Patent ID: 12205143

PARTS LISTING

100Lighting System104A-X Lighting System Elements107Provisioning Device108Network115A-X Wireless Advertisements120Space121A-P Luminaires122A-D Lighting Control Devices123A-D Occupancy, Daylight, or Audio Sensors130Memory131Processor132Network Communication Interface133Driver Circuit134Illumination Light Source135Illumination Lighting136Flash Programming137A-X Network Addresses140MCU146Switches or Touch Screen Display155Drive/Sense Circuitry156Detectors190Memory191Processor192Wireless Communication Interface194Automatic Curtsy Programming196A-X Signal Strengths197Predetermined Time Period198A-X Flashing Commands199Image Sensor (e.g., Camera)200Automatic Curtsy Protocol300A-B Location301A-B Room305A-B Lighting Control Group/Zone427A-P Location Coordinates498A-B Physical Location

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

The term “luminaire,” as used herein, is intended to encompass essentially any type of device that processes energy to generate or supply artificial light, for example, for general illumination of a space intended for use of occupancy or observation, typically by a living organism that can take advantage of or be affected in some desired manner by the light emitted from the device. However, a luminaire may provide light for use by automated equipment, such as sensors/monitors, robots, etc. that may occupy or observe the illuminated space, instead of or in addition to light provided for an organism. However, it is also possible that one or more luminaires in or on a particular premises have other lighting purposes, such as signage for an entrance or to indicate an exit. In most examples, the luminaire(s) illuminate a space or area of a premises to a level useful for a human in or passing through the space, e.g., of sufficient intensity for general illumination of a room or corridor in a building or of an outdoor space such as a street, sidewalk, parking lot or performance venue. The actual source of illumination light in or supplying the light for a luminaire may be any type of artificial light emitting device, several examples of which are included in the discussions below.

The term “lighting system,” as used herein, is intended to encompass essentially any type of system that either includes a number of such luminaires coupled together for data communication and/or luminaire(s) coupled together for data communication with one or more control devices, such as wall switches, control panels, remote controls, central lighting or building control systems, servers.

Terms such as “artificial lighting” or “illumination lighting” as used herein, are intended to encompass essentially any type of lighting that a device produces light by processing of electrical power to generate the light. A luminaire for an artificial lighting or illumination lighting application, for example, may take the form of a lamp, light fixture, or other luminaire arrangement that incorporates a suitable light source, where the lighting device component or source(s) by itself contains no intelligence or communication capability. The illumination light output of an artificial illumination type luminaire, for example, may have an intensity and/or other characteristic(s) that satisfy an industry acceptable performance standard for a general lighting application.

The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any logical, optical, physical or electrical connection, link or the like by which signals or light produced or supplied by one system element are imparted to another coupled element. Unless described otherwise, coupled elements or devices are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediate components, elements or communication media that may modify, manipulate or carry the light or signals

Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings and discussed below.

FIG.1depicts a lighting system100that includes a provisioning device107for fast provisioning of the lighting system elements104A-X via automatic curtsy. Provisioning device107of a user (e.g., a human or a robot) can be any computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet computing device, wearables (e.g., hearing aid, Google Glass, smart watch, or implantables), or laptop/personal computing device. During provisioning, the provisioning device107assigns a respective network address137A-X to the lighting system elements104A-X and forms lighting control groups/zones305A-B (seeFIG.3).

Lighting system elements104A-X of the lighting system100are located in a space120, such as a building. In the example, lighting system elements104A-P are luminaires121A-P; lighting system elements104Q-T are lighting control devices122A-D; and lighting system elements104A-U-X are occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-D. Luminaires121A-X illuminate the space120of a premises to a level useful for a human in or passing through the space120, e.g. general illumination of the space120, such as a warehouse, room, or a corridor in a building; or of an outdoor space such as a street, sidewalk, parking lot or performance venue. Lighting control devices122A-D can be wall switches or touch screen devices to turn on/off or dim luminaires121A-X. Occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-D can enable controls for on/off, occupancy, and dimming of the luminaires121A-P.

