Multiple Light Sensor Multiple Light Fixture Control

• US 20130328486A1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MoJo Labs Inc.
• Original Assignee: MoJo Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Morgan
• Granted Patent: US 8,842,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/151
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to control light output at one or more light fixtures based on input from one or more light detectors. Embodiments of the invention may also be used for auto commissioning, personal control and/or day lighting. Some embodiments of the invention can be used to ensure that light output at the light fixtures provides a combined uniform photometric distribution within an architectural space. Moreover, embodiments of the invention can respond to changes to ambient light, which illuminates the architectural space from a window, door, or television, etc., in a smooth and non-oscillating way. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented in lighting systems employing multiple light fixtures having one or more light source and multiple light detectors.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting the light output of a fixture disposed in an architectural space, the method comprising:

receiving a first light adjustment value for a first portion of the architectural space;

receiving a second light adjustment value for a second portion of the architectural space;

determining a first value representing a geometric relationship between the fixture and the first portion of the architectural space;

determining a second value representing a geometric relationship between the fixture and the second portion of the architectural space; and

controlling an output of the fixture based on a function of the first value and the second value.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a first light contribution of the fixture within the first portion of the architectural space, and wherein the first value is a function of the first light contribution.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising receiving a second light contribution of the fixture within the second portion of the architectural space, and wherein the second value is a function of the second light contribution.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output of the fixture is based on a function of the first value, the second value, the first light adjustment value, and the second light adjustment value.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising modulating the light output setting of a light source coupled with the respective light source with a light fixture identification code.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the geometric relationship between the fixture and the first portion of the architectural space is a function of the light contribution value for the light fixture at a first sensor located in the first portion of the architectural space, and the geometric relationship between the fixture and the second portion of the architectural space is a function of the light contribution value for the light fixture at a second sensor located in the second portion of the architectural space.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the light contribution represents the amount of light from the light fixture detected at the respective one of the first light sensor and the second light sensor relative to a total light level detected at one of the first light sensor and the second light sensor.

8. A method for adjusting the light output of a fixture having a light source, the method comprising:

receiving a first light contribution value from a first light sensor, wherein the first light contribution value represents the light contribution of the fixture relative to a total light level detected at the first light sensor;

receiving a first light adjustment value from the first light sensor;

receiving a second light contribution value from a second light sensor, wherein the second light contribution value represents the light contribution of the fixture to a total light level detected at the second light sensor;

receiving a second light adjustment value from the second light sensor;

determining an adjustment value based on the first light adjustment value weighted by a function of the first light contribution value and the second light adjustment value weighted by a function of the second light contribution value; and

adjusting a light output of the fixture based on the weighted adjustment value.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the function of the first light contribution value comprises a ratio of the first light contribution value and a light output setting of the fixture, and wherein the function of the second light contribution value comprises a ratio of the second light contribution value and the light output setting of the fixture.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the first light contribution value and the first light adjustment value are received as a first data packet;

and the second light contribution value and the second light adjustment value are received as a second data packet.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first data packet includes a first light delivery effectiveness value comprising a ratio of the first light contribution value and a light output setting of the fixture, and wherein the second data packet includes a second light delivery effectiveness value comprising a ratio of the second light contribution value and the light output setting of the fixture.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising modulating the light output of the fixture with a light fixture identification code.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the modulating occurs in response to a request from a light sensor.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising modulating the light output of the fixture with a light output setting.

15. A method for monitoring the light level in an architectural space at a light sensor, the method comprising:

determining a total light value corresponding to a detected total light level in the architectural space;

receiving a first light output value from a first light source;

receiving a second light output value from a second light source;

determining a light contribution of the first light source;

determining a light contribution of the second light source;

determining a first light delivery effectiveness value from the first light output value and the light contribution of the first light source;

determining a second light delivery effectiveness value from the second light output value and the light contribution of the second light source;

communicating the first light delivery effectiveness value and a total light adjustment value to at least the first light fixture; and

communicating the second light delivery effectiveness value and the total light adjustment value to at least the second light fixture.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first light delivery effectiveness value is determined from the first light output value, the light contribution of the first light source, and the light contribution of the second light source, and wherein the second light delivery effectiveness value is determined from the second light output value, the light contribution of the first light source.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein determining a light contribution of the first light source further comprises:

detecting a modulated light signal;

determining a first light source identifier corresponding to the first light source from the modulated change in the light level;

determining the contribution of the first light source to the light value from the range of the light level during modulation.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving the total light adjustment value from a user through a user interface.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the total light adjustment value comprises a difference between a desired light level and the total light level detected at the light detector.

20. A method for adjusting the light output at a light fixture, the method comprising:

directing a light source to illuminate an architectural space with a light output value;

determining a value representing a geometric relationship of the fixture relative to a light sensor;

adjusting the light output value based on a function comprising the value representing the geometric relationship; and

directing a light source to illuminate an architectural space with the adjusted light output value.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the value representing the geometric relationship is determined from a function of a light contribution measured at the sensor.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising receiving an indication of a utility demand response prior to determining a value representing a geometric relationship of the fixture relative to a light sensor.

23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising determining a second value representing a geometric relationship of the fixture relative to a second light sensor, and wherein the adjusting the light output value based on a function comprises a function of the geometric relationship and the second geometric relationship.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the value representing the geometric relationship of the fixture relative to the light sensor comprises a function of the light contribution measured at the sensor and the output setting of the light fixture.

25. The method according to claim 20, further comprising

receiving data indicating a first effectiveness value and a second effectiveness value, wherein the first effectiveness value comprises a ratio of the light contribution measured at the sensor and a light output setting of the light fixture, and wherein the second effectiveness value comprises a ratio of the light contribution measured at a second sensor and the light output setting of the light fixture;

determining a first normalized effectiveness value and a second normalized effectiveness value, wherein the first normalized effectiveness value comprises a function of a ratio of the first effectiveness value and the sum of the first effectiveness value and the second effectiveness value, and wherein the second normalized effectiveness value comprises a function of a ratio of the second effectiveness value and the sum of the first effectiveness value and the second effectiveness value;

wherein the light output value is a function the first normalized effectiveness value and the second normalized effectiveness value.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising modifying the first normalized effectiveness value in the event that the first normalized effectiveness value is greater than a first predetermined threshold value.