System and processes for commissioning indoor industrial lighting
View Patent ↗Processes for commissioning an indoor lighting system composed of a plurality of lighting fixtures, each including a lighting associate, include the steps of establishing a direct connection table for each lighting associate; forming a full direct connection table represented as a square matrix and comprising data derived from all direct connection tables; grouping the lighting associates using an element reduction operation on the square matrix; and transmitting a group direct connection matrix to each lighting associate. The lighting fixtures may include a first transmitter for transmitting a first message to a second lighting associate; a first receiver for receiving a second message from the second lighting associate; a second transmitter for transmitting a third message via a lighting associate support network; a second receiver for receiving a fourth message via the lighting associate support network; an interval timer; a microcontroller in communication with the interval timer, programmable to execute a networking and communication algorithm to process the first, second, third, and fourth messages; an LED lamp; and a switch between the lamp and a power line, controllable by the microcontroller.
1. A lighting fixture comprising:
a first transmitter for transmitting a first message to a second lighting associate;
a first receiver for receiving a second message from the second lighting associate;
a second transmitter for transmitting a third message via a lighting associate support network;
a second receiver for receiving a fourth message via the lighting associate support network;
an interval timer;
a microcontroller in communication with the interval timer, programmable to execute a networking and communication algorithm to process the first, second, third, and fourth messages such that no message is transmitted if a communication channel is in use and further wherein a beginning of transmission of a message over a quiet channel is delayed by a random time interval to mitigate message collisions;
an LED lamp; and
a switch between the lamp and a power line, controllable by the microcontroller.
2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the lighting associate support network is the power line, and each of the second transmitter and the second receiver uses a power line coupler to the power line.
3. The lighting fixture of claim 2 wherein the lighting fixture support network is connected to a Central Controller comprising a computer programmable to execute the networking and communication algorithm.
4. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein the Central Controller is connected to a human-machine-interface (HMI) comprising;
controls operable by a human operator; and
output devices suitable for informing or alerting the human operator to conditions requiring the human operator's attention.
5. The lighting fixture of claim 1 further comprising a camera operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller programmable to detect motion.
6. The lighting fixture of claim 5 further comprising an accelerometer operatively coupled to the microcontroller.
7. The lighting fixture of claim 1 further comprising an acoustic annunciator coupled to the microcontroller programmable to repeatedly actuate the acoustic annunciator.
8. A lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting associates connected via a power line, each lighting associate of the plurality of lighting associates comprising
a first transmitter for transmitting a first message to a second lighting associate;
a first receiver for receiving a second message from the second lighting associate;
a second transmitter for transmitting a third message via a lighting associate support network;
a second receiver for receiving a fourth message via the lighting associate support network;
an interval timer;
a microcontroller in communication with the interval timer, programmable to execute a networking and communication algorithm to process the first, second, third, and fourth messages such that no message is transmitted if a communication channel is in use and further wherein a beginning of transmission of a message over a quiet channel is delayed by a random time interval to mitigate message collisions;
an LED lamp; and
a switch between the lamp and a power line, controllable by the microcontroller.
9. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the lighting associate support network is the power line, and each of the second transmitter and the second receiver is a power line coupler to the power line.
10. The lighting system of claim 8 , further comprising a camera operatively coupled to the microcontroller, the microcontroller programmable to detect motion.
11. The lighting system of claim 10 , further comprising an accelerometer operatively coupled to the microcontroller.
12. The lighting system of claim 10 , further comprising an acoustic annunciator coupled to the microcontroller programmable to repeatedly actuate the acoustic annunciator.
13. The lighting system of claim 8 , wherein the lighting associate support network is connected to a Central Controller comprising a computer programmable to execute the networking and communication algorithm.
14. The lighting system of claim 13 , wherein the Central Controller is connected to a human-machine-interface (HMI) comprising;
controls operable by a human operator; and
output devices suitable for informing or alerting the human operator to conditions requiring the human operator's attention.