Light fixture control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10342102-B2
Application number	US-201715783505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2017
Priority date	Jul 1, 2012
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A fixture configuration module comprises range control circuitry and fixture control circuitry. The range control circuitry is configured to store a range of a lighting parameter. The range identifies at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light. The fixture control circuitry is communicatively coupled to the range control circuitry and is configured to control the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the range stored by the range control circuitry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture configuration module comprising:
fixture control circuitry configured to control a light fixture to produce light in accordance with a range of a lighting parameter;
a connector communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry and configured to removably couple with a corresponding connector of the light fixture and transfer electrical power from the light fixture to the fixture control circuitry while the connector is removably coupled to the corresponding connector of the light fixture;
range control circuitry comprising a non-volatile memory and near-field communication (NFC) circuitry, wherein the range control circuitry is communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry and configured to:
store a plurality of different ranges of the lighting parameter, each of the different ranges identifying at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light; and
designate the range of the lighting parameter from the plurality of different ranges to the fixture control circuitry;

wherein the NFC circuitry is configured to program the range control circuitry with a range received via NFC signaling by storing the range received via NFC signaling in the non-volatile memory while powered by magnetic induction produced by the NFC signaling and while the connector is decoupled from the corresponding connector of the light fixture;
wherein the non-volatile memory is configured to store the range programmed by the NFC circuitry and a different range not programmed by the NFC circuitry.

2. The fixture configuration module of claim 1 , further comprising:
user interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry independently of the range control circuitry and configured to receive one or more values of the lighting parameter;
wherein to control the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the range of the lighting parameter, the fixture control circuitry is configured to control the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received by the user interface circuitry that are within the range designated by the range control circuitry.

3. The fixture configuration module of claim 2 , wherein to receive the one or more values of the lighting parameter, the user interface circuitry comprises radio circuitry configured to receive the one or more values of the lighting parameter via radio communication.

4. The fixture configuration module of claim 3 , wherein the radio circuitry is configured to receive a software license enabling remote management of the light fixture, and control the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received via the radio communication that are within the range designated by the range control circuitry in response.

5. The fixture configuration module of claim 1 , wherein to designate the range of the lighting parameter from the plurality of different ranges, the range control circuitry comprises a mechanical switch configured to be positioned to one of a plurality of respective switch positions comprising a first position corresponding to the range programmed by the NFC circuitry and a second position corresponding to the different range not programmed by the NFC circuitry.

6. The fixture configuration module of claim 5 , wherein the range control circuitry further comprises a further mechanical switch, wherein the mechanical switch and further mechanical switch are configured to designate ranges for different respective lighting parameters of the light fixture.

7. The fixture configuration module of claim 6 , wherein the ranges for the different respective lighting parameters comprise a color temperature range and a brightness range.

8. The fixture configuration module of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical reset button communicatively coupled to the range control circuitry and configured to produce a reset signal, wherein the range control circuitry is configured to override at least one of the plurality of ranges of the lighting parameter stored by the range control circuitry with a default range responsive to receiving the reset signal.

9. A method of controlling a light fixture, implemented by a fixture configuration module, the method comprising:
programming the fixture configuration module with a range of a lighting parameter received via near-field communication (NFC) signaling, the range identifying at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light, the programming comprising storing the range of the lighting parameter in a non-volatile memory while powered by magnetic induction produced by the NFC signaling and while decoupled from a corresponding connector of the light fixture;
removably coupling, via a connector of the fixture configuration module, with a corresponding connector of the light fixture, and receiving electrical power from the light fixture in response;
designating the range of the lighting parameter from a plurality of different ranges stored in the non-volatile memory, the plurality of different ranges comprising the programmed range received via the NFC signaling and a different range not received via NFC signaling;
controlling the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the designated range.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the designated range comprises controlling the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter, received by a user interface of the fixture configuration module, that are within the stored range.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the values of the lighting parameter comprises receiving the values of the lighting parameter via radio communication.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving a software license enabling remote management of the light fixture, and in response, controlling the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received via radio communication that are within the designated range.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein designating the range of the lighting parameter from the plurality of different ranges comprises designating the range of the lighting parameter in accordance with a mechanical switch of the fixture control module positioned to one of a plurality of respective switch positions comprising a first position corresponding to the programmed range received via the NFC signaling and a second position corresponding to the different range not received via NFC signaling.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising designating a different range of a different lighting parameter of the light fixture using a further mechanical switch of the fixture configuration module.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the range is a color temperature range of the light fixture, and the different range is a brightness range of the light fixture.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions for controlling a programmable fixture configuration module, wherein the software instructions, when executed by processing circuitry of the programmable fixture configuration module, cause the programmable fixture configuration module to:
program the fixture configuration module with a range of a lighting parameter received via near-field communication (NFC) signaling, the range identifying at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light,

Assignees

• Cree Inc

Inventors

• Bowser Robert
• Roberts John
• Liszt Kory
• Harris Michael James
• Pickard Paul

Classifications

• F21V13/04

  the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)} · CPC title

• F21S8/026

  intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling · CPC title

• F21K9/275

  Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings (F21K9/278 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F21V5/04

  of lens shape · CPC title

• F21K9/278

  Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source · CPC title