Managing SSL fixtures over PLC networks

• US 8,466,585 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Shah, Ashok Deepak, Roberts, David Diehl III
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/399,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20120146430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 307/140
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25387 Control sequences so as to optimize energy use by controlled machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Managing solid-state luminary (SSL) fixtures over power line carrier (PLC) networks is described herein. Devices provided in this description include SSL arrays, and converter circuitry coupled to drive the SSL arrays. More specifically, the converter circuitry is adapted to convert input voltage received from a power distribution network into a level suitable for driving the SSL arrays. The devices also include (PLC) modems for coupling to PLC networks, and coupled to the converter circuitry. In particular, the PLC modems interface the converter circuitry to the PLC networks.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

replacing an existing lighting fixture with a solid-state luminary (SSL) array;

installing converter circuitry configured to convert power from a power distribution network to drive the SSL array and a power line carrier (PLC) modem configured to communicate via a PLC network overlaid onto the power distribution network and to provide control signals to the converter circuitry, wherein the power distribution network comprises a poly-phase circuit and wherein the PLC modem couples different phases in the poly-phase circuit to communicate between the different phases; and

coupling the converter circuitry to the SSL array.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

installing an additional SSL array; and

installing a low-voltage cable that couples the SSL array and the additional SSL array to be controlled together.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising providing encoded feedback information from the SSL array to a local controller.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein replacing an existing lighting fixture with the SSL array further comprises replacing a wall-mounted switch in a wall box of the existing lighting fixture with the converter circuitry.

5. The process of claim 4, further comprising coupling the PLC modem to power cables that formerly supplied electrical power to the existing lighting control.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the converter circuitry is configured to modulate input power from the power distribution network to drive the SSL array based upon the control signals provided by the PLC modem.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the PLC modem and the converter circuitry are implemented in a single integrated chip.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the PLC modem couples a single phase circuit to the poly-phase circuit.

9. A process comprising:

replacing an existing lighting device with a solid-state luminary (SSL) array and a power converter configured to drive the SSL array, wherein the SSL array is an addressable SSL node in a power line carrier (PLC) network;

replacing an existing lighting control with a PLC modem coupled to a power distribution network and configured to communicate via the PLC network overlaid onto and the power distribution network to provide control signals to the power converter, wherein the power distribution network comprises a poly-phase circuit and wherein the PLC modem couples different phases in the poly-phase circuit to communicate between the different phases; and

coupling the PLC modem to the power converter and the SSL array.

10. The process of claim 9, further comprising:

replacing a plurality of existing lighting devices with SSL arrays configured to be controlled together.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein replacing an existing lighting control further comprises replacing a wall-mounted switch in a wall box of the existing lighting device with the individually addressable SSL array power converter.

12. The process of claim 9, further comprising coupling the PLC modem to power cables that formerly supplied electrical power to the lighting control.

13. A system for retrofitting solid-state luminary (SSL) arrays into a building installation, the system comprising:

an SSL array configured to replace an existing lighting device, wherein the SSL array is an addressable SSL node in a power line carrier (PLC) network; and

a PLC modem and a power converter configured to replace an existing lighting control, the power converter further configured to convert power from a pre-existing power distribution network of the building installation to drive the SSL array and the PLC modem configured to communicate via the PLC network overlaid onto the power distribution network and to provide control signals to the power converter.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an encoder for encoding feedback data from the individually addressable SSL array to a controller.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising an additional SSL array configured to be coupled to the SSL array by a second low-voltage cable such that the SSL array and the additional SSL array are controlled together.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the PLC modem and the power converter are configured to replace a wall-mounted switch in a wall box.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the power distribution network supplies direct current (DC) voltage.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the PLC modem and the power converter are implemented in a single integrated chip.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the PLC modem identifies a control signal associated with the SSL node by an SSL node address.