Assembling and controlling light unit arrays

A method and a system for assembling and controlling a lighting array including a plurality of lighting units by providing a representation of the lighting array having a unit entry for and corresponding to each lighting unit in the lighting array wherein each unit entry includes a physical location address field and a lighting unit identification field. The representation of the lighting array is mapped onto the array address space by entering a physical address in the array address space into the location address field of each unit entry and serializing the lighting unit by writing a unique unit identifier of a corresponding lighting unit into the lighting unit identification field of each unit entry.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and a system for planning, installing, managing and controlling an array of lighting elements and, in particular, an array of high power dynamically programmable single or multiple color light emitting diode (LED) lighting units for large scale lighting functions, such as architectural lighting and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Developments in LED technology have resulted in the development of “high powered” LEDs having light outputs on the order of, for example, 70 to 80 lumens per watt, so that lighting units comprised of arrays of high powered LEDs have proven practical and suitable for high powered indoor and outdoor lighting functions, such as architectural lighting. Such high powered LED lighting units may comprise arrays of selected combinations of red, green and blue LEDs and white LEDs having different color temperatures and the color or color temperature outputs of such LED array units may be controlled so that the relative illumination level outputs of the individual LEDs, in the array, combine to provide the desired color or color temperature for the lighting unit output. The individual LED lighting units are available in a wide range of illumination distribution configurations, such as spot, flood and linear distributions, and of various sizes and power levels. As a result, the arrays or the configurations of variously configured LED lighting units may provide virtually any desired lighting function or illumination distribution.

A recurring problem with such architectural lighting arrays, however, is the planning, installation, management and/or control of the array of the lighting elements, particularly given the variety of types and configurations of LED lighting units currently available. It will be appreciated that these problems increase significantly with the size and complexity of the lighting arrays and with such factors as the dynamic control of the architectural lighting displays to provide lighting effects that vary with time.

The present invention provides a solution to these and related problems associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method and a system for assembling and controlling a lighting array including a plurality of lighting units for the lighting of a display space.

One approach to a light array management is a system that includes a lighting unit interrogation module configured to receive unit identifiers from a plurality of lighting units. Each unit identifier includes data indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the respective lighting unit. The system further includes a lighting unit mapping module configured to sequentially map the data of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units to an array address space. The system further includes a lighting unit serialization module configured to serialize the array address space for the plurality of lighting units based on the sequentially mapping of the data of the addressable lights and a specific location of each of the lighting units.

Another approach to a light array management is a lighting unit that includes a plurality of addressable lights. The lighting unit further includes a controller configured to transmit an unit identifier to a light array management system, the unit identifier comprises data indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the lighting unit, and control one or more of the plurality of addressable lights based on a control command, the control command comprises a command code to operate the one or more of the plurality of addressable lights.

Another approach to a light array management is a method that includes receiving unit identifiers from a plurality of lighting units, each unit identifier includes data indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the respective lighting unit; sequentially mapping the data of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units to an array address space; and serializing the array address space for the plurality of lighting units based on the sequentially mapping of the data of the addressable lights and a specific location of each of the lighting units.

Another approach to a light array management is a method that includes providing a representation of the lighting array, the representation of the lighting array identifying a type of lighting unit to be associated with each physical location of a lighting unit in an array address space having a physical address location for each lighting unit in the lighting array wherein there is a unit entry for and corresponding to each lighting unit in the lighting array. Each unit entry includes a location address field for storing a physical address of a corresponding lighting unit and a lighting unit identification field for storing a unique unit identifier of a lighting unit assigned to the corresponding physical address in the array address space.

The representation of the lighting array is then mapped onto the array address space by entering a physical address of a corresponding physical location in the array address space into the location address field of each unit entry corresponding to a lighting unit in the lighting array, and the lighting units of the array are then serialized to associate a specific lighting unit with each physical location of a lighting unit in the array address space by writing the unique unit identifier of a corresponding lighting unit into the lighting unit identification field of each unit entry corresponding to a lighting unit in the lighting array.

Any of the approaches described herein can include one or more of the following examples.

In some examples, each unique unit identifier includes at least one of a product code identifying a type of the lighting unit, at least one identifier of at least one light emission characteristic of the lighting unit, at least one dimension of the lighting unit, an identifier of control codes for the lighting unit, and a lighting configuration code identifying a type of light distribution generated by the lighting unit.

In other examples, the physical addresses of the array address space include either physical locations occupied by the lighting units or all physical locations for the lighting unit in the array address space.