As shown, luminaires121A-P include a light source134, such as an illumination light source to emit illumination lighting135for the space120; and an optional driver circuit133coupled to the illumination light source134to control operation of the illumination light source134. In some examples, the luminaires121A-P may include a ballast instead of the driver circuit133depending on the type of illumination light source134(e.g., for a fluorescent or incandescent light bulb).

Luminaires121A-P further include a network communication interface132configured for wireless communication, for example, over the network108(e.g., a short range wireless network), with the provisioning device107. The luminaires121A-P further include a memory130; and a processor131coupled to the illumination light source134, network communication interface132, and the memory130. In addition, the luminaires121A-X further include a respective network address137A-P stored in the memory130, which may be assigned during provisioning by the provisioning device107. Luminaires121A-P further include flash programming136in the memory130and execution of the flash programming130by the processor131causes the respective luminaire121A-P to flash the light source134in response to receiving a flashing command198A-P from the provisioning device107.

As shown, each of the occupancy, daylight, and audio sensors123A-D includes an on-board micro-control unit (MCU)140that includes a memory (volatile and non-volatile) and a central processing unit (CPU). Occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-D have the MCU140coupled to drive/sense circuitry155operable to control detectors156and a network communication interface132. The memory of the MCU140of the occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-D stores network addresses137U-X which may be assigned during provisioning by the provisioning device107.

The circuitry, hardware, and software of the lighting control devices122A-D shown are similar to the occupancy, daylight, or audio, sensors123A-D. Lighting control devices122A-D can be a wall switch where the drive/sense circuitry155responds to switches146. Switches146can be an on/off switch, dimmer switch, or set scene. Switches146can be a single shared button switch for on/off, dimming, or set scene functions. A button station can include various button settings that can have the lighting control settings adjusted, for example, four buttons can be arranged with two longitudinal buttons (north-south) and two lateral buttons (east-west). Alternatively, lighting control devices122A-D can be a touchscreen device in which lighting control setting adjustments are inputted via a user interface application (not shown) through manipulation or gestures on a touch screen display146. As shown, the memory of the MCU140of the lighting control devices122A-D stores network addresses137Q-T.

FIG.2is an automatic curtsy protocol200for the lighting system100that is implemented by the provisioning device107and lighting system elements104A-X. Automatic curtsy protocol200enables fast provisioning of the lighting system elements104A-X into lighting control groups/zones305A-B (seeFIG.3).

In the example ofFIG.2, the automatic curtsy protocol200is implemented in the automatic curtsy programming194of the provisioning device107and the flash programming136of the lighting system elements104A-X, such as luminaires121A-P. Execution of the automatic curtsy programming194stored in a memory190by a processor191of the provisioning device107configures the provisioning device107to implement blocks S205, S210, S215, S220, S225, and S230described below. Execution of flash programming136stored in a memory130by a processor131of the luminaires121A-P, causes the luminaires121A-P to implement block S200and S222described below.

Beginning in block S200, the automatic curtsy protocol200includes transmitting, via a network communication interface132of lighting system elements104A-X, wireless advertisements115A-X. Moving to block S205, the automatic curtsy protocol200further includes receiving, via the wireless communication interface192of the provisioning device107, wireless advertisements115A-X from the plurality of lighting system elements104A-X. Continuing to block S210, the automatic curtsy protocol200further includes determining, via the provisioning device107, signal strengths196A-X to the lighting system elements104A-X based on the wireless advertisements115A-X or reported signal levels between the lighting system elements104A-X. Signal strengths196A-X can be between the provisioning device107and the lighting system elements104A-X based on the wireless advertisements115A-X. Alternatively or additionally, the lighting system elements104A-X are ranked using reported signal levels between the lighting system elements104A-X. So instead of using the signal levels from lighting system elements104A-D to the provisioning device107as signal strengths196A-D, the signal levels that lighting system element104A records of lighting system elements104B-D to lighting system element104A can be used; signal levels that lighting system element104B records of lighting system elements104A,104C, and104D can be used; etc.

