Source: http://patents.com/us-9596730.html
Timestamp: 2018-04-21 21:28:53
Document Index: 418831495

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 600', 'art 600']

US Patent # 9,596,730. Method for controlling a tunable white fixture using multiple handles - Patents.com
United States Patent 9,596,730
Ciccarelli , et al. March 14, 2017
Method for controlling a tunable white fixture using multiple handles
Ciccarelli; David (Johns Creek, GA), Weiss; Daniel Aaron (Tucker, GA), Suttles; Benjamin Marshall (Stockbridge, GA)
Family ID: 1000001954601
15/158,100
Current CPC Class: H05B 33/0857 (20130101); H05B 33/0845 (20130101); H05B 33/0884 (20130101)
Field of Search: ;315/130,131,210,224,291,297,308,312
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1. A lighting fixture, comprising: a controller configured for receiving values from a first handle and a second handle and for controlling a driver, the driver configured for instructing a plurality of LEDs to produce light output having a color temperature and an intensity; and the plurality of LEDs; wherein when the controller receives a first value from the first handle and a second value from the second handle, the controller: determines a first requested value from the first received value, the first requested value associated with a requested color temperature; determines a second requested value from the second received value, the second requested value associated with a requested intensity; determines whether the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to one of a plurality of allowed combinations of color temperature and intensity; when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to a first allowed combination of a first color temperature and a first intensity: controls the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature and the first intensity; and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to a combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations: adjusts at least one of the requested color temperature and requested intensity to obtain a second allowed combination of a second color temperature and a second intensity, and controls the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature and the second intensity.
2. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a subsequent value from the first handle, wherein the subsequent received value is different than the first received value; determine a subsequent requested value from the subsequent received value, the subsequent requested value associated with a subsequent color temperature; determine that the subsequent color temperature and the requested intensity correspond to an additional combination outside the allowed combinations; and when the subsequent color temperature and the requested intensity correspond to the additional combination outside the allowed combinations: adjust at least one of the subsequent color temperature and requested intensity to obtain a third allowed combination of a third color temperature and a third intensity, and control the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the third color temperature and the third intensity.
5. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a subsequent value from the second handle, wherein the subsequent received value is different than the second received value; determine a subsequent requested value from the subsequent received value, the subsequent requested value associated with a subsequent intensity; determine that the subsequent intensity and the requested color temperature correspond to an additional combination outside the allowed combinations; and when the subsequent intensity and the requested color temperature correspond to the additional combination outside the allowed combinations: adjust at least one of the subsequent intensity and requested color temperature to obtain a third allowed combination of a third intensity and a third color temperature, and control the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the third intensity and the third color temperature.
8. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein: the driver is further configured to instruct the plurality of LEDs to produce light output having an additional parameter, the additional parameter corresponding to one of a tint, a color, a color rendering index (CRI), a circadian stimulus, a TM-30 metric, or a spatial arrangement; and the controller is further configured to: receive an additional value from an additional handle; determine a parameter value from the additional value, the parameter value associated with the additional parameter, when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the first allowed combination, control the driver to instruct the plurality of LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature, first intensity, and the additional parameter value, and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations, control the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature, second intensity, and the additional parameter value.
9. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein: the driver is further configured to instruct the plurality of LEDs to produce light output having an additional parameter, the additional parameter corresponding to one of a tint, a color, a color rendering index (CRI), a circadian stimulus, a TM-30 metric, or a spatial arrangement; and the controller is further configured to: determine that either the first or second received value is within a zone of values, the zone of values being associated with the additional parameter; and when either the first or second received value is within the zone of values: determine a parameter value from the first or second received value, the parameter value associated with the additional parameter, when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the first allowed combination, control the driver to instruct the plurality of LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature, first intensity, and the parameter value, and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations, control the driver to instruct the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature, second intensity, and the parameter value.
10. A method for controlling light output of a light fixture, the method comprising: receiving a first value from a first handle and a second value from a second handle; determining a first requested value from the first received value, the first requested value associated with a requested color temperature; determining a second requested value from the second received value, the second requested value associated with a requested intensity; determining whether the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to one of a plurality of allowed combinations of color temperature and intensity; when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to a first allowed combination of a first color temperature and a first intensity: instructing a plurality of LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature and the first intensity; and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to a combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations: adjusting at least one of the requested color temperature and requested intensity to obtain a second allowed combination of a second color temperature and a second intensity, and instructing the plurality of LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature and the second intensity.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving a subsequent value from the first handle, wherein the subsequent received value is different than the first received value; determining a subsequent requested value from the subsequent received value, the subsequent requested value associated with a subsequent color temperature; determining that the subsequent color temperature and requested intensity correspond to an additional combination outside the allowed combinations; and when the subsequent color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the additional combination outside the allowed combinations: adjusting at least one of the subsequent color temperature and requested intensity to obtain a third allowed combination of a third color temperature and a third intensity, and instructing the plurality of LEDs to produce light corresponding to the third color temperature and the third intensity.
14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving a subsequent value from the second handle, wherein the subsequent received value is different than the second received value; determining a subsequent requested value from the subsequent received value, the subsequent requested value associated with a subsequent intensity; determining that the subsequent intensity and requested color temperature correspond to an additional combination outside the allowed combinations; and when the subsequent intensity and requested color temperature correspond to the additional combination outside the allowed combinations: adjusting at least one of the subsequent intensity and requested color temperature to obtain a third allowed combination of a third intensity and a third color temperature, and instructing the plurality of LEDs to produce light corresponding to the third intensity and the third color temperature.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein: the plurality of LEDs are capable of producing light output having an additional parameter, the additional parameter corresponding to one of a tint, a color, a color rendering index (CRI), a circadian stimulus, a TM-30 metric, or a spatial arrangement; and the method further comprising: receiving an additional value from an additional handle; determining a parameter value from the additional value, the parameter value associated with the additional parameter, when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the first allowed combination, instructing the plurality of LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature, first intensity, and the additional parameter value, and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations, instructing the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature, second intensity, and the additional parameter value.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein: the plurality of LEDs are capable of producing produce light output having an additional parameter, the additional parameter corresponding to one of a tint, a color, a color rendering index (CRI), a circadian stimulus, a TM-30 metric, or a spatial arrangement; and the method further comprising: determining that either the first or second received value is within a zone of values, the zone of values being associated with the additional parameter; and when either the first or second received value is within the zone of values: determining a parameter value from the first or second received value, the parameter value associated with the additional parameter, when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the first allowed combination, instructing the plurality of LEDs to produce light output corresponding to the first color temperature, first intensity, and the additional parameter value, and when the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to the combination outside the plurality of allowed combinations, instructing the LEDs to produce light corresponding to the second color temperature, second intensity, and the additional parameter value.
The behavior of several types of existing products are depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 1a depicts some ranges of an example tunable white product. In this example, the product may be adjustable across a range of CCT values, such as from 2700K to 6000K. Adjusting a tunable white product may cause the product to produce light at a certain color temperature within the range. The example product may also allow the intensity of the light to be adjusted such as the example intensity range of 0-100% shown in FIG. 1a. In existing products of this type, the very warm CCTs, such as below 2700K, may be not implemented, so the efficiency rating at full intensity is not negatively affected by the warm CCT values.
FIG. 2a depicts an exemplary single-handle implementation of the disclosed system. The single handle 201 of the system may be encompassed by a user interface, and may include any type of user interface--e.g., sliding switch, rotary knob, touchpad, buttons, etc. Although not depicted, the handle may be an electronic interface representing the user's intended interactions with the system, such as a text message, and such implementations are deemed to be within the scope of the present disclosure. The handle 201 may be associated with a user input, and the user input may be received as a value corresponding to a color temperature and an intensity. The value may be received at a controller 210. The controller 210 may be programmed to control an LED driver 230, and the LED driver 230 may control multiple groups of LEDs 220. The LED driver 230 may instruct the LED groups 220 to produce light output based upon the values received by the controller 210.
