System, method, and apparatus for powering intelligent lighting networks

• US 9,839,100 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDS-IP HOLDINGS, LLC
• Original Assignee: IDS-IP HOLDINGS, LLC
• Inventors: Snyder, David M., Baych, Leslie D., Emig, III, Walter F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US15/236,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20160353552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 370254, 370338, 315152, 315291, 315308
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/397 Current mirror circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for powering intelligent lighting networks. The power for the intelligent lighting network is supplied by Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switches and/or Mid-Spans, which are conditioned by a powered device to distribute power tuned specifically for each, at least one light emitting diode (LED) fixture. The Power-over-Ethernet switch and/or Mid-Span with associated router and wireless access point can be used to communicate with, and power a sensor network that collects data relevant to the intelligent lighting network. Optionally, the Power-over-Ethernet switch and/or Mid-Span can be used to communicate with, and power a network of sensors that collects data relevant to the space the intelligent lighting network is operating in, or can be used to communicate with and power a network of AC wall plugs that can be turned on and off, and various switches, relays, and PLCs, RFID systems, USB hubs, etc.

Claims

1. A system for powering and controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting network, the system comprising:

at least one router operably connected to a local network;

at least one line card including;

(a) at least one physical channel connected to an output port;

(b) a power conditioning module operably powering the at least one physical channel; and

(c) a controller, said controller configured to control an amount of conditioned power using one or more pulse width modulators, and control start and stop times of the one or more pulse width modulators;

at least one power distribution unit having a lighting system controller and the at least one line card;

at least one Power-over- Ethernet switch configured to;

(a) control the flow of a lighting system switch and sensor data within the LED lighting network; and

(b) supply direct current power to the at least one power distribution unit;

a structured cabling network that is connected to the output port of the at least one line card; and

an LED fixture that is connected to a homerun cable that is connected to the output port of the at least one line card.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one line card is configured in one or more form factors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a standard LED fixture.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a screw-based lighting fixture.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one Power-over-Ethernet switch is configured to power a sensor network that collects data by utilizing the at least one router that is operably connected to the local network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor network includes at least one sensor, said at east one sensor is an ambient light sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one power distribution unit further comprises a shared memory device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to store data on the shared memory device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one power distribution utilizes a data from the ambient light sensor that is stored on the shared memory device to select the light setting.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution unit is equipped with vertical and horizontal power regulation and distribution across multiple channels operating on multiple ports to optimize port usage.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is designed to include an industrial bus controller for managing and operating relays, solenoids, PLCs, and configured to communicate with building automation systems.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution unit is configured to convert AC to DC for use by the at least one Power-over- Ethernet switch.

13. A system for powering and controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting network, the system comprising:

at least one router operably connected to a local network;

at least one line card including;

(a) at least one physical channel connected to an output port;

(b) a power conditioning module operably powering the at least one physical channel; and

(c) a controller, said controller configured to control an amount of conditioned power using one or more pulse width modulators, and control start and stop times of the one or more pulse width modulators;

at east one power distribution unit having a lighting system controller and the at least one line card;

at least one Power-over- Ethernet switch configured to;

(a) control the flow of a lighting system switch and sensor data within the LED lighting network; and

(b) supply direct current power to the at least one power distribution unit; and

at least one LED fixture in a daisy chain that is connected via a jumper cable to an LED fixture that is connected via a homerun cable to the output port of the at least one line card.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one line card is configured in one or more form factors.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a standard LED fixture.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a screw-based lighting fixture.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one line card includes a wireless device configured to enable wireless communication with the controller.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one line card utilizes wireless communication with the controller to turn lights on, off, or dim.