Handheld programmer for lighting control system

• US 20060202851A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Cash, Audwin W., Veskovic, Dragan, Rigatti, Christopher J., Kumar, Rishi Raj, Hewson, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device is also installed in the lighting control system, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system. Further, the signal is wirelessly sent from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, and the instruction is transmitted from the communications receiver to a device in the system. The instruction functions to configure the lighting control system.

Claims

1. A method for using a handheld programming device to wirelessly configure a lighting control system having at least one device configured with a processing section, a communications receiver operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device, and a communication bus interconnecting the at least one device and the communications receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting the signal from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, the signal including an instruction for configuring the lighting control system; and

transmitting the instruction from the communications receiver to the at least one device, wherein the instruction functions to configure the lighting control system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a ballast and a bus supply.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is formatted as an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one device comprises a ballast, and the instruction provides an instruction to configure the ballast'"'"'s high end trim, low end trim, fade time, burn-in state and emergency level intensity setting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of devices in the lighting control system, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least two ballasts connected to the communications bus, and at least one sensor device connected to the one of the at least two ballasts.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a plurality of sensor devices each of the sensor devices connected to a different ballast, and the instruction functions to group the at least two ballasts to operate in response to the at least one sensor device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a plurality of sensor devices, each of the sensor devices connected to a different ballast, and the instruction functions to group at least one ballast to operate in response to a plurality of sensor devices.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor device comprises one or more of a photosensor and an occupancy sensor.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the photosensor registering a light input.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the system further comprises a bus supply connected to the communications bus, the bus supply including a contact closure input terminal, and the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the contact closure input terminal registering an open or a closed status.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to time-out after a specified amount of time after the at least one sensor device registers an unoccupied status of an associated space.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising flashing a lamp associated with at least one of the devices to communicate to a user of the handheld programming device that the at least one device had been selected for configuration.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction functions to reset the at least one device to a factory default setting.

15. A method for replacing a ballast in a lighting control system that comprises a first ballast having a first unique identifier associated therewith and a bus supply interconnected by a communication bus, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the first ballast with a first ballast configuration setting;

storing in the bus supply first ballast electronic configuration information representing the first ballast configuration setting, and storing pin the bus supply the first unique identifier;

removing the first ballast from the lighting control system;

installing a second ballast having a second unique identifier associated therewith in the lighting control system;

transmitting an instruction to the bus supply to configure the second ballast with the first ballast configuration setting;

correlating the second unique identifier with the first unique identifier; and

configuring the second ballast with the first ballast electronic configuration information stored in the bus supply.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second unique identifiers are serial numbers.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a short unique identifier that corresponds with each respective unique identifier so as to facilitate faster communication between the first and second ballasts, and the bus supply.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a third ballast having a third unique identifier associated therewith with a third ballast configuration setting;

storing in the bus supply the third ballast configuration information representing the third ballast configuration setting, and storing on the bus supply the third unique identifier;

removing the third ballast from the lighting control system;

installing a fourth ballast having a fourth unique identifier associate therewith in the lighting control system; and

transmitting an instruction to the bus supply to configure the fourth ballast with the third ballast configuration setting;

correlating the fourth unique identifier with the third unique identifier; and

configuring the fourth ballast with the third ballast configuration information stored in the bus supply.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting wirelessly the instruction by a handheld programming device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the instruction is transmitted via infrared or radio frequency communications.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising flashing a lamp associated with the second ballast to represent that the second ballast has successfully replaced the first ballast.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the configuration setting represents at least one of a high end trim, a low end trim, a fade time, a ballast burn-in state, an emergency intensity level setting, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a photosensor registering a light input, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to an occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status, a time-out value, and an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a contact closure input terminal registering a closed status or an open status.

