LIGHT FIXTURES, SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING LIGHT FIXTURES, AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING FIXTURES AND METHODS OF CONTROLLING LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEMS

• US 20140167621A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: TROTT, Gary David, PICKARD, Paul Kenneth, LAY, James Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,913,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/154
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/042 by measuring the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A fixture comprising a light sensor and an actuator for assigning the fixture to at least one zone. A fixture comprising a light source, a motion sensor and a light sensor. A fixture comprising a motion sensor, a light sensor and a wireless transmitter (optionally also a wireless receiver). A fixture configured to detect light brightness values over a time-span, and identify a period of time with smallest average brightness. A fixture configured to dim at a first rate when a motion sensor senses no motion for a designated period of time, and optionally also configured to brighten at a second rate when the motion sensor detects motion. A fixture configured to dim to not less than a designated percentage unless motion is detected during the dimming. A lighting control system, comprising fixtures and an actuator configured to assign fixtures to zones. Also, other lighting control systems and methods.

Claims

1. A fixture comprising:

at least a first light sensor; and

at least a first actuator configured to, when actuated, cause the fixture to be assigned to at least one zone.

2. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture further comprises at least a first light source.

3. A fixture as recited in claim 2, wherein the first actuator is configured to, when actuated, cause the fixture to be illuminated and then dimmed.

4. A fixture as recited in claim 2, wherein the first actuator is configured to, when actuated, cause the fixture to be illuminated to a first brightness and then dimmed to a second brightness, the second brightness not greater than about 25 percent of the first brightness.

5. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture further comprises at least a first motion sensor.

6. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture further comprises at least one wireless transmitter.

7. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture further comprises at least one wireless receiver.

8. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture further comprises at least one microprocessor.

9. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixture is pre-programmed.

10. A fixture as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the fixture further comprises at least a first motion sensor, and

the fixture is pre-programmed to dim if no motion is detected by the first motion sensor for at least a first length of time.

11. A fixture as recited in claim 9, wherein the fixture is pre-programmed to dim if the first light sensor detects a brightness in excess of a first light brightness.

12. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the fixture begins to dim when the first sensor detects light of a brightness that is in excess of a particular set brightness level.

13. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the fixture begins to vary in brightness of light emission when the first sensor detects light of a brightness that is in excess of a particular set brightness level and continues to vary in brightness of light emission until the first sensor ceases to detect light of a brightness that is in excess of the particular set brightness level.

14. A fixture as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the fixture begins to dim when the first sensor detects light of one or more particular set color hues.

15. A fixture comprising:

at least a first light source;

at least a first motion sensor; and

at least a first light sensor.

16. A fixture as recited in claim 15, wherein the fixture further comprises at least a first actuator configured to, when actuated, cause the fixture to be assigned to at least one zone.

17. A fixture as recited in claim 15, wherein the fixture is pre-programmed to dim if the first light sensor detects a brightness in excess of a first light brightness.

18. A fixture comprising:

at least a first motion sensor;

at least a first light sensor; and

at least one wireless transmitter.

19. A fixture as recited in claim 18, wherein the fixture further comprises at least a first actuator configured to, when actuated, cause the fixture to be assigned to at least one zone.

20. A fixture as recited in claim 18, wherein the fixture is pre-programmed to dim if the first light sensor detects a brightness in excess of a first light brightness.

21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. A lighting control system, comprising:

at least a first fixture and a second fixture; and

at least a first actuator,

the first fixture comprising at least a first light sensor,

the second fixture comprising at least a second light sensor,

the first actuator configured to, when actuated, cause the first fixture to be assigned to at least one zone and the second fixture to be assigned to at least one zone.

28. A lighting control system as recited in claim 27, wherein:

each fixture in the system has at least one actuator, and

each actuator in the system is configured to, when actuated, cause each fixture in the system to be assigned to at least one zone.

29-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method, comprising:

actuating a first actuator on a first fixture in a lighting control system, thereby causing the first fixture and at least a second fixture in the lighting control system to each be assigned to at least one zone.

34. A method as recited in claim 33, wherein said actuating said first actuator causes every fixture in the system to be assigned to at least one zone.

35-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A fixture comprising at least a first light source, the fixture configured to do at least one of (1)-(3):

(1) detect a sequence of light brightness measurement values at a first light sensor over a time-span of at least twenty-four hours, each light brightness measurement value comprising a value corresponding to a light brightness at the first light sensor, and identify at least a first period of time that is of a first duration and that has the smallest average light brightness of any period of said first duration during said time-span;

(2) dim at a first rate when at least a first motion sensor senses no motion for at least a designated period of time;

(3) initiate dimming when at least a first motion sensor senses no motion for at least a designated period of time, said dimming to continue to not less than a designated percentage unless motion is detected by at least one motion sensor during said dimming.

22. A fixture as recited in claim 41, wherein the fixture is configured to also dim the fixture when the brightness at the first light sensor exceeds the smallest average light brightness after the time-span.

24. A fixture as recited in claim 41, wherein the fixture is configured to dim, at said first rate when at least said first motion sensor senses no motion for at least a designated period of time, to not less than a designated percentage.

25. A fixture as recited in claim 41, wherein the fixture is further configured to brighten at a second rate when the fixture is at a dimmed brightness and at least one motion sensor detects motion.

42. A fixture as recited in claim 41, wherein the fixture further comprises at least a first light sensor.