Proceeding now to block S215, the automatic curtsy protocol200further includes forming a lighting control group305A by the following steps. Initially, in block S220, iteratively transmitting, via the provisioning device107, a flashing command198A-X to each lighting system element104A-X to cause a light source134on a lighting system element104A to flash in order of the determined signal strengths196A-X from highest to lowest. Next, in block S225, determining whether the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing is being added to the lighting control group305A. Finishing now, in block S230, assigning, via the provisioning device107, some or all of the lighting system elements104A-X to the lighting control group305A based on the determination. Referring back to block S222, the automatic curtsy protocol further includes in response to receiving the flashing command198A-X, flashing the light source134of the lighting system elements104A-X.

FIG.3depicts the provisioning device107being carried through the space120, including a plurality of different rooms301A-B, during the automatic curtsy protocol200. As shown, the provisioning device107is carried in various locations300A-B in the space120. In the example ofFIG.3, the locations300A-B include two different rooms301A,301B. A first room301A includes luminaires121A-H, lighting control devices122A-B, and occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-B. A second room301B includes luminaires121I-P, lighting control devices122C-D, and occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123C-D. Accordingly, in the automatic curtsy protocol200, the lighting control groups/zones305A-N (and assigned network addresses137A-X) can be tied to locations300A-B of the lighting system elements104A-X.

To tie the locations300A-B of the lighting system elements104A-X to lighting control groups/zones305A-B, the automatic curtsy protocol200can include the following. In a first example, the block S225(seeFIG.2) of determining whether the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing is being added to the lighting control group305A includes: awaiting, on the provisioning device107, for a selection of the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing for addition to the lighting control group305A. In a second example, the block S225(seeFIG.2) of determining whether the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing is being added to the lighting control group305A further includes: based on expiry of a predetermined time period197during which the lighting system element104A is not selected for addition to the lighting control group305A, excluding the lighting system element104A from the lighting control group305A. In a third example, the block S225(seeFIG.2) of determining whether the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing is being added to the lighting control group305A further includes: based on the lighting system element104A being selected for addition to the lighting control group305A within a predetermined time period197, adding the lighting system element104A to the lighting control group305A.

In a fourth example, the block S210(seeFIG.2) of determining whether the lighting system element104A with the light source134flashing is being added to the lighting control group305A includes the following. First, detecting, via an image sensor199of the provisioning device107, the light source134of the lighting system element104A is flashing. Second, in response to detecting the light source134of the lighting system element104A is flashing, determining that the lighting system element104A is in a room301A of the lighting control group305A and is being added to the lighting control group305A.

FIG.4is a schematic of the lighting system100ofFIGS.1-3that includes a visual layout of a plurality of luminaires121A-P as represented by a respective set of location coordinates427A-P. Locations300A-B of the luminaires121A-P and other lighting system elements104Q-X can be defined for room level programming, particularly lighting control groups/zones305A-B.

InFIG.4, eight luminaires121A-H, two lighting control devices122A-B, and two occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-B form a first lighting control group/zone305A located in a first room301A that forms a first lighting control group/zone305A. Lighting control devices122A-B and sensors123A-B control all of the luminaires121A-H in the first room301A.

As further shown, eight other luminaires121I-P, two other lighting control devices122C-D, and two other occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123C-D form a second group/zone305B located in a second room301B. Lighting control devices122C-D and sensors123C-D control all of the luminaires121I-P in the second room301B. Hence, each lighting control group/zone305A-B includes a respective plurality of member lighting system elements104A-L (twelve members each).