In some examples, when at least one of the physical locations in the lighting array is occupied by a lighting unit, the step of serializing the lighting units of the lighting array may further include at least either obtaining unique identifier data of a lighting unit occupying at least one of the lighting unit physical locations in the lighting array from an array data structure for storing unique identifier data of lighting units occupying physical locations of the lighting array, or reading unique identifier data of a lighting unit occupying a physical location in the lighting array from the lighting unit occupying the physical location.

In other examples, when at least one lighting unit is to be installed in at least one of the physical locations in the lighting array, the step of serializing the lighting units of the lighting array may further include obtaining unique identifier data of a lighting unit in an inventory of lighting unit from an inventory data structure for storing unique identifier data of the lighting units in the inventory, or reading unique identifier data of the lighting unit from the lighting unit stored in an inventory of the lighting units.

In some examples, the method for assembling and controlling a lighting array may also include the step of comparing the unique identifier data obtained from one of the inventory data structure and the lighting unit stored in an inventory of the lighting units with unique identifier data specified for the at least one lighting unit to be installed in a physical location of the lighting array to identify a specific lighting array from the inventory of the lighting units corresponding to the specified unique identifier data.

In other examples, each unit identifier is received from a controller of the lighting unit.

In some examples, the system further includes a lighting unit controller module configured to transmit a control command to a controller of one of the plurality of lighting units. The control command includes a command code to operate one or more of the addressable lights of the one of the plurality of lighting units.

In other examples, the specific location of each of the lighting units comprises a physical location of the respective lighting unit in a structure.

In some examples, the system further includes the lighting unit mapping module further configured to assign sequential addresses to the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space; and sequentially order the assigned sequential addresses of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space.

In other examples, the system further includes a lighting unit identification module further configured to associate a unique unit identifier for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space.

In some examples, the unique unit identifier includes a product code identifying a type of the lighting unit, at least one identifier of at least one light emission characteristic of the lighting unit, at least one dimension of the lighting unit, an identifier of control codes for the lighting unit, a lighting configuration code identifying a type of light distribution generated by the lighting unit, or any combination thereof.

In other examples, the method further includes receiving unit identifier from a controller of each of the plurality of lighting units.

In some examples, the method further includes transmitting a control command to a controller of one of the plurality of lighting units. The control command includes a command code to operate one or more of the addressable lights of the one of the plurality of lighting units.

In other examples, the specific location of each of the lighting units includes a physical location of the respective lighting unit in a structure.

In some examples, the method further includes assigning sequential addresses to the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space; and sequentially ordering the assigned sequential addresses of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space.

In other examples, the method further includes associating a unique unit identifier for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space.

In some examples, the unique unit identifier includes a product code identifying a type of the lighting unit, at least one identifier of at least one light emission characteristic of the lighting unit, at least one dimension of the lighting unit, an identifier of control codes for the lighting unit, a lighting configuration code identifying a type of light distribution generated by the lighting unit, or any combination thereof.

The light array management systems and methods described herein (hereinafter “technology”) can provide one or more of the following advantages. An advantage of the technology is a plurality of addressable lights in a lighting array can be controlled and configured via a single controller, thereby reducing installation costs and management costs for the lighting array. Another advantage of the technology is that identifiers for control of a plurality of addressable lights can be automatically assigned, thereby decreasing installation time and increasing the pay-back time for installation of a lighting array.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Light unit array assembly and control, generally, includes technology that generates an array address space for control of particular lights within a light array. The light array can be utilized in and/or on a structure (e.g., building, ship, interior entranceway, etc.) for lighting and/or decorative purposes and can include a plurality of lighting units. The array address space can be utilized to control addressable lights in the lighting units (e.g., control color output of an addressable light illuminating a painting, control light output of addressable lights illuminating a stairwell, etc.). The technology advantageously decreases installation time for light arrays by decreasing the time required to program the light arrays during commissioning of the light arrays. The technology advantageously increases the effective uses of the light arrays by enabling efficiency control of the individual lights within light units in the light array through automatic sequential mapping of the lights in each light unit.

In operation, for example, an outside of a building includes ten lighting units with fifteen addressable lights in each lighting unit (in this example, one hundred and fifty addressable lights). The technology receives data from each of the lighting units and the received data includes a number of addressable lights with the respective lighting unit along with other unique unit identifying information for use in the control of the lights. The technology generates an array address space that provides a mapping of the addressable lights to the physical location (e.g., the physical location where each addressable light within a building is installed). The technology can utilize the array address space to control the addressable lights (e.g., adjust the output of all outside building lights to 25% output in the physically installed order instead of the address order, modify the color output of all interior office lights to natural outside light, modify the color temperature of a row of lights illuminating a particular painting, etc.), thereby enabling control of a plurality of addressable through a minimum number of controllers, which reduces the installation and maintenance costs of the light array.

