Lighting control system
First Claim
1. An electronic device coupled to AC mains for controlling a lighting system, the electronic device comprising:
- a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically through free space using visible light;
a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically through free space using visible light;
a human machine interface (HMI) configured to receive input from a user;
a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and
control circuitry configured to produce commands in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains for controlling the lighting system in response to the input received from the user through the HMI, the data received by the light detector, and the data received through the network interface, and to transmit said commands to the lighting system using the light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.
293 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electronic device coupled to AC mains for controlling a lighting system, the electronic device comprising:
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a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically through free space using visible light; a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically through free space using visible light; a human machine interface (HMI) configured to receive input from a user; a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and control circuitry configured to produce commands in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains for controlling the lighting system in response to the input received from the user through the HMI, the data received by the light detector, and the data received through the network interface, and to transmit said commands to the lighting system using the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lamp coupled to AC mains in a lighting system, the lamp comprising:
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a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically through free space using visible light, wherein the data is transmitted during periodic gaps in illumination in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains; a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically through free space using visible light; a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and control circuitry configured to produce commands for controlling the lighting system in response to the data received by the light detector and the data received through the network interface, and to transmit said commands to the lighting system using the light source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A lighting system comprising:
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an LED configured to both illuminate and to transmit and receive commands optically through free space using visible light; a building controller configured to control the lighting system; and an electronic device configured to control the lighting system, the electronic device comprising; a human machine interface (HMI) configured to receive input from a user; and a network interface configured to receive commands from the building controller; wherein the electronic device is configured to produce commands in response to the user input to the HMI, and to forward at least one of said commands to the light source optically through free space using visible light. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method to transmit data from a visible light source coupled to an AC mains, the method comprising:
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supplying current to the visible light source at a first level sufficient to produce light; periodically reducing the current supplied to the visible light source to produce communication gaps at regular, periodic intervals of each cycle of the AC mains, wherein the current is reduced from the first level to a second level less than the first level; transmitting data solely within a subset of said communication gaps by modulating the current supplied to the visible light source between the second level and a third level, which is higher than the first level; and immediately preceding each of the subset of said communications gaps, reducing the current supplied to the visible light source to the second level for a period of time, such that an average brightness of light produced by the visible light source is the same whether or not data is transmitted during said communication gaps. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification