Universal lighting network methods and systems

• US 20030222587A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Kevin J. Jr., Lys, Ihor A., Morgan, Frederick M., Blackwell, Michael K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• 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 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention relates to smart lighting devices bearing processors, and networks comprising smart lighting devices, capable of providing illumination, and detecting stimuli with sensors and/or sending signals. Sensors and emitters can, in some embodiments, be removed and added in a modular fashion. Smart lighting devices and smart lighting networks can be used for communication purposes, building automation, systems monitoring, and a variety of other functions.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a substrate including at least one electrical connection to facilitate a coupling of at least one modular component to the apparatus, the at least one modular component configured to perform a non-lighting function;

at least one lighting element coupled to the substrate, the at least one lighting element configured to illuminate an area with visible light; and

a processor coupled to the at least one electrical connection and configured to communicate with the at least one modular component when the at least one modular component is coupled to the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the at least one modular component to perform at least one non-lighting function when the at least one modular component is coupled to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor also is coupled to the at least one lighting element, and wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element to perform at least one lighting function.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element based on information obtained from the at least one modular component.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element to perform the at least one lighting function and at least one non-lighting information transmission function.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element to perform simultaneously the at least one lighting function and the at least one non-lighting information transmission function.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element to perform the at least one non-lighting information transmission function without interfering with the at least one lighting function.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one lighting element to perform the at least one lighting function via pulse width modulation and the at least one non-lighting information transmission function via pulse code modulation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one power connection to provide power to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one power connection is adapted to be coupled to a power source through a conventional lighting jack.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising at least one data connection coupled to the processor to allow the processor to exchange information with an external device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one data connection is configured to couple the processor to a data network.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one data connection and the at least one power connection are configured as a common connection to transfer power and information simultaneously.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate includes a plurality of electrical connections to facilitate a coupling of a respective plurality of modular components to the apparatus; and

the processor is coupled to at least some of the electrical connections and configured to communicate with at least some of the modular components when the at least some of the modular components are coupled to the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, in combination with at least two modular components coupled to the apparatus.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the at least two modular components include at least one of:

at least one signal transmitter;

at least one signal receiver;

at least one sensor;

at least one actuator;

and at least one transducer.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least two electrical connections of the plurality of electrical connections are identical so as to facilitate a coupling of at least two interchangeable modular components to the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of modular components includes a plurality of interchangeable modular components, and wherein:

the substrate is configured as a universal platform to accommodate the plurality of interchangeable modular components.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the platform includes a plurality of cradles, each cradle being configured to receive one modular component of the plurality of modular components.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least one cradle includes:

at least one first contact to form a power connection with the one modular component; and

at least one second contact to form a data connection with the one modular component.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one cradle includes at least one contact to from a common power and data connection with the one modular component.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the substrate is configured as a base formed of a diffusing material; and

the at least one lighting element is positioned in the apparatus so as to illuminate the base with the visible light.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element is adapted to be capable of providing at least approximately 25 Watts of the visible light.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element includes at least one of:

at least one LED;

at least one incandescent light source;

at least one halogen light source; and

at least one fluorescent light source.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting element includes at least one LED-based light source.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one LED-based light source is configured to be capable of providing at least two different colors of the visible light.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the processor also is coupled to the at least one LED-based light source, and wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source to perform at least one lighting function.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the processor is configured to control the at least one LED-based light source based on information obtained from the at least one modular component.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, in combination with the at least one modular component coupled to the apparatus.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one of a signal transmitter and a signal receiver.

31. The combination of claim 30, wherein the at least one of the signal transmitter and the signal receiver includes at least one of an electromagnetic device and an acoustic device.

32. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one sensor.

33. The combination of claim 32, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a position sensor, a thermal sensor, a humidity sensor, and a chemical sensor.

34. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one actuator.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one positioning mechanism.

36. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one speaker.

37. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one display device.

38. The combination of claim 29, wherein the at least one modular component includes at least one transducer.

39. The combination of claim 38, wherein the at least one transducer includes at least one of a microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a vibration sensor.

40. A system comprising at least first and second apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a first processor of the first apparatus is coupled to a second processor of the second apparatus via at least one data transfer medium.

41. A building including the system of claim 40.

42. The building of claim 41, wherein at least one of the first apparatus and second apparatus is configured as a ceiling or overhead light fixture in the building.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one data transfer medium includes a physical medium.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the at least one data transfer medium includes at least one wireless link.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein at least one of the first processor and the second processor is configured to control at least one lighting element to perform simultaneously at least one lighting function and at least one non-lighting information transmission function so as to transmit information via the at least one wireless link.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the first processor and the second processor are addressable processors that are responsive to particular information on the at least one data transfer medium based at least in part on an address associated with the particular information.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein information is transported via the at least one data transfer medium using one of a TCP/IP, Ethernet, USB and DMX protocol.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the first apparatus includes at least one first modular component and the second apparatus includes at least one second modular component, and wherein the at least one first modular component and the at least one second modular component facilitate communication between the first and second apparatus via the at least one data transfer medium.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein:

the at least one data transfer medium includes at least one wireless link;

at least one of the first modular component and the second modular component includes a transmitter to transmit information via the at least one wireless link; and

at least one of the first modular component and the second modular component includes a receiver to receive information via the at least one wireless link.

50. A building including the system of claim 49.

51. The building of claim 50, wherein at least one of the first apparatus and second apparatus is configured as a ceiling or overhead light fixture in the building.

52. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED-based lighting element configured to illuminate an area with visible light;

at least one processor configured to be coupled to a data network; and

at least one input device coupled to the at least one processor and configured to receive information,

wherein the processor is configured to pass a representation of the received information to the data network.

53. A lighting network comprising at least first and second apparatus each according to claim 52, wherein a first processor of the first apparatus is coupled to a second processor of the second apparatus via the data network.

54. The lighting network of claim 53, wherein the data network includes a physical medium.

55. The lighting network of claim 65, wherein the data network includes at least one wireless link.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of an electromagnetic signal receiver, an acoustic signal receiver, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a position sensor, a thermal sensor, a humidity sensor, a chemical sensor, a microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, and a vibration sensor.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting element is coupled to the at least one processor and configured to be responsive to lighting data received from the data network.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the lighting data received from the data network is based at least in part on the information received by the at least one input device.

59. The apparatus of claim 52, further including at least one output device coupled to the at least one processor and configured to perform at least one non-lighting function in response to non-lighting data received from the data network.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one output device includes at least one of an electromagnetic transmitter, an acoustic transmitter, an actuator, and a positioning mechanism.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of an electromagnetic signal receiver, an acoustic signal receiver, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a position sensor, a thermal sensor, a humidity sensor, a chemical sensor, a microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, and a vibration sensor.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting element is coupled to the at least one processor and configured to be responsive to lighting data received from the data network.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the lighting data received from the data network is based at least in part on the information received by the at least one input device.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the non-lighting data received from the data network is based at least in part on the information received by the at least one input device.

65. A lighting network comprising at least first and second apparatus each according to claim 61, wherein a first processor of the first apparatus is coupled to a second processor of the second apparatus via the data network.

66. The lighting network of claim 65, wherein the data network includes a physical medium.

67. The lighting network of claim 65, wherein the data network includes at least one wireless link.

68. The lighting system of claim 67, wherein at least one of the first processor and the second processor is configured to control at least one LED-based lighting element to perform simultaneously at least one lighting function and at least one non-lighting information transmission function so as to transmit wireless information via the at least one wireless link.

69. The lighting network of claim 65, wherein the first processor and the second processor are addressable processors that are responsive to particular information on the data network based at least in part on an address associated with the particular information.

70. The lighting network of claim 65, wherein data is transported via the data network using one of a TCP/IP, Ethernet, USB and DMX protocol.

71. A building including the lighting network of claim 65.

72. The building of claim 71, wherein at least one of the first apparatus and second apparatus is configured as a ceiling or overhead light fixture in the building.

73. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED-based lighting element configured to illuminate an area with visible light;

at least one processor configured to be coupled to a data network; and

at least one output device coupled to the at least one processor and configured to perform at least one non-lighting function in response to non-lighting data received from the data network.

74. A lighting network comprising at least first and second apparatus each according to claim 73, wherein a first processor of the first apparatus is coupled to a second processor of the second apparatus via the data network.

75. The lighting network of claim 74, wherein the data network includes a physical medium.

76. The lighting network of claim 74, wherein the data network includes at least one wireless link.

77. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the at least one output device includes at least one of an electromagnetic transmitter, an acoustic transmitter, an actuator, and a positioning mechanism.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, further including at least one input device coupled to the at least one processor and configured to receive information, wherein the processor is configured to pass a representation of the received information to the data network.

79. The apparatus of claim 78, wherein the at least one input device includes at least one of an electromagnetic signal receiver, an acoustic signal receiver, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a proximity detector, a position sensor, a thermal sensor, a humidity sensor, a chemical sensor, a microphone, a piezoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a vibration sensor.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting element is coupled to the at least one processor and configured to be responsive to lighting data received from the data network.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the lighting data received from the data network is based at least in part on the information received by the at least one input device.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the non-lighting data received from the data network is based at least in part on the information received by the at least one input device.

83. A lighting network, comprising:

a first lighting apparatus, including;

at least one first LED-based lighting element configured to generate visible light;

at least one first processor coupled to a data network; and

at least one first input device coupled to the at least one first processor and configured to receive first information,

wherein the at least one first processor is configured to pass a representation of the first information to the data network; and

a second lighting apparatus, including;

at least one second LED-based lighting element configured to generate visible light;

at least one second processor coupled to the data network; and

at least one second input device coupled to the at least one second processor and configured to receive second information,

wherein the at least one second processor is configured to pass a representation of the second information to the data network.

84. A method of transferring information on a data network, comprising an act of:

A) transferring the information via at least one LED-based lighting fixture coupled to the data network.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

A1) transferring the information via radiation generated by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the act Al) includes an act of:

transferring the information via visible radiation generated by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the act Al) includes an act of:

transferring the information via non-visible radiation generated by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture.

88. The method of claim 84, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture includes at least one of an information transmitter and an information receiver, and wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

transferring the information via at least one of the information transmitter and the information receiver.

89. The method of claim 84, further comprising an act of:

B) illuminating an area with visible light generated by the at least one LED-based lighting fixture.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the act B) comprises an act of:

controlling the at least one LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on lighting data received from the data network.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture includes at least one input device configured to receive first information, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

A1) passing a representation of the first information to the data network.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the act B) comprises an act of:

B1) controlling the at least one LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on lighting data received from the data network.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the act B1) comprises an act of:

providing the lighting data based at least in part on the first information received by the at least one input device.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture further includes at least one output device, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

C) controlling the at least one output device to perform at least one non-lighting function in response to non-lighting data received from the data network.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein the act B) comprises an act of:

B1) controlling the at least one LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on lighting data received from the data network.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the act B 1) comprises an act of:

providing the lighting data based at least in part on the first information received by the at least one input device.

97. The method of claim 94, wherein the act C) comprises an act of:

providing the non-lighting data based at least in part on the first information received by the at least one input device.

98. The method of claim 84, wherein the at least one LED-based lighting fixture includes at least a first LED-based lighting fixture coupled to the data network and a second LED-based lighting fixture coupled to the data network, and wherein the act A) comprises an act of:

A2) transferring the information between the at least two LED-based lighting fixtures via the data network.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein at least the first LED-based lighting fixture includes at least one input device configured to receive first information, and wherein the act A2) includes acts of:

A3) passing a representation of the first information to the data network; and

A4) controlling at least one function performed by the second LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on the first information.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the act A4) comprises an act of:

controlling at least one lighting function performed by the second LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on the first information.

101. The method of claim 99, wherein the act A4) comprises an act of:

controlling at least one non-lighting function performed by the second LED-based lighting fixture based at least in part on the first information.