Patent ID: 8035513

Claim:
An apparatus configured to operate a plurality of lamps at a plurality of illumination levels, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of lamps; a plurality of sensor circuits, individual circuits of the plurality of sensor circuits configured to operate at least one of the plurality of lamps independently of others of the plurality of sensor circuits and independent of control by a common controller for the plurality of sensor circuits, individual sensor circuits comprising: a motion sensor which detects motion and which effects motion sensor signals responsive to detecting motion, the motion sensor signals effective to set intensity levels of the at least one of the plurality of lamps via a remote operation command; a photocell sensor which detects a low ambient illumination level and effects photocell sensor signals responsive to the detection of light, the photocell sensor signals being effective to set the intensity levels of the at least one of the plurality of lamps via the remote operation command; a transmitter circuit which wirelessly transmits the remote operation command to the at least one of the plurality of lamps responsive to the motion sensor signals and the photocell sensor signals, the command being transmitted via a wireless unidirectional communication link from the transmitter circuit to the at least one of the plurality of lamps; the remote operation command comprising an instruction to cause light emitted from the at least one of the plurality of lamps to occur at one of a plurality of light illumination intensity levels upon illumination of the at least one of the plurality of lamps, and at least one motion sensor signal and at least one photocell sensor signal configured to operate the at least one of the plurality of lamps independently of the other, the photocell sensor signal affecting the intensity of the illumination level of the at least one of the plurality of lamps irrespective of whether the motion detector sends a signal upon detection of motion.