Upgradeable control system for led lighting

Abstract

An LED-based lighting system having an upgradeable control system and a method thereof are provided. The system includes an LED source having a plurality of LED lights, a control system which comprises a motherboard, a control panel, and a control module. The control module is replaceable with a new control module to provide upgrades of operational modes and features of the lighting system without requiring the entire lighting system be replaced.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A control system for an LED-based lighting system comprising an LED light source, the control system comprising:
 a motherboard having a user display, wherein the motherboard is disposed on the LED light source such that the user display is visible to a user;   a control panel having means for changing settings, modes, and features of the LED-based lighting system, and for providing feedback to the user; and   an upgradeable control module which can be removed and replaced by a new control module to provide upgrades of operational modes and features of the LED-based lighting system, the upgradable control module being a separate circuit board that plugs into the motherboard via an edge connector;   wherein the control panel is a separate unit that plugs into the motherboard; and   wherein the control panel, along with the user display on the motherboard, comprises a user interface for the user of the LED-based lighting system.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the motherboard further includes a plurality of connectors to link the control module and the control panel, and wherein the motherboard provides an interface between the control module and the LED light source of the LED-based lighting system. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an additional control module coupled to the motherboard, the additional control module configured to provide different operational modes and features to the control system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the new control module comprises control software for the LED-based lighting system, and wherein a hardware configuration of the control system is the same, such that only the control software is changed. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the new control module comprises a wireless transceiver configured for the user to control the LED-based lighting system remotely. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the new control module is configured for a Bluetooth communications protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the new control module comprises a transceiver configured for the user to control the LED-based lighting system remotely over the internet. 
     
     
         17 . An LED lighting control system comprising:
 a motherboard having a user display, the motherboard being installed into a lighting fixture of an LED light source comprising a plurality of LED lights, such that the user display is visible;   a control panel comprising a separate unit that plugs into the motherboard and is configured to change settings, modes, and features of the LED lighting control system, and for providing feedback, the control panel along with the user display on the motherboard comprising a user interface for the LED lighting control system; and   a replaceable control module comprising a separate circuit board that plugs into the motherboard, the replaceable control module configured to upgrade operational modes and features of the LED lighting control system.   
     
     
         20 . The LED lighting control system of  claim 17 , further comprising an additional control module coupled to the motherboard, the additional control module configured to provide different operational modes and features to the LED lighting control system. 
     
     
         21 . The LED lighting control system of  claim 17 , wherein the replaceable control module comprises a wireless transceiver configured to control the LED lighting control system remotely. 
     
     
         22 . The LED lighting control system of  claim 7 , wherein the replaceable control module comprises a transceiver configured to control the LED lighting control system over the internet. 
     
     
         23 . A method of upgrading an LED lighting control system, the method comprising:
 removing a control module from a motherboard having a user display, wherein the motherboard is disposed on an LED light source such that the user display is visible; and   replacing the control module by a new control module configured to upgrade operational modes and features of the LED lighting control system, the control module comprising a separate circuit board that plugs into the motherboard;   wherein the control panel comprise a separate unit that plugs into the motherboard and is configured for changing settings, modes and features of the LED lighting system, and for providing feedback; and   wherein the control panel, along with the user display on the motherboard, comprises a user interface for the LED lighting system.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein replacing the control module comprises upgrading control software of the LED lighting control system such that a hardware configuration of the control system is the same and only the control software is changed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising coupling an additional control module to the motherboard, the additional control module configured to provide different operational modes and features to the LED lighting control system. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the new control module comprises a wireless transceiver configured to control the LED lighting control system over a wireless network. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the new control module comprise a transceiver configured to control the LED lighting control system over the internet.