Remotely adjustable solid-state lamp

• US 9,204,523 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Reed, William G., DeGraff, Dale H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, ANH QUAN
• Application Number:
  US13/875,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 315/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a remotely adjustable lighting system. The lighting system includes a luminaire including one or more solid-state light systems and a non-line-of-sight wireless transceiver. The output intensity of the solid-state light systems is adjustable. The non-line-of-sight transceiver in the luminaire can receive one or more non-line-of-sight wireless signals transmitted by a transceiver in a general purpose handheld computing device. Instructions and data including configuration and output intensity adjustments may be communicated between the general purpose handheld computing device and the luminaire via one or more non-line-of-sight wireless signals.

Claims

1. A method of operation of a handheld computing device which includes at least one antenna, at least one transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna, a number of user input elements, at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver, the number of user input elements, and at least one non-transitory storage medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and which stores processor executable instructions, the method comprising:

creating a first group logical association between two or more luminaires to form a first set from all available luminaires for common configuration of the two or more luminaires in the first set;

determining via the processor a subset of luminaires of the first group which are within a communications range of the handheld computing device at a first time;

transmitting signals via the transceiver only to the subset of luminaires of the first group, the signals to include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires;

transmitting via the transceiver to other luminaires of the first group as the other luminaires fall within the communications range of the handheld computing device at a second time, as a relative position of the handheld computing device changes with respect to the other luminaires; and

responsive to successful receipt of the configuration information by a luminaire within the first set, receiving via the transceiver a unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire, determining via the processor the luminaires within in the first set that have received the configuration information; and

repeating the transmitting signals via the transceiver, the signals to include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires until either of receipt of the transmitting signals which include configuration information by all of the luminaires in the first set or loss of the transmitting signal by all of the luminaires in the first set.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting signals to the luminaires in the first group includes transmitting signals to all luminaires in the first subset concurrently.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting signals to the luminaires in the first group includes transmitting signals only to luminaires in the first group that are currently within range of the handheld computing device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire, identifying other luminaires of the first group that have not yet received the configuration information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

responsive to the identification of the other luminaires of the first group that have not yet received the configuration information, transmitting configuration information to the other luminaires within the first group identified as not yet having received the configuration information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the configuration information from each of the luminaires within the first group;

comparing the retrieved configuration information with the current configuration loaded into the memory of the handheld computing device; and

transmitting the current configuration from the memory of the handheld computing device to each of the luminaires within the first group identified as having configuration information different from the current configuration information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying via the processor, the subset of luminaires on a map displayed on the handheld computing device, the display of each of the luminaires on the map spatially corresponding to a selective physical positioning of each of the luminaires within the subset of luminaires.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

responsive to the receipt via the transceiver of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire, visually indicating on the map those luminaires having received configuration information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a single luminaire to receive the current configuration information responsive to an input provided to the handheld computing device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of luminaires to receive the current configuration information responsive to an input provided to the handheld computing device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining via the processor one or more geographic locations placing the greatest number of luminaires within the subset in range of the handheld computing device; and

providing a visual indication of the one or more geographic locations on the map displayed on the handheld computing device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining via the processor a minimum number of geographic locations to place all of the luminaires in the subset in range of the handheld computing device; and

providing a visual indication of the geographic locations on the map displayed on the handheld computing device.

14. A method of operation of a handheld computing device which includes at least one antenna, at least one transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna, a number of user input elements, at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver, the number of user input elements, and at least one non-transitory storage medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and which stores processor executable instructions, the method comprising:

creating, by the at least one processor, a first group logical association between two or more luminaires which form a first set of all available luminaires for common configuration of the two or more luminaires in the first set;

creating, the at least one processor, a second group logical association between two or more luminaires which form a second set of all available luminaires for common configuration of the two or more luminaires in the second set, the second set not coextensive with the first set;

transmitting signals via the transceiver, the signals to include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires;

transmitting signals via the transceiver, the signals to include configuration information to the luminaires in the second set of luminaires;

determining via the processor a first subset of luminaires of the first group which are within a communications range of the handheld computing device at a first time;

determining via the processor a second subset of luminaires of the second group which are within the communications range of the handheld computing device at the first time;

transmitting signals via the transceiver, the signals to include configuration information only to the first subset of luminaires;

transmitting signals via the transceiver, the signals to include configuration information only to the second subset of luminaires;

transmitting to other luminaires of the first set as the other luminaires fall within the communications range of the handheld computing device at a second time, as a relative position of the handheld computing device changes with respect to the other luminaires in the first set; and

transmitting to other luminaires of the second set as the other luminaires fall within the communications range of the handheld computing device at the second time, as the relative position of the handheld computing device changes with respect to the other luminaires in the second set.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

transmitting signals to the luminaires in the first group includes transmitting signals to all luminaires in the first set concurrently; and

transmitting signals to the luminaires in the second group includes transmitting signals to all luminaires in the second set concurrently.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein:

transmitting signals to the luminaires in the first group includes transmitting signals only to luminaires in the first set that are currently within range of the handheld computing device; and

transmitting signals to the luminaires in the second group includes transmitting signals only to luminaires in the second set that are currently within range of the handheld computing device.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

responsive to successful receipt of the configuration information by a luminaire within the first set, receiving via the transceiver a unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire;

responsive to successful receipt of the configuration information by a luminaire within the second set, receiving via the transceiver a unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire;

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message from the luminaire within the first set, identifying via the processor other luminaires of the first group that have not yet received the configuration information; and

