Wireless lighting control methods

• US 9,113,528 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Bora, Swapnil, Egan, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Correa, Nelson
• Application Number:
  US14/175,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 315/210, 315/34, 315209 R-226, 315294-298, 315312-325
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method for controlling lighting devices includes providing the lighting devices. Each lighting device includes two or more LEDs, an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs. One or more control signals are generated using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit. An on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED is generated using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED. A blended light is produced having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs;

determining a first number of counts for the first type or color LED to be ON to produce a blended light having a specified color, and a second number of counts for the second type or color LED to be ON to produce the blended light having the specified color, wherein each count corresponds to a time period;

generating one or more control signals based on the first number of counts and the second number of counts using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating a first on/off signal having an on/off cycle time and a first ON time corresponding to the first number of counts for the first type or color LED, and a second on/off signal having the on/off cycle time and a second ON time corresponding to the second number of counts for the second type or color LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals, wherein the on/off cycle time corresponds to at least the first ON time plus the second ON time and the first ON time does not overlap with the second ON time;

sending the first on/off signal to first type or color LED and the second on/off signal to the second type or color LED; and

producing the blended light having the specified color using the first on/off signal and the second on/off signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, the first type or color LED is not turned ON at the same time as the second type or color LED.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the LED current control circuit further comprises a first pin connected to the first type or color LED and a second pin connected to the second type or color LED; and

the LED current control circuit sends the first on/off signal to the first type or color LED by toggling the first pin ON and OFF; and

the LED current control circuit sends the second on/off signal to the second type or color LED by toggling the second pin ON and OFF.

4. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signal and sending the on/off signal to each LED;

producing the blended light having the specified color using the on/off signals for each LED;

receiving a measured light data from an ambient light sensor; and

adjusting the blended light based on the measured light data.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the on/off cycle time changes based on the specified color and the specified brightness.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the ambient light sensor is disposed on the one or more lighting devices or remotely located with respect to the one or more lighting devices.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the measured light data comprises a range of overall luminosity, a red component, a green component, a blue component, a cyan component, a yellow component, a magenta component, a black components, a hue component, a saturation component, a lumens component or a combination thereof.

8. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor,

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs, the LED current control circuit comprising a current limiting circuit or one or more LED driver circuits;

receiving or transmitting a command broadcasted from or to one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof via the antenna;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED; and

producing a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time, wherein the first type or color LED and the second type or color LED are not both ON simultaneously.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

executing one or more modes or programs using the controller/processor that control the LED current control circuit to produce the blended light in accordance with the one or more modes or programs; and

the one or more modes or programs comprise one or more default modes or programs, one or more user created modes or programs, one or more user profiles, an application programming interface program, a diagnostic/testing program, a user interface, or a combination thereof.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, the one or more modes or programs include a reintegration mode that when executed performs the step of reconnecting the lighting device to the one or more other lighting devices.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, the controller/processor includes a security program that when executed performs the step of preventing unauthorized access to the one or more modes or programs.

12. The lighting device method as recited in claim 9, the one or more modes or programs comprise a data program that when executed performs the step of translating a data feed into one or more light settings or commands based on one or more user-defined or default settings.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, the one or more modes or programs comprise a quick scene creation program that when executed performs the steps of capturing, saving or executing one or more scenes or settings.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising one or more sensors communicably coupled to the controller/processor or remotely located with respect to the lighting device and communicably coupled to the controller/process via the wireless transceiver circuit and antenna.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion sensor, an occupancy sensor or a proximity sensor.

16. The method as recited in claim 8, the command comprises one or more voice commands.

17. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the command is designated for an individual device or a group of devices selected from the one or more lighting devices, the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors or other devices.

18. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of addressing the command to one of the other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors or other devices, or a group of the other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors or other devices.

19. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of rebroadcasting the command to one or more of the other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof via the antenna.

20. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or more lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

two or more LEDs comprising at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED,

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor,

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and the two or more LEDs, the LED current control circuit comprising a current limiting circuit or one or more LED driver circuits;

generating one or more control signals using the controller/processor and sending the one or more control signals to the LED current control circuit;

generating an on/off signal having a cycle time for each LED using the LED current control circuit in response to the one or more control signals and sending the on/off signal to each LED;

producing a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time;

providing one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof;

performing one or more actions based on a signal strength between the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof and the controller/processor of the one or more lighting device using the wireless transceiver circuit, the antenna and one or more communication protocols; and

monitoring the signal strength of the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more commands from the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof; and

executing the one or more commands using the controller/processor.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling one or more groups of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling one or more lighting devices using the one or more commands via one or more screens displayed on a user interface.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising the steps of selecting and controlling a color, a brightness or a saturation of one or more groups of lighting devices using the one or more commands via a user interface.

25. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more actions performed based on the signal strength comprises the step of establishing a mesh network between the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising the step of dynamically updating the mesh network based on the signal strength of the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof within the mesh network.

27. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more actions performed based on signal strength comprises the step of executing a command whenever the signal strength of the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof within a mesh network exceeds a specified threshold.

28. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the step of providing the one or more lighting devices comprises the steps of:

providing a set of design options for the one or more lighting devices, wherein the set of design options comprises a set of power modules, a set of control modules, a set of optics modules, a set of housing modules and a set of modular connectors and cables;

receiving a selected power module from the set of power modules, a selected control module for the set of control modules, a selected optics module from the set of optics modules, a selected housing module from the set of housing modules and a selected modular connector and cable from the set of modular connectors and cables; and

fabricating the one or more lighting devices in accordance with the selected power module, the selected control module, the selected optics module, the selected housing module and the selected modular connector and cable.

29. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more actions performed based on the signal strength comprises the steps of:

receiving a threshold signal strength to perform the one or more actions;

activating each of one or more lighting devices in which the signal strength of the one or more remote controllers, wireless devices or other devices exceeds the threshold signal strength; and

deactivating each of the activated one or more lighting devices in which the signal strength of the one or more remote controllers, wireless devices or other devices drops below the threshold signal strength.

30. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the one or more actions performed based on the signal strength are continuous, intermittent or based on a defined time.