Networked lighting apparatus and method for such lighting apparatus to identify itself and communicate its network
View Patent ↗A method ( 300 ) is provided for an apparatus ( 110, 210 ) which controls one or more lighting units ( 10 ) and which is connected to a lighting network ( 100 ), to indicate its network address. The apparatus receives ( 320 ) an identification command. Sequentially, for each bit of the network address: the apparatus controls ( 330 ) the lighting unit(s) to indicate the value of the bit during a bit period by the lighting unit(s) entering an illumination state corresponding to the value of the bit, and causing ( 340 ) a signaling device ( 218 ) to signal during a time interval within the bit period that the illumination state of the lighting unit(s) validly indicates the value of the bit. After the values for all of the bits of the network address have been indicated by the lighting unit(s), the signaling device enters a state ( 360 ) which indicates the end of the network address.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving an identification command at an addressable apparatus which is connected to a lighting network and which is configured to control at least one lighting unit for illuminating at least a region of a facility, wherein the addressable apparatus has a network address associated therewith and has a signaling device integral thereto;
sequentially, for each bit of the network address:
the addressable apparatus controlling a first device among: the at least one lighting unit, and the signaling device, to indicate a value of the bit during a bit period by the first device entering a state corresponding to the value of the bit, and
causing a second device among: the at least one lighting unit, and the signaling device, to signal during a time interval within the bit period that the first device validly indicates the value of the bit; and
after the values for all of the bits of the network address have been indicated by the at least one lighting unit, causing at least one of the first and second devices to enter a state which indicates an end of the network address.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by being illuminated during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by not being illuminated during the bit period.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by being illuminated at a higher intensity during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by being illuminated at a lower intensity during the bit period.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by blinking during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by not blinking during the bit period.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is a lighting device, and wherein the lighting device signals by becoming illuminated during the time interval that an illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is a lighting device, and wherein the lighting device signals by blinking during the time interval that an illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling device is a sound emitting device, and wherein the sound emitting device signals that the illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value by emitting a sound during the time interval.
8. An apparatus configured to be connected to a lighting network and to control at least one lighting unit in response to at least one signal received via the lighting network, the apparatus comprising:
a signaling device integral to the apparatus; and
a processor configured to receive an identification command, and in response thereto to execute an algorithm for communicating a network address associated with the apparatus, the algorithm comprising
sequentially, for each bit of the network address:
controlling a first device among: the at least one lighting unit, and the signaling device, to indicate a value of the bit during a bit period by the at first device entering a state corresponding to the value of the bit, and
causing a second device among: the at least one lighting unit, and the signaling device, to signal during a time interval within the bit period that the first device validly indicates the value of the bit; and
after the values for all of the bits of the network address have been indicated by the at least one lighting unit, causing at least one of the first and second devices to enter a state which indicates an end of the network address.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical circuit configured to supply power to the at least one lighting unit in response to at least one control signal supplied by the processor.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the at least one control signal in response to a command received via the lighting network.
11. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a network communication interface circuit configured to communicate the identification command from the network to the processor.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by being illuminated during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by not being illuminated during the bit period.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by being illuminated at a higher intensity during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by being illuminated at a lower intensity during the bit period.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the at least one lighting unit indicates that the value of the bit is a first value by blinking during the bit period, and indicates that the value of bit is a second value by not blinking during the bit period.
15. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the signaling device is a lighting device, and wherein the lighting device signals by becoming illuminated during the time interval that the illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value.
16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the signaling device is a lighting device, and wherein the lighting device signals by blinking during the time interval that the illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value.
17. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the signaling device is a sound emitting device, and wherein the sound emitting device signals by emitting a sound during the time interval that the illumination state of the at least one lighting unit validly indicates the bit value.