FIG. 1is a diagrammatic block diagram of a light unit array environment100. The environment100includes a light array management system105and a lighting array109. The lighting array109includes a plurality of lighting units110,120through190. Each lighting unit110,120through190includes a controller111,121through191, respectively, and a plurality of addressable lights. The lighting unit110includes addressable lights112a,112bthrough112z. The light unit120includes addressable lights122a,122bthrough122f. The lighting unit190includes addressable lights192a,192bthrough192j. The controller111,121through191for each lighting unit110,120through190controls the respective plurality of addressable lights.

An installation operator107utilizes a configuration interface106via the light array management system105to transmit a request to the plurality of lighting units110,120through190for unit identifiers from each of the plurality of lighting units110,120through190. The controller111,121through191for each of the lighting units110,120through190, respectively, responds to the request and transmits the unit identifier for the lighting unit110,120through190. Each of the unit identifiers includes data indicating the plurality of addressable lights for the respective lighting unit. The automatic response of the lighting units enables the technology to quickly and accurately identify the lighting units in a physical location, thereby decreasing the installation cost of the lighting units and decreasing the cost for re-configuration of the lighting units (e.g., remove a lighting unit, add a lighting unit, move a lighting unit, etc.).

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the lighting unit110includes twenty six addressable lights—addressable lights112a,112bthrough112z—and the unit identifier transmitted by the controller111includes the information that the controller111controls the twenty six addressable lights and the addresses of the twenty six addressable lights (e.g., physical network address, logical network addresses within the light unit, etc.). As illustrated inFIG. 1, the lighting unit120includes six addressable lights—addressable lights122a,122bthrough122f—and the unit identifier transmitted by the controller121includes the information that the controller111controls the six addressable lights and the addresses of the six addressable lights. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the lighting unit190includes ten addressable lights—addressable lights192a,192bthrough192j—and the unit identifier transmitted by the controller191includes the information that the controller191controls the ten addressable lights and the addresses of the ten addressable lights.

The light array management system105sequentially maps the data of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units110,120through190to an array address space (e.g., a table, a linked list, an array, etc.). Table 1 illustrates an exemplary sequential mapping of the data to an array address space. In this example, the addressable lights are sequentially mapped in an array based on the received data and the addressable lights are assigned individual data fields in the array since each addressable light can advantageously be individually provisioned and controlled by the technology. The individual provisioning and control of the addressable lights advantageously increases the effective uses of the technology by enabling specialized control of the lighting array.

The light array management system105serializes the array address space for the plurality of lighting units110,120through190based on the sequentially mapping of the data of the addressable lights and a specific location of each of the lighting units110,120through190. For example, the light array management system105re-arranges the array address space to match the array address space to the physical layout of the lighting array. Table 2 illustrates an exemplary serialization of the array address space to a physical layout of the lighting array (in this example, the physical layout is a side of a building). In this example, the addressable lights are individually addressable and controllable based on the physical layout of the lighting array, thereby increasing the effective uses of the lighting array by allowing finite control of the individual addressable lights in the lighting array (e.g., the addressable lights can be controlled to form a letter, the addressable lights can be controlled to be brighter on top than on bottom, etc.).

Referring first toFIG. 2A, a generalized, exemplary block diagram of a LED unit lighting array10is shown therein which comprises of a plurality of lighting units12that are monitored and controlled by an array control system14.

As represented, an array management system14may, and for example, typically and generally comprise a processor14P, an associated memory14M, a mass storage device14S and one or more programs14R implementing a lighting array management system16S of the present invention and controlling the lighting array10by the transmission of the unit control commands14C transmitted according to, for example, industry standard lighting array control protocols such as the industry standard DMX512 protocol, the DALI protocol, the digital signal interface (DSI), or the remote device management (RDM) protocol, to the lighting units12via the system control cabling18.

As generally represented in the expanded block diagram of an exemplary one of the lighting units12of the lighting array10ofFIG. 2A, each lighting unit12typically includes a power supply unit20for providing power under the control of control circuits22to the plurality of LEDs24of the LED array26which comprises, for example, a selected combination or combinations of red, green and blue LEDs24and white LEDs24having different color temperatures. The control circuits22are, in turn, controlled by the control commands14C transmitted by the array control system14and executed by a lighting unit control system28S implemented in, for example, a unit processor28P, a unit memory28M and lighting unit control programs28R of the lighting unit12.

