Managing light system energy use

• US 8,963,433 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2014
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jarrell Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Ipixc LLC
• Inventors: Jarrell, John A., Hendrickson, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, JIMMY T
• Application Number:
  US14/231,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 315/131, 315/134, 315/149, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/635, 340/825, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 315/131
• 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 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

A first lighting assembly receives a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile over a first period of time. The received lighting profile is implemented, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity. An input acquired in proximity to the first lighting assembly and indicating activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly is received. The received lighting profile is then deviated from, in response to the received input, by increasing the intensity of the light to illuminate at a second intensity for a predetermined period of time. A message is transmitted for receipt by the control center, the message including an indication of the increased light intensity and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of controlling one or more lights, comprising:

receiving, at a first lighting assembly, a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile, the lighting profile received by the first lighting assembly from a control center remote from the first lighting assembly;

implementing, at the first lighting assembly, the received lighting profile, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity;

receiving, at a sensing module associated with the first lighting assembly, an input indicative of activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly;

varying, in response to the received input, an intensity of the light of the first lighting assembly by causing the light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a second intensity that is different from the first intensity; and

transmitting a message via a communications transmitter of the first lighting assembly, the message comprising an indication of the varying the intensity of the light, an indication of an input type, and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second intensity is greater than the first intensity.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second intensity is less than the first intensity.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the lighting profile is wirelessly received from the control center remote from the first lighting assembly.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted for receipt by the control center.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted for receipt by a second lighting assembly.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the message further comprises a request that the second lighting assembly vary an intensity of a light of the second lighting assembly.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted for receipt by a police, fire department, or ambulance communications system.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type comprises a radio frequency signal.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type comprises a sound.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type comprises a light signal.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type is associated with motion.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type comprises a sensing of a particulate.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input type comprises a sensing of a chemical particle.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the first lighting assembly, a communication from a second lighting assembly, and varying the intensity of the light of the first lighting assembly based on the received communication.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises an indication of energy use by the first lighting assembly.

17. A lighting assembly, comprising:

a light;

a communications receiver configured to receive, from a control center remote from the light, a lighting profile that instructs the lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile;

a light control module configured to implement the received lighting profile, including causing the light to illuminate at a first intensity;

a sensor module configured to receive an input indicative of activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly;

wherein the light control module is additionally configured to vary, in response to the received input, an intensity of the light to illuminate at a second intensity that is different from the first intensity; and

a communications transmitter configured to transmit a message comprising an indication of the varied intensity of the light and an identifier associated with the lighting assembly.

18. The lighting assembly of claim 17, further comprising an emergency actions module whereby a user can manually override the lighting profile.

19. A computer-implemented method of controlling one or more lights, comprising:

receiving, at a first lighting assembly, a lighting profile that instructs the first lighting assembly to operate according to the lighting profile;

implementing, at the first lighting assembly, the received lighting profile, including causing a light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a first intensity;

receiving, at a sensing module associated with the first lighting assembly, an input acquired in proximity to the first lighting assembly and indicative of activity in a region proximate the first lighting assembly;

varying, in response to the received input, an intensity of the light of the first lighting assembly by causing the light of the first lighting assembly to illuminate at a second intensity that is different from the first intensity, wherein the varying the intensity of the light comprises a deviation from the lighting profile; and

transmitting a message via a communications transmitter of the first lighting assembly for receipt by one or more of a police department communication system, a fire department communication system, and an ambulance communication system, the message comprising an indication of the input and an identifier associated with the first lighting assembly.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the input is associated with a gunshot.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the input is associated with a crash.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein a time stamp is associated with the deviation, and wherein the message includes an indication of the time stamp.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the input comprises a sound that is captured as an audio signal.