Automated system for lighting control

• US 10,149,370 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: Greene, Charles, Harrist, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Anh Q
• Application Number:
  US15/146,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20170027043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• 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 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• 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

In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a signal indicating that a timeout timer associated with a space has been has crossed a threshold in a space. If a motion sensor is disposed within the space, the method includes sending a signal to a connector operatively coupled to a light source such that the connector reverts to a default state. If (1) a motion sensor is not disposed within the space and (2) a light sensor is disposed within the space, the method includes sending a signal to the connector such that the connector is controlled by the light sensor.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal indicating that a timeout timer associated with a space has crossed a threshold time duration;

determining if a motion sensor is disposed within the space;

if the motion sensor is determined to be disposed within the space, sending a signal to a wireless controller operatively coupled to a light source such that the wireless controller reverts to a default state;

if the motion sensor is not determined to be disposed within the space, determining if a light sensor is disposed within the space;

if the motion sensor is not determined to be disposed within the space and the light sensor is determined to be disposed within the space, sending a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller is controlled by the light sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal from the light sensor indicating that a lux level of the space is below a predetermined level; and

sending a signal to the wireless controller to cause the light source to brighten, the light source being disposed in the space.

3. The method of claim 1,

receiving a signal from the light sensor indicating that a lux level of the space is above a predetermined level;

and

sending a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller causes the light source to dim, the light source being disposed in the space.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the motion sensor is disposed within the space, resetting, in response to an indication from the motion sensor that the space is occupied, the timeout timer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold time duration is thirty minutes.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the (1) the motion sensor is not disposed within the space and (2) the light sensor is not disposed within the space, sending, in response to an indication that the space is not scheduled to be occupied, a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller reverts to the default state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the default state is OFF.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless switch including a capacitive touch pad and a first antenna, the first antenna coupled to the capacitive touch pad and configured to capacitively excite the capacitive touch pad such that the capacitive touch pad and the first antenna function collectively as a second antenna; and

a network gateway device configured to be wirelessly coupled to (1) the wireless switch, (2) a light sensor disposed in a space, and (3) a wireless controller that is separate and remote from the wireless switch and that is coupled to a light source that is configured to provide a lux level to the space,

the network gateway device configured to receive, from the light sensor, an indication of an ambient light level of the space,

the network gateway device configured to receive, from the wireless switch, a signal indicative of a request for the light source to be turned on,

the network gateway device configured to send to the wireless controller, in response to the signal indicative of a request for the light source to be turned on received from the wireless switch, a command configured to cause the light source to increase in brightness an amount based on the ambient light of the space.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive a signal indicating that a timeout timer has crossed a threshold time duration,

if a motion sensor is disposed within the space, the network gateway device configured to send a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller reverts to a default state.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the default state is ON.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive a data packet including an identification of a motion sensor disposed within the space,

the network gateway device is configured to associate the motion sensor with the wireless controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive, from the light sensor, an indication of the lux level of the space;

the network gateway device is configured to send a signal to the wireless controller such that a brightness level of the light source changes to maintain the lux level of the space within a predetermined range.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the predetermined range is between 350 lux and 450 lux.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the network gateway device is wirelessly coupled to the wireless controller via two channels simultaneously.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless switch includes a plurality of zones, each zone from the plurality of zones associated with a set of lighting values stored in a memory of the wireless controller, the wireless switch configured to send a signal to the wireless controller to adjust the brightness of the light source according to the set of stored lighting values associated with a particular zone of the plurality of zones in response to a user'"'"'s physical interaction with the particular zone of the wireless switch.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each zone from the plurality of zones can include a capacitive sensing feature, the wireless switch configured to operate in a first mode at a first sample rate, the wireless switch configured to operate in a second mode at a second sample rate upon sensing a change in capacitance, the second sample rate being faster than the first sampling rate, the switch configured to analyze a plurality of samples of the capacitance level of a particular zone of the plurality of zones to determine whether the detection of a user'"'"'s interaction was a false detection.

22. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the wireless switch includes a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, the first printed circuit board including the capacitive touch pad, the second printed circuit board coupled to the first printed circuit board such that a trace can run from the capacitive touch pad of the first printed circuit board to a microprocessor via the second printed circuit board, the capacitive touch pad configured to sense a change in capacitance caused by the presence of a user'"'"'s finger near the capacitive touch pad.

