Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8138690?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,304,975
Timestamp: 2015-08-28 06:43:08
Document Index: 125562776

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61']

Patent US8138690 - LED-based lighting methods, apparatus, and systems employing LED light bars ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsIn embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for designing improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more of rotatable LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to receive signals from the...http://www.google.com/patents/US8138690?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8138690 - LED-based lighting methods, apparatus, and systems employing LED light bars, occupancy sensing, local state machine, and meter circuitAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8138690 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 12/823,195Publication dateMar 20, 2012Filing dateJun 25, 2010Priority dateApr 14, 2008Also published asUS20100259931Publication number12823195, 823195, US 8138690 B2, US 8138690B2, US-B2-8138690, US8138690 B2, US8138690B2InventorsBrian J. Chemel, Colin Piepgras, Steve T. Kondo, Scott D. JohnstonOriginal AssigneeDigital Lumens IncorporatedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (84), Non-Patent Citations (33), Referenced by (29), Classifications (41), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLED-based lighting methods, apparatus, and systems employing LED light bars, occupancy sensing, local state machine, and meter circuit
US 8138690 B2Abstract
1. A lighting fixture to provide variable occupancy-based lighting, the lighting fixture comprising:
at least one occupancy sensor, disposed in or coupled to the housing, to provide occupancy information;
a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light bars disposed in the housing to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting at a plurality of light levels;
a power management module (PMM), disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the at least one occupancy sensor and the plurality of LED light bars, to adjust the variable occupancy-based lighting based at least in part on the occupancy information provided by the at least one occupancy sensor, the power management module including:
a memory to store lighting parameters, wherein the lighting parameters include at least an active power output level of the plurality of light levels and an inactive power output level of the plurality of light levels; and
a digital light agent controller to implement a state machine to analyze the occupancy information and control the plurality of LED light bars based on the lighting parameters in the memory so as to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting at the active power output level of the plurality of light levels or the inactive power output level of the plurality of light levels; and
a meter circuit, operatively coupled to the digital light agent controller and the plurality of LED light bars, to determine an energy usage by the plurality of LED light bars.
2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the meter circuit includes a hardware meter circuit to measure the energy usage.
3. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the meter circuit performs a software measurement to determine the energy usage as a prediction based at least in part on operating states of the plurality of LED light bars.
4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the digital light agent controller logs in the memory power measurements representing the energy usage determined by the meter circuit.
a network interface operatively coupled to the power management module,
wherein the power management module controls the network interface so as to transmit to at least one external device power measurements representing the energy usage determined by the meter circuit.
the lighting fixture of claim 5; and
wherein the at least one external device is a second lighting fixture according to claim 5.
a real-time clock, operatively coupled to the power management module, to generate an output as a unit of time to facilitate tracking time-based operational modes associated with the lighting fixture.
8. The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein, upon implementation of the state machine, the digital light agent controller controls the plurality of LED light bars based on the lighting parameters in the memory and the output of the real-time clock so as to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting based at least in part on a time-of-day.
9. The lighting fixture of claim 7, wherein the digital light agent controller records in the memory the occupancy information and related timelines, based on the output of the real-time clock, so as to maintain a database of historic data of lighting usage.
10. The lighting fixture of claim 9, wherein, upon implementation of the state machine, the digital light agent controller controls the plurality of LED light bars based on the lighting parameters in the memory and the database of historic data of lighting usage in the memory so as to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting.
11. The lighting fixture of claim 10, further comprising:
a network interface, operatively coupled to at least the power management module, to transmit to at least one external device, and/or receive from the at least one external device, at least one of:
the lighting parameters;
the occupancy information; and
the database of historic data.
12. The lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein the network interface further transmits to the at least one external device the power measurements representing the energy usage determined by the meter circuit.
the lighting fixture of claim 12; and
wherein the at least one external device is a second lighting fixture according to claim 12.
14. A lighting method to provide variable occupancy-based lighting in an environment, the lighting method comprising:
A) sensing an occupancy in the environment to provide occupancy information;
B) controlling a plurality of LED light bars to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting at a plurality of light levels, based at least in part on the occupancy information and/or lighting parameters, wherein the lighting parameters include at least an active power output level of the plurality of light levels and an inactive power output level of the plurality of light levels;
C) determining an energy usage by the plurality of LED light bars; and
D) transmitting to at least one external device power measurements representing the energy usage determined in C).
