System, Method, and Apparatus For Self-Adaptive Scheduled Lighting Control

Abstract

A lighting control device is provided which includes a microcontroller, at least one wireless transceiver, at least one dimmer, one or more lighting terminals powered by the at least one dimmer, at least one environmental sensor, and at least one input device. In operation, the microcontroller obtains environmental data from the at least one environmental sensor, obtains input data from the at least one input device, transmits the environmental data and the input data to an external server, obtains a lighting operating schedule based on the environmental data and the input data from the external server, and executes the lighting operating schedule from the external server by controlling one or more smart bulbs via the at least one wireless transceiver and controlling the electrical current output to lighting terminals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting control system comprising:
 a microcontroller; and   a memory, operatively connected to the microcontroller, wherein the memory comprises executable instructions that when executed by the microcontroller cause the microcontroller to perform a method comprising:   obtaining environmental data from an environmental sensor;   obtaining input data from a first input device;   controlling at least one of an intensity or a hue of one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data;   obtaining interrupt data from at least one of the environmental sensor, the first input device, or a second input device separate from the first input device, the interrupt data corresponding to a user change to at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs;   implementing the user change to at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs; and   controlling at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data, the input data, and the interrupt data.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising suspending obtaining environmental data and input data in response to the interrupt data. 
     
     
         3 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising executing a timer for a time-out period based on the interrupt data, wherein control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data is suspended during the time-out period. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting control system of  claim 3 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising:
 in response to detecting any additional user changes during the time-out period, resetting the time-out period; and   in response to the time-out period elapsing without detecting any additional user changes during the time-out period, resuming control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data, the input data, and the interrupt data.   
     
     
         5 . The lighting control system of  claim 3 , wherein the time-out period extends for an indefinite amount of time until a user input is detected terminating the time-out period. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising:
 in response to obtaining the interrupt data, suspending control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data.   
     
     
         7 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein controlling at least one of an intensity or a hue of one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data includes controlling when the one or more smart bulbs are turned on or off. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first input device includes at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental sensor is configured to detect one or more of movement, ambient light, or ambient sound. 
     
     
         10 . The lighting control system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart bulbs include integral circuitry and integral wireless communications, the integral wireless communications including at least one of WiFi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. 
     
     
         11 . A lighting control system comprising:
 a microcontroller; and   a memory, operatively connected to the microcontroller, wherein the memory comprises executable instructions that when executed by the microcontroller cause the microcontroller to perform a method comprising:   obtaining environmental data from an environmental sensor;   obtaining input data from a first input device;   controlling at least one of an intensity or a hue of one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data; and   executing an interrupt operation by:   obtaining interrupt data from at least one of the environmental sensor, the first input device, or a second input device separate from the first input device, the interrupt data corresponding to a user change to at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs;   suspending control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs;   implementing the user change to at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs; and   controlling at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data, the input data, and the interrupt data.   
     
     
         12 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising executing a timer for a time-out period based on the interrupt data, wherein control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data and the input data is suspended during the time-out period. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting control system of  claim 12 , wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the microcontroller, cause the microcontroller to perform the method further comprising:
 in response to detecting any additional user changes during the time-out period, resetting the time-out period; and   in response to the time-out period elapsing without detecting any additional user changes during the time-out period, resuming control of at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs based on the environmental data, the input data, and the interrupt data.   
     
     
         14 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the smart bulbs include integral circuitry and integral wireless communications, the integral wireless communications including at least one of WiFi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting control system of  claim 14 , wherein the smart bulbs are in communication with the first input device. 
     
     
         16 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the first input device includes at least one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the environmental sensor is configured to detect one or more of movement, ambient light, or ambient sound. 
     
     
         18 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the second input device includes one or more of a sliding dimmer switch, a rotary dimmer switch, an on/off switch, a touch pad, a touch screen, or a capacitive touch switch. 
     
     
         19 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises suspending obtaining environmental data and input data in response to the interrupt data. 
     
     
         20 . The lighting control system of  claim 11 , wherein controlling at least one of the intensity or the hue of the one or more smart bulbs includes controlling a light output of a light emitting diode in each of the one or more smart bulbs.