Initially, the lighting system elements104A-X may not know which of the other lighting system elements104A-X are near and in the same room301A-B. Hence, the user can utilize the provisioning device107and associated automatic curtsy programming194to find uncommissioned luminaires121A-P, lighting control devices122A-D, and occupancy, daylight, or audio sensors123A-D; add them to the space120; and exchange encryption keys. The user, such as an installer, can specify with the automatic curtsy programming194that luminaires121A-H are in same room301A along with lighting control devices122A-B and sensors123A-B after observing the light source134of those devices flashing. For example, if the user wants luminaire121A in the lighting control group305A, the installer picks or ignores the luminaire121A via the provisioning device107. Then a moment in time later (e.g., a few seconds), automatic curtsy programming194starts curtsying the luminaire121B, and so forth.

Instead of waiting for the user to pick lighting system elements104A-Z to add to the lighting control group/zone305A, the automatic curtsy programming194can pick the strongest determined signal strength196A-X and issue the flashing command198A-X to those lighting system elements104A-X in order of strongest to weakest. This is because luminaires121A-H with a stronger signal strength196A-H are more likely to be in a first room301A when the provisioning device107is being carried through the first room301A. When the provisioning device107is being carried through the first room301A, luminaires121I-P are likely to have very weak signal strengths196I-P. In contrast, luminaires121I-P are likely to have very strong signal strengths196I-P when the provisioning device107is being carried through the second room301A; and luminaires121A-H are likely to have very weak signal strengths196A-H. Based on this observation, the automatic curtsy protocol200, can greatly speed up the time needed to provision the lighting system100and associated lighting system elements104A-Z to form the lighting control groups305A-B. Accordingly, the automatic curtsy programming194groups luminaires121A-H into group/zone305A together to act at the same time, as well as assigns lighting control devices122A-B and sensors123A-B to the lighting control group/zone305A.

Alternatively, or additionally, automatic curtsy programming194of the provisioning device107can detect via an image sensor199that the light source134is flashing on the luminaire121B and can watch to automatically pick the luminaire121B to add to the lighting control group305A. Hence, automatic curtsy programming194of the provisioning device107can start curtsying luminaires121A-P in the rooms301A-B and detect via the image sensor199the following. First, any luminaires121A-H with a flashing light source134must be in a first room301A and hence assigned to the first lighting control group305A. Second, any luminaires121I-P with a flashing light source134must be in a second room301B and hence assigned to the second lighting control group305B. Thus, automatic curtsy protocol200can be a combination of automatic curtsy without the user having to take any action to assign luminaires121A-P to the lighting control groups305A-B.

After commissioning and assigning luminaires121A-H, lighting control devices122A-B. and sensors123A-B to the first lighting control group/zone305A, the commissioning device107can program the lighting sequence of operation and the included behaviors into the luminaires121A-H, lighting control devices122A-B, and sensors123A-B over the network108.

Similarly, automatic curtsy programming194finds and groups luminaires121I-P into the second lighting control group/zone305B together to act at the same time, as well as assigns lighting control devices122C-D and sensors123C-D to the second lighting control group/zone305B. After assigning these devices to the second lighting control group/zone305B, provisioning device107programs the lighting sequence of operation and the included behaviors into the luminaires121I-P, lighting control devices122C-D, and sensors123C-D over the network108.

Automatic curtsy programming194can also tie the network addresses137A-X to location coordinates427A-X (seeFIG.4). For example, locations300A-B can be defined on a more granular basis, such as location coordinates427A-P in the space120, to know exactly where the lighting system elements104A-X are positioned in the rooms301A-B. Yet alternatively, the rooms301A-B may subdivide into two sides so the location coordinates427A-P may be more specific to each room301A-B, but not completely specific to each luminaire121A-P.

As shown, the respective set of location coordinates427A-P are located on a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, which includes an X axis for horizontal (e.g., lateral) coordinate position and a Y axis for a vertical coordinate position (e.g., longitudinal). An X location coordinate component of the respective set of location coordinates427A-P ranges from 1 to 4 in the example, and the Y location coordinate component of the respective set of location coordinates127A-P ranges from 1 to 4. The X location coordinate and the Y location coordinate cover the entire floor area of the space120, which maps each of the luminaires121A-X to more specific areas of each room301A-B.