E) logging in memory the power measurement representing the energy usage determined in E).
F) storing in the memory the occupancy information and related timelines, based on an output of a real-time clock, so as to maintain a database of historic data of lighting usage,
B1) controlling the plurality of LED light bars to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting at the plurality of light levels, based at least in part on the occupancy information, the database of historic data, and/or the lighting parameters.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein D) comprises:
transmitting to the at least one external device, and/or receiving from the at least one external device, at least one of:
18. The lighting method of claim 16, wherein B1) comprises:
controlling the plurality of LED light bars based on the lighting parameters and the output of the real-time clock so as to provide the variable occupancy-based lighting based at least in part on a time-of-day.
19. A lighting fixture to provide variable occupancy-based warehouse and industrial lighting, the lighting fixture comprising:
A) a housing formed as a rectangular frame and including an integral sensor bay;
B) at least one occupancy sensor, disposed in the integral sensor bay, to provide occupancy information;
C) a plurality of rotatable light emitting diode (LED) light bars disposed in the housing to provide the variable occupancy-based warehouse and industrial lighting at a plurality of light levels and a plurality of foot-candle patterns, each LED light bar being arranged to rotate in the frame around a corresponding rotational axis to obtain a specific direction of light;
D) a power management module (PMM), disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the at least one occupancy sensor and the plurality of rotatable LED light bars to adjust the variable occupancy-based warehouse and industrial lighting based at least in part on the occupancy information provided by the at least one occupancy sensor, the power management module including:
D1) a memory to store lighting parameters, wherein the lighting parameters include at least an active power output level of the plurality of light levels and an inactive power output level of the plurality of light levels; and
D2) a digital light agent controller to implement a state machine to analyze the occupancy information and control the plurality of rotatable LED light bars based on the lighting parameters in the memory and the analyzed occupancy information so as to provide the variable occupancy-based warehouse and industrial lighting at the active power output level of the plurality of light levels or the inactive power output level of the plurality of light levels;
E) a meter circuit, operatively coupled to the power management module and the plurality of LED light bars, to determine an energy usage by the plurality of LED light bars, wherein the power management module logs in the memory power measurements representing the energy usage determined by the meter circuit; and
F) a network interface, operatively coupled to at least the power management module, to transmit to at least one external device the power measurements representing the energy usage determined by the meter circuit.
20. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the meter circuit performs a software measurement to determine the energy usage as a prediction based at least in part on operating states of the plurality of LED light bars.
This application claims the benefit of the following provisional applications, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,608, filed Feb. 11, 2010; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,278, filed Feb. 10, 2010.
This application is a continuation-in-part of the following U.S. patent applications, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/423,543, filed Apr. 14, 2009 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/423,361 also filed Apr. 14, 2009 now abandoned. Each of the foregoing U.S. patent applications claim the benefit of the following provisional applications, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/044,591, filed Apr. 14, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/055,727, filed May 23, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/084,367 filed Jul. 29, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/102,159, filed Oct. 2, 2008; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/108,698, filed Oct. 27, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/109,009, filed Oct. 28, 2008.
This application also claims priority to foreign patent application Ser. No. PCT/US09/40514, filed Apr. 14, 2009.
Conventional systems for retrofit lighting applications are known by various parameters such as fixture mounting height, spacing, beam pattern, light level and some other parameters. However, none of the systems discloses a one-size-fits-all approach to include a large number of fixtures. In addition, the installation of such systems may be costly due to expenses incurred on wiring and power. Also, conventional systems may rely on low-tech occupancy or ambient light sensors that may not be feasible solutions with respect to environmental conditions. Additionally, these systems may not be equipped to include variability in electricity pricing models.
Therefore, there is a need for improved lighting systems in both retrofit and new applications.
Various embodiments of the present invention disclose modular designs of lighting systems that may be employed in a variety of environments. These lighting systems may employ lighting fixtures that may be LED or non-LED based, or a combination of both and that may be modularly designed for different directions and beam angles.
