Daisy-chained LEDs and controller connected to internet

• US 10,201,061 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDS-IP HOLDINGS, LLC
• Original Assignee: IDS-IP HOLDINGS, LLC
• Inventors: Snyder, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thuy Vinh
• Application Number:
  US15/851,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20180116035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 370254, 370338, 315152, 315291, 315308
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• 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 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• 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 20/40 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 is 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 is 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 is used to communicate with and power a network of AC wall plugs that is 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 the Internet and a local network;

at least one controller operably connected to the at least one router;

at least one non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supply;

at least one line card operably connected to the at least one controller;

at least one structured cabling network operably connected to the at least one router, the at least one controller, and the at least one non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supply; and

at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures connected together electrically in series operably connected to the at least one line card;

wherein the at least one controller provides control signals to set a light output of the at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures; and

wherein the at least one controller provides control signals to the at least one line card for managing power that is distributed to the at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures.

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 light output is set to an off state at zero percent light, to an on state at one-hundred percent light, or to a dim state at a percentage between zero and one-hundred percent.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein managing the power that is distributed to the at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures thereby reduces the number of non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supplies required in the LED lighting network, the number of cables needed in the at least one structured cabling network, the number of line cards needed in the LED lighting network, and energy needed to power the LED lighting network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supply is configured to power a sensor network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor network includes at least one sensor selected from the list consisting of an ambient light sensor, an occupancy sensor, and a vacancy sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one line card further comprises a shared memory device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to store data on the shared memory device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one line card utilizes data from at least one sensor to set the light level setting.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one line card is equipped with vertical and horizontal power regulation and distribution across multiple ports to optimize port usage.

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

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one line card comprises at least one physical channel connected to an output port and a power conditioning module operably powering the at least one physical channel.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch is configured to control the flow of a lighting system switch and sensor data within the LED lighting network and supply direct current power to the at least one line card.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the router is operably connected to a hybrid cloud for hosting applications and software for providing lighting as a service and for other services.

18. A method for powering and controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting network, comprising:

connecting at least one router to the Internet and a local network;

providing with at least one controller control signals capable of setting a light output of an LED fixture;

powering with at least one non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supply having a plurality of Power-over Ethernet (PoE) ports and a sensor network;

maintaining operable connections between at least one structured cabling network, the at least one router, at least one line card, the at least one controller, the at least one non-standard Power-over Ethernet (PoE) power supply, and at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures; and

managing through control signals provided by the at least one controller power that is distributed to the at least one daisy chain of LED fixtures.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising setting the light output to an off state at zero percent light, an on state at one-hundred percent light, or a dim state at a percentage between zero and one-hundred percent.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing data with a sensor of the sensor network, storing the data on a shared memory device of the at least one line card, and utilizing the data to set the light output.