System and method for controlling operation of an LED-based light

• US 10,278,247 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Simon, David L., Ngo, Hoan, Norton, Anthony J., Nickol, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Henry
• Application Number:
  US15/712,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20180027625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• 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 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

For controlling operation of a light source, a method of associating a light source with an area for which the light source is positioned to provide lighting comprises: identifying, based on a determined physical position of a light source, one of a plurality of areas as the area for which the light source is positioned to provide lighting; identifying at least one desired lighting condition for the identified area; and controlling, using a processor, operation of the light source based on the identified at least one desired lighting condition for the identified area.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a first light source having a first communications device associated therewith, the first communications device being configured to transmit a location signal;

a control unit remote from the first light source, the control unit comprising a processor configured to;

store data regarding a plurality of physical areas, the data comprising, for each physical area;

a definition of the physical area, wherein the definition of the physical area comprises at least one of an indication of a functional characteristic of the physical area, an indication of a physical surrounding of the physical area, an indication of a presence of natural light in proximity to the physical area, or an indication of a constraint associated with the physical area, and

an indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area;

receive the first location signal;

determine that the first light source is positioned within a first physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the location signal;

store an indication of an association between the first light source and the first physical area;

retrieve the indication of the lighting condition associated with the first physical area; and

operate the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, wherein operating the first light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the first communications device associated with the first light source.

2. A lighting system comprising:

a first light source having a first communications device associated therewith, the first communications device being configured to transmit a location signal;

a control unit remote from the first light source, the control unit comprising a processor configured to;

store data regarding a plurality of physical areas, the data comprising, for each physical area;

a definition of the physical area, and

an indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area;

receive the first location signal, wherein the indication of the lighting condition associated with the physical area comprises at least one of an indication of a lighting performance requirement associated with the physical area, an indication of a lighting efficiency requirement associated with the physical area, an indication of a safety lighting requirement associated with the physical area, or an indication of a comfort requirement associated with the physical area;

determine that the first light source is positioned within a first physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the location signal;

store an indication of an association between the first light source and the first physical area;

retrieve the indication of the lighting condition associated with the first physical area; and

operate the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, wherein operating the first light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the first communications device associated with the first light source.

3. A lighting system comprising:

a first light source having a first communications device associated therewith, the first communications device being configured to transmit a location signal;

a control unit remote from the first light source, the control unit comprising a processor configured to;

store data regarding a plurality of physical areas, the data comprising, for each physical area;

a definition of the physical area, and

an indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area;

receive the first location signal;

determine that the first light source is positioned within a first physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the location signal;

store an indication of an association between the first light source and the first physical area;

retrieve the indication of the lighting condition associated with the first physical area; and

operate the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, wherein operating the first light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the first communications device associated with the first light source, and modifying a brightness of the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area.

4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein modifying the light output of the first light source comprises increasing the brightness of the first light source.

5. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein modifying the light output of the first light source comprises decreasing the brightness of the first light source.

6. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein operating the first light source further comprises:

receiving, at the control unit, sensor data from one or more sensors positioned in the first physical area, the sensor data indicating a current physical lighting condition of the first physical area;

determining, at the control unit, that the current physical lighting condition does not satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area;

responsive to determining that the current physical lighting condition does not satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, modifying the brightness of the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area.