System and architecture for controlling lighting through a low-voltage bus

• US 7,671,544 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Finelite Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Bourne, Douglas Scott, Nunoz, Daniel, Clark, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens; Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, CHUC
• Application Number:
  US11/657,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/294, 315/295, 315149-159, 315/316, 315/318, 315/291, 315/296, 315/315
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A system and architecture for managing lighting through a seamless low-voltage bus network is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of control units that serve as nodes for integrating devices, such as light fixtures, control switches and sensors into the bus. Each of the control units preferably includes a printed circuit board and node interconnects for assembling the low-voltage bus and for integrating the devices. Alternatively, the system comprises a central hub with a master printed circuit control board and a plurality of interconnects for assembling the bus and for integrating the devices.

Claims

1. A decentralized low-voltage bus for managing a load circuit with lights, the decentralized low-voltage bus comprising:

a) a hub comprising connection ports for coupling to low-voltage periphery devices and for distributing power to the low voltage periphery devices, wherein low voltage periphery devices include a sensor and a control switch; and

b) means for changing a mode of operation of the sensor or the control switch wherein the lights are controlled by a plurality of control units in response to control signals from the sensor and the control switch that are transmitted over the low-voltage bus, wherein the control signals are transmitted and the power is distributed to the low voltage periphery devices according to a multiple signal protocol via cables with RJ45 interconnects for electrically coupling to the cables, wherein the multiple signal protocol includes quiet time control signals, mode control signals, occupancy signals, positive dimming control signals and negative dimming control signals.

2. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of control units comprises an LED display for indicating a mode of operation.

3. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of control units has a dip switch for changing a mode of operation of the sensor or the control switch.

4. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, wherein the lights are coupled to an external power source.

5. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 4, wherein each light comprises one of the plurality of control units, and the low-voltage power is supplied by the lights to the decentralized low-voltage bus via the control units within the lights.

6. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 1, further comprising a relay assembly to interface the decentralized low-voltage bus, the lights, and an external power source.

7. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 6, wherein the relay assembly includes one of the plurality of control units to provide low-voltage power to the decentralized low-voltage bus and to receive control signals from the sensor and the control switch.

8. The decentralized low-voltage bus of claim 7, wherein the relay assembly is coupled to the load circuit.

9. A light control hub configured to couple to a plurality of light fixtures through control units and to one or more low-voltage periphery devices, the light control hub is configured to control levels of light output from the plurality of light fixtures based on received control signals from the one or more low-voltage periphery devices, wherein the one or more low-voltage periphery devices include a motion sensor, wherein the control units and the motion sensor are connected to the light control hub and powered from cables with RJ45 interconnects that plug into the light control hub and wherein the control signals transmitted through the RJ45 interconnects and cables according to multiple wire protocol, wherein the multiple signal protocol includes quiet time control signals, mode control signals, occupancy signals, positive dimming control signals and negative dimming control signals.

10. The light control hub of claim 9, comprising a printed logic circuit for distributing low-voltage power to the motion sensor and for receiving the control signals from motion sensor.

11. The light control hub of claim 9, wherein the one or more low-voltage periphery devices further include a control switch.

12. A canopy installation kit for controlling light fixtures, the kit comprising;

a) a controller unit configured to generate control signals based on a condition detected from a plurality of sensors;

b) a hub with a circuit configured to receive the control signals from the controller unit according to a multiple signal protocol that controls loads to light fixtures based on the control signals and synchronizes operation of each of the plurality of sensors, wherein the control signals include quiet time control signals, mode control signals, occupancy signals, positive dimming control signals and negative dimming control signals;

c) interconnecting cables with RJ45 interconnects for coupling the controller unit to the hub, transmitting the control signal and powering each of the plurality of sensors; and

d) means for changing a mode of operation of plurality of sensors, wherein the control unit is configured to control lights in response to the control signals from the plurality of sensors that are transmitted over the low-voltage bus.