INTELLIGENT LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

• US 20180014384A1
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Locoroll Incorporated
• Inventors: Charlton, Erik Allen
• Granted Patent: US 10,638,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/00 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system for temporarily opening a circuit in the system. The lighting control system includes a light switch module including a switch control circuit. The switch control circuit includes a processor configured to modulate the flow of electrical energy to the lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit to produce a plurality of lighting scenes by varying the illumination of the light bulb. The processor is, in response to receipt of a control command to discontinue illumination of the light bulb, configured to cause, for a first pre-specified period of time, the amperage of the current flowing from an alternating current power supply to the power circuit to be reduced, and open, for the first pre-specified period of time, the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and an electrical connector.

Claims

1. A lighting control system comprising:

a base module including a base housing forming a well and including a first electrical connector positioned in the well, the first electrical connector connected to a power circuit that is configured to receive current from an A.C. power supply and is configured to be electrically coupled to a lighting circuit of a light fixture, wherein the base module is configured to connect the current from the A.C. power supply to the lighting circuit for illumination of a light bulb connected to the light fixture; and

a light switch module configured for nesting, at least in part, in the well of the base module, the light switch module comprising;

a module housing,

a graphical user interface coupled to the module housing,

a rechargeable battery housed in the module housing,

a second electrical connector electrically connected to the rechargeable battery, the second electrical connector configured for engagement with and electrical coupling to the first electrical connector of the base module when nested in the well of the base module, and

a switch control circuit positioned in the housing and including a processor configured to modulate the flow of electrical energy to the lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit to produce a plurality of lighting scenes by varying the illumination of the light bulb, the switch control circuit electrically connected to the graphical user interface, the rechargeable battery, and the second electrical connector, wherein the processor is, in response to receipt of a control command to discontinue illumination of the light bulb, configured to;

1) cause, for a first pre-specified period of time, the amperage of the current flowing from the A.C. power supply to the power circuit to be reduced, and

2) open, for the first pre-specified period of time, the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector.

2. The lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the power circuit of the base module includes a relay configured to reduce the current flowing from the A.C. power supply to the power circuit.

3. The lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector is configured for press fit engagement with the second electrical connector.

4. The lighting control system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to check the energy level of the rechargeable battery.

5. The lighting control according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to check the energy level of the rechargeable battery before opening the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector.

6. The lighting control according to claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to prevent opening of the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector if the energy level of the rechargeable battery is below a pre-determined threshold.

7. A method of operating a lighting control system comprising:

powering, at a first current level and via an AC power source, a base module connected to a lighting circuit of a light fixture in a closed circuit such that a light bulb electrically connected to the light fixture is (substantially) unilluminated;

converting the AC to DC;

transferring the DC from the base module to a light switch module nested, at least in part, in a well of the base module via a first electrical connector of the base module electrically coupled to a second electrical connector of the light switch module, wherein the second electrical connector is electrically coupled to a switch control circuit in the light switch module, the switch control circuit including a processor configured to modulate the flow of electrical energy to the lighting circuit via a dimmer circuit to produce a plurality of lighting scenes by varying the illumination of the light bulb, wherein the switch control circuit is electrically connected to a rechargeable battery,

in response to receiving a first command from the switch control circuit to illuminate the light bulb, increasing the current of electrical energy flowing from the base module to the lighting circuit;

in response to receiving a second command to discontinue illumination of the light bulb at the light switch module;

1) reducing the amperage of current flowing to the lighting circuit to a level configured to discontinue illumination of the light bulb,

2) for a first pre-specified period of time, reducing the amperage of the current flowing in the base module to a second level lower than the first current level from the A.C. power supply,

3) for a second pre-specified period of time, opening the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector, and

4) using the rechargeable battery to power the switch control circuit during the second pre-specified period of time.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising reducing the current of electrical energy flowing from the base module to the lighting circuit to a level configured to eliminate illumination of the light bulb in light fixture connected to lighting circuit.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising reducing the amperage via a relay.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising closing the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector to reconnect control circuit and electrical connector after the second pre-specified period of time has passed, whereby DC power generated from the AC power powers control circuit.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising recharging the battery via the DC power.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising checking the energy level of rechargeable battery before temporarily opening circuit.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising preventing opening the electrical connection between the switch control circuit and the second electrical connector in response to the energy level of the rechargeable battery being below a pre-determined threshold.

14. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining the pre-specified period of time by determining a period of time for the bulb to at least one of cool down and reach a fully off state.

15. The method according to claim 7, further comprising dimming the bulb after full illumination and before discontinuing illumination.

16. The method according to claim 7, wherein receiving the first command from the switch control circuit to illuminate the light bulb, includes receiving a command to illuminate the light bulb at a power less than a full power.