Occupancy sensor with dimmer feature and night light and method of lighting control using the same
First Claim
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1. A light control system comprising:
- a sensor for detecting an occupancy in an area;
a timer for determining if the occupancy is not detected by the occupancy sensor before a first time period expires;
a dimmer for changing a light level in said area from a first light level to a second light level when determining that a second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining on the timer before the first time period expires, and for changing said light level in said area from the second light level to a third light level when determining that the first time period expired and the occupancy is not detected during the second time period; and
a controller coupled to the sensor, the timer and the dimmer to control the light levelto remain at the second light level until the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period,change to the first light level from the second light level, and reset the timer to the first time period, if the occupancy sensor detects occupancy during the second time period, andchange to a third light level from the second light level, when the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period;
wherein;
the second light level is lower than the first light level;
the third light level is lower than the second light level; and
the second time period is less than the first time period.
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Abstract
System and method are provided where an occupancy sensor with a time delay function designed to dim the lights, for example as a warning, after a first period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. The lights remain dimmed for a second period of time, and then are turned off after a third period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. If occupancy is detected during the first period of time, the lights will remain on. If occupancy is detected during the second or third period of time, the lights will be turned on to, for example, previous brightness. A night light can be added to, and/or incorporated in, an occupancy sensor which includes the dimmer feature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A light control system comprising:
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a sensor for detecting an occupancy in an area; a timer for determining if the occupancy is not detected by the occupancy sensor before a first time period expires; a dimmer for changing a light level in said area from a first light level to a second light level when determining that a second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining on the timer before the first time period expires, and for changing said light level in said area from the second light level to a third light level when determining that the first time period expired and the occupancy is not detected during the second time period; and a controller coupled to the sensor, the timer and the dimmer to control the light level to remain at the second light level until the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period, change to the first light level from the second light level, and reset the timer to the first time period, if the occupancy sensor detects occupancy during the second time period, and change to a third light level from the second light level, when the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period; wherein; the second light level is lower than the first light level; the third light level is lower than the second light level; and the second time period is less than the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling light output, the method comprising:
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detecting an occupancy in an area; determining if the occupancy is not detected in the area before a first time period expires on a timer; determining if a second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining on the timer before the first time period expires; changing a light level in said area from a first light level to a second light level when determining that the second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining on the timer before the first time period expires; controlling the light level to remain at the second light level until the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period; changing the light level to the first light level from the second light level, and resetting the timer to the first time period, if the occupancy sensor detects occupancy during the second time period; and changing the light level to a third light level from the second light level, when the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period, wherein the second light level is lower than the first light level, the third light level is lower than the second light level, and the second time period is less than the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing thereon a set of computer executable instructions comprising:
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a first set of instruction for detecting an occupancy in an area; a second set of instructions for determining if the occupancy is not detected in the area before a first time period expires on a timer; a third set of instructions for determining if a second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining on the timer before the first time period expires; a fourth set of instruction for changing a light level in said area from a first light level to a second light level when determining that the second time period after the occupancy is not detected is remaining before the first time period expires; a fifth set of instruction for controlling the light level to remain at the second light level until the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period; a sixth set of instruction for changing the light level to the first light level from the second light level, and resetting the timer to the first time period, if the occupancy sensor detects occupancy during the second time period; and a seventh set of instructions for changing the light level to a third light level from the second light level, when the first time period expires if the occupancy sensor does not detect occupancy during the second time period, wherein the second light level is lower than the first light level, the third light level is lower than the second light level, and the second time period is less than the first time period.
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Specification