23. A method for replacing a plurality of ballasts in a lighting control system, the method comprising:

storing in a bus supply that is electronically connected to the plurality of ballasts by a communication bus, configuration information regarding respective configuration settings for each of a first plurality of ballasts;

replacing the first plurality of ballasts with a second plurality of ballasts;

transmitting an instruction to the bus supply to configure each of the second plurality of ballasts with the respective configuration settings of each of the first plurality of ballasts;

and configuring each of the second plurality of ballasts with the respective configuration settings of a respective one of the first plurality of ballasts with the configuration information stored in the bus supply.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of transmitting an instruction comprises transmitting unique identifiers for each of the first plurality of ballasts and the second plurality of ballasts.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

storing information representing a correlation of at least one sensor device with at least one ballast;

storing information representing a correlation of at least one wall control with at least one communications receiver; and

storing information representing ballast light intensity levels configured in association with each respective ballast'"'"'s location within a room.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the information for each device linked by the communication bus is stored in the bus supply, a respective ballast, or both.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein information for the respective ballast and a device connected to the ballast is stored in the ballast.

25. A method for maintaining information representing devices installed in a lighting control system, the system comprising a plurality of ballasts and a bus supply linked together by a communication bus, the method comprising:

storing in each of the plurality of ballasts respective ballast configuration information, wherein the respective ballast configuration information represents a respective configuration setting of the respective ballasts; and

storing in the bus supply the respective configuration information for each of the ballasts.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the configuration setting represents at least one of a high end trim, a low end trim, a fade time, a ballast burn-in state, an emergency level intensity setting, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a photosensor registering a light input, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to an occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status, a time-out value, and an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a contact closure input registering a closed status or an open status.

30. A system for wirelessly configuring a lighting control system using a handheld programming device, the system comprising:

at least one device installed in the lighting control system, wherein the at least one device is configured with a processing section;

a communications receiver connected to the at least one device, wherein the communications receiver is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system;

wherein the handheld programming device is operable to transmit wirelessly the instruction to the communications receiver; and

wherein the communications receiver is operable to transmit the instruction to the at least one device on the system, wherein the instruction is operable to configure the lighting control system.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of a ballast and a bus supply.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the signal is formatted as an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one device comprises a ballast, and the instruction provides an instruction to configure at least one of the ballast'"'"'s high end trim, low end trim, fade time, burn-in state and emergency level intensity setting.

34. The system of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices comprises at least two ballasts and at least one sensor device.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the instruction functions to group the at least two ballasts to operate in response to the at least one sensor device.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of devices further comprises a plurality of sensor devices, and the instruction functions to group at least one ballast to operate in response to a plurality of sensor devices.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one sensor device comprises one or more of a photosensor and an occupancy sensor.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the sensor device comprises a photosensor and the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the photosensor registering a light input.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the sensor device comprises a photosensor and the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the sensor device comprises a contact closure input terminal and the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to operate at a respective intensity level in response to the contact closure input terminal registering an open or a closed status.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the sensor device comprises an occupancy sensor and the instruction causes at least one of the ballasts to time-out after a specified amount of time after the occupancy sensor registers an unoccupied status.

42. The system of claim 34, further comprising a lamp associated with at least one of the ballasts, wherein the at least one ballast is operable to convey information to a user of the handheld programming device by flashing the lamp.

43. The system of claim 30, wherein the instruction functions to reset one or more devices installed in the lighting control system to a factory default setting.

44. A system for replacing a ballast in a lighting control system that comprises a first ballast and a bus supply interconnected by a communication bus, the system comprising:

a first unique identifier assigned to the first ballast;

a first ballast configuration setting provided for the first ballast;

electronic configuration information stored in the bus supply and representing the first ballast configuration setting and the first unique identifier;

a second unique identifier assigned to a second ballast, wherein the second ballast is installed in the lighting control system and replaces the first ballast; and

wherein the bus supply is operable to configure the second ballast with the first ballast configuration setting by correlating the second unique identifier with the first unique identifier, wherein the bus supply is operable to use the electronic first ballast configuration information to configure the second ballast.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the first and second unique identifiers are serial numbers.

46. The system of claim 44, further comprising a short unique identifier that corresponds with each respective unique identifier.

