Distributed intelligence ballast system

• US 8,035,529 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Cash, Audwin W., Skvoretz, Matthew A., Anselmo, Robert, Veskovic, Dragan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Tuyet Thi
• Application Number:
  US12/055,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.21, 340/825.22, 340/825.5
• US Class Current: 340/4.21
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources

Abstract

A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network. The ballast comprises a power circuit portion for providing an electrical current to power a lamp. The ballast further includes a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device, a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast, and a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data. The ballast processor is operative to receive a serial data that has a portion defining whether the message is in a first or a second format, the first format comprising a DALI standard format and the second format comprising a format providing extended functionality. The ballast processor is capable of processing messages in either the first or second formats.

Claims

1. A method for commissioning a ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, the method comprising:

installing the ballast so that it is in communication with the digital electronic communication link;

the ballast having a programmable processor;

operating the ballast with an out-of-box default mode wherein the ballast is configured to receive electronic information and broadcast the received electronic information over the digital electronic communication link without requiring any programming configuration of the ballast when the ballast is installed in the system; and

electronically transmitting commands to the ballast over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance characteristics include configuring the ballast to transmit information to a selected group of remote devices.

3. A method for commissioning a ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, the method comprising:

providing the ballast with an out-of-box default mode wherein the ballast is configured to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;

installing the ballast so that it is in communication with the digital electronic communication link; and

electronically transmitting commands to the ballast over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics;

wherein the performance characteristics include restricting the ballast to receiving transmissions from at least one particular remote device.

4. A method for commissioning a ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, the method comprising:

providing the ballast with an out-of-box default mode wherein the ballast is configured to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;

installing the ballast so that it is in communication with the digital electronic communication link; and

electronically transmitting commands to the ballast over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics;

wherein the performance characteristics include restricting the ballast to transmission of information to at least one particular remote device.

5. A ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, wherein the ballast is adapted to be commissioned for operation on the communication link, the ballast comprising:

a memory storing a ballast configuration representing an out-of-box default mode wherein the out-of-box default mode allows the ballast to receive electronic information and broadcast the electronic information over the digital electronic communication link without requiring any programming configuration of the ballast;

a programmable processor;

a communication port enabling the processor to communicate over the digital electronic communication link; and

wherein the processor receives commands transmitted over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics.

6. The ballast of claim 5, wherein the performance characteristics include configuring the ballast to transmit information to a selected group of remote devices.

7. A ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, wherein the ballast is adapted to be commissioned for operation on the communication link, the ballast comprising:

a memory storing a ballast configuration representing an out-of-box default mode wherein the out-of-box default mode allows the ballast to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;

a processor;

a communication port enabling the processor to communicate over the digital electronic communication link; and

wherein the processor receives commands transmitted over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics, the performance characteristics including restricting the ballast to receiving transmissions from at least one particular remote device.

8. A ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, wherein the ballast is adapted to be commissioned for operation on the communication link, the ballast comprising:

a memory storing a ballast configuration representing an out-of-box default mode wherein the out-of-box default mode allows the ballast to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;

a processor;

a communication port enabling the processor to communicate over the digital electronic communication link; and

wherein the processor receives commands transmitted over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics, the performance characteristics including restricting the ballast to transmission of information to at least one particular remote device.

9. A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network, the ballast comprising:

a power circuit portion having an input to an AC main supply and for providing an electrical current to power a lamp;

a digital processing circuit portion having a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device in the space illuminated by the system;

further comprising a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast; and

further comprising a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data with the communication network;

further wherein the ballast has an out-of-box mode in which the ballast has a default configuration allowing the ballast to communicate with the network and receive at least one input from the sensor input circuit without requiring any programming configuration of the ballast when the ballast is installed in the system.

10. The ballast of claim 9, wherein, in the out-of-box mode, the ballast will transmit onto the network via the communication port the sensor input received from the sensor input circuit.

11. The ballast of claim 9, wherein the ballast can be reconfigured from the out-of-box mode to a customized mode having customized characteristics after installation into the system.