Illumination apparatus methods and systems
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlled lighting comprised of:
- at least two light sources;
a plurality of sensors each comprising a corresponding sensing component configured to sense at least one corresponding characteristic of a corresponding sensing region and to generate at least one corresponding output;
a plurality of transmitters for transmitting wireless signals to one or more receivers;
a plurality of receivers for receiving wireless signals from one or more of the plurality of transmitters;
a plurality of controllers for controlling at least one corresponding light source, wherein each of the controllers is configured;
(a) to control the illumination output of one or more corresponding light sources in dependence on the at least one output of the at least one sensing component and first information received from one or more others of the transmitters via corresponding wireless signals received by a corresponding one of the plurality of receivers, the received first information representing a characteristic of a corresponding sensing region sensed by a corresponding sensing component and directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region; and
(b) upon receiving at least one output from a corresponding said sensing component, to generate corresponding second information dependent on the output of the corresponding sensing component; and
(c) upon receiving the first information from the one or more others of the transmitters, to generate corresponding second information from the first information received from the one or more transmitters, the generated second information directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region that is greater than the relative spatial separation directly represented by the first information from which the second information was generated; and
(d) to transmit the second information generated at step (b) and step (c) via corresponding wireless signals transmitted by a transmitter for receipt as the first information by one or more of the plurality of receivers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for controlling the illumination throughout an area where even and constant lighting is not required. The invention includes one or more light sources, such as luminaires, the status of which is controlled by a controller responsive to a sensor for detecting a parameter of interest. Preferably the sensor detects motion of a subject moving through the area of controlled illumination. Each independent controller may receive and transmit signals indicative of the status of one or more nearby light source for determining and controlling the lighting status of the light source with which it is in controlling communication. The determining by the controller is preferably carried out by a programmed microprocessor. The communication between controllers may be wireless. The signals communicated among controllers may be hierarchical for determining whether a response is required and what the response might be.
7 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlled lighting comprised of:
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at least two light sources; a plurality of sensors each comprising a corresponding sensing component configured to sense at least one corresponding characteristic of a corresponding sensing region and to generate at least one corresponding output; a plurality of transmitters for transmitting wireless signals to one or more receivers; a plurality of receivers for receiving wireless signals from one or more of the plurality of transmitters; a plurality of controllers for controlling at least one corresponding light source, wherein each of the controllers is configured; (a) to control the illumination output of one or more corresponding light sources in dependence on the at least one output of the at least one sensing component and first information received from one or more others of the transmitters via corresponding wireless signals received by a corresponding one of the plurality of receivers, the received first information representing a characteristic of a corresponding sensing region sensed by a corresponding sensing component and directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region; and (b) upon receiving at least one output from a corresponding said sensing component, to generate corresponding second information dependent on the output of the corresponding sensing component; and (c) upon receiving the first information from the one or more others of the transmitters, to generate corresponding second information from the first information received from the one or more transmitters, the generated second information directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region that is greater than the relative spatial separation directly represented by the first information from which the second information was generated; and (d) to transmit the second information generated at step (b) and step (c) via corresponding wireless signals transmitted by a transmitter for receipt as the first information by one or more of the plurality of receivers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A lighting control process for execution by a lighting control apparatus to control one or more corresponding light sources, the process including:
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receiving by receivers wireless signals representing first information from one or more transmitters, wherein the received first information represents a characteristic of a corresponding sensing region sensed by a corresponding sensor and directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region; sensing by sensors at least one characteristic of a corresponding sensing region to generate at least one corresponding output; and controlling the one or more corresponding light sources in dependence on; (i) the at least one output of the at least one sensing component; and (ii) the first information received from the one or more transmitters; upon receiving at least one output from a corresponding said sensor, generating corresponding second information in dependence on the first information received from the one or more transmitters and the at least one corresponding output; upon receiving the first information from the one or more others of the transmitters, generating corresponding second information from the first information received from the one or more transmitters, the generated second information directly representing a relative spatial separation from the corresponding sensing region that is greater than the relative spatial separation directly represented by the first information from which the second information was generated; and transmitting wireless signals representing the second information for receipt as the first information by one or more other transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification