Systems and methods for multi-state power management

• US 9,379,578 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Integrated Illumination Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Integrated Illumination Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Valois, Charles, Zampini, Thomas Lawrence II
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Monica C.
• Application Number:
  US13/680,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a solution providing multi-state power management. In some aspects, the design of the multi-state power management system (MPMS) facilitates switching to battery back up power upon identifying a power outage and further controlling the intensity level of a load (e.g., a light source) such that the light run time meets a minimum required run time. The MPMS may be designed and configured to identify a power outage and a battery status based on the voltage at a voltage input of the lighting device. The design may also include controlling the intensity level of the light source responsive to temperature measurements, e.g., ambient temperature or the temperature of one or more components, to maintain the health of the system.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture configured to manage power use, the lighting fixture comprising:

one or more lighting elements;

one or more inputs, an input of the one or more inputs comprising a voltage input coupled to the one or more lighting elements, a controller, and a battery, the voltage input configured to provide power to the one or more lighting elements; and

the controller controlling the one or more lighting elements, the controller configured to;

receive measurements of voltage at the voltage input coupled to the one or more lighting elements;

determine changes to a battery status based on differences in the measurements of voltage at the voltage input coupled to the one or more lighting elements; and

control an intensity level of the one or more lighting elements based on the battery status.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the battery status comprises at least one of charged, charging, trickle charging, discharging, deep cycle, deep discharged, and percentage charge remaining.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 2, wherein the controller determines the battery status is discharging, and, responsive to the determination, reduces the intensity level.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain, via the temperature sensor, an ambient temperature; and

control the intensity level of the one or more lighting elements based on the battery status and the ambient temperature.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

reduce the intensity level upon determining that the ambient temperature is above a first temperature threshold and the battery status comprises discharging.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

reduce the intensity level upon determining that the ambient temperature is below a second temperature threshold and the battery status comprises discharging.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

obtain a minimum run time of the one or more lighting elements; and

select, based on the battery status and the ambient temperature, the intensity level that provides the minimum run time without resulting in a deep discharge battery status.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising:

a first power supply coupled to the voltage input; and

a second power supply coupled to the voltage input, the second power supply configured to charge the battery.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, based on the differences in voltage at the voltage input, that the first power supply and second power supply have been turned off;

responsive to the first power supply and second power supply being turned off, enter a battery state; and

reduce the intensity level responsive to entering the battery state, the intensity level being selected based, at least in part, on a minimum run time of the one or more lighting elements.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, based on the differences in voltage at the voltage input, that the first power supply has been turned off and the second power supply is on;

responsive to the first power supply being turned off and the second power supply being on, enter an off state.

11. The lighting fixture of claim 8, further comprising a temperature sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, via the temperature sensor, that a temperature of the first power supply is above a power supply temperature threshold; and

reduce the intensity level of the one or more lighting elements based on the temperature.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a memory, the controller further configured to:

log into the memory an electronic record comprising a plurality of voltage measurements at the voltage input; and

determine, based on the electronic record, at least one of a maximum voltage, a minimum voltage, and an average voltage.