Solution for dynamic lighting control

• US 8,872,432 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kercso, Bertalan, Balazs, Laszlo, Maros, Istvan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US13/421,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20130241418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 315151-155, 315/294, 315/312, 315/362
• US Class Current: 315/152
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting system and method for controlling illumination of the same upon detection of a user in at least one of a first detection area and a second detection area. The lighting system can include a lighting fixture having one or more lighting sources and at least two sensors associated with separate detection areas. Each sensor can send a signal to a controller associated with the lighting fixture, and the controller can be configured to vary the illumination of one or more of the lighting sources depending on the each sensor'"'"'s detection area. The present subject matter facilitates energy savings since areas away from an occupied area are not illuminated. Communication between neighboring lighting fixtures is not required since each lighting fixture can detect the presence of a user in an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture in order to trigger illumination of the lighting fixture.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture, comprising:

a controller;

a first sensor configured to send a signal to the controller upon the detection of a presence of a user in a first detection area; and

a second sensor configured to send a signal to the controller upon the detection of a presence of a same or different user in a second detection area;

wherein the controller is configured to provide varying levels of illumination based at least in part on the signals received from the first sensor and the second sensor;

wherein the first detection area extends to an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture and wherein the second detection area is proximate an area beneath the lighting fixture; and

wherein the controller is configured provide an output that causes the lighting fixture to have a reduced illumination when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area and the second sensor does not detect the presence of a user in the second detection area.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the first detection area and the second detection area at least partially overlap.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the first detection area and the second detection area are disjunctive.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide less than full power when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1, further comprising one or more lighting sources coupled with the controller,

wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, and

wherein the controller is configured to randomly illuminate either the first lighting source or the second lighting source when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to provide an output that causes the lighting fixture to have an increased level of illumination when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to provide full power when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 6, further comprising one or more lighting sources,

wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, and

wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the first lighting source and the second lighting source when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

9. A method for controlling illumination of an area, the method comprising:

monitoring for a presence of a user in a first detection area with a first sensor associated with a lighting fixture;

monitoring for a presence of a same or different user in a second detection area with a second sensor associated with the lighting fixture; and

controlling illumination of one or more lighting sources associated with the lighting fixture via a controller upon detection of the user in the first detection area or the second detection area;

wherein the first detection area extends to an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture and wherein the second detection area is proximate an area beneath the lighting fixture; and

wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises reducing the level of illumination upon the detection of a user in the first detection area and lack of detection of a user in the second detection area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first detection area and the second detection area at least partially overlap.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first detection area and the second detection area are disjunctive.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises randomly illuminating the first lighting source or the second lighting source upon the detection of a user in the first detection area.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises increasing the level of illumination upon the detection of a user in the second detection area.