Setting up hybrid coded-light—ZigBee lighting system

• US 9,634,765 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2016
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Weda, Johannes, Cuppen, Roel Peter Geert, Luitjens, Steven Broeils, Swinkels, Stefan Henricus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US14/997,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20160134369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-311
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A lighting system (100) comprising a central lighting device (111), at least one satellite lighting device (121, 131), and a controller (141) for adjusting light settings, is provided. The controller is arranged for transmitting, in response to a user request (140), an association request over a first communication link (142). The central lighting device is arranged for receiving the association request and re-transmitting the association request over a second communication link by means of coded light (112). The satellite lighting device is arranged for transmitting, in response to receiving the association request, its identifier to the central lighting device. The identifier is only transmitted if an association process is enabled. The association process is enabled, in response to a user request, during a limited time period. The central lighting device is further arranged for associating, in response to receiving the identifier, the satellite lighting device with the central lighting device.

Claims

1. A first lighting device comprising:

a light source being arranged for emitting coded light,

a first communication device being arranged for transmitting or receiving data over a first communication link,

a second communication device being arranged for transmitting or receiving data over a second communication link by means of the coded light, and

a controlling unit being arranged for;

receiving an association request over the first communication link,

transmitting the association request over the second communication link,

receiving an identifier of a satellite lighting device, and

associating the satellite lighting device with the first lighting device.

2. The first lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the second communication device is arranged for:

transmitting data over the second communication link by modulating the light emitted by the light source, or

receiving data over the second communication link by demodulating light detected by a light detector.

3. The first lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the controlling unit is further arranged for:

receiving light settings over the first communication link,

adjusting, under a condition that the light settings are intended for the first lighting device, the properties of the emitted light in accordance with the light settings, and

transmitting the light settings over the second communication link.

4. A lighting system comprising:

the first lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said first lighting device is a central lighting device;

a satellite lighting device and

a lighting control device, the lighting control device and the central lighting device being arranged for communicating over the first communication link, and the central lighting device and the satellite lighting device being arranged for communicating over the second communication link, wherein the lighting control device is arranged for transmitting, in response to a user request, an association request over the first communication link.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the lighting control device is further arranged for transmitting, in response to a user request, light settings intended for at least one of the central lighting device or the satellite lighting device over the first communication link.

6. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the satellite lighting device is arranged for:

initiating a predetermined time period; and

transmitting, under the condition that said time period has not elapsed, an identifier of the first lighting device over the second communication link.

7. A lighting device comprising:

a light source being arranged for emitting coded light,

a communication device being arranged for transmitting or receiving data over a communication link by means of the coded light, and

a controlling unit being arranged for;

initiating a predetermined time period;

receiving an association request, and

transmitting, under a condition that a said time period has not elapsed, an identifier of the lighting device over the communication link.

8. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein said initiating is performed in response to powering on of the lighting device for the first time.

9. The lighting device according to claim 7, further comprising a user-operable element, wherein said initiating is performed in response to operation of the user-operable element.

10. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein said initiating is performed in response to receiving a reset request by the communication device.

11. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the communication unit is arranged for:

transmitting data over the communication link by modulating the light emitted by the light source, or

receiving data over the communication link by demodulating light detected by a light detector.

12. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the controlling unit is further arranged for:

receiving light settings, and

adjusting, under a condition that the light settings are intended for the lighting device, properties of the emitted light in accordance with the light settings.