IP Library Granted Patent US 8,872,432
Granted Patent B2
US 8,872,432 · App. 13/421,357 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Solution for dynamic lighting control

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,872,432
App. No.
13/421,357
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lighting system and method for controlling illumination of the same upon detection of a user in at least one of a first detection area and a second detection area. The lighting system can include a lighting fixture having one or more lighting sources and at least two sensors associated with separate detection areas. Each sensor can send a signal to a controller associated with the lighting fixture, and the controller can be configured to vary the illumination of one or more of the lighting sources depending on the each sensor's detection area. The present subject matter facilitates energy savings since areas away from an occupied area are not illuminated. Communication between neighboring lighting fixtures is not required since each lighting fixture can detect the presence of a user in an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture in order to trigger illumination of the lighting fixture.

Claims (28)

1. A lighting fixture, comprising:

a controller;

a first sensor configured to send a signal to the controller upon the detection of a presence of a user in a first detection area; and

a second sensor configured to send a signal to the controller upon the detection of a presence of a same or different user in a second detection area;

wherein the controller is configured to provide varying levels of illumination based at least in part on the signals received from the first sensor and the second sensor;

wherein the first detection area extends to an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture and wherein the second detection area is proximate an area beneath the lighting fixture; and

wherein the controller is configured provide an output that causes the lighting fixture to have a reduced illumination when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area and the second sensor does not detect the presence of a user in the second detection area.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first detection area and the second detection area at least partially overlap.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein the first detection area and the second detection area are disjunctive.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide less than full power when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lighting sources coupled with the controller,

wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, and

wherein the controller is configured to randomly illuminate either the first lighting source or the second lighting source when the first sensor detects the presence of a user in the first detection area.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to provide an output that causes the lighting fixture to have an increased level of illumination when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to provide full power when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

8. The lighting fixture of claim 6 , further comprising one or more lighting sources,

wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, and

wherein the controller is configured to illuminate the first lighting source and the second lighting source when the second sensor detects the presence of a user in the second detection area.

9. A method for controlling illumination of an area, the method comprising:

monitoring for a presence of a user in a first detection area with a first sensor associated with a lighting fixture;

monitoring for a presence of a same or different user in a second detection area with a second sensor associated with the lighting fixture; and

controlling illumination of one or more lighting sources associated with the lighting fixture via a controller upon detection of the user in the first detection area or the second detection area;

wherein the first detection area extends to an area proximate an adjacent lighting fixture and wherein the second detection area is proximate an area beneath the lighting fixture; and

wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises reducing the level of illumination upon the detection of a user in the first detection area and lack of detection of a user in the second detection area.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first detection area and the second detection area at least partially overlap.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first detection area and the second detection area are disjunctive.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more lighting sources comprises a first lighting source and a second lighting source, wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises randomly illuminating the first lighting source or the second lighting source upon the detection of a user in the first detection area.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the illumination of the one or more lighting sources comprises increasing the level of illumination upon the detection of a user in the second detection area.

Assignments (12)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 059034 FRAME: 0469. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066372/0590 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 10841994 TO PATENT NUMBER 11570872 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 058982 FRAME 0844. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066355/0455 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2022
From: ALLY BANK
To: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; FORUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 059392/0079 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2022
From: ALLY BANK
To: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; FORUM, INC.
Reel/Frame 059432/0592 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2022
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ATLANTIC PARK STRATEGIC CAPITAL FUND, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 059034/0469 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 2, 2022
From: HUBBELL LIGHTING, INC.; LITECONTROL CORPORATION; CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC; DAINTREE NEETWORKS INC.; FORUM, INC.
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058982/0844 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 27, 2020
From: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052763/0643 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 051047/0210 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 28, 2019
From: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: ALLY BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049672/0294 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2019
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC F/K/A GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 048791/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: GE HUNGARY KFT.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 027886/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: KERCSO, BERTALAN; BALAZS, LASLO; MAROS, ISTVAN
To: GE HUNGARY KFT.
Reel/Frame 027886/0395 →