An aspect of the present invention discloses methods and systems for managing lighting in a plurality of environments, such as warehouse, manufacturing facility, parking garages, street lighting, prisons, gymnasiums, indoor pools, stadiums, bridges, tunnels, and some other types of environments.
Embodiments of the present invention may disclose methods and systems for delivering light as a resource by controlling and managing lighting systems based on mutually agreed parameters between an operator of the environment and a third party.
In an embodiment of the present invention, methods and systems may be provided for managing lighting in the environment based on information regarding energy demand.
In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems may be disclosed for managing lighting in the environment based on the alternative energy and utility energy demand information.
Embodiments of the present invention may also disclose methods and systems for managing lighting in the environment based on the information regarding alternative/utility energy storage.
In an embodiment, methods and systems may be provided for regulating the lighting systems through a network based on the assessment of various demand information.
In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems for managing lighting systems in the environment may include measuring lighting conditions in the environment and validating them based on mutually agreed parameters.
In another aspect of the present invention, modular lighting systems with variable lumen output and beam angles may be provided.
In an embodiment, modular lighting systems with management units and frames may be provided.
Embodiments of the present invention may disclose centrally controlled intelligent lighting systems for management of high bay fixtures in various environments.
In an embodiment, the control may be a wireless control.
In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems for management of the lighting systems by performing lighting predictions based on past performance of the lighting systems may be provided.
Embodiments of the present invention may disclose use of sensors and tracking tools for intelligently managing the lighting in the environments.
In other embodiments, various lighting systems including fixtures with variable luminous efficacy, modular power connector system, and user-replaceable optical component may be provided.
In another embodiment, lighting systems with LED multi-head may be provided.
In another embodiment, lighting systems with integral emergency lighting function, integrated RFID reader, lighting control system with electricity demand response interface, integrated electricity time-shift, integrated payment gateway, integrated camera for facility security systems, and ruggedized or explosion-proof LED fixture with integrated sensing and network, may be provided.
In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, storing a plurality of mutually agreed upon lighting parameters in a database, regulating the artificial lighting in the environment in accordance with the stored lighting parameters by automatically making a lighting measurement in the environment, comparing the lighting measurement with at least one of the stored lighting parameters, and making an adjustment to at least one of the lighting systems through the data network in accordance with the comparison. The lighting measurement in the environment may also be the measurement of a light level in the environment that may include natural light. Each of the plurality of the lighting systems may be associated with a data network and may be controlled through it. The mutual agreement for storing the lighting parameters may be between an operator of the environment and a third party manager of the artificial lighting.
The method may further include a third party manager user interface that may be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for adjusting at least one of the lighting systems. The third party manager user interface may be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for changing at least one of the plurality of stored lighting parameters. Further, the third party manager user interface may be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for adding a new lighting parameter to the plurality of stored lighting parameters. Furthermore, the third party manager user interface may be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for removing at least one of the lighting parameters from the plurality of stored lighting parameters. Still further, the third party manager user interface may be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for manually overriding the automated decisions made according to the stored lighting parameters. The third party manager user interface may also be adapted to provide the third party manager of the artificial lighting with tools for determining which of the stored lighting parameters may be modified by the operator of the environment. Similarly, the method may include an operator user interface that may be adapted to provide an operator of the environment with tools for adjusting at least one of the lighting systems. In other embodiments, the operator user interface may be adapted to provide an operator of the environment with tools for changing at least one of the plurality of stored lighting parameters. In another embodiment, the operator user interface may be adapted to provide an operator of the environment with tools for visualizing the energy consumed by at least one of the lighting systems.
In embodiments, at least one of the lighting systems may be an LED lighting system. In embodiments, the beam angle produced by the LED lighting system may be altered, wherein the alteration may be a result of the comparison. Further, the LED lighting system may include a plurality of LED light strips; each of the plurality of light strips may produce a beam angle projected to cover a different area. In embodiments, the different areas may be in part overlapping. In embodiments, the method may further include storing a plurality of energy demand parameters wherein each of the plurality of energy demand parameters may be associated with a lighting regulation parameter such that when energy demand information is provided, at least one lighting system may be controlled in accordance with the lighting regulation parameter. This energy demand parameter may relate to utility energy demand and/or alternate energy demand.
