Controlling light intensity at a location

• US 9,386,669 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Karc, Jeffrey, Steiner, James P., Fricke, William Bryce
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Jany
• Application Number:
  US14/574,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20150189724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/24 Structural elements or technologies for improving thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 80/00 Architectural or constructional elements improving the thermal performance of buildings

Abstract

A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.

Claims

1. A mobile control device that is configured to control light intensity, the mobile control device comprising:

a user interface that is configured to receive an input, the input indicative of a desired light intensity;

a light detector that, responsive to receipt of the input, performs a measurement of ambient light intensity at the mobile control device;

a wireless communication circuit; and

a control circuit that is configured to determine a location of the mobile control device and, based on the measurement of ambient light intensity and the location of the mobile control device, cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message to a lighting control device, wherein the message causes the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device to be adjusted such that the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

2. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes the measurement of the ambient light intensity.

3. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust an intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device.

4. The mobile control device of claim 3, wherein the lighting control device comprises a dimmer switch.

5. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust an amount of natural light that arrives at the mobile control device.

6. The mobile control device of claim 5, wherein the lighting control device comprises a motorized window treatment that controls, via a moveable covering material, the amount of natural light that arrives at the mobile control device.

7. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

cause the light detector to perform a measurement of the adjusted ambient light intensity at the mobile control device; and

if the adjusted ambient light intensity does not agree with the desired light intensity, cause further adjustment of the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device by causing the wireless communication circuit to transmit a second message to the lighting control device.

8. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device by a specific amount of intensity.

9. The mobile control device of claim 8, wherein the specific amount of intensity is based on the measurement of ambient light intensity.

10. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a second message to a second lighting control device, wherein the second message causes the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device to be further adjusted.

11. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the message to the lighting control device based on a proximity to the mobile control device of a light source that is associated with the lighting control device.

12. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to maintain agreement between the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device and the desired light intensity.

13. The mobile control device of claim 1, wherein the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device agrees with the desired light intensity when a difference between the measured ambient light intensity and the desired light intensity falls within a difference threshold.

14. A mobile control device that is configured to control light intensity, the mobile control device comprising:

a user interface that is configured to receive an input, the input indicative of a desired light intensity;

a light detector that, responsive to receipt of the input, performs a measurement of ambient light intensity at the mobile control device; and

a control circuit that is configured to, based on the measurement, cause the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device to be adjusted such that the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device agrees with the desired light intensity,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect whether the light detector is obstructed, and if the control circuit detects that the light detector is obstructed, to cease causing adjustment of the ambient light intensity at the mobile control device.

15. The mobile control device of claim 14, further comprising a camera, wherein the control circuit is configured to operate the camera to detect whether the light detector is obstructed.

16. The mobile control device of claim 14, further comprising a passive infrared detector, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect whether the light detector is obstructed via an output of the passive infrared detector.

17. A lighting control system, the system comprising:

a first lighting control device that is configured to control a source of artificial light in a space;

a second lighting control device that is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space; and

a remote control device that is associated with the first and second lighting control devices, the remote control device configured to, upon actuation;

measure a light intensity in the space;

compare the measured light intensity with a preset light intensity;

if the measured light intensity disagrees with the preset light intensity, cause the first lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space until an adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached; and

if the adjusted light intensity disagrees with the preset light intensity when the adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached, cause the second lighting control device to further adjust the light intensity in the space, such that the adjusted light intensity agrees with the preset light intensity.

18. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the first lighting control device is a dimmer switch and the second lighting control device is a motorized window treatment.

19. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust a ratio of artificial light to natural light within the space.

20. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the remote control device is further configured to prioritize, based on a user preference, use of the first lighting control device over use of the second lighting control device, when adjusting the light intensity in the space.

21. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space to maximize an amount of natural light that enters the space.

22. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the remote control device is further configured to:

determine an artificial light intensity in the space;

determine a natural light intensity in the space; and

based on the artificial and natural light intensities, cause the first lighting control device to perform initial adjustment of the light intensity in the space.

23. The lighting control system of claim 17, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space in accordance with an increment of light intensity.

