Patent Application
20120091900
Certain outdoor lighting systems include a plurality of fixtures. The fixtures may be connected to a power bus through power conductors. The power bus may be a low-voltage bus, such as 12VAC, 12VDC, 16VAC, 16VDC, etc. The light fixtures may be wired in a star or daisy-chain configuration. Such outdoor lighting systems may be controllable at a power supply—for example, a low-voltage power supply, transformer, etc. The control may be a timer, motion detector, dimmer, photodetector, a combination thereof, and/or the like. In such a topology, all of the fixtures may be controlled together.
It may be desirable for an outdoor lighting system to provide for a greater variety of landscape lighting effects.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lighting system includes a low-voltage power supply (for example, including a transformer, solar cell, battery, etc.), power conductor(s) electrically connected with the low-voltage power supply, and two low-voltage light fixtures electrically connected to the power conductor(s). Each of the light fixtures has a respective control portion. The control portions simultaneously enable different operating modes for the first and second light fixtures. Such modes could include a constantly on/off mode, a dusk-to-dawn mode, a dusk to a time period after dusk mode, half-power dimming mode, or a motion detection mode.
The control portions may have photodetectors. The control portions may also have mufti-mode actuators that can actuate one of the operating modes. The control portions may also have switch controls. A switch control in one of the fixtures may be capable of switching a lamp in that fixture but not in the other fixture. The fixtures may be responsive to a motion detector. For example, the fixtures may receive a control signal directly from such motion detector (for example, over a power conductor). Additionally, an electrical connection between the power supply and the power conductor(s) may be interrupted when the motion detector determines that no motion is present. The system may also include a third low-voltage light fixture electrically connected with the power conductor(s). The third fixture does not have a control portion. The third fixture may still respond to the motion detector.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a lighting system includes providing power from a low-voltage power supply through power conductor(s) to two low-voltage light fixtures. The first fixture is operated in a first mode according to a first control portion in the first fixture. Simultaneously, the second fixture is operated in a second mode (different from the first mode) according to a second control portion in the second fixture. Such modes could include a constantly on/off mode, a dusk-to-dawn mode, a dusk to a time period after dusk mode, half-power dimming mode, or a motion detection mode. The method may also include operating a third low-voltage light fixture that does not have a control portion.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the claims are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the appearance shown in the drawings is one of many ornamental appearances that can be employed to achieve the stated functions of the system.
In an embodiment, a light fixture without a control can be adapted and retrofitted to include a control portion 130. For example, in some existing light fixtures, a base may be connected to the lamp housing. The base may be removed from the lamp housing. The control portion 130 may then be inserted. Appropriate electrical connections can be made to the control portion (see, for example,
In addition to receiving inputs and generating output(s) to control the switch 136, the switch control 134 may include a timer. The switch control 134 may include a processor to responsively switch the current flowing through the power conductors 160 according to the state of the input devices.
The multi-mode actuator 138 may be a single actuator or a combination of actuators. For example, the multi-mode actuator 138 may be a four-way switch or a combination of individual switches. The state of the mufti-mode actuator 138 may determine a mode of operation for the light fixture 100. The switch control 134 may recognize the state of the mufti-mode actuator 138 and responsively implement a selected mode. It may be possible to define various different modes such as constantly on/off, dusk-to-dawn, dusk to a time period (for example, five hours) after dusk, half-power dimming, or motion detection, for example.
The power supply may be a low-voltage power supply, for example 12VAC, 12VDC, 16VAC, 16VDC, etc. The power supply 190 may include a transformer, solar panel, battery, etc. The power supply 190 may be electrically connected to the power conductors 160 and configured to provide electrical power to the light fixtures 100/180 through the power conductors 160. There may be batteries associated with the system 300 to store energy generated by a solar panel. The batteries may be a different component of the system 300 or integrated with one or more illustrated components of the system 300 (for example, motion detector 170, power supply 190, and/or fixtures 100/180).
The motion detector 170 may include a physical mechanism or electronic sensor that quantifies motion that can be either integrated with or connected to other devices to indicate the presence of a moving object within the field of view. The motion detector 170 may include one or more sensors, such as passive infrared sensors (PIR), ultrasonic sensors, and/or microwave sensors. The motion detector 170 may provide a signal to switch power on or off to the light fixtures 100/180 depending on whether movement is detected. The motion detector 170 may contain a power switch or may provide a control signal (for example, through the power conductors 160) to drive a power switch located elsewhere in the system—for example, in the power supply 190 or the fixtures 100/180. If the motion detector 170 determines that motion is present, then an electrical connection between the power supply 190 and the power conductors 160 may be interrupted. The power supply 190 and/or motion detector 170 may include mounting portions for mounting to structures, such as a wall or fence. The power supply 190 and motion detector 170 may be mounted in the same location or may be mounted in separate locations.
A light fixture 180 may not have a control portion, but may otherwise be similar to light fixture 100. For example, the fixture 180 may have a spike, a lamp, housing, or base. The fixture 180 may be electrically connected with the power conductors 160. Like a fixture 100, the fixture 180 may respond to the motion detector 170 (for example, turn on/off in response to the determination of motion).
At step 410, power is provided from a low-voltage power supply through at least one power conductor to two low-voltage light fixtures. At step 420 the first fixture is operated in a first operating mode according to a first control portion of the first fixture. At step 430 (which may be performed simultaneously with step 420), the second low-voltage light fixture operates in a second operating mode different from the first operating mode according to a second control portion of the second low-voltage light fixture. At step 440, the first low-voltage light fixture is operated in the second operating mode according to the first control portion. At step 450 (which may be performed simultaneously with step 440), the second low-voltage light fixture is operated in the first operating mode according to the second control portion. At step 460 (which may be performed simultaneously with any or all of the previous steps), a third low-voltage light fixture that does not have a control portion is operated. At step 470, at least two of the light fixtures are turned on/off according to a state of a motion detector.
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/393,433 and 61/428,487, filed on Oct. 15, 2010 and Dec. 30, 2010 respectively, which are incorporated herein in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61393433 | Oct 2010 | US | |
| 61428487 | Dec 2010 | US |