In embodiments, a method and system may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, receiving energy demand information, comparing the energy demand information to an energy demand parameter stored in a database, evaluating the comparison according to a rule stored in a database, and communicating lighting control information through the data network to regulate at least one of the lighting systems in the environment in accordance with the evaluation. Each of the plurality of lighting systems may be associated with and controlled through the data network.
In embodiments, the regulation of at least one lighting system may involve regulating the beam angle of the light emitted from at least one lighting system. The regulation may also involve regulating the light intensity in a portion of the beam angle emitting from one or more lighting systems. The regulation of the lighting system may further involve modifying the intensity of at least one lighting system based on sensors placed in the environment. Change in at least one of the rules used to manage the behavior of at least one lighting system and modification of the amount of time the one lighting system may be turned on in response to sensor inputs may form part of the regulation of the lighting system. In addition, the regulation of at least one lighting system may involve modifying the brightness of some subset of the lights of the one or more lighting system.
In embodiments, the method may further include providing an energy provider user interface adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for adjusting at least one of the lighting systems. In embodiments, the method may also include providing an energy provider user interface adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for changing at least one of the pluralities of stored lighting parameters.
In embodiments, the method may include providing an energy provider user interface adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for adding a new lighting parameter to the plurality of stored lighting parameters. Further, the energy provider user interface may be adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for removing at least one of the lighting parameters from the plurality of stored lighting parameters. In other embodiments, energy provider user interface may be adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for manually overriding the automated decisions made according to the stored lighting parameters. In embodiments, the method may comprise providing an energy provider user interface adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for manually overriding the automated decisions made according to the stored lighting parameters. The method may also include providing an energy provider user interface adapted to provide the energy provider with tools for determining which of the stored lighting parameters may be modified by the operator of the environment. In another embodiment, the method may comprise providing an operator user interface adapted to provide the operator of the environment with tools for changing at least one of the pluralities of stored lighting parameters and for adjusting at least one of the lighting systems. Further, the operator user interface may be adapted to provide an operator of the environment with tools for visualizing the energy consumed by at least one of the lighting systems.
In an aspect of the present invention, a method and system may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, storing energy produced by an alternative energy source for use at a time different from when it is generated by the alternative energy source, and receiving utility energy demand information. Each of the plurality of lighting systems may be associated with the data network and controlled through the data network. The method may also include comparing the received utility energy demand information to a utility energy demand parameter stored in a database and making an assessment of the options of using utility energy and using the stored energy produced by the alternative energy source. Based on the assessment, at least one of the utility energy and the stored energy for use by the plurality of lighting systems may be selected, and at least one of the lighting systems may be regulated.
In embodiments, the regulation of at least one lighting system may involve regulating the beam angle of the light emitted from at least one lighting system, as well as regulating the light intensity in a portion of the beam angle emitting from the one lighting system. The regulation of at least one lighting system may also involve regulating the intensity of the one lighting system based on sensors placed in the environment and modifying at least one of the rules used to manage the behavior of at least one lighting system. The lighting system regulation may further include modification of the amount of time that at least one lighting system is turned on in response to sensor inputs and modification of the brightness of some subset of the lights making up at least one lighting system.
In embodiments, the method may further include providing an operator user interface adapted to provide the operator of the environment with tools for adjusting at least one of the lighting systems, tools for changing at least one of the pluralities of stored lighting parameters, and/or tools for visualizing the energy consumed by at least one of the lighting systems.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method and system may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, receiving energy from an alternative energy source, receiving information about the amount, kind, and expense of energy available from the alternative energy source, and receiving utility energy demand information. The utility energy demand information may be compared to a utility energy demand parameter stored in a database, and an assessment may be made of the options of using utility energy and using the alternative energy. Based on the assessment, selection may be done of at least one of the utility energy and the alternative energy for use by the plurality of lighting systems; and at least one of the lighting systems may be regulated through the data network based on the assessment. Each of the plurality of lighting systems may be associated with a data network, and each of the plurality of lighting systems may be controlled through the data network.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method and system may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, storing energy produced by an alternative energy source for use at a time different than when it is generated by the alternative energy source; receiving information about the amount, kind, and expense of energy stored from the alternative energy source, and receiving utility energy demand information. The utility energy demand information may be compared to a utility energy demand parameter stored in a database, and an assessment may be made of the options of using utility energy and using the alternative energy. Based on the assessment, at least one of the utility energy and the alternative energy may be selected for use by the plurality of lighting systems; and at least one of the lighting systems may be regulated through the data network based on the assessment. Each of the plurality of lighting systems may be associated with a data network, and each of the plurality of lighting systems may be controlled through the data network.
