Enhanced lighting fixture

Abstract

A lighting fixture having a light source, a light sensor, a communication interface, and circuitry is described. In addition to controlling the light source, the circuitry is adapted to monitor for a light signal provided from a handheld device via the light sensor; upon receiving the light signal, measure a signal level associated with the light signal; and effect transmission of the signal level to the handheld device via the communication interface. In one embodiment, the circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to monitor for the light signal from the handheld device via the communication interface such that the circuitry begins monitoring for the light signal upon receiving the instruction.

1 . A lighting fixture comprising:
 a light source;   circuitry adapted to:
 control the light source; 
 switch the lighting fixture from an active state to an in-active state, wherein a space illuminated by the lighting fixture is unoccupied in the in-active state; 
 receive a dim up command or a dim down command when the lighting fixture is switched to the in-active state; 
 switch the lighting fixture to the active state from the in-active state; and 
 set a light level output by the light source according to one of the dim up command or the dim down command received in the in-active state when switching the lighting fixture to the active state from the in-active state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture further comprises an occupancy sensor and the lighting fixture is in the active state when the occupancy sensor senses activity. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 2 , wherein the light level output corresponds to an occupied level when the occupancy sensor senses the activity. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 2 , wherein the light level output corresponds to an unoccupied level when the occupancy sensor does not sense the activity. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture switches between the active state and the in-active state based on an input received from a switch module. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further adapted to store either the dim up command or the dim down command when the lighting fixture is switched to the inactive state. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a lighting fixture having a light source, the method comprising:
 controlling the light source;   switching the lighting fixture from an active state to an in-active state, wherein a space illuminated by the lighting fixture is unoccupied in the in-active state;   receiving a dim up command or a dim down command when the lighting fixture is switched to the in-active state;   switching the lighting fixture to the active state from the in-active state; and   setting a light level output by the light source according to one of the dim up command or the dim down command received in the in-active state when switching the lighting fixture to the active state from the in-active state.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the lighting fixture further comprises an occupancy sensor and the lighting fixture is in the active state when the occupancy sensor senses activity. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 8 , wherein the light level output corresponds to an occupied level when the occupancy sensor senses the activity. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 8 , wherein the light level output corresponds to an unoccupied level when the occupancy sensor does not sense the activity. 
     
     
         11 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 7 , wherein the lighting fixture switches between the active state and the in-active state based on an input received from a switch module. 
     
     
         12 . The lighting fixture according to  claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises storing either the dim up command or the dim down command when the lighting fixture is switched to the inactive state.