Handheld programmer for lighting control system

• US 8,228,163 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Cash, Audwin W., Kumar, Rishi Raj, Rigatti, Christopher J., Veskovic, Dragan, Hewson, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, JIMMY T
• Application Number:
  US11/948,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-154, 315291-295, 315/307, 315/312, 315/317, 315/318, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/427, 340/635, 340/649, 340/650, 340/3.5, 340/825.21, 340/825.52, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/3.5
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device is also installed in the lighting control system, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system. Further, the signal is wirelessly sent from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, and the instruction is transmitted from the communications receiver to a device in the system. The instruction functions to configure the lighting control system.

Claims

1. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one device including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a first selection icon on a configuration screen of the handheld programming device;

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device in response to a selection of the first selection icon, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one device in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one device has been selected for configuration;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one device that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one device in response to receiving the second instruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a ballast and a bus supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals are formatted as infrared signal or radio frequency signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device comprises a ballast, and the second instruction provides an instruction to configure the ballast'"'"'s high end trim, low end trim, fade time, burn-in state and emergency level intensity setting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of devices in the lighting control system, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least two ballasts connected to a communications bus, and at least one sensor device connected to one of the at least two ballasts.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor device comprises one or more of a photosensor and an occupancy sensor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the photosensor registering a light input.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to time-out after a specified amount of time after the at least one sensor device registers an unoccupied status of an associated space.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second instruction functions to reset the at least one device to a factory default setting.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of devices including first and second ballasts, each ballast associated with a respective lamp, further comprising the step of:

flashing the lamp associated with the first ballast to communicate to a user of the handheld programming device that the first ballast has been selected for configuration.

12. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system comprising a plurality of devices including at least two ballasts connected to a communications bus and a plurality of sensor devices, at least one ballast including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one ballast in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one ballast has been selected for configuration;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one ballast that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one ballast in response to receiving the second instruction wherein the second instruction functions to group the at least two ballasts to operate in response to at least one sensor device connected to one of the at least two ballasts.

13. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system comprising a plurality of devices including at least two ballasts connected to a communications bus and a plurality of sensor devices, each of the sensor devices connected to at least one ballast, at least one ballast including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one ballast in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one ballast has been selected for configuration;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one ballast that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one ballast in response to receiving the second instruction wherein the second instruction functions to add at least one ballast to a group of ballasts that operate in response to the plurality of sensor devices.

14. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system comprising a plurality of devices including at least two ballasts connected to a communications bus and a bus supply connected to the communications bus, the bus supply operable to receive a contact closure input, at least one ballast including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one ballast in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one ballast has been selected for configuration;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one ballast that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one ballast in response to receiving the second instruction wherein the second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the contact closure input registering an open or a closed state.

15. A lighting control system comprising:

at least two ballasts installed in the lighting control system, wherein at least one ballast comprises a processing section;

a communications receiver operable to communicate with the processing section of the at least one ballast;

at least one sensor device comprising an occupancy sensor; and

a handheld programming device operable to wirelessly transmit signals to the communications receiver;

wherein the at least one ballast is operable to flash an associated lamp in response to receiving a first wirelessly transmitted signal from the handheld programming device to communicate that the at least one ballast has been selected for configuration, and to subsequently store a configuration of the at least one ballast in response to receiving a second wirelessly transmitted signal from the handheld programming device, the second wirelessly transmitted signal including a first instruction for configuring the at least one ballast wherein the first instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to time-out after a specified amount of time after the occupancy sensor registers an unoccupied status.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the signals are formatted as infrared signals or radio frequency signals.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one ballast is operable to receive a second instruction to configure at least one of the ballast'"'"'s high end trim, low end trim, fade time, burn-in state and emergency level intensity setting.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one ballast is operable to receive a second instruction to group the at least two ballasts to operate in response to the at least one sensor device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of devices further comprises a plurality of sensor devices, and the at least one ballast is operable to receive a second instruction to add at least one ballast to a group of ballasts that operate in response to the plurality of sensor devices.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the system further comprises one or more photosensor.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein at least one ballast is operable to receive a second instruction to causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the photosensor registering a light input.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at the respective intensity level in response to the occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least two ballasts are connected to a communications bus, the system further comprising a bus supply connected to the communications bus, wherein the bus supply comprises a contact closure input and a second instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the contact closure input registering an open or a closed state.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one ballast is operable to receive a second instruction to reset one or more ballasts installed in the lighting control system to a factory default setting.

25. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one device including a processing section, comprising the steps of:

displaying a configuration screen on the handheld programming device; and

prompting a user to aim the handheld programming device at the at least one device;

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one device in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one device has been selected for configuration;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one device that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one device in response to receiving the second instruction.

26. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one device including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one device in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one device has been selected for configuration;

displaying a message on a configuration screen indicating that the lamp associated with the at least one device is flashing;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one device that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one device in response to receiving the second instruction.

27. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one device including a processing section, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one device in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one device has been selected for configuration;

displaying a confirmation request on a configuration screen to confirm that the lamp associated with the at least one device is flashing in response to the step of flashing the lamp;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one device, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one device that has been selected for configuration; and

storing the configuration of the at least one device in response to receiving the second instruction.

28. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one ballast including a processing section, comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing a lamp associated with the at least one ballast in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the at least one ballast has been selected for configuration;

displaying a high end trim configuration screen on the handheld programmer device;

prompting a user to select the high end trim via the high end trim configuration screen;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the at least one ballast, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the at least one ballast'"'"'s high end trim; and

storing the configuration of the at least one ballast in response to receiving the second instruction.

29. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system comprising a plurality of devices including first and second ballasts, each ballast associated with a respective lamp, first and second ballasts including a respective processing section, comprising the step of:

wirelessly transmitting a first signal from the handheld programming device to the first ballast, the first signal including a first instruction;

flashing the lamp associated with the first ballast in response to receiving the first instruction to communicate that the first ballast has been selected for configuration;

displaying controls on a first configuration screen of the handheld programming device for a user to select the second ballast;

wirelessly transmitting the first signal from the handheld programming device to the second ballast in response to the user selecting the second ballast;

flashing the lamp associated with the second ballast in response to the wireless transmission of the first signal;

prompting the user to confirm that the lamp associated with the second ballast is flashing;

subsequently wirelessly transmitting a second signal from the handheld programming device to the second ballast, the second signal including a second instruction for configuring the second ballast; and

storing the configuration of the second ballast in response to receiving the second instruction.