In the example ofFIGS.1-4, lighting system elements104A-X, such as luminaires121A-P, lighting control devices122A-D, and sensors123A-D can communicate with the provisioning device107of the user to determine a physical location498A-B of the lighting system elements104A-X in the space120. Based on the determined physical location498A-B, the luminaires121A-P, lighting control devices122A-D, and sensors123A-D can be assigned to a group/zone305A-B to receive behaviors of a lighting sequence of operation for a corresponding room301A-B.

Any of the functionality of the automatic curtsy protocol200, including automatic curtsy programming194described herein for the provisioning device107and the flash programming136for the lighting system elements104A-X, etc. can be embodied in one more applications or firmware as described previously. According to some embodiments, “function,” “functions,” “application,” “applications,” “instruction,” “instructions,” or “programming” are program(s) that execute functions defined in the programs. Various programming languages can be employed to create one or more of the applications, structured in a variety of manners, such as object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Objective-C, Java, or C++) or procedural programming languages (e.g., C or assembly language). In a specific example, a third-party application (e.g., an application developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform) may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such as IOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or another mobile operating system. In this example, the third-party application can invoke API calls provided by the operating system to facilitate functionality described herein.

In the examples above, the lighting system elements104A-X, provisioning device107, etc. each include a processor. As used herein, a processor131,191, is a hardware circuit having elements structured and arranged to perform one or more processing functions, typically various data processing functions. Although discrete logic components could be used, the examples utilize components forming a programmable central processing unit (CPU). A processor131,191for example includes or is part of one or more integrated circuit (IC) chips incorporating the electronic elements to perform the functions of the CPU.

The applicable processor131,191executes programming or instructions to configure the lighting system elements104A-X, provisioning device107, etc. to perform various operations. For example, such operations may include various general operations (e.g., a clock function, recording and logging operational status and/or failure information) as well as various system-specific operations (e.g., daylighting and/or energy management) functions. Although a processor131,191may be configured by use of hardwired logic, typical processors in lighting devices or in light responsive devices are general processing circuits configured by execution of programming, e.g., instructions and any associated setting data from the memories130,190shown or from other included storage media and/or received from remote storage media.

In the examples above, the lighting system elements104A-X, provisioning device107, etc. each include a memory. The memory130,190may include a flash memory (non-volatile or persistent storage), a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM) (volatile storage). The RAM serves as short term storage for instructions and data being handled by the processors131,191e.g., as a working data processing memory. The flash memory typically provides longer term storage.

Hence, a machine-readable medium may take many forms of tangible storage medium. Non-volatile storage media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the storage devices in any computer(s) or the like, such as may be used to implement the client device, media gateway, transcoder, etc. shown in the drawings. Volatile storage media include dynamic memory, such as main memory of such a computer platform. Tangible transmission media include coaxial cables; copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus within a computer system. Carrier-wave transmission media may take the form of electric or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media therefore include for example: a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD or DVD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards paper tape, any other physical storage medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave transporting data or instructions, cables or links transporting such a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer may read programming code and/or data. Many of these forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to a processor for execution.

In the examples above, the lighting system elements104A-X, provisioning device107, etc. each include a network communication interface132,192for wired or wireless communication over one or more network(s)108. The network(s)108interconnects the links to/from the network communication interfaces of the devices, so as to provide data communications amongst the lighting system elements104A-X, provisioning device107, etc. Network(s)108may support data communication by equipment at the premises via wired (e.g. cable or fiber) media or via wireless (e.g. WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, LiFi, IrDA, etc.) or combinations of wired and wireless technology.

Unless otherwise stated, any and all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, angles, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims that follow, are approximate, not exact. Such amounts are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain. For example, unless expressly stated otherwise, a parameter value or the like may vary by as much as ±5% or as much as ±10% from the stated amount.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.

The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.

It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” “containing,” “contain”, “contains,” “with,” “formed of,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises or includes a list of elements or steps does not include only those elements or steps but may include other elements or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various examples for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed examples require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, the subject matter to be protected lies in less than all features of any single disclosed example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present concepts.