Lighting controller, lighting system and configuration method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018168018-A1
Application number	US-201615577904-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	May 29, 2015
Publication date	Jun 14, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lighting system controller for a lighting system having lighting units and sensors which together form a communications network. A new sensor may be added to the network as a new network node. In response to this, a high sensitivity mode is implemented, for assisting the user in testing the new sensor function.

First claim

1 . A lighting system controller for controlling a networked lighting system comprising one or more lighting units, the lighting system controller arranged for:
enabling addition, by a user, of a sensor as a new network node to the networked lighting system, receiving sensor information from the sensor, and providing wireless control signals to the one or more lighting units in dependence upon the received sensor information,
wherein the lighting system controller is further arranged for:
in response to addition of the sensor, temporarily switch from a normal operation mode to a high sensitivity mode for assisting the user in testing the sensor function, wherein

in the high sensitivity mode the lighting system controller is arranged for increasing the frequency of the polling of the sensor such that there is an increased frequency of communications between the lighting system controller and the sensor compared to the frequency of communications in the normal operational mode.

2 . A lighting system controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the high sensitivity mode the networked lighting system is arranged for operating with a changed sensor threshold level, and wherein the changed threshold level comprises a reduced hysteresis between sensor output transitions.

3 . A lighting system controller as claimed in claim 2 , in which the hysteresis is set to zero.

4 . A lighting system controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the high sensitivity mode the networked lighting system is arranged for operating with a changed sensor threshold, and wherein the changed threshold level comprises a reduced delay between sensor output transitions.

5 . A lighting system controller as claimed in claim 4 , in which the delay is set to zero.

6 . A lighting system controller as claimed in 1 , wherein the high sensitivity mode ends after a fixed time period or wherein the high sensitivity mode ends based on receiving a user input.

7 . A lighting system comprising:
a lighting system controller as claimed in claim 1 ; one or more lighting units; and one or more sensors, wherein the one or more lighting units, the one or more sensors and the lighting system controller form a network.

8 . A lighting system as claimed in claim 7 , comprising an output device for assisting the user in testing the sensor function, wherein the output device comprises:
at least one of the one or more lighting units; and/or a portable display device for providing performance information to the user; and/or a speaker.

9 . A method of operating a lighting system controller for controlling a networked lighting system comprising one or more lighting units the method comprising:
detecting the addition of a sensor, by a user, as a new network node to the networked lighting system; receiving sensor information from the sensor, providing wireless control signals to the one or more lighting units in dependence upon the received sensor information, and in response to addition of the sensor, temporarily switch from a normal operation mode to a high sensitivity mode for assisting the user in testing the sensor function,
wherein in the high sensitivity mode the networked lighting system increases the frequency of the polling of the sensor such that there is an increased frequency of communications between the lighting system controller and the sensor compared to the frequency of communications in the normal operational mode.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in the high sensitivity mode the networked lighting system operates with a changed sensor threshold level, and wherein the changed threshold level comprises a reduced hysteresis between sensor output transitions.

13 . A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein in the high sensitivity mode the networked lighting system operates with a changed sensor threshold level, and wherein the changed threshold level comprises a reduced delay between sensor output transitions.

14 . A method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the high sensitivity mode ends after a fixed time period or wherein the high sensitivity mode ends based on receiving a user input.

15 . A computer program product comprising code stored on a computer readable storage medium and configured when executed to implement the method of claim 9 .

Assignees

• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Goergen Daniel Martin
• Chua Song Heng
• Zhao Ying

Classifications

• H05B47/19

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• G08B7/06

  using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} · CPC title

• H05B37/0227 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H05B37/0272

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H05B47/115 Primary

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title