Programmable lighting device and method and system for programming lighting device

• US 9,565,744 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Marble, Alan James, Lai, Bing, Clauberg, Bernd, Harish Gopala Pillai, Raman Nair
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US14/906,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/31 Phase-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/382 with galvanic isolation between input and output
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A programmable lighting device includes a power stage, a controller, a nonvolatile memory and a near field communication device. The power stage is configured to receive power from an external supply and supplying power to at least one light source. The controller is configured to control operation of the power stage according to an operating parameter and/or configuration setting for the programmable lighting device. The nonvolatile memory device stores the operating parameter and/or configuration setting. The near field communication device receives a radio frequency signal which communicates the operating parameter and/or configuration setting, and in response thereto stores the operating parameter and/or configuration setting in the nonvolatile memory. The near field communication device generates a supply voltage for powering the nonvolatile memory device from the RF signal.

Claims

1. A programmable lighting driver, comprising:

a power stage configured to receive power from an external supply and to supply power to at least one light source;

a controller configured to control an operation of the power stage according to at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver;

a nonvolatile memory configured to store therein the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver; and

a near field communication driver configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal which communicates the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver, and in response thereto to store the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver in the nonvolatile memory,

wherein the near field communication driver is configured to generate from the RF signal a supply voltage for powering the nonvolatile memory while the near field communication driver stores in the nonvolatile memory the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver,

wherein the at least one operating parameter for the programmable lighting driver includes at least one of;

an output current to be supplied by the power stage to the at least one light source;

a variable startup time parameter for the at least one light source;

an operating time period after which the lighting driver should increase the output current;

at least one temperature threshold for reducing the output current;

an operating time period after which the lighting driver should trigger an end of life signal; and

at least one time setting for automatically dimming the at least one light source; and

the RF signal communicates the at least one configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver, wherein the at least one configuration setting identifies an active dimming interface for the programmable lighting driver among a plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver.

2. The programmable lighting driver of claim 1, wherein the near field communication device is further configured to generate from the RF signal a second supply voltage for powering the controller.

3. The programmable lighting driver of claim 1, further comprising an antenna or a coil configured to provide the radio frequency signal to the near field communication driver.

4. The programmable lighting driver of claim 3, wherein the near field communication device is further configured to transmit a verification signal via the antenna or coil in response to receiving the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver.

5. The programmable lighting driver of claim 3, wherein the near field communication device is further configured to transmit via the antenna or coil at least one additional operating parameter, at least one additional configuration setting, or operating data for the programmable lighting driver.

6. The programmable lighting driver of claim 3, further comprising a substantially metallic housing having at least one non-metallic aperture through which the radio frequency signal may be communicated to the antenna or coil.

7. The programmable lighting driver of claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory is a dual port memory having a first port for communicating with the near field communication device and a second and a second port for communicating with the controller.

8. The programmable lighting driver of claim 1, further comprising a second nonvolatile memory, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured to store operating data for programmable lighting driver in response to the controller.

9. The programmable lighting device of claim 1, wherein the power stage comprises a controllable current source for supplying a current to drive at least one LED.

10. The programmable lighting driver of claim 9 wherein the power stage is configured to receive AC Mains voltage and further comprises a rectifier for rectifying the AC Mains voltage to produce the current to drive the at least one LED.

11. The programmable lighting driver of claim 1, wherein the plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver include a DALI interface, an analog dimming signal interface, a Digital MultipleX (DMX) interface, and a phase-cut AC dimming interface.

12. A method of programming a programmable lighting driver the method comprising:

receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal which communicates at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver;

generating from the RF signal a supply voltage for powering a nonvolatile memory of the programmable lighting driver;

while the nonvolatile memory is powered by the voltage generated from the RF signal, storing at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver in the nonvolatile memory, and

wherein a power stage of the programmable lighting driver is configured to receive power from an external supply and to be controlled to supply power to at least one light source according to the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver; and

generating from the RF signal a second supply voltage for powering a controller which is configured to control the power stage.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the controller retrieving the least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver from the nonvolatile memory.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting a verification signal from the programmable lighting driver in response to receiving the at least one operating parameter or configuration setting for the programmable lighting driver.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting from the programmable lighting driver via a reply RF signal at least one additional operating parameter, at least one additional configuration setting, or operating data for the programmable lighting driver.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the RF signal comprises receiving the RF signal via least one non-metallic aperture in a substantially metallic housing.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising identifying an active dimming interface for the programmable lighting driver among a plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver, wherein the plurality of dimming interfaces available for the programmable lighting driver include a DALI interface, an analog 0-10 V dimming signal interface, a Digital MultipleX (DMX) interface, and a phase-cut AC dimming interface.