According to the present invention, and as described in further detail in following description, each of the lighting unit12stores and includes a unique unit identifier30that contains and comprises of data fields32specifying the characteristics of and uniquely identifying the lighting unit12. According to the present invention, the unique unit identifier32for each given lighting unit12is written into and permanently stored in the lighting unit12during manufacture of the specific lighting unit12. The data fields32may include, for example and as generally illustrated inFIG. 2B, a product code32A identifying the type of lighting unit12, one or more unit characteristic identifiers32B identifying various characteristics of the lighting unit12such as the white LED light temperature(s) and the number of red, green and blue LEDs24of the LED array26and the dimensions of the lighting unit12, such as the length of the lighting unit12, a data code identifier32C identifying, for example, the number of bits expected in the control codes for the lighting unit12, a lighting configuration code32D identifying the type of light distribution to be generated by the lighting unit12, and a serial number32E that is unique to the lighting unit12and thus uniquely identifies the specific lighting unit12. The unique unit identifier30of each lighting unit12may be stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory in the circuitry of the lighting unit12or, for example, the unique unit identifier30of each lighting unit12may also or alternately be stored in, for example, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) chip22C.

In other examples, data fields232may include, for example and as generally illustrated inFIG. 2C, a product code232A identifying the type of lighting unit12ofFIG. 2A, one or more unit characteristic identifiers232B (also referred to as unit identifiers) identifying various characteristics of the lighting unit12, a data code identifier232C identifying, for example, the number of bits expected in the control codes for the lighting unit12, a lighting configuration code232D identifying the type of light distribution to be generated by the lighting unit12, and a serial number232E that is unique to the lighting unit12and thus uniquely identifies the specific lighting unit12. The unique unit identifier30of each lighting unit12may be stored, for example, in a non-volatile memory in the circuitry of the lighting unit12. The one or more unit characteristic identifiers232B can include, for example, the white LED light temperature(s)242, the number244of red, green and blue LEDs24of the LED array26, the dimensions246of the lighting unit12, such as the length of the lighting unit12, and/or data248indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the lighting unit12.

Turning now toFIG. 2D, an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a lighting array10is shown therein. This lighting array10is constructed for illumination of a display space34wherein the display space34may, for example, comprise a two or a three dimensional architectural space or a volume, such as a building facade or a three dimensional indoor or outdoor space such as a courtyard, a plaza or an enclosed volume. As illustrated, and according to the present invention, the display space34comprises the actual or potential physical locations34L of the lighting units12ofFIG. 2Ain the display space34and an array address space36comprising of the array addresses36A are mapped onto or into the physical locations34L comprising the display space34with each address36A in the address space36representing and corresponding to a physical location34L on or in the display space34.

As will be described further below in further detail, a primary object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for identifying and organizing the lighting units12into the display space34of the lighting array12, including identifying the type, the characteristics and the address36A of the physical location36L of each of the lighting units12in the lighting array10, and providing this information to the user and/or installer to facilitate assembly, construction, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the lighting array10.

In some examples,FIG. 2Eillustrates another exemplary diagrammatic representation of a lighting array109ofFIG. 1is shown therein. This lighting array109is constructed for illumination of a display space234wherein the display space234may, for example, includes a two or a three dimensional architectural space or a volume, such as a building facade or a three dimensional indoor or outdoor space such as a courtyard, a plaza or an enclosed volume. As illustrated, the display space234includes the actual or potential physical locations234L of the lighting units110,120through190ofFIG. 1and addressable lights in the display space234and an array address space236including of the array addresses236A that are mapped onto or into the physical locations234L including the display space234with each address236A in the address space236representing and corresponding to a physical location234L on or in the display space234.

The method and the system of the present invention are accordingly illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B, which is a diagrammatic flow diagram and block diagram of the elements and the operation of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3A, the method and the system of the present invention both include a preliminary step38A in which, at or during the final stage of manufacturing the lighting unit12ofFIG. 2A, a unique unit identifier30is written into the lighting unit12, thereby uniquely identifying each one of the lighting units12and specifying the characteristics of that specific lighting unit12. As described, the unique unit identifier30may typically include, but not be limited to, a product code32A identifying the type of the lighting unit12, one or more unit characteristic identifiers32B identifying various characteristics of the lighting unit12such as the white LED light temperature(s) and number of red, green and blue LEDs24of the LED array26and the dimensions of the lighting unit12, such as the length of the lighting unit12, a data code identifier32C identifying, for example, the number of bits expected in the control codes for the lighting unit12, a lighting configuration code32D identifying the type of light distribution generated by the lighting unit12, and a serial number32E that is unique to the lighting unit12and thus uniquely identifies that specific lighting unit12.

Turning now toFIG. 3Band steps38B through38D of the present invention, as shown therein, step38B comprises the operation of relating the lighting units12to the physical locations34L of a display space34of the proposed or the already existing lighting array10, and relating the physical locations34L to the corresponding addresses36A of the array address space36corresponding to the proposed or the existing display space34.