In a further implementation of the single-handle system depicted in FIG. 2a, the handle 201 may have a range of possible positions (e.g., from minimum handle position to maximum handle position). A handle position may be associated with a value, and a range of positions may be associated with a zone of values. The available range of possible positions may be divided into two or more zones (e.g., from about minimum position to an intermediate position, and from the intermediate position to about maximum position). The controller 210 may receive a particular value, determine if the received value is within a particular zone of values, and determine the light parameters that are associated with the value. For example, the controller may determine that a received value corresponds to a particular color temperature and particular intensity. The controller 210 may then control the LED driver 230 to produce light output corresponding to the particular color temperature and intensity associated with the received value.
In a further implementation of the example system depicted in FIG. 2a, the controller 210 may control the LED driver differently depending on whether or not the particular received value are within a particular zone of values. In a non-limiting example, the controller 210 may determine that a first received value is within a first zone of values. The controller may then determine that the first value corresponds to a first color temperature, and instruct the LED driver 230 to produce light output corresponding to a predetermined intensity (e.g., about 100%) and the first color temperature. The predetermined intensity may be similar for a range of color temperatures (e.g., about 100% for color temperatures between 2700K and 6000K), or may vary over a range of color temperatures (e.g., between about 90% to about 100% for color temperatures between 2700K and 6000K)
For a single-handle implementation, the programming of the controller 210 may follow the flowchart depicted in FIG. 3. FIGS. 4a and 4b may aid understanding of such an implementation. At starting point 300 of FIG. 3, the light output as controlled by the LED driver 230 may be in a default mode at a predetermined intensity and CCT, or it may be at the last known output, or the light fixture may be turned off When the handle 201 receives a user input and provides a related value, the controller 210 may receive the value at step 310. The controller may determine at step 320 if the new value is within a first zone of values, or if it is outside of the zone. If the new value is within the first zone of values (e.g., corresponds to a position within zone 401 of FIG. 4a), the controller at step 340 may determine the CCT level corresponding to the value. At step 345, the controller may control the LED driver 230 to instruct the LED groups 220 to produce light output corresponding to the color temperature level determined in step 340 and to a predetermined intensity level. If the new value is outside of the first zone (e.g., corresponds to a position within zone 402 of FIG. 4a), the controller at step 330 may determine the CCT and intensity levels corresponding to the value. At step 335, the controller may control the LED driver to instruct the LED groups to produce light output corresponding to the CCT and intensity levels determined in step 330. After the light output is produced at step 335 or 345, the flowchart for the controller ends at ending point 360. If a further new value is received from the handle 201 (i.e., the user is still adjusting the handle), the controller may return to starting point 300 to follow the flowchart for the new value. If the received value is not being adjusted, the programming may end at step 360, and the controller may maintain the light output at the present color temperature and intensity. Additional steps relating to default modes, error-checking, or similar logical steps are envisioned, but are omitted from the example flowchart for clarity.
Relevant to a single-handle configuration, an exemplary set of zones and corresponding ranges of intensity and CCT levels are depicted in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The handle 201 may have a range of positions, such as from a maximum point A to a minimum point B. The range of positions may be further divided and associated with zones of values, such as a first zone 401 from the point A to an intermediate point C, and a second zone 402 from point C to point B. The range of positions and associated values within each zone may correspond to an available range of levels for the light output, such as depicted on chart 400. The zone 401 may correspond to a particular range of levels 411, such that adjusting the handle within the zone 401 may adjust the CCT of the light output along the range of levels 411, while the intensity of the light output is maintained at a predetermined level, such as about 100%, or within a predetermined range based on the CCT, such as about 95% to about 100%. The zone 402 may correspond to a second particular range of levels 412, such that adjusting the handle within the zone 402 may cause the intensity and/or CCT of the light output to be adjusted along the range of levels 412.
For example, positioning the handle 201 at or near point B in zone 402 may result in light output having an intensity at or near 0% and a CCT at or near 1800 K, corresponding to about point B' on chart 400. Adjusting the handle to a position between points B and C may result in light output having an intensity between 0% and 100% and a CCT between 1800 K and 2700 K, as shown by the line connecting points B' and C' in range 412. Further adjusting the handle to an example position at or near point C may result in light output having an intensity at or near 100% and a CCT at or near 2700 K, corresponding to about point C' on chart 400. Further adjusting the handle to an example position between points C and A may result in light output having an intensity of about 100% and a CCT between 2700 K and 6000 K as shown by the line connecting points C' and A' in range 411. Further adjusting the handle position to at or near point A may result in light output having an intensity at or near 100% and a CCT at or near 6000 K, corresponding to about point A' on chart 400.
