Learning capable control of chaotic lighting

• US 9,706,623 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2014
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rains, Jr., Jack C., Aggarwal, Januk, Ramer, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, AMY X
• Application Number:
  US14/476,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 315294-297, 315152, 315151, 315307, 315312, 315158
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/02 Testing optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/08 Learning methods
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/196 characterised by user interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/197 Sound control or voice control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1975 Gesture control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

At least one controllable source of visible light is configured to illuminate a space to be utilized by one or more occupants. A controller causes the source(s) to emit light in a manner that varies at least one characteristic of visible light emitted into the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function. Responsive to user input, sensed activity, and/or acquired information, the source(s) are controlled by the controller in accordance with a lighting control function which may be modified based on learning by a device or system including the controller.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a source of light, the source of light being configured to output visible light in a manner permitting control of a plurality of parameters of the visible light output, responsive to control by the processor;

a storage device accessible by the processor; and

a program in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the system to implement functions, including functions to;

identify an occupant within a space;

retrieve a profile of the identified occupant, the profile including a lighting control function established for the identified occupant to control operation of the light source so as to vary at least one parameter of the visible light output within the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function, the chaotic function comprising a mathematical expression; and

operate the light source to illuminate the space while the identified occupant is in the space, including control of at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with the lighting control function established for the identified occupant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the system is configured to control an environmental condition in the space; and

the retrieved profile includes a control function established for the identified occupant with respect to the environmental condition to include varying the environmental condition over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein execution of the program by the processor, configures the system to implement further functions, including functions to:

control the environmental condition in accordance with the environmental control function established for the identified occupant; and

based on at least one of the determined statuses of the identified occupant, adjust the control of the environmental condition.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a condition in the space illuminated by the system, the condition relating to an activity of the occupant when within the space, and to provide a condition responsive input to the processor; and

a data communication interface, controlled by the processor, configured for communication of data from and to the system over a network,

wherein further execution of the program by the processor configures the system to implement further functions, including functions to;

access information about the identified occupant from an on-line service, via communication over the network, to determine a status of the identified occupant for the on-line service;

process the condition responsive signal from the sensor to determine an activity status of the identified occupant while in the space; and

based on at least one of the determined statuses of the identified occupant, adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with the lighting control function established for the identified occupant.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a learning module configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the learning module comprises a neural network;

the neural network receives the currently determined statuses, the current state of the chaotic function, the previously determined statuses, and corresponding previous states of the chaotic function as input;

the neural network produces a status weight corresponding to each of the currently determined statuses based on the previously determined statuses;

the neural network produces a chaotic state weight corresponding to the current state of the chaotic function based on the corresponding previous states of the chaotic function; and

the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output is based on at least one of the currently determined statuses and corresponding status weight as well as the current state of the chaotic function and chaotic state weight.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the learning module is further configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output by changing the chaotic function to a different chaotic function, based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the learning module is further configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output by changing at least one parameter of the chaotic function, based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising a learning module configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the learning module comprises a neural network;

the neural network receives the currently determined statuses, the current state of the chaotic function, the current state of the nominal function, the previously determined statuses, corresponding previous states of the chaotic function, and corresponding previous states of the nominal function as input;

the neural network produces a status weight corresponding to each of the currently determined statuses based on the previously determined statuses;

the neural network produces a chaotic state weight corresponding to the current state of the chaotic function based on the corresponding previous states of the chaotic function;

the neural network produces a nominal state weight corresponding to the current state of the nominal function based on the corresponding previous states of the nominal function; and

the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output is based on at least one of the currently determined statuses and corresponding status weight as well as the current state of the chaotic function and chaotic state weight in combination with the current state of the nominal function and nominal state weight.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning module is further configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output by changing at least one of the chaotic function or the nominal function to a different function, based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the learning module is further configured to implement the function to adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output by changing at least one parameter of the chaotic function and the nominal function, based upon previously determined statuses in response to previous light source operation or control adjustment as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output includes one or more light parameters selected from the group consisting of:

intensity of light, spectral content of light, polarization of light, color temperature of light, and chromaticity difference (Delta uv) of light from the Planckian locus.

14. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a source of light, the source of light being configured to output visible light in a manner permitting control of a plurality of parameters of the visible light output, responsive to control by the processor;

a sensor configured to detect a condition in a space illuminated by the system, the condition relating to an activity of at least one of a plurality of occupants when the occupants are within the space, and to provide a condition responsive input to the processor;

a data communication interface, controlled by the processor, configured for communication of data from and to the system over a network;

a storage device accessible by the processor; and

a program in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the system to implement functions, including functions to;

identify at least one of the plurality of occupants;

for each identified occupant;

retrieve a profile of the identified occupant, the profile including a lighting control function established for the identified occupant to control operation of the light source so as to vary at least one parameter of the visible light output within the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function, the chaotic function comprising a mathematical expression;

determine a control setting for at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output from the lighting control function established for the identified occupant;

access information about the identified occupant from an on-line service, via communication over the network, to determine a status of the identified occupant for the on-line service;

process the condition responsive signal from the sensor to determine an activity status of the identified occupant while in the space; and

based on at least one of the determined statuses of the identified occupant, adjust the control setting of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in the lighting control function established for the identified occupant; and

operate the light source and adjust the control of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with a composite lighting control function based on each identified occupant'"'"'s contribution to a composite operation of the light source and a composite adjustment to the control setting of the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with each identified occupant'"'"'s adjusted lighting control function.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a learning module configured to, based on previously determined statuses, previous operations, previous adjustments, previous contributions and previous states of the chaotic function, influence the contribution of each identified occupant to the composite lighting control function.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a learning module configured to, based on previously determined statuses, previous operations, previous adjustments, previous contributions and previous states of the chaotic function in combination with previous states of a nominal function, influence the contribution of each identified occupant to the composite lighting control function.

17. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a source of light, the source of light being configured to output visible light in a manner permitting control of a plurality of parameters of the visible light output, responsive to control by the processor;

a sensor configured to detect a condition in a space illuminated by the system, the condition relating to an activity of an occupant when within the space, and to provide a condition responsive input to the processor;

a user input element, for providing user input for processing to the processor;

a storage device accessible by the processor;

a program in the storage device, wherein execution of the program by the processor configures the system to implement functions, including functions to;

identify a user as the occupant of the space illuminated by the system;

operate the light source to illuminate the space while the identified occupant is in the space, including control of at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with a predetermined lighting control function to include varying at least one parameter of the visible light output within the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function, the chaotic function comprising a mathematical expression;

while illuminating the space, receive an input from at least one of;

the identified occupant representing a desired change of at least one of the parameters of the visible light output via the user input element;

or

the sensor representing an activity status of the identified occupant while in the space based upon the condition responsive input to the processor;

modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input in accordance with the received input;

store the modified lighting control function, including the chaotic function, in association with an identification of the occupant in the storage device, as a profile established for the identified occupant;

while the identified occupant is in the space, use the identification of the occupant to retrieve the stored profile; and

use the retrieved profile to operate the light source to illuminate the space while the identified occupant is in the space, including control of at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output in accordance with the modified lighting control function to include varying at least one parameter of the visible light output within the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with the chaotic function.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user input element is at least one of:

a control panel responsive to tactile input;

a capacitive sensor;

a microphone responsive to audio input;

a camera or image sensor responsive to motion; and

programming in the storage device responsive to user input via a computer, a tablet, a smartphone or other electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user input element is integral to the space illuminated by the system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the user input element is an application executing on a tablet, a smartphone or other electronic device; and

the application communicates with the processor over a network via a data communication interface of the system.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured to detect, as the condition, one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of:

an image of the space;

audio within the space;

motion of the occupant within the space; and

light from the occupant within the space.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a learning module configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the learning module comprises a neural network;

the neural network receives the received input, a current state of the chaotic function, previously received inputs and corresponding previous states of the chaotic function;

the neural network produces a received input weight corresponding to the received input based on the previously received inputs;

the neural network produces a chaotic state weight corresponding to the current state of the chaotic function based on the corresponding previous states of the chaotic function; and

the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input is based on the received input and corresponding received input weight as well as the current state of the chaotic function and chaotic state weight.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the learning module is further configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input by changing the chaotic function to a different chaotic function, based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the learning module if further configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input by changing at least one parameter of the chaotic function, based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function.

26. The system of claim 17, further comprising a learning module configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the learning module comprises a neural network;

the neural network receives the received input, a current state of the chaotic function, previously received inputs and corresponding previous states of the chaotic function;

the neural network produces a received input weight corresponding to the received input based on the previously received inputs;

the neural network produces a chaotic state weight corresponding to the current state of the chaotic function based on the corresponding previous states of the chaotic function;

the neural network produces a nominal state weight corresponding to the current state of the nominal function based on the corresponding previous states of the nominal function; and

the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input is based on the received input and corresponding received input weight as well as the current state of the chaotic function and chaotic state weight in combination with the current state of the nominal function and nominal state weight.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the learning module if further configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input by changing at least one of the chaotic function and the nominal function to a different function, based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the learning module if further configured to implement the function to modify the predetermined lighting control function responsive to the received input by changing at least one parameter of the chaotic function or the nominal function, based upon previously received inputs as well as corresponding previous states of the chaotic function in combination with corresponding previous states of a nominal function.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the plurality of parameters of the visible light output includes one or more light parameters selected from the group consisting of:

intensity of light, spectral content of light, polarization of light, color temperature of light, and chromaticity difference (Delta uv) of light from the Planckian locus.