System and method for programming a configurable load control device

• US 8,810,159 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Shearer, Thomas M., Chitta, Venkatesh, Biery, Ethan Charles, Nuhfer, Matthew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US13/608,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20130018522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 315/246, 315/291, 315/297, 315/307, 315/308
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/397 Current mirror circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/44 with an active control inside an LED matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A system for configuring an output parameter of a lighting load power supply, the power supply having a programmable controller for regulating the output parameter to a target value and a memory for storing a variable for setting the target value. The power supply has a communication port for data for setting the target value. A computer executes software allowing a user to select a target value and provides data related to the selected parameter. A programming device in communication with the computer provides data relating to the selected parameter to the communication port for programming the controller to set the parameter to the target value.

Claims

1. A system for configuring at least one output parameter of a lighting load power supply, the lighting load power supply having a programmable controller for regulating the output parameter to a target value and having a memory for storing a variable for setting the target value of the output parameter, the power supply having a communication port for receiving data for setting the target value, the system comprising:

a computer executing software allowing a user to select a target value of an output parameter of the lighting load power supply and having a first port providing data related to the selected output parameter; and

a programming device having a second port in communication with the first port of said computer and for providing data relating to said selected output parameter in a form usable by said lighting load power supply to said communication port of said lighting load power supply for programming said programmable controller to set the output parameter to the selected target value, wherein said lighting load power supply can be programmed to regulate in voltage mode control or current mode control, and further wherein the software allows the user to select either voltage mode control or current mode control, and to configure said lighting load power supply for either voltage mode control or current mode control via said communication port.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one output parameter comprises an output voltage of said lighting load power supply or an output current of said lighting load power supply.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said lighting load power supply is dimmable, and wherein the software allows the user to select a dimming protocol for said lighting load power supply, the dimming protocol comprising pulse width modulation in voltage mode control, and a selection of pulse width modulation or constant current reduction in current mode control.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one selected output parameter, the selection of voltage mode control or current mode control, and the dimming protocol, are stored in the memory of said lighting load power supply.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein, after storage in said memory, the selected target value stored may be locked in the memory to prevent alteration and wherein the lighting load power supply is labeled in accordance with the at least one selected output parameter.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the software allows the user to select a control signal input type for dimming control of said lighting load power supply.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the programming device comprises an interface for converting signals on said second port to a form usable by said lighting load power supply to program said selected output parameter to said target value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said interface comprises a first conversion device for converting signals on said second port to a first format and a second conversion device for converting signals in said first format to a second format configured for reception on said communication port of said lighting load power supply.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the software automatically detects a model number of the lighting load power supply connected to the programming device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the software identifies a base model from the selected parameter and alerts the user if the base model is inconsistent with the connected lighting load power supply.

11. The system of claim 1, further wherein the software allows a user to select from a plurality of mechanically different form factors for said lighting load power supply.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the lighting load power supply comprises an LED driver.

13. The system of claim 1, further wherein there are a plurality of base model lighting load power supplies and wherein the software identifies the base model from the at least one selected output parameter, the base models capable of operating in differing power ranges.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the software is downloaded from the Internet from a server associated with a manufacturer of the lighting load power supply.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the software allows a user to select the target value either by directly selecting the target value, or by selecting a model number of the lighting load power supply which has a target value associated with the selection of model number.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the software determines a model number of the lighting load power supply as configured by the programming device from the at least one selected parameter.

17. A method of configuring at least one output parameter of a programmable lighting load power supply, the lighting load power supply having a programmable controller and a memory for storing the at least one output parameter, and further having a communication port for receiving data for configuring the lighting load power supply with the at least one output parameter, the method comprising:

providing software for use on a computer for selecting the at least one parameter;

allowing a user to select the at least one parameter using the software;

providing first data from the computer relating to the selection of the at least one parameter to a programming device; and

the programming device providing second data to the communication port of the lighting load power supply to program the programmable controller to set the output of the programmable lighting load power supply to the at least one output parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises an output regulation method of said lighting load power supply, said output regulation method being either a load voltage control mode or a load current control mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter comprises an output voltage or an output current of said lighting load power supply.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one parameter further comprises a dimming method for said lighting load power supply, said dimming method comprising at least one of pulse width modulation or constant current reduction.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the software allows a user to select a control signal input type for dimming control of said lighting load power supply.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the software allows a user to select a physical form factor of the lighting load power supply.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying from the at least one selected output parameter a model number of the lighting load power supply;

displaying said model number on a display device of said computer; and

allowing the user to order the identified model number.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a limited number of base model number lighting load power supplies, and further wherein the software executes the steps of;

identifying a base model number lighting load power supply from the selected output parameter;

identifying a final model number of the lighting load power supply as further parameters of the lighting load power supply are selected by the user; and

allowing the user to order the final identified model number.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

manufacturing the lighting load power supply in accordance with said identified final model number, said step of manufacturing including programming the base model number lighting load power supply with said selected output parameter.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

locking the memory of said lighting load power supply so that the programmed output parameter cannot be changed.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

labeling the power supply with the at least one output parameter.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

changing the at least one parameter using the software; and

providing a sensor operable to provide feedback to said computer in response to the step of changing the at least one parameter.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a photosensor, a temperature sensor, or a power meter.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the software automatically detects a model number of the lighting load power supply connected to the programming device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the software identifies a base model from the selected parameter and alerts the user if the base model is inconsistent with the connected lighting load power supply.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the lighting load power supply comprises an LED driver.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

selecting the at least one parameter using the software;

providing third data from the computer relating to the selection of the at least one parameter to a programming device, wherein the third data is different from the first data; and

the programming device providing fourth data to the communication port of the lighting load power supply to program the programmable controller to set the output of the programmable lighting load power supply to the at least one output parameter.