Power control system and method for providing an optimal power level to a designated light fixture

• US 8,643,300 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2011
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dale B. Stepps, Jose Luis Suarez
• Original Assignee: Dale B. Stepps, Jose Luis Suarez
• Inventors: Stepps, Dale B., Suarez, Jose Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haiss
• Application Number:
  US13/188,147
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/247, 315/224, 315/308, 315/312, 315/129, 315/131, 362/249.02, 362/373, 340/815.45, 340/332
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A control system and method for automatically and seamlessly providing optimal power and/or voltage levels to an integrated, connected or other designated light fixture. In particular, the control system comprises corresponding boost, buck and feedback circuitry cooperatively utilized to intelligently increase, decrease or maintain the signal or power delivered to the light fixture at an optimal level, thereby increasing efficiency and productivity of the light fixture and allowing the light fixture to operate even in the event of a severely degraded signal due to resistance or impedance resulting from a lengthy power wire or other factors.

Claims

1. A method for providing optimal voltage to a light assembly, the method comprising:

receiving, at a voltage manipulation assembly, an input signal comprising a voltage from an electrical input line, the voltage manipulation assembly being interconnected between the electrical input line and the light assembly,

receiving, at the voltage manipulation assembly, a feedback signal from a feedback signal line electrically interconnected with the light assembly, the feedback signal being structured to indicate a status of the output signal in relation to an optimal output signal,

manipulating an output voltage at the voltage manipulation assembly based upon the feedback signal received from the feedback signal line, and

transmitting the manipulated output voltage to the light assembly via a light assembly input line.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising defining manipulating the output voltage as incrementally increasing the output voltage until the feedback signal indicates the output voltage is equal to an optimal output voltage.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising defining manipulating the output voltage as incrementally decreasing the output voltage until the feedback signal indicates the output voltage is equal to an optimal output voltage.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising if the feedback signal indicates that the output voltage is less than an optimal output voltage, then incrementally increasing the output voltage until the feedback signal indicates that the output voltage is equal to the optimal output voltage.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising if the feedback signal indicates that the output voltage is greater than the optimal output voltage, then incrementally decreasing the output voltage until the feedback signal indicates that the output voltage is equal to the optimal output voltage.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising defining the optimal output voltage as comprising an optimal light fixture voltage plus an optimal feedback voltage, the optimal feedback voltage being structured to provide power to at least a portion of the voltage manipulation assembly.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising defining the voltage manipulation assembly as comprising a boost converter and a buck converter.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising defining the optimal feedback voltage as comprising a minimum amount of power required to operatively power the buck converter.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising defining the optimal light fixture voltage as comprising a minimum operative power to operate the light assembly.

10. A power control system electrically interconnected to a light assembly, said power control system comprising:

a voltage manipulation assembly electrically interconnected to the light assembly, said voltage manipulation assembly being structured to receive an input signal from an electrical input line and transmit an output signal to the light assembly,

a feedback signal line electrically interconnected between said voltage manipulation assembly and the light assembly, said feedback signal line being structured to transmit a feedback signal to said voltage manipulation assembly, the feedback signal being structured to indicate a status of said output signal in relation to an optimal output signal,

said voltage manipulation assembly being structured to generate a manipulated output signal based upon said feedback signal and transmit said manipulated output signal to the light assembly via a light assembly input line.

11. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said voltage manipulation assembly is structured to incrementally increase an output voltage of said output signal until said feedback signal indicates said output voltage is equal to an optimal output voltage.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said voltage manipulation assembly is structured to incrementally decrease said output voltage until said feedback signal indicates said output voltage is equal to said optimal output voltage.

13. The system as recited in claim 10 wherein said voltage manipulation assembly is structured and configured to analyze said feedback signal and based thereupon increase or decrease an output voltage until said feedback signal indicates that said output voltage is equal to an optimal output voltage.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said optimal output voltage comprises an optimal light fixture voltage plus an optimal feedback voltage.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said optimal feedback voltage comprises a predetermined minimum voltage structured to operatively power at least a portion of said voltage manipulation assembly.

16. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said optimal light fixture voltage comprises a predetermined minimum voltage structured to operatively power the light assembly.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said voltage manipulation assembly comprises a boost converter and a buck converter.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said optimal feedback voltage comprises a predetermined minimum voltage structured to operatively power said buck converter.

19. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said feedback signal comprises a voltage substantially equal to said output voltage minus a voltage utilized by the light assembly.

20. A power control system electrically interconnected to a light assembly, said power control system comprising:

a voltage manipulation assembly electrically interconnected between a power source and the light assembly, said voltage manipulation assembly being structured to receive an input signal from the power source and transmit an output signal to the light assembly,

said voltage manipulation assembly comprising a voltage boost converter and a voltage buck converter,

a feedback signal line electrically interconnected between said voltage manipulation assembly and the light assembly, said feedback signal line being structured to transmit a feedback signal to said voltage manipulation assembly, the feedback signal being structured to indicate a status of said output signal in relation to an optimal output signal, and

said voltage manipulation assembly being structured to analyze said feedback signal and based thereupon manipulate said output signal until said feedback signal indicates that said output signal is equal to said optimal output signal.