Lighting fixture that self-estimates its power usage and monitors its health
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lighting fixture, comprising:
- a light;
a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light;
an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light;
a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light;
wherein the lighting fixture and a plurality of other light fixtures report their monitored behavior to a managing controller; and
wherein the managing controller turns off or on at least some of the other light fixtures that are determined to be neighbors of the light fixture, actively adjusts a dimming control applied to the light, and monitors the intensity of light emitted from the light that results, thereby allowing the managing controller to determine whether the lighting fixture is operating properly.
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Abstract
Apparatuses, methods and systems for lighting fixture determining its power usage and monitoring its operational health are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of a lighting fixture determining its power usage. The method includes sensing, by an ambient light sensor, an intensity of light emitted from the lighting fixture, and estimating power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light.
55 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein the lighting fixture and a plurality of other light fixtures report their monitored behavior to a managing controller; and wherein the managing controller turns off or on at least some of the other light fixtures that are determined to be neighbors of the light fixture, actively adjusts a dimming control applied to the light, and monitors the intensity of light emitted from the light that results, thereby allowing the managing controller to determine whether the lighting fixture is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to monitor operational health of the lighting fixture, comprising passively monitoring a dimming control applied to the light and monitoring a sensed intensity of light emitted from the light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to poll neighboring light fixtures to aid in determination of a condition of the light fixture if the light fixture fails a passive monitoring test.
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10. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to monitor operational health of the lighting fixture, comprising passively monitoring a dimming control applied to the light and monitoring a sensed intensity of light emitted from the light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to initiate an active monitoring test if the light fixture fails a passive monitoring test.
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11. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to generate a reference lighting intensity change by at least one of turning the light of the lighting fixture off or on, and then the ambient light sensor sensing a light level change when the light is at least one of turned off or on.
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12. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to determine a baseline representation of an on and off state of the light and resulting sensed intensity of light at installation, and compare the baseline representation with later obtained representations of on and off states of the light and resulting sensed intensity of light. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A lighting fixture, comprising:
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a light; a light intensity controller connected to the light for controlling an intensity of light emitted from the light; an ambient light sensor for sensing the intensity of light emitted from the light; a controller, wherein at least one of the controller or an external controller is operative to estimate a power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light; wherein at least one of the controller or the external controller is further operative to determine a baseline representation of dimming control voltage applied to the light and resulting sensed intensity of light at installation, and compare the baseline representation with later obtained representations of dimming control voltage applied to the light and resulting sensed intensity of light. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of a lighting fixture determining its power usage, comprising:
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sensing, by an ambient light sensor, an intensity of light emitted from the lighting fixture; estimating power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light wherein the lighting fixture and a plurality of other light fixtures report their monitored behavior to a managing controller; and wherein the managing controller turns off or on at least some of the other light fixtures that are determined to be neighbors of the light fixture, actively adjusts a dimming control applied to the light, and monitors the intensity of light emitted from the light that results, thereby allowing the managing controller to determine whether the lighting fixture is operating properly. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification