Lighting control system

Abstract

Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device coupled to AC mains for controlling a lighting system, the electronic device comprising:
 a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically through free space using visible light; 
 a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically through free space using visible light; 
 a human machine interface (HMI) configured to receive input from a user; 
 a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and 
 control circuitry configured to produce commands in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains for controlling the lighting system in response to the input received from the user through the HMI, the data received by the light detector, and the data received through the network interface, and to transmit said commands to the lighting system using the light source. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light source is one or more LEDs. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device as recited  claim 2 , wherein the light detector is one or more of the LEDs used as the light source. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the HMI comprises at least one of a display screen and a set of buttons, and wherein the light source illuminates the at least one of the display screen and the set of buttons of the HMI. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless communication device, configured to modulate light from a camera flash or a display of the wireless communication device. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein light from the display is modulated with alternating light and dark frames of a video to produce light modulated with the data. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the network interface is connected to a cable over which data is communicated, and wherein the cable communicates data according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of DALI and Ethernet. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the network interface communicates data using radio waves, and wherein the radio waves communicate data according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of Zigbee, IEEE802.11, and Bluetooth. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the data received by the light detector and the data transmitted by the light source are communicated using a visible light communication (VLC) network controller of the electronic device. 
     
     
       10. A lamp coupled to AC mains in a lighting system, the lamp comprising:
 a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically through free space using visible light, wherein the data is transmitted during periodic gaps in illumination in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains; 
 a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically through free space using visible light; 
 a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and 
 control circuitry configured to produce commands for controlling the lighting system in response to the data received by the light detector and the data received through the network interface, and to transmit said commands to the lighting system using the light source. 
 
     
     
       11. The lamp as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to retransmit the same command through the light source that is received by the light detector to enable commands to be communicated to other lamps in the lighting system. 
     
     
       12. The lamp as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the network interface is connected to a cable over which data is communicated, and wherein the cable communicates data according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of DALI and Ethernet. 
     
     
       13. The lamp as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the network interface communicates data using radio waves, and wherein the radio waves communicate data according to a protocol selected from a group consisting of Zigbee, IEEE802.11, and Bluetooth. 
     
     
       14. A lighting system comprising:
 an LED configured to both illuminate and to transmit and receive commands optically through free space using visible light; 
 a building controller configured to control the lighting system; and 
 an electronic device configured to control the lighting system, the electronic device comprising:
 a human machine interface (HMI) configured to receive input from a user; and 
 a network interface configured to receive commands from the building controller; 
 
 wherein the electronic device is configured to produce commands in response to the user input to the HMI, and to forward at least one of said commands to the light source LED optically through free space using visible light. 
 
     
     
       15. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the building controller communicates with the electronic device over copper wire or an RF communication channel. 
     
     
       16. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the LED and the electronic device communicate in synchronization with each other. 
     
     
       17. The lighting system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the LED and the electronic device are coupled to an AC mains and communicate in synchronization with a frequency or phase of the AC mains. 
     
     
       18. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the building controller communicates with the electronic device using the DALI protocol. 
     
     
       19. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the building controller communicates with the electronic device using Ethernet. 
     
     
       20. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the building controller communicates with the electronic device using Zigbee, IEEE 802.11, or Bluetooth. 
     
     
       21. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the electronic device enables the user to control the lighting system independent of and/or overriding the commands from the building controller. 
     
     
       22. The lighting system as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the electronic device comprises:
 a light source configured for illuminating the HMI and for transmitting the at least one of said commands to the light source optically through free space using visible light; and 
 a light detector configured for receiving data from the light source LED of the lighting system. 
 
     
     
       23. The lighting system as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the HMI comprises a touch screen or a set of buttons that are illuminated by the light source, wherein the touch screen or the set of buttons are configured for displaying information about the lighting system or for receiving the input from the user. 
     
     
       24. A method to transmit data from a visible light source coupled to an AC mains, the method comprising:
 supplying current to the visible light source at a first level sufficient to produce light; 
 periodically reducing the current supplied to the visible light source to produce communication gaps at regular, periodic intervals of each cycle of the AC mains, wherein the current is reduced from the first level to a second level less than the first level; 
 transmitting data solely within a subset of said communication gaps by modulating the current supplied to the visible light source between the second level and a third level, which is higher than the first level; and 
 immediately preceding each of the subset of said communications gaps, reducing the current supplied to the visible light source to the second level for a period of time, such that an average brightness of light produced by the visible light source is the same whether or not data is transmitted during said communication gaps. 
 
     
     
       25. The method as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the step of transmitting data comprises modulating the current supplied to the visible light source within each of the subset of said communication gaps, so that the visible light source emits light at two different output light levels. 
     
     
       26. The method as recited in  claim 24 , further comprising restricting the a time duration of said communication gaps to be less than one quarter of each cycle of said AC mains. 
     
     
       27. A lamp configured to be coupled to AC mains, the lamp comprising:
 a light source configured to provide illumination and to transmit data optically using visible light, wherein the data is transmitted during periodic gaps in illumination in synchronization with a frequency of the AC mains;   a network interface configured to receive data from a network; and   control circuitry configured to produce commands for controlling at least one other lamp in response to the data received through the network interface, and to transmit the commands to the at least one other lamp using the light source.   
     
     
       28. The lamp as recited in claim 27, further comprising:
 a light detector configured to receive data transmitted optically using visible light; and   wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a command received by the light detector, and retransmit the same command as received by the light detector through the light source.   
     
