Apparatus and method for power management of a system of indicator light devices

• US 9,286,804 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2011
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banner Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Banner Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Fayfield, Robert T., Marjamaa, Roman York
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US13/100,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20120280793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space

Abstract

Indicator light devices are useful in many applications for indicating properties of physical spaces respectively associated therewith and in physical proximity thereto. The indicator light devices are network-enabled and self-powered, and capable of participating in coordinated power-managed operation to provide a sufficient service life and lower installation and replacement costs. The indicator light devices may be used with or without associated sensors. The various embodiments described herein use various power management techniques singly or in combination to greatly increase the service life of self-power indicator light devices without diminishing their effectiveness in the application. These techniques include operating only the indicator light devices associated with the physical spaces having properties of interest, operating the indicator light devices with synchronized flashing, operating the indicator light devices in accordance with the detection of specific conditions, relevant time operation, in-vicinity activation, and ambient light responsiveness.

Claims

1. A method of operating a plurality of indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility and networked over a wireless network for indicating a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, comprising:

identifying a first subset of the physical locations having a first condition of interest, the indicator light devices being self-powered and without a hard-wired connection to a power source, and a first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the first subset of physical locations, wherein a second subset of the physical locations have an available supply criteria for the first condition of interest that meets a predetermined threshold and a second subset of the indicator light devices are physically associated with the second subset of the physical locations;

operating the first subset of indicator light devices at times when the first condition of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest to provide a visual indication of the first subset of physical locations to the user; and

operating the second subset of indictor light devices without a visual indication of the second subset of physical locations to the user;

wherein the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information conveyed over the wireless network to visually indicate at a single glance the first subset of physical locations to the user with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices without simultaneously flashing any of the indicator light devices outside of the first subset of indicator light devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is one or more vacant parking spots; and

the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition of interest.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a third subset of the physical locations having a second condition of interest, a third subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the third subset of physical locations; and

operating the third subset of indicator light devices to provide a visual indication of the third subset of physical locations to the user;

wherein the third subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the third subset of indicator light devices in accordance with synchronization information to visually indicate at a single glance the third subset of physical locations to the user with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source of a first color and a second light source of a second color different than the first color, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices at first times; and

the third subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the third subset of indicator light devices at second times different than the first times.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source of a first color and a second light source of a second color different than the first color, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the first subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices at first times; and

the third subset operating step comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the third subset of indicator light devices at the first times.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the no condition of interest comprises occupied parking spots.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein:

each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source having a

first color and a second light source having a second color different than the first color, to respectively indicate the first and second conditions of interest;

the facility is a parking garage;

the first condition of interest is one or more vacant parking spots;

the first color is green;

the second condition of interest is one or more handicapped parking spots; and

the second color is blue.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing the indicator light devices in the facility, wherein each of the indicator devices comprises:

a light source for providing a visual indication;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the light source and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the light source, and the wireless communications node.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising installing a plurality of object sensing devices physically associated with the physical locations in the facility for sensing presence or absence of an object, wherein each of the object sensing devices comprises:

an object sensor;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the object sensor and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the object sensor comprises a magnetometer, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing the indicator light devices in the facility, wherein each of the indicator devices comprises:

a light source for providing a visual indication;

an object sensor for sensing presence or absence of an object;

a wireless communications node for connecting to the wireless network;

a controller for controlling the light source, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node; and

a self-power source for powering the controller, the light source, the object sensor, and the wireless communications node.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the object sensor comprises a magnetometer, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate the first subset of physical locations to the user based on presence of the user.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating one or more indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user at varying intensities during relevant times.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user at varying intensities based on ambient light.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises operating one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user (a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user, (d) at varying intensities during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensities based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises adjusting respective intensities of flashing of one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the intensities adjusting step further comprises adjusting flash rate, flash pattern, flash duty cycle, light power, or any combination thereof, of one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the facility is a warehouse;

the first condition of interest is available items in bins; and

the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition of interest.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first subset operating step further comprises synchronously flashing the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices with a same flash pattern, same flash rate, and same flash duty cycle triggered at a same instant.

24. A system comprising:

a wireless network;

a plurality of indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility to indicate a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the indicator light devices being self-powered and without a hard-wired connection to a power source, and wirelessly networked over the network; and

a synchronization controller networked to the indicator light devices over the network to provide synchronization information to a first subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power, the first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a first subset of the physical locations having a first condition of interest to visually indicate at a single glance the first subset of the physical locations to the user; and

further to render dark a subset of the indicator light devices physically associated with a subset of the physical locations for which an available supply criteria for the first condition of interest meets a predetermined threshold, the synchronization information being provided to the first subset of the indicator light devices when the first condition of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the synchronization controller is disposed in at least one of the indicator light devices.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the synchronization controller is distributed among the indicator light devices.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the synchronization controller is disposed in a unit that is separate and distinct from the indicator light devices.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a gateway; and

the indicator light devices are nodes networked to the gateway.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a master; and

the indicator light devices are slaves networked to the master.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein:

the synchronization controller is a host; and

the indicator light devices are networked to the host.

