Wireless pairing system and associated methods

• US 9,185,783 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Holland, Eric, Thosteson, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hiltunen, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US13/463,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20120286672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A wireless pairing system and method are presented, the system having a network and a luminaire, which may include an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink, as well as a light source, a network interface, a camera, and a controller in communication with the electrical base. The light source, the network interface, and the camera may be in communication with the controller, the controller having a central processing unit (CPU), and an input/output (I/O) interface. The controller, the camera, the light source and the network interface may be carried by the enclosure. The camera may capture an image having a configuration code associated with the network and the CPU may analyze the image to determine the existence of the configuration code. The CPU may then configure the network interface to connect the luminaire to the network so that the luminaire may be operated or monitored through the network.

Claims

1. A wireless pairing system comprising:

a network; and

at least one luminaire comprising;

an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink positioned between the electrical base and the enclosure,

a light source in electrical communication with the electrical base and positioned adjacent to the heat sink,

a network interface in communication with the electrical base and the light source,

a controller in communication with the electrical base, the light source, and the network interface, the controller comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an input/output (I/O) interface to control receipt and transmission of data, and

a camera in communication with the controller and comprising an image sensor and a camera output,

wherein at least one of the controller, the camera, the light source and the network interface are carried by the enclosure;

wherein the configuration code is creatable using a configuration code generator having a user interface;

wherein the configuration code generator is in communication with the network;

wherein the camera captures an image having a configuration code associated with the network;

wherein the CPU analyzes the image to determine existence of the configuration code; and

wherein the CPU configures the network interface to connect the at least one luminaire to the network using the configuration code so that at least one of operating and monitoring a status of the at least one luminaire is controllable through the network.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the light source is at least one of a semiconductor lighting device, a laser, a light emitting diode (LED), and an infrared lighting device.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the configuration code associated with the network is at least one of a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional matrix barcode.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the network is in communication with at least one additional device.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the at least one luminaire is controllable by the at least one additional device;

and wherein the at least one additional device has a control interface.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the control interface of the at least one additional device is at least one of a computer-operable program and a mobile device application.

7. A system according to claim 4 wherein the at least one additional device is at least one of a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, and a server.

8. A system according to claim 4 wherein the camera output is accessible using the at least one additional device.

9. A system according to claim 4 wherein the at least one additional device and the at least one luminaire transmit and receive data using the network.

10. A system according to claim 4 wherein an exchange of data between the at least one luminaire and the at least one additional device in communication with the network is controllable using the I/O interface.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein an exchange of data between the at least one luminaire and the network is controllable using the I/O interface.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein a signal transmitted over the network is receivable by the I/O interface, and wherein the light source is operable between an on state and an off state responsive to the signal.

13. A luminaire comprising:

an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink positioned between the electrical base and the enclosure;

a light source in electrical communication with the electrical base and positioned adjacent to the heat sink;

a network interface in communication with the electrical base and the light source;

a controller in communication with the electrical base, the light source and the network interface, the controller comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an input/output (I/O) interface to control receipt and transmission of data; and

a camera in communication with the controller and comprising an image sensor and a camera output;

wherein at least one of the controller, the camera, the light source and the network interface are carried by the enclosure;

wherein the light source is at least one of a semiconductor lighting device, a laser, a light emitting diode (LED), and an infrared lighting device,

wherein the camera captures an image having a configuration code associated with a network;

wherein the CPU analyzes the image to determine existence of the configuration code;

wherein the CPU configures the network interface to connect the luminaire to the network using the configuration code so that at least one of operating and monitoring a status of the luminaire is controllable through the network;

wherein the network is in communication with at least one additional device;

wherein the luminaire is controllable by the at least one additional device; and

wherein the at least one additional device has a control interface.

14. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the configuration code is creatable using a configuration code generator having a user interface.

15. A luminaire according to claim 14 wherein the configuration code generator is in communication with the network.

16. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the configuration code associated with the network is at least one of a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional matrix barcode.

17. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the control interface of the at least one additional device is at least one of a computer-operable program and a mobile device application.

18. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the at least one additional device is at least one of a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, and a server.

19. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the camera output is accessible using the at least one additional device.

20. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein the at least one additional device and the luminaire transmit and receive data using the network.

21. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein an exchange of data between the luminaire and the at least one additional device in communication with the network is controllable using the I/O interface.

22. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein an exchange of data between the luminaire and the network is controllable using the I/O interface.