In step38B, a user generates or otherwise provides, as an input to the system and method of the present invention, a representation34R of the proposed or the existing lighting array10and the display space34. The representation34R generally comprises an array data structure34D that includes a unit entry34E for and corresponding to each lighting unit12in a lighting array10and each unit entry34E will include an address36A in address space36of each intended or existing physical location34L of each lighting unit12in the proposed or the existing lighting array10and, for each physical location, an identification34I of the type and characteristics of the lighting unit12to appear therein. As discussed above, the identification34I of the lighting unit12may include, for example, one or more unit characteristic identifiers32B identifying various characteristics of the lighting unit12, such as the white LED light temperature(s) and number of red, green and blue LEDs24of the LED array26and the dimensions of the lighting unit12, such as the length of the lighting unit12.

According to present embodiments of the present invention, the array data structure34D may comprise, for example, a database or a spreadsheet or some other suitable data structure and the array data structure34D and unit entries34E, comprising a representation34R of a lighting array12, may be generated and edited by an array modeling program34U comprising, for example, of a database or a spreadsheet program. It will be appreciated that, as indicated above, the array data structure34D and the unit entries34E of the representation34R of the lighting array10may be generated from the existing lighting array10by, for example, manually entering the identification34I information into the data entry34E for each lighting unit12, or by reading the identification34I information into the data entries34E from another, previously constructed data structure, such as a database, a spreadsheet or some other data structure or data record.

A similar procedure may be employed to generate the unit entries34E of a representation34R of a new lighting array10by, for example, again using the array modeling program34U to generate the array data structure34D comprising the unit entries34E arranged and organized to model the representation34R of the intended lighting array10and entering the required identification34I information manually or from a previously constructed data structure, such as a database, a spreadsheet or some other data structure or record.

In the instance where a new lighting array10is to be designed or the existing lighting array10is to be analyzed or modified, the system and the method may further include an array modeling program34A, such as a graphics program having a stored library of representations of the static and dynamic light distributions to be generated by each type and configuration of lighting unit12that may be employed in constructing the desired lighting array10. According to this implementation of the present invention, the array modeling program34A may read the representation34R, as directed by the user, and generate a visual display34V, such as on a computer screen, of the lighting distributions and displays that may be, or are selected to be, generated by the lighting units12of the lighting array10, thereby providing a visual modeling and illustration of the lighting array10during design of the lighting array10. It should be noted that the data structures associated with the array modeling program may further include a displayable visual representation34of the modeled display space34, such as displayable representation34S of the building facade or the three dimensional indoor or outdoor space, such as the courtyard, the plaza or the enclosed volume, to provide a more realistic rendition of the possible final appearance of the lighting array10.

In step38C, the representation36R is mapped onto the address space36which, as described, contains the address36A of each physical location36L of a lighting unit12in the lighting array10, thereby relating the physical lighting array10and the lighting units12thereof as represented in the representation36R to the array address space36and each lighting unit12to the corresponding address36A in address space36. After completion of step38C, the unit entry34E for and corresponding to each lighting unit12in the lighting array10will therefore, as discussed above, include the address36A corresponding to and identifying the physical location34L of the corresponding lighting unit12and the identification34I of the type and the characteristics of the lighting unit12to appear therein.

With regard to step38C, it should be noted that address space36may, in certain implementations, include the addresses36A for both actual and potential physical locations of the lighting unit12in the display space34, so that the address space36addresses36A essentially map one on one to each possible lighting unit12physical location34L in the display space34. This method of relating the address space36to the display space34and the representation36R may be preferable, for example, when the existing lighting array10is being modified or the new lighting array10is being created as the number of physical locations34L in the display space34and thus the number and arrangement of the addresses36A required in the address space36may change during the creation or modification of the lighting array10.

When the number and locations of the physical locations34L of lighting units12are known, however, such as when the lighting array10has already been designed or is already in existence, it may be preferable to generate and assign the addresses36A only to the physical locations34L actually containing lighting units12. In such instances, the number of the addresses36A may be significantly reduced and the addresses36A may be generated and assigned, for example, according to any convenient scheme, such as in sequence or by row and column, and so on.

