Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to light fixtures, and particularly to a light fixture including a camera.

<CIT> describes a lighting and communication system having the precharacterizing features of claim <NUM>.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a system having the characterizing features of claim <NUM>. Optional, dependent features are defined in the dependent claims.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. Use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of "consisting of" and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a light fixture <NUM> includes a frame or housing <NUM> and an optic or lens portion <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing <NUM> has a rectangular or square shape and is configured to be supported in a ceiling <NUM> in a recessed position, and a lower surface of the housing <NUM> is flush with the ceiling <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes light emitting elements <NUM>, and the light emitting elements <NUM> are in communication with a power source (e.g., an LED driver - not shown). The light emitting elements <NUM> may include, but are not limited to, incandescent lights, fluorescent lights, halogen lights, metal halide lights, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In the illustrated embodiment, the frame <NUM> further includes a pair of sides <NUM>, a pair of ends <NUM>, and an intermediate portion <NUM> positioned between and parallel to the sides <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate portion <NUM> is aligned with a center longitudinal axis of the fixture <NUM>. The intermediate portion <NUM> is positioned between a pair of light emitting elements <NUM>, each of which are covered by an optic <NUM>.

An input/output (I/O) module <NUM> is supported on the housing <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the I/O module <NUM> is positioned on the intermediate portion <NUM> of the fixture <NUM> and has a rectangular shaped housing or adapter <NUM> configured to fit within the housing <NUM> of the fixture <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the I/O module <NUM> includes a camera <NUM> having a lens. In some embodiments, the camera <NUM> is oriented in a direction that is oblique or perpendicular with respect to the plane of the light fixture <NUM>. In some embodiments, the camera <NUM> is oriented on an inclined angle relative to a surface of the light fixture <NUM> and/or relative to the ceiling. In other embodiments, the lens <NUM> may be oriented in a different manner on the fixture <NUM> (e.g., on a periphery and/or a trim of the fixture <NUM>). The I/O module <NUM> also includes an indicator light <NUM> to indicate a status of the camera (e.g., on, off, ready to connect, connected, etc.).

In some embodiments, the camera <NUM> may be a high-resolution, high-definition camera including a <NUM> lens with a <NUM> degree field of view. As shown in <FIG>, the camera <NUM> may cover an area <NUM> having a rectangular shape (dimensions A and B) In some embodiments, the area <NUM> has dimensions <NUM> feet x <NUM> feet when the module <NUM> is supported at a height of <NUM> feet. In some embodiments, the area <NUM> has dimensions <NUM> feet x <NUM> feet when the module <NUM> is supported at a height of <NUM> feet. In some embodiments, the area <NUM> has dimensions <NUM> feet x <NUM> feet when the I/O module <NUM> is supported at a height of <NUM> feet. In other embodiments, the coverage area may have a different shape and/or size.

Referring again to <FIG>, the I/O module <NUM> further includes a light sensor <NUM> as well as an infrared (IR) emitter <NUM> for low-light and no-light conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, the module <NUM> also includes a microphone <NUM> and a speaker <NUM> supporting two-way audio communication. The module <NUM> supports wireless connection (e.g., Wi-Fi) and supports data encryption (e.g., conforming with AES-<NUM> standard) and secure data transmission (e.g., using Open TLS/SSL). In some embodiments, the module <NUM> is in communication with other cameras and/or other control systems. The module <NUM> is also compatible with mobile and web-based applications as well as tiered cloud services.

In some embodiments, the I/O module <NUM> is in communication (e.g., wireless communication) with a computer <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments the computer <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> electrically and/or communicatively coupled to an input/output (I/O) interface <NUM> and a user-interface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> includes a plurality of electrical and electronic components that provide power, operational control, and protection to the components and modules within the controller <NUM> and/or other components of the system. For example, the controller <NUM> includes an electronic processor <NUM> (for example, a microprocessor or another suitable programmable device) and memory <NUM>. The memory <NUM> includes, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area can include combinations of different types of memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM). Various non-transitory computer readable media, for example, magnetic, optical, physical, or electronic memory may be used. The electronic processor <NUM> is communicatively coupled to the memory <NUM> and executes software instructions that are stored in the memory <NUM>, or stored on another non-transitory computer readable medium such as another memory or a disc. The software may include one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions.