24. A method of controlling light intensity, the method comprising:

receiving, at a remote control device, an input that is indicative of a desired light intensity;

determining, by the remote control device, a location of the remote control device;

measuring, by the remote control device, an ambient light intensity at the remote control device; and

if the measured ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, transmitting to a first lighting control device, by the remote control device, based on the determined location of the remote control device, a command to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until the ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein

the command causes the first lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until at least one of:

the adjusted ambient light intensity agrees with the desired light intensity;

or

an adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

if the adjustment limit of the first lighting control device is reached,

transmitting to a second lighting control device, by the remote control device, a second command to further adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until at least one of;

the adjusted ambient light intensity agrees with the desired light intensity;

or

an adjustment limit of the second lighting control device is reached.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

determining that the remote control device has been moved from a first location to a second location;

measuring, by the remote control device, a second ambient light intensity at the second location; and

if the measured second ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, transmitting to a second lighting control device, by the remote control device, based on the second location, a command to adjust the second ambient light intensity at the remote control device until the second ambient light intensity at the remote control device agrees with the desired light intensity.

28. A lighting control system, the system comprising:

a lighting control device that is configured to control an amount of light in a space; and

a remote control device having a light detector and a user interface that is configured to receive an input indicative of a desired light intensity for the space, the remote control device configured to, upon receipt of the input;

determine a location of the remote control device;

measure an ambient light intensity at the remote control device;

compare the measured ambient light intensity with the desired light intensity; and

if the measured ambient light intensity disagrees with the desired light intensity, and based on the location of the remote control device, cause the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device such that the ambient light intensity at the remote control device adjusted agrees with the desired light intensity.

29. The lighting control system of claim 28, wherein the remote control device is further configured to, upon actuation, transmit a message to the lighting control device.

30. The lighting control system of claim 29, wherein the lighting control device is configured to adjust an intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device, and

wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the intensity of the lighting load.

31. The lighting control system of claim 29, wherein the lighting control device is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space, and

wherein the message includes a command that causes the lighting control device to adjust the amount of natural light that enters the space.

32. The lighting control system of claim 28, wherein the remote control device is further configured to:

determine an artificial light intensity in the space;

determine a natural light intensity in the space; and

cause the lighting control device to adjust a ratio of artificial light to natural light within the space.

33. A method of setting a lighting preset, the method comprising:

positioning a remote control device at a location where invocation of the lighting preset is desired;

causing a lighting control device that is associated with the remote control device to adjust an ambient light intensity at the remote control device; and

after causing the lighting control device to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device, activating a control of the remote control device, wherein activating the control causes the remote control device to;

measure the ambient light intensity at the remote control device;

associate the measured ambient light intensity with the lighting preset; and

cause information related to the lighting preset to be stored in a memory.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the location corresponds to a work surface.

35. A lighting control system, the system comprising:

a first lighting control device that is configured to control a source of artificial light in a space;

a second lighting control device that is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space; and

a remote control device that is associated with the first and second lighting control devices, the remote control device configured to, upon actuation;

measure a light intensity in the space;

compare the measured light intensity with a preset light intensity;

if the measured light intensity disagrees with the preset light intensity, cause the second lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space until an adjustment limit of the second lighting control device is reached; and

if the adjusted light intensity disagrees with the preset light intensity when the adjustment limit of the second lighting control device is reached, cause the first lighting control device to further adjust the light intensity in the space, such that the adjusted light intensity agrees with the preset light intensity.

36. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the first lighting control device is a dimmer switch and the second lighting control device is a motorized window treatment.

37. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust a ratio of artificial light to natural light within the space.

38. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the remote control device is further configured to prioritize, based on a user preference, use of the second lighting control device over use of the first lighting control device when adjusting the light intensity in the space.

39. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space to maximize an amount of natural light that enters the space.

40. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the remote control device is further configured to:

determine an artificial light intensity in the space;

determine a natural light intensity in the space; and

based on the artificial and natural light intensities, cause the second lighting control device to perform initial adjustment of the light intensity in the space.

41. The lighting control system of claim 35, wherein the remote control device is further configured to cause at least one of the first lighting control device or the second lighting control device to adjust the light intensity in the space in accordance with an increment of light intensity.