Turning now to step38D, this is a serialization step where a specific lighting unit12is associated with each physical location34L of the lighting unit12in the display space34by identifying, for each physical location34L, either the lighting unit12already residing at or for illumination of the physical location34L or the lighting unit12having the characteristics identified in the corresponding unit entry34E of the representation34R of the lighting array10. As described above, and according to the present invention, each lighting unit12is uniquely identified by the unique unit identifier30stored in or in permanent association with the lighting unit12. As described, the unique unit identifier30includes the data fields32identifying, for example, the characteristics of the lighting unit12, such as a product code32A identifying the type of lighting unit12, one or more unit characteristic identifiers32B identifying various characteristics of the lighting unit12, such as the white LED light temperature(s) and number of red, green and blue LEDs24of the LED array26and the dimensions of the lighting unit12, such as the length of the lighting unit12, the data code identifier32C identifying, for example, the number of bits expected in the control codes for the lighting unit12, and the lighting configuration code32D identifying the type of light distribution to be generated by the lighting unit12.

As discussed above, these data fields32are at this point in the process already identified and written into the unit entries34E of the representation34R, as are the address36A in the address space36of the lighting unit12, thus identifying the physical location34L of the lighting unit12. The identification of a specific lighting unit12that resides at the given physical location34L or that is selected to be installed at the given physical location34L is, therefore, completed by the identification of and the addition, to each unit entry34E, of the unique serial number32E that is permanently assigned to the corresponding installed lighting unit12or to the lighting unit12that has been selected to be installed at that physical location34L, thereby completing the serialization process.

In present embodiments of the present invention, as described above, the array modeling program34U or some other program of suitable functionality used to generate and edit the array data structure34D and the unit entries34E of the representation34R of the lighting array10may also be used for the serialization process, that is, for the addition of the unique serial number32E of the corresponding lighting unit12to each unit entry34E of the array data structure34D.

In the case of the existing lighting array10, the serial number32E and other data fields32of each lighting unit12of the lighting array12may be obtained, for serialization step38D, from existing electronic or physical records38A, for example, such as an electronic or a hard copy database, a spreadsheet or a tabulation, or read from the lighting units12by, for example, interrogation of the installed lighting units12by the array control system14. In other implementations of the present invention, the unique unit identifier30of each lighting unit12may also or alternately be stored in the lighting unit12in, for example, a radio frequency identifier (RFID) chip22C and read remotely or by a hand-held unit.

In the case of a new lighting array10, the lighting units12will typically be available from inventory comprising, for example, a shipment or a stock room or a warehouse of suitable lighting units12, and the serial number32E and other data fields32of each lighting unit12of the lighting array12may be obtained, for serialization step38D, from the inventory data38B comprising, for example, an electronic or a hard copy database, a spreadsheet, a bill of lading or some other tabulation or documentation accompanying the lighting units12or read from the associated RFID chips22C attached to each one of the lighting units12. In the case when the lighting units12, for some or all of the physical locations34I of the display space34, are to be selected from an inventory, the array management system14may, for example, interrogate the inventory data38or the RFID chips22C, associated with the individual lighting units12in the inventory, read the data fields32corresponding to the individual lighting units12to determine, for example, the characteristics of each available lighting unit12, that is, and for example, the product code32A, the unit characteristic identifiers32B, the data code identifier32C and the lighting configuration code32D. The array management system14may then compare the data fields32of the available lighting units12with the characteristics specified for a given physical location34L of the lighting array10and identify the unique serial numbers32E of the lighting units12available in the inventory. The array management system14, or a user controlling the array management system14, may then select a suitable lighting unit12having characteristics matching those of the physical location34L, whereupon the unique serial number32E of the selected lighting unit12will be then written into the corresponding data field32of the unit entry34E corresponding to the physical location34L, thus assigning that lighting unit12to that physical location34L.

This process will be repeated for each open or unassigned physical location34L, with the unique serial numbers32E of the selected lighting units12being written into the unit entries34E of the representation34.

The unit entries34E of the array data structure34D, comprising the representation34R of the lighting array10, will then contain the complete and unique unit identifier30, including the unique serial number32E, the lighting characteristic data fields32and the physical location address36A, of each lighting unit12in the lighting array10.

In summary, therefore, and as described, there is a unit entry34E corresponding to each lighting unit12in the lighting array10and, as described, each unit entry34E contains information identifying the physical location34L, that is, the address36A, of each lighting unit12in the array10, the unique identification of each lighting unit12, in the unique serial number32E of the lighting unit12, and the complete specification of the type and characteristics of each such lighting unit12, in the data fields32of the unit entries34E.