31. The system of claim 24 further comprising

a plurality of additional indicator light devices physically associated with

respective additional physical locations in a facility to indicate a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the additional physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the additional indicator light devices being self-powered and without a hard- wired connection to a power source, and wirelessly networked over the network;

and

an additional synchronization controller networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network to provide additional synchronization information to a second subset of the additional indicator light devices to synchronously flash the second subset of additional indicator light devices with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power, the second subset of the additional indicator light devices being physically associated with a subset of the additional physical locations having the first condition of interest to visually indicate at a single glance the subset of the additional physical locations to the user; and

further to render dark a subset of the additional indicator light devices physically associated with a subset of the additional physical locations having no condition of interest, the additional synchronization information being provided to the second subset of the indicator light devices when the first condition or conditions of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising

a gateway device networked to the indicator light devices over the network, the gateway devices comprising the synchronization controller;

and

an additional gateway device networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network, the additional gateway devices comprising the additional synchronization controller.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising a host networked to the gateway device and the additional gateway device.

34. The system of claim 31 further comprising

a client device networked to the indicator light devices over the network, the client devices comprising the synchronization controller;

and

an additional client device networked to the additional indicator light devices over the network, the additional client devices comprising the additional synchronization controller.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a server networked to the client device and the additional client device.

36. The system of claim 24 wherein the indicator light devices respectively comprise same-colored light sources to indicate the first condition or conditions of interest.

37. The system of claim 24 wherein the synchronization controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network to provide second synchronization information to a second subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the second subset of the indicator light devices with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power, the second subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a second subset of the physical locations having a second condition of interest to visually indicate at a single glance the second subset of physical locations to the user, the second synchronization information being provided to the second subset of the indicator light devices when the second condition of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source and a second light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first condition or conditions of interest and the second condition of interest.

39. The system of claim 37 wherein the synchronization controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network to provide third synchronization information to a third subset of the indicator light devices to synchronously flash the third subset of the indicator light devices with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power, the third subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with a third subset of the physical locations having a third condition of interest to visually indicate at a single glance the third subset of physical locations to the user, the third synchronization information being provided to the third subset of the indicator light devices when the third condition of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein each of the indicator light devices comprises a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source of respectively different colors, to respectively indicate the first condition of interest, the second condition of interest, and the third condition of interest.

41. The system of claim 24 wherein the facility is a parking garage, and the first condition of interest is one or more vacant parking spots.

42. The system of claim 24 wherein the facility is a warehouse, and the first condition of interest is available items in bins.

43. The system of claim 24 further comprising a light controller networked to the indicator light devices over the network to operate one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user:

(a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user, (d) at varying intensities during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensities based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

44. The system of claim 24 wherein the synchronization controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network to provide synchronization information to the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices with a same flash pattern, same flash rate, and same flash duty cycle triggered at a same instant.

45. The system of claim 37 wherein the synchronization controller is further networked to the indicator light devices over the network:

to provide synchronization information to the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices with a same flash pattern, same flash rate, and same flash duty cycle triggered at a same instant; and

to provide synchronization information to the indicator light devices in the second subset of indicator light devices to synchronously flash the second subset of the indicator light devices with a same flash pattern, same flash rate, and same flash duty cycle triggered at a same instant.

46. An indicator light device for use on a wireless network in a facility along with a plurality of networked indicator light devices physically associated with respective physical locations in a facility for indicating a condition of interest or a plurality of conditions of interest at the physical locations in a manner viewable by a user of the facility, the indicator light device comprising:

a light source configured to provide the visual indication;

a wireless communications node configured to connect to the wireless network;

a controller coupled to the light source and the wireless communications node;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium accessible to the controller, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises program instructions executable by the controller to;

identify a first subset of the physical locations having a first condition of interest, a first subset of the indicator light devices being physically associated with the first subset of physical locations;

provide synchronization information to the first subset of the indicator light devices via the wireless communications node to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices with coordinated flash patterns, flash rates, and flash duty cycles configured to save power and visually indicate at a single glance the first subset of physical locations to the user; and

render dark a second subset of the indicator light devices physically associated with a second subset of physical locations for which an available supply criteria for the first condition of interest meets a predetermined threshold, the synchronization information being provided to the first subset of the indicator light devices when the first condition of interest is rare relative to the no condition of interest; and

a self-power source coupled to the light source, the wireless communications node, the controller, and the computer-readable medium.

47. The indicator light device of claim 46 further comprising an object sensor configured to sense presence or absence of an object, wherein the controller further is coupled to the object sensor.

48. The indicator light device of claim 47 wherein the self-power source is further coupled to the object sensor.

49. The indicator light device of claim 46 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions executable by the controller to operate one or more of the indicator light devices in the first subset of indicator light devices to visually indicate one or more of the physical locations in the first subset of physical locations to the user:

(a) during relevant times when visual indication is likely to be needed;

(b) based on supply and demand of the condition-of-interest;

(c) based on presence of the user;

(d) at varying intensity during relevant times;

(e) at varying intensity based on ambient light;

or (f) under conditions comprising any combination of two or more of the foregoing.

50. The indicator light device of claim 46 wherein the computer-readable medium comprises program instructions executable by the controller to provide synchronization information to the indicator light devices via the wireless communications node to synchronously flash the first subset of the indicator light devices with a same flash pattern, same flash rate, and same flash duty cycle triggered at a same instant.