System and method for controlling operation of an LED-based light

• US 9,807,842 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivey, John, Simon, David L., Ngo, Hoan, Norton, Anthony J., Nickol, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US15/008,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

For controlling operation of a light source, a method of associating a light source with an area for which the light source is positioned to provide lighting comprises: identifying, based on a determined physical position of a light source, one of a plurality of areas as the area for which the light source is positioned to provide lighting; identifying at least one desired lighting condition for the identified area; and controlling, using a processor, operation of the light source based on the identified at least one desired lighting condition for the identified area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing, at a control unit, data regarding a plurality of physical areas, the data comprising, for each physical area;

a definition of the physical area, and

an indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area;

receiving, at the control unit, a location signal from a first communications device associated with a first light source remote from the control unit

determining, at the control unit, that the first light source is positioned within a first physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the location signal;

storing, at the control unit, an indication of an association between the first light source and the first physical area;

retrieving, at the control unit, the indication of the lighting condition associated with the first physical area;

operating, using the control unit, the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, wherein operating the first light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the first communications device associated with the first light source.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the control unit, a second location signal from a second communications device associated with a second light source;

determining, at the control unit, that the second light source is positioned within a second physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the second location signal;

storing, at the control unit, an indication of an association between the second light source and the second physical area;

retrieving, at the control unit, the indication of the lighting condition associated with the second physical area;

operating, using the control unit, the second light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the second physical area, wherein operating the second light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the second communications device associated with the second light source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first physical area and the second physical area are different.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communications device is associated with the first light source by being located adjacent to the first light source or being included in the first light source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first light source is positioned within the first physical area comparing a determined position of the first light source in the first physical area against a known position of the first physical area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the physical area comprises an indication of a functional characteristic of the physical area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the physical area comprises an indication of a physical surrounding of the physical area.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the physical area comprises an indication of a presence of natural light in proximity to the physical area.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the physical area comprises an indication of a constraint associated with the physical area.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area comprises an indication of a lighting performance requirement associated with the physical area.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area comprises an indication of a lighting efficiency requirement associated with the physical area.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area comprises an indication of a safety lighting requirement associated with the physical area.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area comprises an indication of a comfort requirement associated with the physical area.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the first light comprises increasing a brightness of the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the first light source comprises decreasing a brightness of the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the first light source comprises:

receiving, at the control unit, sensor data from one or more sensors positioned in the first physical area, the sensor data indicating a current physical lighting condition of the first physical area;

determining, at the control unit, that the current physical lighting condition does not satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area;

responsive to determining that the current physical lighting condition does not satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, modifying a brightness of the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area.

6. A lighting system comprising:

a first light source having a first communications device associated therewith, the first communications device being configured to transmit a location signal;

a control unit remote from the first light source, the control unit comprising a processor configured to;

store data regarding a plurality of physical areas, the data comprising, for each physical area;

a definition of the physical area, and

an indication of a lighting condition associated with the physical area;

receive the first location signal;

determine that the first light source is positioned within a first physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the location signal;

store an indication of an association between the first light source and the first physical area;

retrieve the indication of the lighting condition associated with the first physical area; and

operate the first light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the first physical area, wherein operating the first light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the first communications device associated with the first light source.

7. The lighting system according to claim 6, further comprising a second light source having a second communications device associated therewith;

wherein the second communications device is configured to transmit a second location signal, and

wherein the control unit is further configured to;

receive the second location signal;

determine that the second light source is positioned within a second physical area of the plurality of physical areas based on the second location signal;

store an indication of an association between the second light source and the second physical area;

retrieve the indication of the lighting condition associated with the second physical area; and

operate the second light source to satisfy the lighting condition associated with the second physical area, wherein operating the second light source comprises transmitting one or more command signals to the second communications device associated with the second light source.

8. The lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the first physical area and the second area are different.

9. The lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the first light source is positioned adjacent or includes therein the first communications device associated therewith.

10. The lighting system according to claim 6, wherein determining that the first light source is positioned within the first physical area comprises a determined position of the first light source in the first physical area against a known position of the first physical area.