Networked architecture for system of lighting devices having sensors, for intelligent applications
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- lighting devices, each respective lighting device comprising;
(a) a light source;
(b) a sensor coupling, configured to present a sensor connection interface standardized across at least a plurality of the lighting devices, the standardized connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors;
(c) a sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling, the sensor being of one of the types and located so as to sense one of a plurality of conditions external to the respective lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the one sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling;
(d) a processor coupled to the sensor coupling for processing data responsive to the signal from the sensor;
(e) a memory accessible to the processor;
(f) a program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor, stored in the memory for execution by the processor, for controlling at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor; and
(g) a communication interface accessible by the processor, configured to enable the processor to communicate information resulting from the at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor through a communications network;
first layer computers having communications interfaces, wherein each first layer computer is configured to communicate through the communications network with a different respective group of the lighting devices so as to receive the information from the processors of the respective group of the lighting devices and is configured to process the received information to obtain resultant information; and
a second layer computer having a communications interface to communicate through a communications network to receive the resultant information from the first layer computers, wherein the second layer computer is configured to initiate at least one action in response to processing of the resultant information received from the first layer computers.
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Abstract
Intelligent lighting devices, with sensors, programmed processors and communication capabilities and networked with a hierarchy of computers, to form a system to monitor one or more conditions external to the lighting devices not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting devices, for a variety of applications separate and in addition to the lighting related functions of the networked devices.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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lighting devices, each respective lighting device comprising; (a) a light source; (b) a sensor coupling, configured to present a sensor connection interface standardized across at least a plurality of the lighting devices, the standardized connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors; (c) a sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling, the sensor being of one of the types and located so as to sense one of a plurality of conditions external to the respective lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the one sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling; (d) a processor coupled to the sensor coupling for processing data responsive to the signal from the sensor; (e) a memory accessible to the processor; (f) a program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor, stored in the memory for execution by the processor, for controlling at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor; and (g) a communication interface accessible by the processor, configured to enable the processor to communicate information resulting from the at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor through a communications network; first layer computers having communications interfaces, wherein each first layer computer is configured to communicate through the communications network with a different respective group of the lighting devices so as to receive the information from the processors of the respective group of the lighting devices and is configured to process the received information to obtain resultant information; and a second layer computer having a communications interface to communicate through a communications network to receive the resultant information from the first layer computers, wherein the second layer computer is configured to initiate at least one action in response to processing of the resultant information received from the first layer computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system, comprising:
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a communications network; a first lighting device, comprising; a first light source; a first sensor coupling configured to present a standardized sensor connection interface, the standardized connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors; a first sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the first sensor coupling, the first sensor being of a first one of the types and located so as to sense a first one of a plurality of conditions external to the first lighting device not directly related to operation of the first lighting device, the first sensor being configured to output a first signal responsive to the first sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the first sensor coupling; a first processor coupled to the first sensor coupling for processing data responsive to the signal from the first sensor; a first memory accessible to the first processor; programming corresponding at least in part to the first type of the sensor, stored in the memory for execution by the processor, for controlling at least one function of the first processor responsive to the condition sensed by the first sensor; and a first communication interface accessible by the first processor, configured to enable the processor to communicate information resulting from the at least one function of the first processor responsive to the condition sensed by the first sensor through the communications network; a second lighting device, comprising; a second light source; a second sensor coupling configured to present the standardized sensor connection interface compatible with the plurality of different types of sensors; a second sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the second sensor coupling, the second sensor being of a second one of the types different from the first sensor type and located so as to sense a second one of a plurality of conditions external to the second lighting device not directly related to operation of the second lighting device, the second sensor being configured to output a second signal responsive to the second sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the second sensor coupling; a second processor coupled to the second sensor coupling for processing data responsive to the signal from the second sensor; a second memory accessible to the second processor; programming corresponding at least in part to the second type of the sensor, stored in the memory for execution by the processor, for controlling at least one function of the second processor responsive to the condition sensed by the second sensor; and a second communication interface accessible by the second processor, configured to enable the processor to communicate information resulting from the at least one function of the second processor responsive to the condition sensed by the second sensor through the communications network; and a computer, comprising; a third communication interface coupled to the communications network to support communications with the interfaces of the first and second lighting devices; a storage device; a third processor coupled to control the third communication interface and to have access to the storage device of the computer; and programming for the third processor in the storage device of the computer, including programming corresponding to the first sensor type and the second sensor type. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system, comprising:
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lighting devices, each respective lighting device comprising; (a) a light source; (b) a sensor coupling, configured to present a sensor connection interface standardized across at least a plurality of the lighting devices, the standardized connection interface being compatible with a plurality of different types of sensors; (c) a sensor connected to the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling, the sensor being of one of the types and located so as to sense one of a plurality of conditions external to the respective lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device, the sensor being configured to output a signal responsive to the one sensed condition via the standardized connection interface of the sensor coupling; (d) a processor coupled to the sensor coupling for processing data responsive to the signal from the sensor; (e) a memory accessible to the processor; (f) a program corresponding at least in part to the one type of the sensor, stored in the memory for execution by the processor, for controlling at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor; and (g) a communication interface accessible by the processor, configured to enable the processor to communicate information resulting from the at least one function of the processor responsive to the condition sensed by the sensor through a communications network; and a computer, comprising; another communication interface configured to enable communication of the computer through the communications network; a storage device; another processor coupled to control the other communication interface and to have access to the storage device of the computer; and programming for the other processor in the storage device of the computer, including programming corresponding to sensors in the lighting devices, to configure the computer to;
(i) process information regarding a condition sensed by one or more of the sensors in the lighting devices received via network communication, or (ii) initiate at least one action in response to the information regarding the condition sensed by the one or more of the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification