Patent Grant
7253566
The present invention relates to lighting systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for computer-based control of various light sources that may be coupled together to form a networked lighting system.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor-based light sources often employed in low-power instrumentation and appliance applications for indication purposes. LEDs conventionally are available in a variety of colors (e.g., red, green, yellow, blue, white), based on the types of materials used in their fabrication. This color variety of LEDs recently has been exploited to create novel LED-based light sources having sufficient light output for new space-illumination applications. For example, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038, multiple differently colored LEDs may be combined in a lighting fixture, wherein the intensity of the LEDs of each different color is independently varied to produce a number of different hues. In one example of such an apparatus, red, green, and blue LEDs are used in combination to produce literally hundreds of different hues from a single lighting fixture. Additionally, the relative intensities of the red, green, and blue LEDs may be computer controlled, thereby providing a programmable multi-color light source. Such LED-based light sources have been employed in a variety of lighting applications in which variable color lighting effects are desired.
One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, comprising acts of: A) transmitting data to an independently addressable controller coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, the data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the controller to the at least one other controllable device, and B) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, comprising acts of: A) receiving data for a plurality of independently addressable controllers, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, B) selecting at least a portion of the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device, and C) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the selected portion of the data.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a lighting system, comprising a plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled together to form a network, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, and at least one processor coupled to the network and programmed to transmit data to the plurality of independently addressable controllers, the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including a plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled together to form a network, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device. The apparatus comprises at least one processor having an output to couple the at least one processor to the network, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to the plurality of independently addressable controllers, the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device. The apparatus comprises at least one controller having at least first and second output ports to couple the at least one controller to at least the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device, respectively, the at least one controller also having at least one data port to receive data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the first output port to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the second output port to the at least one other controllable device, the at least one controller constructed to control at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method in a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source. The method comprises an act of: A) transmitting data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data being arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method in a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source. The method comprises acts of: A) receiving at the first independently addressable device first data for at least the first and second independently addressable devices, B) removing at least a first data portion from the first data to form second data, the first data portion corresponding to first control information for the first independently addressable device. and C) transmitting from the first independently addressable device the second data.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a lighting system, comprising at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source, and at least one processor coupled to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source. The apparatus comprises at least one processor having an output to couple the at least one processor to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least first and second independently controllable devices, at least one device of the independently controllable devices including at least one light source. The apparatus comprises at least one controller having at least one output port to couple the at least one controller to at least the first independently controllable device and at least one data port to receive first data for at least the first and second independently controllable devices, the at least one controller constructed to remove at least a first data portion from the first data to form second data and to transmit the second data via the at least one data port, the first data portion corresponding to first control information for at least the first independently controllable device.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a lighting system, comprising an LED lighting system adapted to receive a data stream through a first data port, generate at least one illumination condition based on at least a first portion of the data stream, and communicate at least a second portion of the data stream through a second data port. The lighting system also comprises a housing adapted to retain the LED lighting system and electrically associate the first and second data ports with a data connection comprising an electrical conductor with at least one discontinuous section having a first side and a second side that is electrically isolated from the first side. The housing is adapted such that the first data port is electrically associated with the first side of the discontinuous section and the second data port is electrically associated with the second side of the discontinuous section.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus, comprising a data recognition circuit adapted to process at least a first portion of a data stream received by the apparatus, an illumination control circuit coupled to the data recognition circuit and adapted to generate at least one illumination control signal in response to the processed first portion of the data stream, and an output circuit adapted to transmit from the apparatus at least a second portion of the data stream.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of controlling a plurality of lighting systems, comprising acts of communicating a data stream to a first lighting system of the plurality of lighting systems, receiving the data stream at the first lighting system and reading at least a first portion of the data stream, generating at least one lighting effect at the first lighting system in response to the first portion of the data stream, and communicating at least a second portion of the data stream to a second lighting system of the plurality of lighting systems.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit to control at least one illumination source, comprising a data reception circuit, an illumination control signal generation circuit coupled to the data reception circuit, and a clock generating circuit coupled to the data reception circuit. The data reception circuit is adapted to extract information from serial data input to the integrated circuit in coordination with a clock pulse generated by the clock generating circuit, and the illumination control signal generation circuit is adapted to generate at least one illumination control signal to control the at least one illumination source based on the extracted information.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit, adapted to read serial data input to the integrated circuit so as to directly control at least one LED, wherein the integrated circuit is adapted to read the serial data without the aid of an external frequency reference.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit, comprising a data reception circuit, a data transmission circuit, an illumination control signal generation circuit, and a voltage reference circuit, wherein the voltage reference circuit is adapted to regulate current provided by the illumination control generation circuit.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus adapted to process serial data and to control at least one LED in response to the serial data, comprising a counter circuit adapted to measure a first period between a first edge of a first polarity of the serial data and a second edge of the first polarity of the serial data. The counter circuit is further adapted to measure a second period between the first edge of the first polarity of the serial data and a first edge of a second polarity of the serial data. The counter circuit is further adapted to compare the second period with a predetermined fraction of the first period to determine if the serial data is in a first state.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit adapted to read serial data and to control at least one LED in response to the serial data, comprising a counter circuit adapted to measure a number of data transitions of the serial data within a predetermined period and determine if the data transitions represent a first data state.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an integrated circuit, comprising a power input pin adapted to receive external power, a ground pin adapted to connect the integrated circuit to a common reference potential, a reference pin adapted to connect to an external component to provide the integrated circuit a reference from which to regulate at least one LED, a serial data input pin for receiving serial data, a serial data output pin for transmitting serial data, and at least one switchable constant current output pin adapted to control the at least one LED.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of processing serial data to control at least one LED in response to the serial data, comprising acts of: (A) measuring a number of data transitions of the serial data within a predetermined period; and (B) determining if the data transitions represent a first data state based on the act (A).
The present invention is directed generally to networked lighting systems, and to various methods and apparatus for computer-based control of various light sources and other devices that may be coupled together to form a networked lighting system.
For example, in one embodiment, a plurality of LED-based lighting systems are arranged as computer controllable “light strings.” Applications contemplated for such light strings include, but are not limited to, decorative and entertainment-oriented lighting applications (e.g., Christmas tree lights, display lights, theme park lighting, video and other game arcade lighting, etc.). Via computer control, one or more such light strings may provide a variety of complex temporal and color-changing lighting effects. In one aspect of this embodiment, lighting data is communicated in a given light string in a serial manner, according to a variety of different data transmission and processing schemes. In another aspect, individual lighting systems of a light string are coupled together via a variety of different conduit configurations to provide for easy coupling and arrangement of multiple light sources constituting the light string. In yet another aspect, small LED-based lighting systems capable of being arranged in a light string configuration are manufactured as integrated circuits including data processing circuitry and control circuitry for LED light sources, and are packaged along with LEDs for convenient coupling to a conduit to connect multiple lighting systems.
In another embodiment of the invention, conventional light sources are employed in combination with LED-based (e.g., variable color) light sources to realize enhanced lighting effects. For example, in one embodiment, one or more computer-controllable (e.g., microprocessor-based) light sources conventionally used in various space-illumination applications and LED-based light sources are combined in a single fixture (hereinafter, a “combined” fixture), wherein the conventional light sources and the LED-based sources may be controlled independently. In another embodiment, dedicated computer-controllable light fixtures including conventional space-illumination light sources and LED-based light fixtures, as well as combined fixtures, may be distributed throughout a space and coupled together as a network to facilitate computer control of the fixtures.
In one embodiment of the invention, controllers (which may, for example, be microprocessor-based) are associated with both LED-based light sources and conventional light sources (e.g., fluorescent light sources) such that the light sources are independently controllable. More specifically, according to one embodiment, individual light sources or groups of light sources are coupled to independently controllable output ports of one or more controllers, and a number of such controllers may in turn be coupled together in various configurations to form a networked lighting system. According to one aspect of this embodiment, each controller coupled to form the networked lighting system is “independently addressable,” in that it may receive data for multiple controllers coupled to the network, but selectively responds to data intended for one or more light sources coupled to it. By virtue of the independently addressable controllers, individual light sources or groups of light sources coupled to the same controller or to different controllers may be controlled independently of one another based on various control information (e.g., data) transported throughout the network. In one aspect of this embodiment, one or more other controllable devices (e.g., various actuators, such as relays, switches, motors, etc.) also may be coupled to output ports of one or more controllers and independently controlled.
According to one embodiment, a networked lighting system may be an essentially one-way system, in that data is transmitted to one or more independently addressable controllers to control various light sources and/or other devices via one or more output ports of the controllers. In another embodiment, controllers also may have one or more independently identifiable input ports to receive information (e.g., from an output of a sensor) that may be accessed via the network and used for various control purposes. In this aspect, the networked lighting system may be considered as a two-way system, in that data is both transmitted to and received from one or more independently addressable controllers. It should be appreciated, however, that depending on a given network topology (i.e., interconnection of multiple controllers) as discussed further below, according to one embodiment, a controller may both transmit and receive data on the network regardless of the particular configuration of its ports.
In sum, a lighting system controller according to one embodiment of the invention may include one or more independently controllable output ports to provide control signals to light sources or other devices, based on data received by the controller. The controller output ports are independently controllable in that each controller receiving data on a network selectively responds to and appropriately routes particular portions of the data intended for that controller's output ports. In one aspect of this embodiment, a lighting system controller also may include one or more independently identifiable input ports to receive output signals from various sensors (e.g., light sensors, sound or pressure sensors, heat sensors, motion sensors); the input ports are independently identifiable in that the information obtained from these ports may be encoded by the controller as particularly identifiable data on the network. In yet another aspect, the controller is “independently addressable,” in that the controller may receive data intended for multiple controllers coupled to the network, but selectively exchanges data with (i.e., receives data from and/or transmits data to) the network based on the one or more input and/or output ports it supports.
According to one embodiment of the invention in which one or more sensors are employed, a networked lighting system may be implemented to facilitate automated computer-controlled operation of multiple light sources and devices in response to various feedback stimuli, for a variety of space-illumination applications. For example, automated lighting applications for home, office, retail environments and the like may be implemented based on a variety of feedback stimuli (e.g., changes in temperature or natural ambient lighting, sound or music, human movement or other motion, etc.).
According to various embodiments, multiple controllers may be coupled together in a number of different configurations (i.e., topologies) to form a networked lighting system. For example, according to one embodiment, data including control information for multiple light sources (and optionally other devices), as well as data corresponding to information received from one or more sensors, may be transported throughout the network between one or more central or “hub” processors, and multiple controllers each coupled to one or more light sources, other controllable devices, and/or sensors. In another embodiment, a network of multiple controllers may not include a central hub processor exchanging information with the controllers; rather, the controllers may be coupled together to exchange information with each other in a de-centralized manner.
More generally, in various embodiments, a number of different network topologies, data protocols, and addressing schemes may be employed in networked lighting systems according to the present invention. For example, according to one embodiment, one or more particular controller addresses may be manually pre-assigned to each controller on the network (e.g., stored in nonvolatile memory of the controller). Alternatively, the system may be “self-learning” in that one or more central processors (e.g., servers) may query (i.e., “ping”) for the existence of controllers (e.g., clients) coupled to the network, and assign one or more addresses to controllers once their existence is verified. In these embodiments, a variety of addressing schemes and data protocols may be employed, including conventional Internet addressing schemes and data protocols.
In yet other embodiments, a particular network topology may dictate an addressing scheme and/or data protocol for the networked lighting system. For example, in one embodiment, addresses may be assigned to respective controllers on the network based on a given network topology and a particular position in the network topology of respective controllers. Similarly, in another embodiment, data may be arranged in a particular manner (e.g., a particular sequence) for transmission throughout the network based on a particular position in the network topology of respective controllers. In one aspect of this embodiment, the network may be considered “self-configuring” in that it does not require the specific assignment of addresses to controllers, as the position of controllers relative to one another in the network topology dictates the data each controller exchanges with the network.
In particular, according to one embodiment, data ports of multiple controllers are coupled to form a series connection (e.g., a daisy-chain or ring topology for the network), and data transmitted to the controllers is arranged sequentially based on a relative position in the series connection of each controller. In one aspect of this embodiment, as each controller in the series connection receives data, it “strips off” one or more initial portions of the data sequence intended for it and transmits the remainder of the data sequence to the next controller in the series connection. Each controller on the network in turn repeats this procedure, namely, stripping off one or more initial portions of a received data sequence and transmitting the remainder of the sequence. Such a network topology obviates the need for assigning one or more specific addresses to each controller; as a result, each controller may be configured similarly, and controllers may be flexibly interchanged on the network or added to the network without requiring a system operator or network administrator to reassign addresses.
Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present invention for controlling devices in a networked lighting system. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the invention, as discussed above and outlined further below, may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the invention is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations are provided for illustrative purposes only.
The networked lighting system shown in
As also illustrated in the embodiment of
The fluorescent light sources illustrated in
In the embodiment of
As shown in
In particular, according to one aspect of this embodiment, particular identifiers may be assigned to each output port and input port of a given controller. This may be accomplished, for example, via software or firmware at the controller (e.g., stored in the memory 48), a particular hardware configuration of the various input and/or output ports, instructions received via the network (i.e., the data port 32) from the processor 22 or one or more other controllers, or any combination of the foregoing. In another aspect of this embodiment, the controller is independently addressable in that the controller may receive data intended for multiple devices coupled to output ports of other controllers on the network, but has the capability of selecting and responding to (i.e., selectively routing) particular data to one or more of its output ports, based on the relative configuration of the ports (e.g., assignment of identifiers to ports and/or physical arrangement of ports) in the controller. Furthermore, the controller is capable of transmitting data to the network that is identifiable as corresponding to a particular input signal received at one or more of its input ports 31.
For example, in one embodiment of the invention based on the networked lighting system shown in
From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that a networked lighting system according to one embodiment of the invention may be implemented to facilitate automated computer-controlled operation of multiple light sources and devices in response to various feedback stimuli (e.g., from one or more sensors coupled to one or more controllers of the network), for a variety of space-illumination applications. For example, automated networked lighting applications according to the invention for home, office, retail, commercial environments and the like may be implemented based on a variety of feedback stimuli (e.g., changes in temperature or natural ambient lighting, sound or music, human movement or other motion, etc.) for energy management and conservation, safety, marketing and advertisement, entertainment and environment enhancement, and a variety of other purposes.
In different embodiments based on the system of
According to one embodiment of the invention, differently colored LEDs may be combined along with one or more conventional non-LED light sources, such as one or more fluorescent light sources, in a computer-controllable lighting fixture (e.g., a microprocessor-based lighting fixture). In one aspect of this embodiment, the different types of light sources in such a fixture may be controlled independently, either in response to some input stimulus or as a result of particularly programmed instructions, to provide a variety of enhanced lighting effects for various applications. The use of differently colored LEDs (e.g., red, green, and blue) in microprocessor-controlled LED-based light sources is discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038, hereby incorporated herein by reference. In these LED-based light sources, generally an intensity of each LED color is independently controlled by programmable instructions so as to provide a variety of colored lighting effects. According to one embodiment of the present invention, these concepts are further extended to implement microprocessor-based control of a lighting fixture including both conventional non-LED light sources and novel LED-based light sources.
For example, as shown in
The controller 26C shown in
The controller 26 of
According to one embodiment of the invention, the microprocessor 46 shown in
In one embodiment, the control circuitry 50 of the controller 26 shown in
For example, according to one embodiment, the control circuitry 50 of the controller 26 shown in
As shown in
While the controller 26 shown in
In the lighting system of
According to various embodiments based on the system shown in
According to one embodiment of the invention based on the network topology illustrated in
According to one embodiment, the exemplary protocol shown in
In particular, according to one embodiment of the invention employing the network topology of
In this embodiment, each controller 26A, 26B, and 26C is programmed to receive data via the input terminal 32A of the data port 32, “strip off” an initial portion of the received data based on the number of output ports supported by the controller, and then transmit the remainder of the received data, if any, via the output terminal 32B of the data port 32. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the controller 26A receives the data sequence 60 from the processor 22 via the data link 28A, strips off the first portion 62 of the three bytes B1-B3 from the sequence 60, and uses this portion of the data to control its three output ports. The controller 26A then transmits the remainder of the data sequence, including the second and third portions 64 and 66, respectively, to the controller 26B via the data link 28B. Subsequently, the controller 26B strips off the second portion 62 of the three bytes B4-B6 from the sequence (because these now constitute the initial portion of the data sequence received by the controller 26B), and uses this portion of the data to control its three output ports. The controller 26B then transmits the remainder of the data sequence (now including only the third portion 66) to the controller 26C via the data link 28C. Finally, the controller 26C strips off the third portion 66 (because this portion now constitutes the initial and only portion of the data sequence received by the controller 26C), and uses this portion of the data to control its four output ports.
While the particular configuration of the networked lighting system illustrated in
For example, in one embodiment, each controller is designed identically to support four output ports; accordingly, in this embodiment, a data sequence similar to that shown in
While embodiments herein discuss the data stream 60, of
According to another embodiment of the invention based on the network topology illustrated in
In one aspect of this embodiment, rather than stripping off initial portions of received data as described above in the foregoing embodiment, each controller instead may be programmed to receive and transmit the entire data sequence 60. Upon receiving the entire data sequence 60, each controller also may be programmed to appropriately index into the sequence to extract the data intended for its output ports, or place data into the sequence from its input ports. In this embodiment, so as to transmit data corresponding to one or more input ports to the processor 22 for subsequent processing, the data link 28D is employed to form a closed ring topology for the network 242.
In one aspect of this embodiment employing a closed ring topology, the processor 22 may be programmed to initially transmit a data sequence 60 to the controller 26A having “blank” bytes (e.g., null data) in positions corresponding to one or more input ports of one or more controllers of the network 242. As the data sequence 60 travels through the network, each controller may place data corresponding to its input ports, if any, appropriately in the sequence. Upon receiving the data sequence via the data link 28D, the processor 22 may be programmed to extract any data corresponding to input ports by similarly indexing appropriately into the sequence.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the data protocol shown in
According to yet another embodiment of the invention based on the network topology illustrated in
In one aspect of this embodiment, the processor 22 transmits at least the bytes B1-B3 to the controller 26A. The controller 26A stores the first byte B1 (e.g., in its memory 48, as shown in
In this embodiment, as in one aspect of the system of
According to another aspect of this embodiment, during the assignment of addresses to controllers, the processor 22 may transmit a data sequence having an arbitrary predetermined number of data bytes corresponding to controller addresses to be assigned. As discussed above, each controller in the series connection in turn extracts an address from the sequence and passes on the remainder of the sequence. Once the last controller in the series connection extracts an address, any remaining addresses in the sequence may be returned to the processor 22 via the data link 28D. In this manner, based on the number of bytes in the sequence originally transmitted by the processor 22 and the number of bytes in the sequence ultimately received back by the processor, the processor may determine the number of controllers that are physically coupled together to form the network 242.
According to yet another aspect of this embodiment, during the assignment of addresses to controllers, the processor 22 shown in
In the various embodiments of the invention discussed above, the processor 22 and the controllers (e.g., 26, 26A, 26B, etc.) can be implemented in numerous ways, such as with dedicated hardware, or using one or more microprocessors that are programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the various functions discussed above. In this respect, it should be appreciated that one implementation of the present invention comprises one or more computer readable media (e.g., volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as PROMs, EPROMs, and EEPROMs, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, etc.) encoded with one or more computer programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at least some of the above-discussed functions of the present invention. The one or more computer readable media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so as to implement various aspects of the present invention discussed above. The term “computer program” is used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more microprocessors so as to implement the above-discussed aspects of the present invention.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a lighting network including a plurality of lighting systems arranged in a serial configuration and associated with a processor that communicates a lighting control data stream to the plurality of lighting systems. One example of such a lighting system according to this embodiment may be given by the controller 26 shown in
In a such a serial configuration, each of the plurality of lighting systems may in turn strip, or otherwise modify, the control data stream for its use and then communicate the remainder of the data stream to the remaining lighting systems in the serial configuration. In one aspect of this embodiment, the stripping or modification occurs when a lighting system receives a control data stream. In another aspect, the lighting system may strip off, or modify, a first section of the control data stream such that the lighting system can change the lighting conditions to correspond to the data. The lighting system may then take the remaining data stream and communicate it to the next lighting system in the serial configuration. In turn, this next lighting system completes similar stripping/modification, executing and re-transmitting.
In the embodiment of
Referring again to
For example, in one embodiment, the return line 114 may be used to communicate with the lighting systems 22 beginning with the last such system in the serial connection. In another embodiment, the processor may determine the number of lighting systems 102 in the serial connection and then communicate a data stream or a portion of a data stream to the first lighting system 102 through first data port 32A and communicate a data stream or portion of a data stream through the second data port 32B of the last lighting system 102 in the serial connection. The data streams communicated to the first and to the last systems 102 may be identical with the exception of the order of the data, for example.
In one aspect of this embodiment, the data stream may be identical and the lighting systems 102 may be configured to strip the last data segment from a data stream when the data stream is communicated through its second data port and strip the first data segment from the data stream when the data stream is communicated through its first data port. The method of communicating data through both ends of the lighting system string may be useful for minimizing the effect of a failed lighting system 102 in the serial connection of lighting systems 102. For example, if a third lighting system 102 in the serial connection fails and data is only communicated through a first system 102, the data transmission may stop at the third system 102. If a data stream is communicated through both ends of the lighting system string, all but the third lighting system 102 could operate.
Although many of the embodiments described herein disclose stripping data from a data stream, it should be understood that there are many methods of performing the function described and the embodiments should not be interpreted as limiting in anyway. For example, in an embodiment, rather than stripping data from a data stream, a lighting system 102 may modify data it receives such that the next lighting system 102 in the serial connection does not respond to the modified data and instead may respond to the first data in the stream that has not been modified. A person with ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are many methods of modifying a data stream to accomplish this function.
In yet another embodiment, the lighting systems 102 in a serial connection as described herein in connection with
As discussed above in connection with
In particular,
In another aspect of the embodiment of
With respect to the particular functions performed by a given lighting system 102, according to other embodiments discussed in greater detail below, a lighting system 102 may receive asynchronous serial data pursuant to RS-232 protocol, for example, generates one or more PWM signals based on the asynchronous serial data to control the LEDs, and transmit modified RS-232 data to the next lighting system 102 in the chain. Such a lighting system 102 may also contain a bitstream recovery circuit, generally known as a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART), or may perform bitstream recovery through software or other techniques. Lighting device 102 may be associated with a clock source which, for example, may be controlled by a resonator of some kind (crystal, ceramic, saw, LC, RC or other). In one aspect, the clock source could be tuned through measurement of certain features, such as pulse widths contained in the bitstream, to increase clock accuracy, or decrease cost of the frequency source.
In another embodiment, a given lighting system 102 may receive data coded with a code, wherein pulses of less than ½ of a pulse period correspond to a first logical state, while pulses of more than ½ of a pulse period correspond to a second logical state. System 102 may then compare the lengths of incoming pulse width with some fraction of the pulse period to determine if the transmitted bit was of the first or second logical state. At least one advantage of this type of bit stream over RS-232, or other protocols, is that system 102 may utilize an internal un-calibrated frequency reference, and a set of counters, registers, and logic gates to extract the data. Additional counters, registers and logic can be utilized to generate the output data stream, and to create drive signals for the LEDs. Another advantage of this system is that it may be integrated onto a very small, very easy to manufacture custom integrated circuit.
It should be appreciated that a variety of coding or modulation methods are possible and are encompassed by the present invention. A person with ordinary skill in the art would also understand that an unlimited number of methods for encoding (modulating) and decoding (demodulating) signals that conform to those coding methods are possible and are encompassed by the present invention.
As discussed above, in another embodiment, as shown for example in
In yet another embodiment as illustrated in
Similarly, in another aspect of this embodiment as shown in
One skilled in the art will appreciate that other proportions of the input period, or even fixed numbers, or other periods could be used instead of the fractional periods as discussed herein, as the invention is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. For example, in other embodiments, analog methods may be used to accomplish the function of extracting bits as described above in connection with
As stated previously, in connection with
In another embodiment, a controller for a lighting system may be capable of bi-directional communication. For example, modifying the serial in and serial out pin drivers of a controller (the input and output ports) to be bi-directional, and adding some control circuitry, would enable transmission in both directions. In one aspect of this embodiment, the serial out may be looped back to the serial in of the control device. Various other methods could be used including, but not limited to, power line carrier, RF, optical, acoustic and other means (e.g., transmitting the bits to the LEDs and monitoring the power consumption of the system for a change).
In one aspect of the embodiment of
In one aspect of this embodiment, the socket 214 may be positioned on the conduit 202, and screws or other electrically conductive fasteners may be used to electrically and physically connect the socket 214 to the conduit 202. Each of the connectors 312, 314, 320 and 318 of socket 214 may include holes, and the holes in the connectors may be aligned with holes 204, 208, 210 and 212 in the conduit 202, as shown in
With reference again to
In the embodiment of
Applicants have recognized and appreciated that very small color changing lighting system in the form of a light string according to the principles of the present invention may be used in place of conventional light ropes, Christmas tree lights, decorative lights, display lights or other lighting systems. For example, a string lighting system may be used to provide complex lighting effects in or on a display such as chasing effects, coordinated effects, color changing effects or other lighting effects. A controller may be provided and associated with the lighting string such that network signals are communicated in a serial fashion, wherein each lighting module or system responds to the serially arranged data as described herein.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention, in connection with
Another aspect of the present invention is that one or more of the controllers and/or processors discussed herein may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC) designed to control an illumination source through network data. The IC may be desirous in many applications where size, cost and/or simplicity of design are important. For example, an IC may be used in an application where the illumination device needs to be very small. In various embodiments, an IC is used in conjunction with one or more LEDs to form an illumination system and many such systems may be strung together to form large networks of controllable illumination sources. In one aspect of this embodiment, reduced size may be important and an illumination system may be created wherein an IC is attached to one side of a platform and at least one LED is attached to the opposite side of the platform and the platform may be sized to accommodate the LED(s) and the IC. For example, three surface mount, chip on board, LED dies, or other small LED constructions, may be attached to one side of the platform and the IC on the opposite side with the electrical connections passing from the IC to the LEDs. If different colored LEDs are used, the IC may be programmed to generate combinations of colors from the two colors. In an embodiment, the platform may have a first side surface area of 0.5 square inches or less.
In an embodiment, the IC may be mounted on a platform with at least one LED on the opposite side of the platform, although the LED(s) and the IC may be on the same side, and the platform may be associated with a housing. The housing may be adapted to pass through data in and data out ports from the IC with a data connection, as described herein, to allow a data stream to be communicated to the IC and to allow the IC to transmit the data stream, or portion thereof or modified data stream, to another illumination device. In an embodiment the housing may also be associated with an optic 218 and the optic 218 may be adapted to diffuse the light, redirect the light, generate a prismatic effect or other wise affect the generated light. In an embodiment, color mixing may be important and the transmission of the optic may be reduced to increase the mixing properties of the optic 218. For example, the optic 218 may have transmission properties of between 10 and 90% optimized for the specific application. In another embodiment, the optic 218 may be transparent or nearly transparent.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a controller 26 or IC that is adapted to handle variations in power. Applicants have recognized and appreciated various problems associated with delivering adequate power to the controller, IC and/or illumination components when many such systems are strung together. In one embodiment, a plurality of illumination systems may be associated with each other in a “string.” The string may become long, relative to a power supplies capability of supplying constant power to the entire string. For example, a string may be long enough that the power transmission lines, along with the illumination systems drawing power from the transmission lines, cause the power to drop significantly as the lines get longer. In one aspect of this embodiment, the IC, or other system controlling the illumination source, may be adapted with a power management circuit wherein the power management circuit is adapted to receive power from a power source, control the power from the power source and deliver adequate power to another circuit in the integrated circuit. Depending on the system needs, the power management circuit may be adapted to deliver adequate power when the power delivered to the power management system varies by a significant amount. For example, the power management circuit may be adapted to deliver adequate power when the power delivered varies by up to 90%. In an embodiment, the power management circuit may be adapted to handle relatively small increases in the supply voltage but capable of supplying adequate power over large negative variations in the delivered power. This may be so arranged, for example, to accommodate for the anticipated voltage drop as the string gets longer while not compensating for large swings in supply voltage on the positive side.
As used herein for purposes of the present disclosure, the term “LED” should be understood to include light emitting diodes of all types (including semi-conductor and organic light emitting diodes), semiconductor dies that produce light in response to current, light emitting polymers, electro-luminescent strips, and the like. Furthermore, the term “LED” may refer to a single light emitting device having multiple semiconductor dies that are individually controlled. It should also be understood that the term “LED” does not restrict the package type of an LED; for example, the term “LED” may refer to packaged LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, and LEDs of all other configurations. The term “LED” also includes LEDs packaged or associated with phosphor, wherein the phosphor may convert radiant energy emitted from the LED to a different wavelength.
Additionally, as used herein, the term “light source” should be understood to include all illumination sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources as defined above, incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), pyro-luminescent sources (e.g., flames), candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles), carbon arc radiation sources, photo-luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, electro-luminescent sources, cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, and luminescent polymers capable of producing primary colors.
Furthermore, as used herein, the term “color” should be understood to refer to any frequency (or wavelength) of radiation within a spectrum; namely, “color” refers to frequencies (or wavelengths) not only in the visible spectrum, but also frequencies (or wavelengths) in the infrared, ultraviolet, and other areas of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Having thus described several illustrative embodiments of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.