The unit entries34E of the array data structure34D of the lighting array management system14thereby provide the necessary information to efficiently plan, manage and control the construction, the modification and/or the repair of a lighting array10by uniquely identifying each lighting unit12in the array10, including the unique identification of and the location and the characteristics of each of the lighting units12. This information may then be used, for example, when designing and constructing a new lighting array10and/or modifying an existing lighting array10to select the individual lighting units12to be installed, including planning the order in which the lighting units12are to be installed, and to identify and locate the lighting units12from an inventory or to be ordered. In the case of any repair to an existing lighting array10, the information stored in the array data structure34D maybe used to identify the specific lighting units12to be repaired or replaced, including their location in the lighting array12and in the display space34, their unique identifying serial numbers32E, and their characteristics as described in data fields32, thereby insuring that the replacement lighting units12have the appropriate characteristics and thereby provide the same illumination as the original design, or possible may be altered to provide an improved illumination effect. This information may be employed by a monitoring and test facility implemented, for example, as a program in the array management system14to execute one or more test routines directed at the individual lighting units12with the routines accessing the unit entries34E.

In addition to providing the information necessary to efficiently plan and manage the installation of lighting units12, the array management system14provides an efficient means to monitor and test the lighting units12of a lighting array10through monitoring and test functions implemented, for example, as a program or programs in array management system14. That is, and for example, monitoring and test functions will read the unit entries34E corresponding to lighting units12to be tested, either selected individually, such as by a user, or in a specified order. Monitoring and test functions will determine from the unit entries34E, and for each lighting unit12to be tested, the unique identification32E, the physical location address36A and the functional characteristics of the lighting unit12as specified in the data fields32and will generate and transmit to each lighting unit12the appropriate corresponding commands14C to exercise the functional characteristics of the lighting unit12. The responses of the lighting units12to the test and monitoring commands14C may, depending on the implementations of the lighting units12, be transmitted to the array management system14to generate a report of the test results, or may, for example, be observed directly by a user, possible with the assistance of a concurrent display of the lighting array functions generated by an array modeling program34A. The results of the tests may then be used, as necessary, for the maintenance of the lighting array10.

FIG. 4is a diagrammatic block diagram of an exemplary light array management system400. The light array management system400includes a communication module410, a lighting unit interrogation module420, a lighting unit mapping module430, a lighting unit serialization module440, a lighting unit controller module450, a lighting unit identification module460, an input device491, an output device492, a display device493, a processor494, and a storage device495. The input device491, the output device492, and the display device493are optional components of the light array management system400. The modules and devices described herein can, for example, utilize the processor494to execute computer executable instructions and/or the modules and devices described herein can, for example, include their own processor to execute computer executable instructions (e.g., an encryption processing unit, a field programmable gate array processing unit). It should be understood the light array management system400can include, for example, other modules, devices, and/or processors known in the art and/or varieties of the illustrated modules, devices, and/or processors.

The communication module410receives unit identifiers from a controller of the lighting unit and forwards the unit identifiers to the lighting unit interrogation module420. The communication module410can also transmit and/or receive other information associated with the light array management system400.

The lighting unit interrogation module420receives unit identifiers from a plurality of lighting units110,120through190ofFIG. 1. Each unit identifier includes data (e.g., ten addressable lights, twenty addressable lights, etc) indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the respective lighting unit. The data includes a number of addressable lights controlled by the controller in the respective lighting unit and enables the light array management system400to automatically identify the plurality of addressable lights for finite control of the lights within a lighting unit. The finite identification and control of the lights within the lighting unit advantageously decreases the cost to provision and control the lighting array.

The lighting unit mapping module430sequentially maps the data of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units to an array address space. The sequentially mapping of the data can create an initial listing of the available addressable lights and can automatically number the available addressable lights in each lighting unit. For example, a lighting unit with twenty addressable lights is mapped to twenty entries within the array address space. The sequentially mapping of the data into the array address space enables an automatic assignment of addresses to the addressable lights, thereby decreasing the time and cost for provisioning and mapping the light array.

In some examples, the lighting unit mapping module430assigns sequential addresses to the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space (e.g., assigns addresses 1, 2, 3, etc. to the addressable lights; randomly assigns addresses to the addressable lights, etc.). In other examples, the lighting unit mapping module430sequentially orders the assigned sequential addresses of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space (e.g., modifies the order of the addressable lights to put the addressable lights in sequential order, changes an ordering assignment of the addressable lights, etc.).

The lighting unit serialization module440serializes the array address space for the plurality of lighting units based on the sequentially mapping of the data of the addressable lights and a specific location of each of the lighting units. The serialization generates an array address space that corresponds to the physical layout of the lighting array. For example, the serialization can order the addressable lights in a representation of an outside wall of a building. In another example, the serialization can arrange the addressable lights in a 3-dimensional array that represents of an interior multi-floor building. In some examples, the specific location of each of the lighting units includes a physical location of the respective lighting unit in a structure (e.g., addressable light B12is located next to door AB23on the fourth floor of the building, addressable light C24is located next to a painting on the fifth floor of the building, etc.).