23. The apparatus of claim 8, the wireless switch further including a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, the first printed circuit board coupled to the second printed circuit board via a connector, the first antenna being a planar inverted F antenna, the first antenna being coupled to the first printed circuit board and a ground on the second printed circuit board via the connector.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first antenna includes a passive resonating element, the passive resonating element disposed on the second printed circuit board.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first antenna includes at least one conductor that is shaped as an arch, the first antenna including a shorting pin and a feed point, the shorting pin and the feed point coupled to the arch at a non-orthogonal angle relative to each other.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first antenna can include a plurality of parallel segments on an end of the at least one conductor, a first segment of the plurality of parallel segments coupled to a second segment of the plurality of parallel segments via a first end of the first segment, the first segment coupled to a third segment of the plurality of parallel segments via a second end of the first segment.

27. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising the light sensor, the light sensor including a mounting device, a photodiode, a filter, and a lens, the photodiode, the filter, and the lens disposed within the mounting device, the mounting device blocking substantially all light from entering the mounting device except through the lens.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the lens, filter, and photodiode have a cosine square light transfer response.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal indicating that a timeout timer associated with a space has crossed a threshold time duration;

determining if a motion sensor is disposed within the space;

if the motion sensor is determined to be disposed within the space, sending a signal to a wireless controller operatively coupled to a light source within the space such that the wireless controller reverts to a default state;

if the motion sensor is not determined to be disposed within the space, determining if one of an indication that the space is not scheduled to be occupied and an indication that the space is scheduled to be occupied has been received; and

if the motion sensor is not determined to be disposed within the space and the indication is received that the space is not scheduled to be occupied, sending a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller reverts to the default state.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising if (1) the motion sensor is not disposed within the space and (2) the indication is received that the space is scheduled to be occupied, allowing the wireless controller to continue in a present state.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly receiving, from a battery-powered capacitive touch switch, a signal indicative of a request to increase a brightness of the light source.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly receiving, from a battery-powered capacitive touch switch, a signal indicative of a request to reduce a brightness of the light source.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly receiving, from a battery-powered capacitive touch switch, a signal indicative of a request to turn off the light source.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a wireless switch including a plurality of zones, each zone from the plurality of zones associated with a set of lighting values stored in a memory of the wireless controller, the wireless switch configured to send a signal to the wireless controller to adjust the brightness of the light source according to the set of stored lighting values associated with a particular zone of the plurality of zones in response to a user'"'"'s physical interaction with the particular zone of the wireless switch, each zone from the plurality of zones including a capacitive sensing feature, the wireless switch configured to operate in a first mode at a first sample rate, the wireless switch configured to operate in a second mode at a second sample rate upon sensing a change in capacitance, the second sample rate being faster than the first sampling rate, the switch configured to analyze a plurality of samples of the capacitance level of a particular zone of the plurality of zones to determine whether the detection of a user'"'"'s interaction was a false detection; and

a network gateway device configured to be wirelessly coupled to (1) the wireless switch, (2) a light sensor disposed in a space, and (3) a wireless controller that is separate and remote from the wireless switch and that is coupled to a light source that is configured provide a lux level to the space,

the network gateway device configured to receive, from the light sensor, an indication of an ambient light level of the space,

the network gateway device configured to receive, from the wireless switch, a signal indicative of a request for the light source to be turned on,

the network gateway device configured to send to the wireless controller, in response to the signal indicative of a request for the light source to be turned on received from the wireless switch, a command configured to cause the light source to increase in brightness an amount based on the ambient light of the space.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive a signal indicating that a timeout timer has crossed a threshold time duration,

if a motion sensor is disposed within the space, the network gateway device configured to send a signal to the wireless controller such that the wireless controller reverts to a default state.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive a data packet including an identification of a motion sensor disposed within the space,

the network gateway device is configured to associate the motion sensor with the wireless controller.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the network gateway device is configured to receive, from the light sensor, an indication of the lux level of the space;

the network gateway device is configured to send a signal to the wireless controller such that a brightness level of the light source changes to maintain the lux level of the space within a predetermined range.

33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the network gateway device is wirelessly coupled to the wireless controller via two channels simultaneously.

34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the wireless switch includes a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, each capacitive sensing feature of each zone from the plurality of zones being included in the first printed circuit board, each capacitive sensing feature of each zone from the plurality of zones including at least one capacitive touch pad for sensing a change in capacitance caused by the presence of a user'"'"'s finger near the at least one capacitive touch pad, the second printed circuit board coupled to the first printed circuit board such that a trace can run from the at least one capacitive touch pad of the first printed circuit board to a microcontroller via the second printed circuit board.