Although not depicted in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the available range of positions of a single-handle implementation may be divided with an additional zone, and values from the handle may adjust a different light parameter of the light output, such as delta-uv (i.e., tint), color (e.g., red-green-blue blends), color rendering index (CRI), circadian stimulus, TM-30 metrics, spatial arrangements, or other parameters, when the handle position is within the additional zone. The controller 210 may control the LEDs 220 to produce light output based on the combination of intensity, color temperature, and/or the additional light parameters.
In a further implementation of the example system depicted in FIG. 2b, the handles 202 and 203 may each have a range of possible positions. A handle position may be associated with a value. A value of the first handle 202 may correspond to a first light parameter while a value of the second handle 203 may correspond to a second light parameter. Additional light parameters could be implemented with a third handle (not shown), or with a zone of values on either the first or second handles. The controller 211 may receive values from each of the handles 202 and 203 as separate inputs or in combination, and the controller may also determine the corresponding light parameters and levels that are associated with the value. For example, the controller may determine that a value received from handle 202 is associated with a particular color temperature and that a value received from handle 203 is associated with a particular intensity. Alternatively or in addition, the controller may determine that a value received from either handle 202 or 203 is associated with both a particular color temperature and a particular intensity. The controller 211 may then control the LED driver 231 to instruct the LED groups 221 to produce light output corresponding to the particular color temperature and intensity.
In a further implementation of the example dual-handle system depicted in FIG. 2b, the controller 211 may control the LED driver 231 such that the light output of the LED groups 221 is based on a combination of the values received from the handles 202 and 203. FIGS. 6a-6e may aid in understanding the exemplary implementation. In such an implementation, the controller 211 may be programmed to allow combinations of a particular range of color temperatures for a particular determined intensity, and/or a particular range of intensities for a particular determined color temperature. A non-limiting example of such allowed combinations is shown in FIG. 6a, such as the range of combinations within the shaded region of chart 600. In this type of implementation, the controller 211 may receive a value from the one or more handles 202 and 203. The controller 211 may determine from the received value a requested value that is associated with a requested intensity and a requested color temperature. The controller 211 may determine whether the requested color temperature and the requested intensity correspond to one of the allowed combinations of color temperature and intensity outputs. If the controller 211 determines that the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to an allowed combination of color temperature output and intensity output (such as point D on in FIG. 6a), the controller 211 may control the LED driver 231 to produce light output corresponding to the allowed combination of color temperature and intensity outputs. If the requested color temperature and requested intensity correspond to a combination outside of the allowed combinations of outputs (such as point E in FIG. 6a), the controller 211 may adjust one or both of the requested color temperature and requested intensity to obtain an allowed combination of color temperature and intensity outputs (such as point F in FIG. 6a), and the controller 211 may control the LED driver 231 to produce light output corresponding to the obtained combination of color temperature and intensity outputs. Adjustments to the requested color temperature and requested intensity to obtain an allowed combination of outputs may include adjusting the requested intensity to an appropriate allowed intensity for the requested color temperature; adjusting the requested color temperature to an appropriate allowed color temperature for the requested intensity; adjusting both the requested color temperature and intensity to an appropriate allowed combination; adjusting either color temperature and/or intensity in a non-linear manner; adjusting either color temperature and/or intensity based on which handle provided the received value; adjusting either color temperature and/or intensity based on additional input from a sensor or switch; or any other suitable type of adjustment.
As a first non-limiting example, the controller 211 may receive a value indicating a requested intensity of about 100% and a requested color temperature of about 2000K (such as point E in FIG. 6a). The controller 211 may determine that the requested intensity and color temperature do not correspond to one of the allowed combinations of outputs. In this example, the controller 211 may adjust the requested color temperature to about 3000K to obtain an allowed combination of intensity and color temperature outputs (such as point F in FIG. 6a).
In a second non-limiting example, based on values received from the first handle 202, the controller 211 may adjust the intensity of the light output across nearly the full range of possible intensity outputs while the color temperature level is set to a cooler value (such as path 610 in FIG. 6b). Additionally or alternatively, based on values received from the second handle 203, the controller 211 may adjust the color temperature across nearly the full range of possible CCT outputs while the intensity is set to a lower value (such as path 630 in FIG. 6d).