The lighting unit controller module450transmits a control command to a controller of one of the plurality of lighting units. In some examples, the lighting unit controller module450communicates the control command to the communication module410and the communication module410transmits the control command to the controller. The control command includes a command code to operate one or more of the addressable lights of the one of the plurality of lighting units. In other words, the lighting unit controller module450can provide individualized control of individual lights utilizing the array address space, thereby increasing the functional uses of the light array by decreasing the cost and time to control the individual lights.

The lighting unit identification module460associates a unique unit identifier for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space (e.g., randomly assigned identifier is assigned to each addressable light, pre-defined identifier is associated with each addressable light, etc.). The unique unit identifier includes a product code identifying a type of the lighting unit, at least one identifier of at least one light emission characteristic of the lighting unit, at least one dimension of the lighting unit, an identifier of control codes for the lighting unit, and/or a lighting configuration code identifying a type of light distribution generated by the lighting unit.

The input device491receives information associated with the computing device410from a user (not shown) and/or another computing system (not shown). The input device491can include, for example, a keyboard and/or a scanner. The output device492outputs information associated with the computing device410(e.g., information to a printer (not shown), information to a speaker).

The display device493displays information associated with the computing device410(e.g., status information, call information, graphical representation). The processor494executes the operating system and/or any other computer executable instructions for the computing device410(e.g., executes applications).

The storage device495stores call information and/or call configuration. The storage device495can include a plurality of storage devices and/or the computing device410can include a plurality of storage devices (e.g., a call configuration storage device, a voice storage device). The storage device495can include, for example, long-term storage (e.g., a hard drive, a tape storage device, flash memory), short-term storage (e.g., a random access memory, a graphics memory), and/or any other type of computer readable storage.

FIG. 5is a diagrammatic flow diagram of a method500for light array management utilizing, for example, the light array management system400ofFIG. 4. The lighting unit interrogation module420receives (510) unit identifiers from a plurality of lighting units. Each unit identifier includes data indicating a plurality of addressable lights for the respective lighting unit. The lighting unit mapping module430sequentially maps (520) the data of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units to an array address space. The lighting unit serialization module440serializes (530) the array address space for the plurality of lighting units based on the sequentially mapping of the data of the addressable lights and a specific location of each of the lighting units.

In some examples, the lighting unit interrogation module420receives (510) unit identifier from a controller of each of the plurality of lighting units. In other examples, the lighting unit controller module450transmits a control command to a controller of one of the plurality of lighting units. The control command includes a command code to operate one or more of the addressable lights of the one of the plurality of lighting units. In some examples, the specific location of each of the lighting units includes a physical location of the respective lighting unit in a structure.

In other examples, the lighting unit serialization module assigns (532) sequential addresses to the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space. In some examples, the lighting unit serialization module sequentially orders (534) the assigned sequential addresses of the addressable lights for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space. In other examples, the lighting unit identification module460associates (540) a unique unit identifier for each of the plurality of lighting units in the array address space.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described method and system for planning, installing, managing and controlling an array of high power light emitting diodes, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

The above-described systems and methods can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, in computer hardware, firmware, and/or software. The implementation can be as a computer program product (i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier). The implementation can, for example, be in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. The implementation can, for example, be a programmable processor, a computer, and/or multiple computers.

Method steps can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program to perform functions of the invention by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps can also be performed by special purpose logic circuitry and/or an apparatus can be implemented on special purpose logic circuitry. The circuitry can, for example, be a FPGA (field programmable gate array) and/or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). Subroutines and software agents can refer to portions of the computer program, the processor, the special circuitry, software, and/or hardware that implement that functionality.

To provide for interaction with a user, the above described techniques can be implemented on a computer having a display device. The display device can, for example, be a cathode ray tube (CRT) and/or a liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor. The interaction with a user can, for example, be a display of information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device (e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user can provide input to the computer (e.g., interact with a user interface element). Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user. Other devices can, for example, be feedback provided to the user in any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback). Input from the user can, for example, be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, and/or tactile input.

The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, wired networks, and/or wireless networks. The system can include clients and servers. A client and a server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

Packet-based networks can include, for example, the Internet, a carrier internet protocol (IP) network (e.g., local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), campus area network (CAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), home area network (HAN)), a private IP network, an IP private branch exchange (IPBX), a wireless network (e.g., radio access network (RAN), 802.11 network, 802.16 network, general packet radio service (GPRS) network, HiperLAN), and/or other packet-based networks. Circuit-based networks can include, for example, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a private branch exchange (PBX), a wireless network (e.g., RAN, bluetooth, code-division multiple access (CDMA) network, time division multiple access (TDMA) network, global system for mobile communications (GSM) network), and/or other circuit-based networks.