Intelligent and emergency light control

• US 9,363,867 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Building Robotics, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Enlighted, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mohan, Tanuj, Perkins, David, Ashar, Premal
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tuyet
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, AMY X
• Application Number:
  US13/238,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20120326608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 315/160, 315312-318, 315 86- 87, 315/291, 315/149
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems of an intelligent light controller controlling a light, are disclosed. One method includes interpreting a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply. Upon interpreting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply, the intelligent light controller controllably powers the light for a predetermined period of time. Further, the intelligent light controller executes an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

Claims

1. A method of an intelligent light controller controlling a light, comprising:

continuously providing, by a power switch, power to the intelligent light controller from either a normal power supply or an emergency power supply, wherein the power switch switches to the emergency power supply upon detection of failing of the normal power supply;

detecting, by the intelligent light controller, a switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply by the power switch, comprising determining that the intelligent light controller has been rebooted;

powering, as controlled by the intelligent light controller, the light for a predetermined period of time after detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply by the power switch;

confirming the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply by the power switch only after determining the intelligent light controller has been rebooted, comprising;

initiating, by the intelligent light controller, communication from the intelligent light controller to a non-emergency device after detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

confirming the detecting of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply when the communication initiated from the intelligent light controller to the non-emergency device is not successful;

over-riding the powering of the light for the predetermined period of time when the communication initiated from the intelligent light controller to the non-emergency device is successful during the predetermined period of time;

executing, by the intelligent light controller, an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

sensing motion; and

reactively adjusting an intensity of the light based at least in part on the sensed motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

sensing surrounding light; and

reactively adjusting the intensity of the light based at least in part on the sensed surrounding light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

monitoring at least one of a time, a day, a week, or a type of day; and

reactively adjusting the intensity of the light based at least in part on the time, day, week, or type of day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply further comprises receiving an indication from a device that has control over the intelligent light controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the device comprises an authorized device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the intelligent light controller comprises multiple personality modes, comprising at least an emergency mode for when the intelligent light controller detects a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply, and an energy-savings mode for when the intelligent light controller is executing the energy-savings behavior control of the light.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the intelligent light controller additionally includes a manual mode, wherein the intelligent light controller can be given instructions to set the light intensity for a specified length of time.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the intelligent light controller additionally includes an ordinary light mode.

10. An intelligent light apparatus, comprising:

a light;

a controller, the controller operative to;

detect a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply received from a power switch, wherein the power switch is connected to the intelligent light controller and continuously provides power to the intelligent light apparatus from either the normal power supply or the emergency power supply, and wherein the power switch switches to the emergency power supply upon detection of failing of the normal power supply, comprising determining that the controller of the intelligent light apparatus has been rebooted;

control powering of the light for a predetermined period of time upon detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

confirm the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply by the power switch only after determining the controller has been rebooted, comprising;

initiating, by the controller, communication from the intelligent light apparatus to a non-emergency device after the controller detects the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

confirming the detecting of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply when the communication initiated from the intelligent light apparatus to the non-emergency device is not successful;

over-riding the powering of the light for the predetermined period of time when the communication initiated from the intelligent light apparatus to the non-emergency device is successful during the predetermined period of time; and

execute an energy-savings behavior control of the light.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the energy-savings behavior control of the light comprises:

at least one of a motion sensor sensing motion, a light sensor for sensing surrounding light, or a monitored time and date; and

the controller operative to reactively adjust an intensity of the light based at least one of the sensed motion, the sensed light, or the monitored time or date.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply further comprises the controller receiving an indication from an authorized device that has control over the intelligent light controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the intelligent light apparatus comprises multiple personality modes, comprising at least an emergency mode for when the controller detects a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply, an energy-savings mode for when the controller executes the energy-savings behavior control of the light, a manual mode for when the controller sets a fixed intensity of the light for a period of time.

14. A lighting system, comprising:

at least one emergency-designated intelligent light;

at least one non-emergency-designated device;

a power switch operative to continuously provide power to at least one emergency-designated intelligent light from either a normal power supply or an emergency power supply, wherein the power switch switches to the emergency power supply upon detection of failing of the normal power supply,

wherein the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light comprises;

a light;

a controller, the controller operative to;

detect a switch from a normal power supply to an emergency power supply received from the power switch comprising determining that the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light has been rebooted;

control powering of the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light for a predetermined period of time upon detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

confirm the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply by the power switch only after determining the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light has been rebooted, comprising;

initiating, by the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light, communication from the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light to at least one of the plurality of non-emergency device after the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light detects the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply;

confirming the detecting of the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply when the communication initiated from the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light to the at least one of the plurality of non-emergency device is not successful;

over-riding the powering of the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light for the predetermined period of time when the communication initiated from the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light to the at least one of the plurality of non-emergency device is successful during the predetermined period of time; and

execute an energy-savings behavior control of the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller detecting the switch from the normal power supply to the emergency power supply further comprises the controller receiving an indication from an authorized device that has control over the at least one emergency-designated intelligent light.