     
       29. The lamp as recited in claim 27, wherein the network interface is configured to be connected to a cable over which data is communicated. 
     
     
       30. The lamp as recited in claim 29, wherein the network interface is configured to communicate data over the cable according to a protocol that comprises DALI or Ethernet. 
     
     
       31. The lamp as recited in claim 27, wherein the network interface is configured to communicate data using radio waves. 
     
     
       32. The lamp as recited in claim 31, wherein the network interface is configured to communicate data via the radio waves according to a protocol that comprises Zigbee, IEEE802.11, or Bluetooth. 
     
     
       33. The lamp as recited in claim 27, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive a command through the network interface, and retransmit the same command as received through the network interface through the light source. 
     
     
       34. A controller, comprising:
 physical layer interface (PLI) circuitry to provide power to one or more operatively coupled light emitting diode (LED) strings;   visible light communication (VLC) circuitry operatively coupled to the PLI circuitry, the VLC circuitry to cause the one or more LED strings to communicate via visible light communication with at least one external device by selectively altering an illumination output level of the LED strings, the VLC circuitry configured to:
 cause the PLI circuitry to periodically cycle, in synchronization with an AC main supply, the power supplied to the one or more LED strings between a first interval in which the one or more LED strings provide a first illumination output level and a second interval in which the one or more LED strings provide a second illumination output level less than the first illumination output level, the second interval to provide periodic gaps in illumination produced by the one or more LED strings; and 
 cause the PLI circuitry to sequentially, selectively provide power to at least a portion of the one or more LED strings sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings to provide a third illumination output level greater than the first illumination output level during at least a portion of the second interval to transmit a visible light communication. 
   
     
     
       35. The controller of claim 34, further comprising:
 timing circuitry operatively coupled to the VLC circuitry and to the PLI circuitry, the timing circuitry to synchronize the PLI circuitry and the VLC circuitry with a frequency of the AC main supply.   
     
     
       36. The controller of claim 35, wherein the timing circuitry includes phase-locked loop (PLL) circuitry. 
     
     
       37. The controller of claim 34, further comprising:
 one or more photodetectors operatively coupled to the VLC circuitry.   
     
     
       38. The controller of claim 37, the VLC circuitry configured to further:
 receive, via the one or more photodetectors during the second interval, a visible light communication from a remote device, the visible light communication using one or more LED strings included in the remote device,   wherein the visible light communication includes a binary sequence created by a sequential, selective provision of power, synchronized with the AC main supply, to at least a portion of the one or more LED strings in the remote device sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings in the remote device to provide the third illumination output level.   
     
     
       39. The controller of claim 34, wherein transmission of the visible light communication comprises transmission of an instruction via a visible light binary sequence created by causing the portion of the one or more LED strings to generate a sequential output that includes the third illumination output level and the second illumination output level during at least a portion of one or more second intervals. 
     
     
       40. The controller of claim 39, further comprising:
 memory circuitry operatively coupled to the VLC circuitry.   
     
     
       41. The controller of claim 40, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction retrieved by the VLC circuitry from the memory circuitry. 
     
     
       42. The controller of claim 38, further comprising:
 wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry operatively coupled to the VLC circuitry.   
     
     
       43. The controller of claim 42, wherein the VLC circuitry configured to further:
 translate an instruction received via the wireless RF transceiver circuitry and stored in memory circuitry to provide the visible light communication.   
     
     
       44. A method of transmitting a visible light communication, the method comprising:
 cycling physical layer interface (PLI) circuitry in synchronization with an AC main supply, to periodically supply power to one or more LED strings such that during a first interval the one or more LED strings provide a first illumination output level and during a second interval the one or more LED strings provide a second illumination output level less than the first illumination output level, the second interval to provide periodic gaps in illumination produced by the one or more LED strings; and   causing the PLI circuitry to sequentially, selectively provide power to at least a portion of the one or more LED strings sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings to provide a third illumination output level greater than the first illumination output level during at least a portion of the second interval to transmit a visible light communication.   
     
     
       45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:
 synchronizing, by timing circuitry operatively coupled to the PLI circuitry, the frequency of the AC main supply with cycling the power supplied to the one or more LED strings during the first interval.   
     
     
       46. The method of claim 45, wherein synchronizing the frequency of the AC main supply with cycling the power supplied to the one or more LED strings during the first interval further comprises:
 synchronizing, by phase-lock loop (PLL) circuitry coupled to the PLI circuitry, the frequency of the AC main supply with cycling the power supplied to the one or more LED strings during the first interval.   
     
     
       47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
 receiving, via one or more photodetectors during the second interval, a visible light communication from a remote device, the visible light communication using one or more LED strings included in the remote device,   wherein the visible light communication includes a binary sequence created by a sequential, selective provision of power, synchronized with the AC main supply, to at least a portion of the one or more LED strings in the remote device sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings in the remote device to provide the third illumination output level.   
     
     
       48. The method of claim 44, wherein sequentially, selectively providing power to at least the portion of the one or more LED strings sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings to provide the third illumination output level greater than the first illumination output level during at least the portion of the second interval further comprises:
 causing the PLI circuitry to sequentially, selectively provide power to at least the portion of the one or more LED strings sufficient to cause the portion of the one or more LED strings to provide the third illumination output level greater than the first illumination output level during at least the portion of the second interval to transmit an instruction to an external device via a visible light binary sequence.   
     
     
       49. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
 retrieving the instruction from memory circuitry.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:
 translating an instruction received via wireless RF circuitry to provide the visible light binary sequence.