A further implementation of the example dual-handle system may comprise receiving a second value subsequent to a first value, while the produced light output corresponds to the first value. The produced light output may also correspond to an allowed combination at a limit of the available allowed combinations. For example, the produced light may correspond to an allowed combination of a maximum intensity and a relatively warm color temperature (such as point X in FIG. 6e). In this implementation, a second requested value may be determined from the second received value, and the second requested value may be associated with a second requested color temperature and a second requested intensity. The controller 211 may determine if the second requested color temperature and the second requested intensity correspond to a second allowed combination of outputs. If the second requested value corresponds to a combination outside of the range of allowed combination (such as point Z in FIG. 6e), the controller 211 may adjust one or both of the second requested color temperature and the second requested intensity to obtain a second allowed combination (such as point Y in FIG. 6e). The controller 211 may control the LED driver 231 to produce light output corresponding to the second allowed combination of outputs.
As described above in relation to FIG. 2b, an example range of allowed combinations of intensity and color temperature outputs is indicated by the shaded area on chart 600 in FIG. 6a. A requested value, as determined from a received value, may be associated with a requested color temperature and requested intensity that are within the range of allowed combinations (such as point D in FIG. 6a), or may be associated with a requested color temperature and requested intensity that are outside of the range of allowed combinations (such as point E in FIG. 6a). A requested value that is associated with a combination outside of the range of allowed combinations may be adjusted to obtain an allowed combination (such as point F in FIG. 6a).
Adjustments to the handles may result in the intensity and/or the color temperature of the light output to be adjusted within the range of allowed combinations, as determined by the controller. For example, if the light output is presently set to a color temperature of 5000K and an intensity of 50% (such as point G in FIG. 6b), adjusting a handle to a new associated intensity may adjust the light output between about 0% to about 100% intensity at the present color temperature of 5000K, as shown on path 610 in FIG. 6b.
As an alternative example, as shown on path 620 in FIG. 6c, if the light output is presently set to a color temperature of 2000K and an intensity of 10% (such as point H in FIG. 6c), adjusting a handle to a new associated intensity may adjust the light output at the present color temperature from about 0% to about 25%. If the handle is adjusted beyond the position associated with about 25% intensity (such as point H' in FIG. 6c), the controller may adjust either or both of the requested intensity and color temperature to obtain an allowed combination, as shown on the path 620.
In an additional example, if the light output is set to a color temperature of 4000K and an intensity of 20% (such as point I in FIG. 6d), adjusting a handle to a new associated color temperature may adjust the light output at the present intensity from about 6000K to about 1800K. If the handle is adjusted beyond the position corresponding to about 1800K (such as point I' in FIG. 6d), the controller may adjust either or both intensity and color temperatures to obtain an allowed combination, as shown on the path 630.
Ranges of allowed combinations of intensity and color temperature outputs may be continuous, as depicted in FIG. 6a, or may be discrete or stepwise, as depicted in FIGS. 7a and 7b. Exemplary ranges of allowed combinations are indicated by the shaded areas on the chart shown in FIG. 7a. Area 740 indicates allowed combinations at intensities between nearly 0% and nearly 100%, with a color temperature of about 5000K. Area 730 indicates allowed combinations at intensities between nearly 0% and nearly 100%, with a color temperature of about 4000K. Area 720 indicates allowed combinations at intensities between nearly 0% and nearly 100%, with a color temperature at or just above about 3000K. Area 710 indicates allowed combinations at intensities between nearly 0% and nearly 100%, with color temperatures between just below about 3000K to about 1800K. A requested value that is outside the ranges of allowed combinations (such as point Q in FIG. 7a) may be adjusted by the controller to obtain an allowed combination (such as point R). A requested value that is an allowed combination (such as point S) but which is followed by a requested value that is outside the ranges of allowed combinations (such as point T) may be adjusted by the controller to obtain an allowed combination in the next available range (such as point V). It will be understood by one skilled in the art that additional ranges, including ranges that include combinations at less than 100% intensity (such as area 750 in FIG. 7b) may be included without departing from the scope of the invention.
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