This applications claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a divisional application of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 10/158,579, filed May 30, 2002 U.S. Pat. No. 6,777,891, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Devices in a Networked Lighting System, which in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Ser. No. 60/301,692, filed Jun. 28, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems”; Ser. No. 60/328,867, filed Oct. 12, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems;” and Ser. No. 60/341,476, filed Oct. 30, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for LED Lighting.” Ser. No. 10/158,579 also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/971,367, filed Oct. 4, 2001 U.S. Pat. No. 6,788,011, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/669,121, filed Sep. 25, 2000 U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,659, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/425,770, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,774, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/920,156, filed Aug. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038. Ser. No. 10/158,579 also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of the following U.S. Non-provisional Applications: Ser. No. 09/870,193, filed May 30, 2001 U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,453, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Devices in a Networked Lighting System;” Ser. No. 09/215,624, filed Dec. 17, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,954, entitled “Smart Light Bulb,” which in turn claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Ser. No. 60/071,281, filed Dec. 17, 1997, entitled “Digitally Controlled Light Emitting Diodes Systems and Methods;” Ser. No. 60/068,792, filed Dec. 24, 1997, entitled “Multi-Color Intelligent Lighting;” Ser. No. 60/078,861, filed Mar. 20, 1998, entitled “Digital Lighting Systems;” Ser. No. 60/079,285, filed Mar. 25, 1998, entitled “System and Method for Controlled Illumination;” and Ser. No. 60/090,920, filed Jun. 26, 1998, entitled “Methods for Software Driven Generation of Multiple Simultaneous High Speed Pulse Width Modulated Signals.” Ser. No. 10/158,579 also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of the following U.S. Non-provisional Applications: Ser. No. 09/213,607, filed Dec. 17, 1998 now abandoned, entitled “Systems and Methods for Sensor-Responsive Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,189, filed Dec. 17, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,919, entitled “Precision Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,581, filed Dec. 17, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 7,038,398, entitled “Kinetic Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,540, filed Dec. 17, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,745, entitled “Data Delivery Track;” Ser. No. 09/333,739, filed Jun. 15, 1999, entitled “Diffuse Illumination Systems and Methods;” and Ser. No. 09/815,418, filed Mar. 22, 2001 U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,080, entitled “Lighting Entertainment System,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/213,548, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,496. Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 6 267 9 | Dec 1996 | AU |
| 2 178 432 | Dec 1996 | CA |
| 2134848 | Nov 1998 | CA |
| 03837313 | May 1989 | DE |
| 03805998 | Sep 1989 | DE |
| 8902905 | May 1990 | DE |
| 3917101 | Nov 1990 | DE |
| 3916875 | Dec 1990 | DE |
| 9414689 | Feb 1995 | DE |
| 19525897 | Oct 1996 | DE |
| 29620583 | Mar 1997 | DE |
| 19602891 | Jul 1997 | DE |
| 19602891 | Aug 1997 | DE |
| 200 18 865 | Feb 2001 | DE |
| 20018865 | Mar 2001 | DE |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040240890 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60341476 | Oct 2001 | US | |
| 60328867 | Oct 2001 | US | |
| 60301692 | Jun 2001 | US | |
| 60090920 | Jun 1998 | US | |
| 60079285 | Mar 1998 | US | |
| 60078861 | Mar 1998 | US | |
| 60068792 | Dec 1997 | US | |
| 60071281 | Dec 1997 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10158579 | May 2002 | US |
| Child | 10842257 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09669121 | Sep 2000 | US |
| Child | 09971367 | US | |
| Parent | 09425770 | Oct 1999 | US |
| Child | 09669121 | US | |
| Parent | 08920156 | Aug 1997 | US |
| Child | 09425770 | US | |
| Parent | 09213548 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09815418 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09971367 | Oct 2001 | US |
| Child | 10158579 | US | |
| Parent | 09870193 | May 2001 | US |
| Child | 10158579 | US | |
| Parent | 09215624 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09870193 | US | |
| Parent | 09213607 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 10158579 | US | |
| Parent | 09213189 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09213607 | US | |
| Parent | 09213581 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09213189 | US | |
| Parent | 09213540 | Dec 1998 | US |
| Child | 09213581 | US | |
| Parent | 09333739 | Jun 1999 | US |
| Child | 09213540 | US | |
| Parent | 09815418 | Mar 2001 | US |
| Child | 09333739 | US |