In embodiments, the regulation of at least one lighting system may involve regulating the beam angle of the light emitted from the one lighting system, as well as regulating the light intensity in a portion of the beam angle emitting from at least one lighting system. The regulation of at least one lighting system may rely on the intensity of the one lighting system based on sensors placed in the environment and may require modification of at least one of the rules used to manage the behavior of at least one lighting system. The regulation of at least one lighting system may further involve modifying the amount of time the one lighting system is turned on in response to sensor inputs and the brightness of some subset of the lights making up at least one lighting system.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method and system may be provided for managing artificial lighting in an environment. The method may include providing a plurality of lighting systems in the environment, storing a plurality of mutually agreed upon lighting parameters in a database, and automatically measuring lighting conditions in the environment to check compliance of the artificial lighting in the environment based on the agreed upon lighting parameters. Each of the plurality of lighting systems may be associated with a data network, and each of the plurality of lighting systems may be controlled through the data network. The mutual agreement pertaining to the storing of the mutually agreed upon lighting parameters in a database may be between the operator of the environment and the third party manager of the artificial lighting.
In embodiments, the automatic measurements may relate to levels of brightness in an environment. In embodiments, the automatic measurements may also relate to the operating status of the lighting system which in turn may relate to the power consumed by the lighting system. The operating status may further relate to whether the individual light fixtures are operational. The operating status may also relate to the amount of time for which the individual light fixtures may have been operational (“run hours”) and whether the lighting system has been tampered with. The operating status may relate to third party systems to which the lighting system may be interconnected.
In embodiments, the automatic measurements may be made periodically. In other embodiments, the automatic measurements may be made upon the occurrence of an event where the event may be a time of day, a sensor response, a manual request, or the event may be based on an energy demand parameter.
In embodiments, a report may be generated based on the compliance check. The report may include percentage of time out of compliance, percentage of time in compliance, a cost of energy used to maintain compliance, an indication of how much alternatively generated energy was used to maintain compliance, a reconciliation of received energy cost estimates during operation of the lighting in the environment and the actual energy costs incurred, an indication of lighting system efficiencies, an indication of lighting system maintenance costs, an indication of when lighting system maintenance may be required, an indication of when lighting system maintenance may be desirable, and some other related parameters.
In embodiments, at least one of the lighting systems may be an LED lighting system. In embodiments, the beam angle produced by the LED lighting system may be altered, wherein the alteration may be a result of the comparison. Further, the LED lighting system may include a plurality of LED light strips where each of the plurality of light strips may produce a beam angle projected to cover a different area. In embodiments, the different areas may in part be overlapping.
In an aspect of the present invention, a method and system may be provided for assembling a luminaire out of components in a modular fashion. The method may include selecting a plurality of light modules, selecting a plurality of power management modules, and selecting a fixture frame that may provide mechanical support for the plurality of light modules and plurality of power management modules. Each of the plurality of light modules may produce a prescribed lumen output according to a prescribed beam angle distribution. Additionally, each of the plurality of power management modules may control power for one or more of the plurality of light modules.
In embodiments, the fixture frame that may provide mechanical support for the plurality of light modules and plurality of power management modules may also provide a mechanism for rotating the light module around one or two axes. The light modules mounted in a fixture may be individually controlled through data received on a data port. The beam distribution of the individual light modules may be modified by a user-replaceable optical assembly and an overall aggregate beam angle produced by the luminaire may be modified by a user-replaceable optical assembly.
In embodiments, the steps of the above process for assembling the luminaire may be embodied in a software application meant to guide a purchaser of the luminaire in the luminaire's construction.
In embodiments, a method and system may be provided related to a device for providing power to a plurality of LEDs. The method may include a power input; a first power output, for connecting to one or more strings of LEDs, a second power output, for providing a