Light management system device and method

• US 8,466,626 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Null, Jonathan, Smith, Melissa Lynn, Beyer, Thomas Joseph T. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, JIMMY T
• Application Number:
  US12/217,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20080265796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 315/159, 315/291, 315/294, 315/308, 315/350, 315/312, 315/363, 315/149, 315/155, 315/219, 315/295, 315/158, 315/307, 315/313, 315360-362, 340/540, 340/541, 340/567
• US Class Current: 315/159
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting control system is disclosed. The lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and/or outdoor lighting. The lighting control system includes a control module with a night light for providing low-level night light illumination and one or more sensors for operatively controlling the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and the night light in response to measured light levels and/or detected motion. The system is preferably configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a light source, the control system comprising:

a) a light sensor for measuring light levels;

b) a motion sensor for detecting motion in a detection area of a control module; and

c) an integral night light built in to the control module, wherein the control module is electrically coupled to the light source and automatically turns on the night light when the light levels measured by the light sensor are below a threshold value, automatically closes a load circuit when motion detected by the motion sensor is above the threshold value, thereby turning on the lighting source for a duration of time and simultaneously turning off the night light, and wherein the control module fits into a wall switch electrical outlet box.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to automatically turn off the light source after the duration of time.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the light sensor comprises a photo-diode.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

5. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a micro-processor for programming the duration of time.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a manual switch for turning on and off the light source.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the system is placed in a night light mode through the manual switch and wherein the light source includes on or more incandescent bulbs.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmable through a manual switch.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the integral night light comprises a light emitting diode.

10. A control module for electrically coupling to a light source, the control module comprising:

a) an integral night light built into the control module;

b) a light sensor for detecting levels of ambient light and automatically controlling the integral night light based on the levels of detected ambient light; and

c) a motion sensor unit for automatically controlling the light source in response to a level of detected motion, wherein the control module fits into a wall switch electrical outlet box, wherein the control module simultaneously turns off the night light when the light source is turned on.

11. The control module of claim 10, further comprising means for selecting and programming a duration of time that the light source remains on after levels of detected motion are above threshold values.

12. The control module of claim 11, wherein the means for selecting and programming the duration of time includes a micro-processor.

13. The control module of claim 10, further comprising a manual switch manually controlling an electrical load for powering the light source.

14. The control module of claim 10, wherein the light sensor unit comprises a photo-diode.

15. The control module of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

16. A method of controlling lighting, the method comprising

a) measuring ambient light levels with a light sensor in a location corresponding to a motion sensor;

b) controlling a first light source in response to measured levels of the ambient light;

c) measuring motion with the motion sensor; and

d) controlling a second light source in response to measured levels of motion in the location corresponding to the motion sensor, wherein the first light source provides low level night lighting and the second light source provides high level space lighting, wherein the first light source is simultaneously turned off in response to the second light source being turned on.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first light source includes one or more light emitting diodes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second light source includes one or more incandescent lights.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the motion sensor includes an infrared motion sensor.