Device and method for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spot-light control device and spotlight control device

• US 8,816,602 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Van Doorn, Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, THAI N
• Application Number:
  US13/417,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 315/155, 315/291, 315/294, 315/295, 315/316, 315/297, 340/332, 340/539.17, 340/539.22, 340/539.23, 340/539.26, 340/539.3
• US Class Current: 315/297
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spotlight control device, particularly to controlling a spotlight generated by a lighting system such as a large LED lighting array by means of a spotlight control device. A device is provided for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spotlight control device, wherein a predefined area around the spotlight control device is illuminated if a proximity sensor signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a lighting system by proximity sensing of a spotlight control device, the device comprising:

at least one proximity sensor for sensing the spotlight control device within an area in the proximity of the lighting system, and adapted to transmit a detect signal, and

a light switch controller adapted to control a plurality lighting devices of the lighting system depending on the detect signal of the at least one proximity sensor such that a predefined area around the spotlight control device is illuminated if the at least one proximity sensor signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area;

wherein the light switch controller is configured to switch off the plurality of lighting devices if the at least one proximity sensor no longer signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area;

the light switch controller having a receiver receiving a light control signal for toggling an illumination control indicator, wherein the light switch controller modifies the lighting devices output depending on the status of the illumination control indicator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the presence signal is at least one of a radio signal, a light signal, or a sound signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one proximity sensor comprises a near field communication device.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one proximity sensor uses real-time location-aware sensing technologies based on ultrawide band or ultrasound.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is adapted to transmit a detection signal for the spotlight control device within its supervised area.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the light switch is adapted to store and load a lighting configuration in a memory of the light switch controller.

7. A spotlight control device in combination with a device for controlling a lighting system, comprising:

at least one proximity sensor of the device for controlling a lighting system for sensing the spotlight control device within an area in the proximity of the lighting system, the proximity sensor including a transmitter to transmit a detect signal;

a light switch of the device for controlling a lighting system for controlling a plurality of lighting devices of the lighting system depending on a signal of the at least one proximity sensor such that a predefined area around the spotlight control device is illuminated if the at least one proximity sensor signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area,

a memory button of the spotlight control device, and

signaling means of the spotlight control device activated by pressing the memory button and configured to generate a light control signal upon activation, the light control signal received and processed by the light switch in that the light switch-remembers the current illumination for the plurality of lighting devices even if the at least one proximity sensor no longer signals presence of the spotlight control device within the predefined area.

8. The spotlight control device in combination with a device for controlling a lighting system of claim 7, further comprising at least one of a beam width button, a beam intensity button, and beam color button;

and wherein the signaling means are activated by pressing the at least one of beam width button, a beam intensity button, and beam color button; and

are further adapted to generate a light control signal upon activation of the at least one of the beam width button, the beam intensity button, and/or beam color button received and processed by the light switch.

9. The spotlight control device in combination with a device for controlling a lighting system of claim 8, further comprising a configuration button and wherein the signaling means are activated by pressing the configuration button and are further adapted to generate a light control signal upon activation of the configuration button which may be received and processed by the light switch in that a certain lighting configuration may be stored in or load from a memory of the light switch.

10. A lighting system, comprising:

a spotlight control device and configured to transmit a presence signal;

a plurality of proximity sensors, said sensors each adapted to sense said spotlight control device within a predefined surveillance area in the proximity of the lighting system,

a light switch in electrical communication with lighting devices of the lighting system,

wherein said light switch manipulating said lighting devices depending on one or more signals from said proximity sensors such that a predefined illumination area around the spotlight control device is illuminated if at least one of said proximity sensors signals presence of the spotlight control device within its said predefined area,

wherein its said surveillance area overlaps with said predefined illumination area.

11. The lighting system of claim 10, wherein said predefined surveillance area of some of said proximity sensors overlaps with said predefined surveillance area of other of said proximity sensors.

12. The lighting system of claim 10, wherein said light switch is configured to no longer illuminate said predefined illumination area if said at least one proximity sensor no longer signals presence of said spotlight control device within its said predefined surveillance area.