Light management system device and method

• US 7,405,524 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Null, Jonathan, Beyer, Thomas Joseph T J, Smith, Melissa Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens; Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Chuc
• Application Number:
  US11/580,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 315/362, 315/294, 315312-313, 315/295, 315/308, 315/291, 315/219
• US Class Current: 315/308
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting control system is disclosed. The lighting control system is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling indoor and/or outdoor lighting. The lighting control system includes a control module with a night light for providing low-level night light illumination and one or more sensors for operatively controlling the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and the night light in response to measured light levels and/or detected motion. The system is preferably configured to provide low-level night light from the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are below threshold values and to automatically turn on the indoor and/or outdoor lighting and simultaneously turn off the night light when measured light levels and detected motion are above the threshold values.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling lighting, the system comprising a control module for mounting in an electrical box, the control module comprising:

a) a built in manual switch from manually opening and closing a load circuit thereby turning on and off the lighting;

b) a light sensor for measuring light levels;

c) a motion sensor for detecting motion in an area of the control module; and

d) an integral night light,

wherein the control module is electrically coupled to the load circuit and automatically turns on the night light when the light levels measured by the light sensor are below a threshold value and automatically closes the load circuit when motion detected by the motion sensor is above the threshold value, thereby turning on the lighting for a duration of time.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to automatically open the load circuit after the duration of time.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the light sensor comprises a photo-diode.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

5. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a micro-processor for programming the duration of time.

6. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a manual switch for opening and closing the load circuit.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the system is placed in a night light mode through the manual switch.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmable through the manual switch.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the integral night light comprises a light emitting diode.

10. A control module for electrically coupling to a load circuit with a light through an electrical switch box, the control module comprising:

a) an integral night light;

b) light sensor for detecting levels of ambient light and automatically controlling the integral night light based on the levels of detected ambient light; and

c) a motion sensor unit for automatically controlling the load circuit in response to a level of detected motion when the control module is in a night light operating mode;

means for selecting and programming a duration of time that the load circuit remains closed after levels of motion is detected are above threshold values, wherein after the duration of time has elapsed and levels of motion detected are below the threshold values, the control module automatically opens the load circuit.

11. The control module of claim 10, wherein the means for selecting and programming the duration of time includes a micro-processor.

12. The control module of claim 10, further comprising a manual switch manually controlling an electrical load through the load circuit, wherein the night light automatically turns off when the load circuit is closed using the manual switch.

13. The control module of claim 10, wherein the light sensor unit comprises a photo-diode.

14. The control module of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

15. A method of making a light controller comprising:

a) providing a housing structure that is configured to fit into an electrical wall box; and

b) integrating a night light, a motion sensor and a light sensor in a housing structure, such that the light controller is configured to couple to a load circuit with a light and wherein the light controller automatically turns on the night light when the ambient light levels measured by the light sensor are below a threshold value and closes the load circuit when motion detected by the motion senor is above the threshold value, thereby turning the light on for a duration of time.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising integrating a manual switch into the light controller, wherein the manual light switch is configured to open and close the load circuit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the light sensor comprises a photo-diode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the motion sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising integrating a micro-processor configured for programming the duration of time through the manual switch.