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message from the luminaire within the second set, identifying via the processor other luminaires of the second group that have not yet received the configuration information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

transmitting configuration information via the transceiver to the other luminaires within the first group identified as not yet having received the configuration information; and

transmitting configuration information via the transceiver to the other luminaires within the second group identified as not yet having received the configuration information.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire in the first group, determining the luminaires within in the first set that have received the configuration information;

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire in the second group, determining the luminaires within in the second set that have received the configuration information;

repeating the transmitting signals which include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires until either of receipt of the transmitting signals which include configuration information by all of the luminaires in the first set or loss of the transmitting signal by all of the luminaires in the first set; and

repeating the transmitting signals which include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires until either of receipt of the transmitting signals which include configuration information by all of the luminaires in the second set or loss of the transmitting signal by all of the luminaires in the second set.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

displaying the subset of luminaires within the first group on a map displayed on the handheld computing device, the map spatially corresponding to the physical positioning of each of the first set of luminaires; and

displaying the subset of luminaires within the second group on a map displayed on the handheld computing device, the map spatially corresponding to the physical positioning of each of the second set of luminaires.

21. A handheld computing device, comprising:

at least one antenna;

at least one transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one antenna to provide wireless, non-line-of-sight communications with at least one luminaire having at least one solid-state light source;

at least one user interface device;

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver and communicatively coupled to the at least one at least one user interface device, and

at least one non-transitory storage medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and which stores at least one of processor executable instructions or data, which when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to;

present a user interface via the at least one user interface device;

receive user input via the at least one user interface device, the user input which specifies two or more luminaires to form a first set of luminaires and two or more luminaires to form a second set of luminaires;

create a first group logical association between the two or more luminaires which form the first set of luminaires from all available luminaires for common configuration of the two or more luminaires in the first set;

create a second group logical association between the two or more luminaires which form the second set of luminaires from all available luminaires for common configuration of the two or more luminaires in the second set, the second set not coextensive with the first set;

determine a first subset of luminaires of the first group which are within a communications range of the handheld computing device at a first time;

determine a second subset of luminaires of the second group which are within the communications range of the handheld computing device at the first time;

wirelessly transmit signals to only to the first subset of luminaires in the first set of luminaires via the at least one transceiver and the at least one antenna, the signals which include configuration information for the first set of luminaires;

wirelessly transmit signals to only to the second subset of luminaires in the second set of luminaires via the at least one transceiver and the at least one antenna, the signals which include configuration information for the luminaires in the second set of luminaires;

cause the transceiver to transmit signals to other luminaires of the first set as the other luminaires come within the communications range of the handheld computing device at a second time, as a relative position of the handheld computing device changes with respect to the other luminaires in the first set; and

cause the transceiver to transmit to other luminaires of the second set as the other luminaires come within the communications range of the handheld computing device at the second time, as the relative position of the handheld computing device changes with respect to the other luminaires in the second set.

22. The handheld computing device of claim 21 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to cause the transceiver to transmit signals to all luminaires in the first set concurrently.

23. The handheld computing device of claim 21 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to cause the transceiver to transmit signals only to luminaires in the first set that are currently within range of the handheld computing device.

24. The handheld computing device of claim 21 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to:

responsive to successful receipt of the configuration information by a luminaire within the first set, receive via the transceiver a unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire;

responsive to successful receipt of the configuration information by a luminaire within the second set, receive via the transceiver a unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire;

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message from the luminaire within the first set, identify other luminaires of the first group that have not yet received the configuration information; and

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message from the luminaire within the second set, identify other luminaires of the second group that have not yet received the configuration information.

25. The handheld computing device of claim 24 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to:

cause the at least one transceiver to transmit configuration information to the other luminaires within the first group identified as not yet having received the configuration information; and

cause the at least one transceiver to transmit configuration information to the other luminaires within the second group identified as not yet having received the configuration information.

26. The handheld computing device of claim 24 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to:

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire in the first group, determine the luminaires within in the first set that have received the configuration information;

responsive to the receipt of the unique acknowledgement message broadcast by the luminaire in the second group, determine the luminaires within in the second set that have received the configuration information;

repeatedly transmit signals which include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires until either of receipt of the transmitting signals which include configuration information by all of the luminaires in the first set or loss of the transmitting signal by all of the luminaires in the first set; and

repeatedly transmit signals which include configuration information to the luminaires in the first set of luminaires until either of receipt of the transmitting signals which include configuration information by all of the luminaires in the second set or loss of the transmitting signal by all of the luminaires in the second set.

27. The handheld computing device of claim 21 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to:

cause the at least one user interface device to display the subset of luminaires within the first group on a map displayed on the handheld computing device, the map spatially corresponding to the physical positioning of each of the first set of luminaires; and

cause the at least one user interface device to display the subset of luminaires within the second group on a map displayed on the handheld computing device, the map spatially corresponding to the physical positioning of each of the second set of luminaires.

28. The handheld computing device of claim 21 wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to encrypt communications to the at least one luminaire and to decrypt communications from the at least one luminaire.

29. The handheld computing device of claim 21, further comprising:

a global positioning transceiver that produces location information indicative of a present location of the handheld computing device, and wherein the at least one processor stores geographic location information logically associated with a set of luminaire specific information, and wherein execution of the instructions or data cause the processor to store the geographic location information logically associated with luminaire specific information in the form of a map of a lighting system.

30. The handheld device of claim 21 wherein the at least one non-transitory storage medium stores a security feature communicable via the transmitter to each of the plurality of luminaires.

31. The handheld device of claim 30 wherein the security feature includes at least one of:

a code associated with a user of the handheld device;

a code uniquely associated with each of the plurality of luminaires;

a code commonly associated with the plurality of luminaires; and

a code associated with a geographic location of each of the plurality of luminaires.