective operational data to form an aggregation of operational data, and analyzing at least a portion of the aggregation of operational data. The method further includes performing one or both of (i) controlling the operation of a first selected one or more of the light fixtures based on a result of the analyzing step by wirelessly transmitting respective operational commands from the central location to each of the first selected one or more of the light fixtures, and (ii) causing a maintenance related action to be taken with respect to each of a second selected one or more of the light fixtures based on a result of the analyzing step.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining and controlling a plurality of light fixtures, said light fixtures having wireless communications capabilities, comprising:

providing said light fixtures in a structure;

determining in a processing unit of each of said light fixtures operational data relating to an extent of usage of the light fixture over a period of time, the operational data for each light fixture including one or more of;

(i) a number of hours that each of one or more bulbs the light fixture has been operational over the period of time, (ii) an amount of energy consumed by the light fixture over the period of time, and (iii) a number of starts experienced by each of one or more bulbs the light fixture over the period of time;

wirelessly receiving the respective operational data from each of said light fixtures at a central location;

aggregating the received respective operational data at said central location to form an aggregation of operational data;

analyzing at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data at said central location; and

performing one or both of (i) controlling the operation of a first selected one or more of said light fixtures based on a result of said analyzing step by wirelessly transmitting respective operational commands from said central location to each of said first selected one or more of said light fixtures, and (ii) causing a maintenance related action to be taken with respect to each of a second selected one or more of said light fixtures based on a result of said analyzing step.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said performing step comprises performing both sub-step (i) and sub-step (ii).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing step includes calculating a lumen depreciation for each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing step includes calculating a remaining useful life for one or more bulbs included in each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing step includes calculating a remaining useful life for one or more ballasts included in each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more light level sensors in said structure, each of said one or more light level sensors measuring ambient light level data and having wireless communications capabilities;

wirelessly receiving at said central location from each of the one or more light level sensors the ambient light level data measured thereby;

aggregating the received ambient light level data at the central location to form an aggregation of light level data;

analyzing at least a portion of said aggregation of light level data; and

controlling the operation of a third selected one or more of said light fixtures based on a result of said light level data analyzing step by wirelessly transmitting respective second operational commands from said central location to each of said third selected one or more of said light fixtures.

7. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of light fixtures provided in a structure, each of said light fixtures having a processing unit operatively coupled to one or more light bulbs and a wireless communications device in electronic communication with said processing unit, wherein the processing unit of each of said light fixtures determines operational data relating to an extent of usage of the light fixture over a period of time, the operational data for each light fixture including one or more of;

(i) a number of hours that each of one or more bulbs the light fixture has been operational over the period of time, (ii) an amount of energy consumed by the light fixture over the period of time, and (iii) a number of starts experienced by each of one or more bulbs the light fixture over the period of time; and

a central controller located at a central location, said central controller having a wireless communications capability;

wherein said central controller wirelessly receives respective the operational data from each of said light fixtures, aggregates the received respective operational data to form an aggregation of operational data and analyzes at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data, and wherein said central controller does one or both of the following based on a result of the analyzing of said at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data;

(i) wirelessly transmits respective operational commands to a first selected one or more of said light fixtures for controlling the operation of said first selected one or more of said light fixtures, and (ii) directs or recommends that a maintenance related action be taken with respect to each of a second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said central controller directs or recommends that a maintenance related action be taken with respect to each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures by providing an alert that a particular action be taken with respect to said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said central controller does both step (i) and step (ii) based on said result.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein when said central controller analyzes said at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data said central controller calculates a lumen depreciation for each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein when said central controller analyzes said at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data said central controller calculates a remaining useful life for one or more bulbs included in each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein when said central controller analyzes said at least a portion of said aggregation of operational data said central controller calculates a remaining useful life for one or more ballasts included in each of said second selected one or more of said light fixtures.