Integration of LED lighting with building controls

• US 8,571,716 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Simon, David L
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/491,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20120248991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/276, 700/277, 700/291, 700/295, 700/296, 700/297, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/315, 362/234, 362/253, 362/276, 398/183, 340/815.45
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/46 Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2120/10 Occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/02 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/34 Heater, e.g. gas burner, electric air heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/04 with ducting systems , e.g. by double walls; with natural circulation F24F7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 : Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 : in response to determined parameters
• 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 47/12 : by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 : Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An LED-based light can be installed in a conventional light fixture. The LED-based light can include a sensor operable to output a first signal indicative of whether an area of one or more of the rooms is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state, and the LED-based light can also include an LED controller operable to control at least one LED in the light in response to the first signal. Additionally, the LED-based light can include a transmitter operable to output a second signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state to a building environment regulator.

Claims

1. A system for use in conjunction with a conventional fluorescent light fixture that is configured to receive a standardized electrical connector of a conventional light, the system comprising:

a sensor operable to output a first signal indicative of whether an area in a building is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state;

an LED-based light including;

at least one electrical connector compatible with the conventional light fixture, wherein the at least one electrical connector includes a pair of bi-pin end caps configured for engagement with the conventional fluorescent light fixture;

multiple LEDs that output an amount of light substantially equal to an amount of light produced by a conventional fluorescent tube;

an LED controller operable to control the multiple LEDs in response to the first signal;

a transmitter operable to transmit a second signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state in response to the first signal; and

a circuit board in electrical communication with at least one of the bi-pin end caps, wherein the multiple LEDs, the LED controller, and the transmitter are mounted on the circuit board and in electrical communication therewith; and

a regulator controller remote from the LED-based light, operable to receive the second signal and control an environmental condition in the building in response to the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor detects one or more of motion and sound.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal is at least partially based on at least one of a time of day and a day of the week.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the LED-based light further comprises a receiver that receives an auxiliary signal generated from a source outside the LED-based light indicative of whether the area in the building is in the occupied state or unoccupied state;

and

wherein the LED controller is operable to control the multiple LEDs in response to the auxiliary signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is included in the LED-based light.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental condition includes at least one of a temperature setting, an airflow setting, or a humidity setting.

7. An LED-based light compatible with a standard light fixture, comprising:

a tube including a light transmitting portion;

a pair of electrical connectors attached to opposing ends of the tube, the pair of electrical connectors compatible with the standard fluorescent light fixture;

a plurality of LEDs operable to produce light that passes through the light transmitting portion of the tube;

a sensor operable to output a first signal indicative of whether an area of one or more rooms in a building is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state;

an LED controller operable to control the plurality of LEDs in response to the first signal;

a transmitter operable to transmit a second signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state in response to the first signal to a regulator controller;

a circuit board disposed in the tube and in electrical communication with at least one of the electrical connectors, wherein the plurality of LEDs, the LED controller, and the transmitter are mounted on the circuit board,

wherein the regulator controller is remote from the LED-based light and operable to control at least one function in the building in response to receiving the second signal and wherein the at least one function is other than controlling the LED-based light.

8. The LED-based light tube of claim 7, wherein the pair of electrical connectors include a pair of bi-pin electrical connectors.

9. The LED-based light tube of claim 7, wherein the sensor detects one or more of motion and sound.

10. The LED-based light tube of claim 7, wherein the first signal is at least partially based on at least one of a time of day and a day of the week.

11. The LED-based light tube of claim 7, further comprising a receiver that receives an auxiliary signal generated from a source outside the LED-based light indicative of whether the one or more rooms in the building are in the occupied state or unoccupied state;

and

wherein the LED controller is operable to control the plurality of LEDs in response to the auxiliary signal.

12. The LED-based light tube of claim 7, wherein the second signal includes an instruction to alter one or more of a temperature setting, an airflow setting, a humidity setting, and a brightness setting of the regulator controller.

13. A method for controlling an environmental condition in a building using an LED-based light according to claim 7, comprising

receiving, by the LED controller, the first signal indicative of whether an area in a building is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state;

controlling, by the LED controller, the plurality of LEDs in response to the first signal;

transmitting, by the transmitter, the second signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state in response to the first signal to the regulator controller remote from the LED-based light; and

controlling, by the regulator controller, at least one function in the building in response to the second signal, wherein the at least one function is other than controlling the LED-based light.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one function includes controlling at least one of a temperature setting, an airflow setting or a humidity setting in the building.