The I/O interface <NUM> may be configured to input and output data from the computer <NUM> to outside device(s), for example, through a network <NUM>. The network <NUM> may be, for example, a wide area network (WAN) (e.g., a TCP/IP based network, a cellular network, such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications [GSM] network, a General Packet Radio Service [GPRS] network, a Code Division Multiple Access [CDMA] network, an Evolution-Data Optimized [EV-DO] network, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution [EDGE] network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a <NUM> network, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications [DECT] network, a Digital AMPS [IS-<NUM>/TDMA] network, or an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network [iDEN] network, etc.). In other embodiments, the network is, for example, a local area network (LAN), a neighborhood area network (NAN), a home area network (HAN), or personal area network (PAN) employing any of a variety of communications protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc..

The user-interface <NUM> may be configured to output and/or receive information to/from a user. In some embodiments, the user-interface <NUM> includes a display (for example, a primary display, a secondary display, etc.), an indicator (for example, a light-emitting diode (LED)), and/or input devices (for example, touch-screen displays, a plurality of knobs, dials, switches, buttons, etc.). The display may be, for example, a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a light-emitting diode ("LED") display, an organic LED ("OLED") display, an electroluminescent display ("ELD"), a surface-conduction electron-emitter display ("SED"), a field emission display ("FED"), a thin-film transistor ("TFT") LCD, etc. Although illustrated as being included in, or along with, the main computer <NUM>, in other embodiments, the user-interface <NUM> may be included in, or part of, the one or more apparatuses <NUM>.

In general operation, the computer <NUM> receives information (for example, through the I/O interface <NUM> and the network <NUM>) from one or more modules <NUM>. In some embodiments, the computer <NUM> receives image/video data via the camera <NUM> and/or sound data via the microphone <NUM>. The computer <NUM> processes the information and outputs the information to a user via the user-interface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the computer <NUM> outputs the information to other systems (for example, other main computers, a main server, external computers, tablets, smartphones, etc.). In some embodiments, the computer <NUM> outputs information via a short message service (SMS) and/or push notifications.

The integration of the I/O module <NUM> with a light fixture provides a lighting-based wireless video security solution and may be implemented in a variety of locations, including but not limited to offices, corridors, stairwells, escalators, cafeterias, common areas, mechanical/electrical rooms, entrances/exits, loading/receiving docks, datacenters, IT closets, bank counters, drive-throughs, classrooms, laboratories, parking garages, factory floors, warehouses, secure storage areas, and points of sale.

In addition, the I/O module <NUM> (or a network of I/O modules <NUM>) also provides lighting-based imaging to monitor the occurrence, frequency, and degree of human interaction/contact with various surfaces (e.g., desks, countertops, floor areas, doors/door handles, other equipment, etc.). The information may be used to determine which locations within a facility need to be sanitized and how frequently it needs to be sanitized. In addition, the I/O module <NUM> (or a network of I/O modules <NUM>) may be used to monitor utilization (e.g., pedestrian traffic within a space). Incorporation of the I/O module <NUM> within a light fixture (typically in an overhead location) permits the module to cover large areas.

Furthermore, when implemented within a network, one or more I/O modules <NUM> can be used to develop a combined overhead view of a space. An example of such a system is described in <CIT>. The information provided by the system of modules <NUM> can be used to generate a representation of the utilization/interaction of personnel in the covered area <NUM> by rendering an overlay of the area <NUM> with an array of colored regions that correspond to the degree of activity over a predetermined time interval (similar to a heat map). Furthermore, the controller <NUM> may, based on the information provided by the module(s) <NUM> regarding an amount of human interaction over a predetermined time interval, execute a control operation having an antimicrobial component. For example, the controller <NUM> can transmit a report to a system manager to apply a disinfectant agent to a particular region of the covered area <NUM>. In another example, the controller <NUM> can transmit a signal to operate a dispenser or cleaning device to apply a disinfectant agent in a particular region of the covered area.

In other embodiments, the I/O module <NUM> may be incorporated into a different type of light fixture. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the light fixture may be a linear luminaire <NUM> including a light emitting element <NUM>, and optic <NUM>, and an end cap <NUM> on each end of the luminaire <NUM>. The I/O module <NUM> may be positioned on one of the end caps <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A system comprising:
a luminaire including,
a housing (<NUM>), and
a light emitting element (<NUM>) supported on the housing (<NUM>), the light emitting element (<NUM>) configured to be in electrical communication with a power source;
an input/output device (<NUM>) supported on the housing (<NUM>) and configured to detect activity in an area proximate the luminaire, the input/output device (<NUM>) including a camera (<NUM>) having a lens; and a controller (<NUM>) in communication with the input/output device (<NUM>), the controller (<NUM>) including an electronic processor (<NUM>) and memory (<NUM>), characterized in that the input/output device (<NUM>) is configured to detect an amount of interaction in the area proximate the luminaire, and the processor (<NUM>) receives the information and generates a map of the area proximate the luminaire with variations in the amount of interaction represented by different colored regions.