47. The system of claim 44, further comprising:

a third unique identifier assigned to a third ballast;

a third ballast configuration setting provided for the third ballast;

electronic third ballast configuration information stored in the bus supply representing the third ballast configuration setting and the third unique identifier;

a fourth unique identifier assigned to a fourth ballast, wherein the fourth ballast is installed in the lighting control system and replaces the third ballast; and

wherein the bus supply is operable, in response to a transmitted instruction, to configure the fourth ballast with the third ballast configuration setting by correlating the fourth unique identifier with the third unique identifier, wherein the bus supply is operable to use the electronic third ballast configuration information to configure the fourth ballast.

48. The system of claim 44, further comprising a handheld programming device operable to transmit wirelessly the instruction.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the handheld programming device is operable to transmit the instruction via infrared or radio frequency communications.

50. The system of claim 44, further comprising at least one lamp installed in the lighting control system that is operable to flash to represent that the second ballast has successfully replaced the first ballast.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein the first ballast configuration setting represents at least one of a high end trim, a low end trim, a fade time, a ballast burn-in state, an emergency level intensity setting, an intensity level to operate the first ballast at in response to a photosensor registering a light input, an intensity level to operate the first ballast at in response to an occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status, a time-out value, and an intensity level to operate the first ballast at in response to a contact closure input terminal registering a closed status or an open status.

52. A system for replacement of a plurality of ballasts in a lighting control system, the system comprising:

a bus supply that is electronically connected to the lighting control system by a communication bus and that stores configuration information regarding respective configuration settings for each of a first plurality of ballasts;

the first plurality of ballasts replaced with a second plurality of ballasts; and

a handheld programming device operable to transmit wirelessly an instruction to the bus supply to configure each of the second plurality of ballasts with the respective configurations of each of the first plurality of ballasts, wherein the bus supply is operable to use the configuration information to configure each of the second plurality of ballasts with the respective configurations of each of the first plurality of ballasts.

53. A system for maintaining information representing devices installed in a lighting control system, the system comprising:

a plurality of ballasts, wherein each of the plurality of ballasts has configuration information stored therein, wherein the respective configuration information represents a respective configuration setting of the respective ballast;

a bus supply that stores the respective configuration information for all of the ballasts; and

a communication bus interconnecting the plurality of ballasts and the bus supply.

54. The system of claim 53, further comprising:

information representing a correlation of at least one sensor device with at least one ballast;

information representing a correlation of at least one wall control with at least one communications receiver; and

information representing ballast intensity levels configured in association with each respective ballast'"'"'s location in the room.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the information is stored in the bus supply, a respective ballast, or both.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the configuration setting represents at least one of a high end trim, a low end trim, a fade time, a ballast burn-in state, an emergency level intensity setting, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a photosensor registering a light input, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to an occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status, a time-out value, and an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a contact closure input registering a closed status or an open status.

57. A lighting control system, the system comprising:

a plurality of ballasts, each of the ballasts having respective ballast configuration information stored therein, wherein the respective ballast configuration information represents a respective configuration setting of the respective ballast; and

a bus supply connected to the plurality of ballast by a communication bus, wherein each of the respective ballasts is operable to transmit to the bus supply the respective configuration information.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the configuration setting represents at least one of a high end trim, a low end trim, a fade time, a ballast burn-in state, an emergency level intensity setting, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a photosensor registering a light input, an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to an occupancy sensor registering an occupied or an unoccupied status, a time-out value, and an intensity level to operate a ballast at in response to a contact closure input terminal registering a closed status or an open status.

59. A method for replacing a first load control device and a second load control device with a third load control device and a fourth load control device, respectively, in a lighting control system that comprises a bus supply, the method comprising the steps of:

assigning unique identifiers to the first, second, third, and fourth load control devices;

providing the first and second load control devices with first and second configuration settings, respectively;

storing in the bus supply the unique identifiers and the configuration settings of the first and second load control devices;

removing the first and second load control devices from the lighting control system;

installing the third and fourth load control device in the lighting control system;

transmitting an instruction to the bus supply to replace the first and second load control devices with the third and fourth load control devices, respectively;

correlating the unique identifiers of the first and second load control devices with the unique identifiers of the third and fourth load control devices, respectively;

transmitting the first configuration setting of the first load control device to the third load control device; and

transmitting the second configuration setting of the second load control device to the fourth load control device.