Arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection

• US 8,558,464 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cantigny Lighting Control, LLC
• Original Assignee: John Joseph King
• Inventors: King, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US13/018,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 315/134, 315/149, 315/360, 315/362, 307/112, 307/117, 307/139
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection comprises an ambient light detector coupled to the outdoor light; and a user interface accessible by a user separate from the outdoor light; wherein the user interface enables controlling the operation of the ambient light detector.

Claims

1. An arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection, the arrangement comprising:

an ambient light detector coupled to the outdoor light; and

a user interface accessible by a user separate from the outdoor light;

wherein the user interface enables controlling the operation of the ambient light detector and comprises a mode actuator moveable between an off position and an ambient light detection position.

2. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 1 wherein the user interface further comprises a control actuator enabling an adjustment of a setting of the ambient light detector from the user interface, wherein the setting of the control actuator affects an on/off state of the outdoor light when the mode actuator is in the ambient light detection position.

3. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 2 wherein the control actuator comprises an actuator for setting a time after which a low ambient light condition is detected before the outdoor light it turned on.

4. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 2 wherein the control actuator comprises an actuator for setting a time at which the outdoor light is turned off.

5. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 4 wherein the time at which the outdoor light is turned off is determined based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is on after the detection of a low ambient light condition.

6. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 5 wherein the time at which the outdoor light is turned off is based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is turned off before an estimated time for a low ambient light level condition.

7. An arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection, the arrangement comprising:

an ambient light detector coupled to the outdoor light; and

a user interface accessible by a user separate from the outdoor light, the user interface enabling control of one of a time at which the outdoor light is turned on and a time at which the outdoor light is turned off;

wherein the user interface enables controlling the operation of the ambient light detector; and

wherein the user interface comprises a control actuator for setting a time after which a low ambient light condition is detected before the outdoor light it turned on.

8. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 7 wherein the user interface comprises a mode actuator.

9. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 8 wherein the mode actuator is movable to an on position.

10. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 7 wherein the user interface comprises a control actuator for setting a time at which the outdoor light is turned off.

11. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 10 wherein the time at which the outdoor light is turned off is determined based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is on after the detection of a low ambient light condition.

12. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 10 wherein the time at which the outdoor light is turned off is based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is turned off before an estimated time for a low ambient light level condition.

13. An arrangement of an outdoor light enabling ambient light detection, the arrangement comprising:

an ambient light detector coupled to the outdoor light; and

a user interface having a first control actuator for setting a time after which a low ambient light condition is detected before an outdoor light is turned on, and a second control actuator for setting a time at which the outdoor light is turned off.

14. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 13 wherein the second control actuator enables setting the time at which the outdoor light is turned off based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is on after the detection of a low ambient light condition.

15. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 13 wherein the second control actuator enables setting the time at which the outdoor light is turned off based upon an amount of time that the outdoor light is turned off before an estimated time of a low ambient light level condition.

16. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 13 wherein the user interface comprises a mode actuator moveable between an off position and an ambient light detection mode position.

17. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 16 wherein the mode actuator is further movable to an on position.

18. The arrangement of an outdoor light of claim 16 wherein the mode actuator is movable to a timer position.