Wireless lighting and electrical device control system

• US 9,699,869 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premier Lighting Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Premier Lighting Ltd.
• Inventors: Holland, Anthony, Toma, Ion
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US14/367,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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

The invention provides a plurality of individually addressable radio frequency (RF) modules, any of which can be installed with any electrical device such as an ambient condition sensor or an ambient condition modifier. A prime example would be a light fixture, whether with or without a dimmable light source efficient dimming and integrated smart sensor networking related to the lighting system itself or to other systems such as parking monitors, fire alarm monitors or security alarm monitors. Independent control processing in each lighting fixture or electrical device allows a multiplicity of sensors to be locally employed and their data to control local conditions or communicate to adjoining fixtures and electrical devices and thereby control larger portions of the lighting system network or network to several unrelated systems.

Claims

1. A wireless lighting and electrical device control system comprising a plurality of individually addressable radio frequency modules for installation in a plurality of respective remote electrical devices the individually addressable radio frequency modules each having a microprocessor that is programmed:

a) to receive and process signals from at least two of the following sensor types;

motion detector sensors, occupancy sensors, photocell sensors, heat sensors and smoke sensors;

b) to transmit sensor information and electrical device command signals to other individually addressable radio frequency modules within the plurality;

c) to receive sensor information and electrical device command signals from other individually addressable radio frequency modules within the plurality;

the individually addressable radio frequency modules each having a dimming section that processes dimming commands and that can control illumination from a light source when installed in a light fixture having a dimmable light source among the remote electrical devices; and

further comprising an electrical power source and a two-stage battery backup and charging section, comprising a short-term emergency battery to maintain power output of remote electrical devices in the event of a disruption of electrical power from the electrical power source, and a long-term battery to maintain sensing by sensors, signal transmission from remote electrical devices and command transmission to remote light fixtures among the electrical devices.

2. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a wireless base control platform for a group of zones of illumination, having a programmable microprocessor and a radio frequency transmitter and receiver for receiving sensor signals from the individually addressable radio frequency modules regarding a multiplicity of conditions at the electrical devices, the multiplicity of conditions comprising at least two of the following set of conditions;

individual light fixture illumination power output, ambient light level, motion, occupancy, temperature, and smoke detection, and for sending commands to remote light fixtures to increase or decrease illumination;

b) a plurality of remote electrical devices each installed with one of the individually addressable radio frequency modules for sending sensor signals from the remote electrical devices regarding the multiplicity of conditions at the remote electrical devices, and for receiving commands from the radio frequency wireless base platform for remote light fixtures among the electrical devices to increase or decrease illumination power output.

5. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a power management section for supplying electrical power to the motion sensing, occupancy sensing, heat sensing, smoke sensing, temperature sensing and other types of sensing sections, to the ambient light sensing section, to the electronic control section, and to the networking section.

6. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, in which the power management section includes a low voltage power supply circuit which supplies electrical power to the motion, occupancy, smoke, heat and temperature and other types of sensing sections, to the ambient light sensing section, to the electronic control section, and to the networking section.

7. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 6, in which the power management section includes an AC mains monitoring circuit to enable elements of the system to switch to a backup battery power input when AC mains power is unavailable.

8. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 7, in which the power management section maintains a backup battery with a battery charging control circuit to provide emergency lighting and necessary system functionality during an AC power outage.

9. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, in which the power management section includes a power monitoring circuit to monitor real-time power consumption of individual electrical devices.

10. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 7, in which the power management section includes a temperature reading circuit to monitor the temperature system elements and reports when system elements exceed preset temperature limits to the electronic control section for appropriate commands, including a command to disable overheating elements.

11. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of remote motion sensors.

12. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 11, in which a plurality of remote motion sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section.

13. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 12, in which a remote motion sensor that senses a motion toward an area of potential illumination for a remote light fixture or electrical device causes the electronic control section to send a command for increased illumination power output from the remote light fixture, subject to available ambient light level information.

14. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of remote ambient light sensors.

15. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 14, in which a plurality of remote ambient light sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section.

16. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 13, in which a plurality of remote ambient light sensors provide signals to the ambient light sensing section to enable the electronic control section to send light control commands based in part on ambient light conditions.

17. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 2 or 4, in which the programmable microprocessor can be re-programmed to send various lighting commands to individual remote light fixtures.

18. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, in which the electronic control section, in response to occupancy events in an area of potential illumination by a remote lighting fixture, sends Lighting control commands for different brightness levels depending on different ambient light conditions.

19. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 18, in which a plurality of remote occupancy sensors respectively adjacent to remote light fixtures sends occupancy condition signals to an occupancy sensing section of the electronic control section.

20. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a light dimming module having multichannel controls that digitally select different precise illumination levels for a plurality of remote light fixtures.

21. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 20, in which the light dimming module includes a step dimming circuit which defines the precision of dimming steps, and a delay circuit that defines a period after a motion sensor is triggered before a respective remote light fixture is commanded by the electronic control section to change its power state and illumination output.

22. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 21, in which remote light fixtures have respective potentiometer dimming circuits that permit local individual external dimming control of a plurality of individual light fixtures.

23. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, in which the power management section includes:

a) a low voltage power supply circuit which supplies electrical power to the motion sensing section, to the ambient light sensing section, to the electronic control section, and to the networking section;

b) an AC mains monitoring circuit to enable elements of the system to switch to a backup battery power input when AC mains power is unavailable;

c) a backup battery with a battery charging control circuit to provide emergency lighting and necessary system functionality during an AC power outage;

d) a power monitoring circuit to monitor real-time power consumption of individual lighting fixtures;

e) a temperature reading circuit to monitor the temperature of system elements and reports when system elements exceed preset temperature limits to the electronic control section for appropriate commands, including a command to disable overheating elements.

25. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 5, in which:

a) a plurality of remote occupancy sensors respectively adjacent to remote light fixtures sends occupancy condition signals to an occupancy sensing section of the electronic control section;

b) the electronic control section, in response to occupancy events in an area of potential illumination by a remote lighting fixture, sends lighting control commands for different brightness levels depending on different ambient light conditions.

27. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 23, in which:

a) a plurality of remote motion sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section;

b) a remote motion sensor that senses a motion toward an area of potential illumination for a remote light fixture causes the electronic control section to send a command for increased illumination from the remote light fixture, subject to available ambient light level information;

c) a plurality of remote ambient light sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section and provide signals to the ambient light sensing section to enable the electronic control section to send light control commands based in part on ambient light conditions;

d) the electronic control section can be re-programmed to send various lighting commands to individual remote light fixtures;

e) a plurality of remote occupancy sensors respectively adjacent to remote light fixtures sends occupancy condition signals to an occupancy sensing section of the electronic control section;

f) the electronic control section, in response to occupancy events in an area of potential illumination by a remote lighting fixture, sends lighting control commands for different brightness levels depending on different ambient light conditions;

g) a light dimming module has multichannel controls that digitally select different precise illumination levels for a plurality of remote light fixtures;

the light dimming module includes a step dimming circuit which defines the precision of dimming steps, and a delay circuit that defines a period after a motion sensor is triggered before a respective remote light fixture is commanded by the electronic control section to change its power state and illumination output;

i) remote light fixture have respective potentiometer dimming circuits that permit local individual external dimming control of a plurality of individual light fixtures.

3. A wireless lighting and electrical device control system, comprising a plurality of individually addressable radio frequency modules for installation in a plurality of respective remote electrical devices the individually addressable radio frequency modules each having a microprocessor that is programmed:

a) to receive and process signals from at least two of the following sensor types;

motion detector sensors, occupancy sensors, photocell sensors, heat sensors and smoke sensors;

b) to transmit sensor information and electrical device command signals to other individually addressable radio frequency modules within the plurality;

c) to receive sensor information and electrical device command signals from other individually addressable radio frequency modules within the plurality;

the individually addressable radio frequency modules each having a dimming section that processes dimming commands and that can control illumination from a light source when installed in a light fixture having a dimmable light source among the remote electrical devices;

in which the individually addressable radio frequency modules each have;

a) a motion sensing section for receiving and processing signals from remote motion sensors;

b) an occupancy sensing section for receiving and processing signals from remote occupancy sensors;

c) a heat and smoke sensing section for receiving and processing signals from remote heat and smoke sensors;

d) an ambient light sensing section for receiving and processing signals from remote ambient light sensors;

e) an electronic control section that receives information from the motion, occupancy, heat smoke, and ambient light sensing section about remote motion, occupancy, heat, smoke and temperature events and remote ambient light conditions, applies light dimming decision functions based on information from the motion sensing section and from the ambient light section about remote motion events and remote ambient light conditions, and outputs light control command signals for controlling the light output of individual remote light fixtures.

4. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 3, further comprising:

a) a wireless base control platform for a group of zones of illumination, having a programmable microprocessor and a radio frequency transmitter and receiver for receiving sensor signals from the individually addressable radio frequency modules regarding a multiplicity of conditions at the electrical devices, the multiplicity of conditions comprising at least two of the following set of conditions;

individual light fixture illumination power output, ambient light level, motion, occupancy, temperature, and smoke detection, and for sending commands to remote light fixtures to increase or decrease illumination;

b) a plurality of remote electrical devices each installed with one of the individually addressable radio frequency modules for sending sensor signals from the remote electrical devices regarding the multiplicity of conditions at the remote electrical devices, and for receiving commands from the radio frequency wireless base platform for remote light fixtures among the electrical devices to increase or decrease illumination power output.

24. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 3 or 4, in which:

a) a plurality of remote motion sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section;

b) a remote motion sensor that senses a motion toward a area of potential illumination for a remote light fixture causes the electronic control section to send a command for increased illumination from the remote light fixture, subject to available ambient light level information;

c) a plurality of remote ambient light sensors are respectively adjacent to a plurality of light fixtures at various locations remote from the electronic control section and provide signals to the ambient light sensing section to enable the electronic control section to send light control commands based in part on ambient light conditions.

26. The wireless lighting and electrical device control system of claim 3 or 4, in which:

a) a light dimming module has multichannel controls that digitally select different precise illumination levels for a plurality of remote light fixtures;

b) the light dimming module includes a step dimming circuit which defines the precision of dimming steps, and a delay circuit that defines a period after a motion sensor is triggered before a respective remote light fixture is commanded by the electronic control section to change its power state and illumination output;

c) remote light fixture have respective potentiometer dimming circuits that permit local individual external dimming control of a plurality of individual light fixtures.