23. A luminaire according to claim 13 wherein a signal transmitted over the network is receivable by the I/O interface, and wherein the light source is operable between an on state and an off state responsive to the signal.

24. A method of operating a wireless pairing system comprising:

connecting a luminaire to a power source, the luminaire comprising an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink positioned between the electrical base and the enclosure, a light source in electrical communication with the electrical base and positioned adjacent to the heat sink, a network interface in communication with the electrical base and the light source, a controller in communication with the electrical base, the light source, and the network interface, the controller comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an input/output (I/O) interface to control receipt and transmission of data, and a camera in communication with the controller and comprising an image sensor and a camera output;

creating a configuration code associated with a network using a configuration code generator in communication with the network having a user interface;

capturing an image having the configuration code associated with the network;

analyzing the image to determine existence of the configuration code;

configuring the network interface to connect the luminaire to the network using the configuration code; and

performing at least one of operating and monitoring a status of the luminaire using the network.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the light source is at least one of a semiconductor lighting device, a laser, a light emitting diode (LED), and an infrared lighting device.

26. A method according to claim 24 wherein the configuration code associated with the network is at least one of a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional matrix barcode.

27. A method according to claim 24 wherein the network is in communication with at least one additional device.

28. A method according to claim 27 further comprising controlling the luminaire using the at least one additional device;

wherein the at least one additional device has a control interface.

29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the control interface of the at least one additional device is at least one of a computer-operable program and a mobile device application.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the at least one additional device is at least one of a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, and a server.

31. A method according to claim 27 further comprising accessing the camera output using the at least one additional device.

32. A method according to claim 27 further comprising transmitting and receiving data by the at least one additional device and the luminaire, wherein the at least one additional device and the luminaire are using the network.

33. A method according to claim 27 further comprising controlling an exchange of data between the luminaire and the at least one additional device in communication with the network using the I/O interface.

34. A method according to claim 24 further comprising controlling an exchange of data between the luminaire and the network using the I/O interface.

35. A method according to claim 24 further comprising receiving a signal transmitted over the network, wherein the signal is receivable using the I/O interface, and operating the light source between an on state and an off state responsive to the signal.

36. A method of pairing a luminaire to a network in communication with at least one additional device having a control interface, the luminaire comprising an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink positioned between the electrical base and the enclosure, a light source in electrical communication with the electrical base and positioned adjacent the heat sink, a network interface in communication with the electrical base and the light source, a controller in communication with the electrical base, the light source, and the network interface, the controller comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an input/output (I/O) interface to control receipt and transmission of data, and a camera in communication with the controller and comprising an image sensor and a camera output, the method comprising:

connecting a plurality of luminaires to a power source;

creating a configuration code associated with the network;

capturing an image having a configuration code associated with the network;

analyzing the image to determine existence of the configuration code;

configuring the network interface to connect the plurality of luminaires to the network using the configuration code;

performing at least one of operating and monitoring a status of the plurality of luminaires through the network; and

controlling the plurality of luminaires using the at least one additional device.

37. A method according to claim 36 wherein the light source is at least one of a semiconductor lighting device, a laser, a light emitting diode (LED), and an infrared lighting device.

38. A method according to claim 36 wherein the step of creating the configuration code is performable using a configuration code generator having a user interface.

39. A method according to claim 38 wherein the configuration code generator is in communication with the network.

40. A method according to claim 36 wherein the configuration code associated with the network is at least one of a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional matrix barcode.

41. A method according to claim 36 wherein the control interface of the at least one additional device is at least one of a computer-operable program and a mobile device application.

42. A method according to claim 36 wherein the at least one additional device is at least one of a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a smartphone, a laptop, and a server.

43. A method according to claim 36 further comprising accessing the camera output using the at least one additional device.

44. A method according to claim 36 further comprising transmitting and receiving data by the at least one additional device and the plurality of luminaires, wherein the at least one additional device and the plurality of luminaires are using the network.

45. A method according to claim 36 further comprising controlling an exchange of data between the plurality of luminaires and the at least one additional device in communication with the network using the I/O interface.

46. A method according to claim 36 further comprising controlling an exchange of data between the plurality of luminaires and the network using the I/O interface.

47. A method according to claim 36 further comprising receiving a signal transmitted over the network, wherein the signal is receivable using the I/O interface, and operating the light source between an on state and an off state responsive to the signal.

48. A method according to claim 36 wherein the plurality of luminaires communicate with each other using the network.