Granted Patent B1

US 8,319,452 · App. 13/344,244 · Granted Nov 27, 2012

Abstract

Claims (51)

1. A system, comprising:

a dimmer configured to transmit a dimming input signal, the dimming input signal being in a dimming protocol; and

a light fixture comprising:

a plurality of lights,

a dimming protocol detection module that automatically detects in real time at least one parameter of the dimming protocol received in the dimming input signal, the dimming protocol being detected from a plurality of dimming protocols, and

a light dimming control module that automatically reconfigures to match the detected dimming protocol based on the at least one parameter to control the plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol,

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital multiplex (DMX) dimming protocol is at least one of a termination of a data link with a resistor having a value of no greater than 120 ohms, a voltage ranging from −5 volts to +5 volts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a DMX structure or combination thereof,

wherein the at least one parameter for a remote device management (RDM) dimming protocol is at least one of a RDM packet within a DMX512 signal, a termination of a data link having a value of at least 245 millivolts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a RDM structure or combination thereof,

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) dimming protocol is at least one of a 0-63 bit address, an isolated communication line or combination thereof, and

wherein the at least one parameter for a 0-10 v lighting control dimming protocol is at least a voltage ranging from 0-10 v.

2. A light fixture, comprising:

a plurality of lights;

a dimming protocol detection module that automatically detects in real time at least one parameter of a dimming protocol received in a dimming input signal; and

a light dimming control module that automatically reconfigures to match the detected dimming protocol based on the at least one parameter to control the plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol;

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital multiplex (DMX) dimming protocol is at least one of a termination of a data link with a resistor having a value of no greater than 120 ohms, a voltage ranging from −5 volts to +5 volts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a DMX structure or combination thereof;

wherein the at least one parameter for a remote device management (RDM) dimming protocol is at least one of a RDM packet within a DMX512 signal, a termination of a data link having a value of at least 245 millivolts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a RDM structure or combination thereof;

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) dimming protocol is at least one of a 0-63 bit address, an isolated communication line or combination thereof; and

wherein the at least one parameter for a 0-10 v lighting control dimming protocol is at least a voltage ranging from 0-10 v.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 , further comprising the dimming protocol detection module further configured to select the dimming protocol from a plurality of dimming protocols based on one or more parameters associated with the plurality of dimming protocols.

4. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of dimming protocols comprises a 0-10 volt lighting control, digital addressable lighting interface (DALI), digital multiplex (DMX512) lighting interface, a remote device management (RDM) interface, or any combination thereof.

5. The light fixture of claim 3 , wherein the one or more parameters associated with the plurality of dimming protocols comprise a physical layer parameter, a network layer parameter, or any combination thereof.

6. The light fixture of claim 5 , wherein the physical layer parameter comprises a voltage parameter, a current parameter, an isolation parameter, or any combination thereof.

7. The light fixture of claim 5 , wherein the network layer parameter comprises a communication protocol parameter, a command format parameter, or any combination thereof.

8. The light fixture of claim 2 , wherein the dimming input signal is received from a dimmer.

9. The light fixture of claim 2 , further comprising:

the dimming protocol detection module automatically detects in real time at least one parameter of a second dimming protocol received in the dimming input signal; and

the light dimming control module further configured to automatically reconfigure to match the detected second dimming protocol based on the at least one parameter to control the plurality of lights based on the detected second dimming protocol.

10. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the light dimming control module further configured to automatically discontinue control of the plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol in real-time with the detection of the second dimming protocol.

11. The light fixture of claim 2 , wherein the light dimming control module comprising a plurality of dimming protocol controllers, each dimming protocol controller of the plurality of dimming protocol controllers being associated with a dimming protocol from the plurality of dimming protocols and configured to convert the dimming input signal from the associated dimming protocol to a control signal for the plurality of lights.

12. The light fixture of claim 2 , further comprising a dimming input module configured to:

detect the dimming input signal; and

control the plurality of lights based on the detection of the dimming input signal and the detected dimming protocol.

13. A dimming protocol detection method, comprising:

automatically detecting in real time at least on parameter of a dimming protocol received in a dimming input signal; and

automatically configuring to match the detected dimming protocol based on the at least one parameter and controlling a plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol;

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital multiplex (DMX) dimming protocol is at least one of a termination of a data link with a resistor having a value of no greater than 120 ohms, a voltage ranging from −5 volts to +5 volts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a DMX structure or combination thereof;

wherein the at least one parameter for a remote device management (RDM) dimming protocol is at least one of a RDM packet within a DMX512 signal, a termination of a data link having a value of at least 245 millivolts, a data speed=250 kilobytes per second, a packet structure analysis for a RDM structure or combination thereof;

wherein the at least one parameter for a digital addressable lighting interface (DALI) dimming protocol is at least one of a 0-63 bit address, an isolated communication line or combination thereof; and

wherein the at least one parameter for a 0-10 v lighting control dimming protocol is at least a voltage ranging from 0-10 v.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising selecting the dimming protocol from a plurality of dimming protocols based on one or more parameters associated with the plurality of dimming protocols.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of dimming protocols comprises a 0-10 volt lighting control, digital addressable lighting interface (DALI), digital multiplex (DMX512) lighting interface, a remote device management (RDM) interface, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more parameters associated with the plurality of dimming protocols comprise a physical layer parameter, a network layer parameter, or any combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving the dimming input signal from a dimmer.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

automatically, in real time, detecting at least one parameter of a second dimming protocol received in the dimming input signal; and

automatically reconfiguring to match the detected second dimming protocol based on the at least one parameter and controlling the plurality of lights based on the detected second dimming protocol.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising automatically discontinuing control of the plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol in real-time with the detection of the second dimming protocol.

20. The method of claim 13 , further comprising converting the dimming input signal from an associated dimming protocol to a control signal for the plurality of lights.

21. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

detecting the dimming input signal; and

controlling the plurality of lights based on the detection of the dimming input signal and the detected dimming protocol.

Assignments (16)