System for controlling a lighting level of a lamp in a multi-zone environment

• US 7,924,174 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Gananathan, Ranjit Devanesan
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US11/420,561
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/999, 315149-159
• US Class Current: 340/999
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

System for controlling a lighting level of a lamp in a multi-zone environment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting motion within a first room;

detecting a lighting level within a second room; and

adjusting an extent to which a lamp within a third room is energized in response to the detected motion and based on the detected lighting level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected lighting level comprises an ambient daylight level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third zones are each physically separated from each other.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion is detected with a motion sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting level is detected with a photo sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of wireless communicating the detected motion to a wireless network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the network comprises a local area network.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of wireless communicating the detected lighting level to a wireless network.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of wirelessly receiving the communication of the detected lighting level at the lamp.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting motion within a first room;

means for detecting a lighting level within a second room; and

means for adjusting an extent to which a lamp within a third room is energized in response to motion detected in the first room and based on a detected lighting level in the second room.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detected lighting level comprises an ambient daylight level.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first, second and third zones are each physically separated from each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for detection motion comprises a motion detector.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the means for detecting lighting level comprises a photo sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for wirelessly communicating a signal from the means for detecting motion to a wireless network.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means for wireless communicating a signal from the means for detecting lighting level to a wireless network.

16. An apparatus, comprising

a motion sensor configured to detect motion within a first room;

a photo sensor configured to detect a lighting level within a second room; and

a processor configured to control an extent to which a lamp within a third room is energized in response to motion detected in the first room and based on the lighting level detected in the second room.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the detected lighting level comprises an ambient daylight level.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first, second and third zones are each physically separated from each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a wireless device communicably coupled the processor and configured to receive wireless communication from at least one of the motion sensor and the photo sensor.