IP Library Granted Patent US 11,277,894
Granted Patent B2
US 11,277,894 · App. 16/937,390 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Universal adapter for lighting system for indoor grow application

Inventors: Dengke Cai (Camas, WA); Martin Ray Mason, Jr. (Vancouver, WA); Karl Frederich Thompson Shrom (Columbus, OH)
Assignee: HGCI, INC.
H05B45/14A01G7/045A01G9/249F21V23/008F21V23/06H05B45/385H05B47/165F21Y2105/10F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,277,894
App. No.
16/937,390
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adapter includes a power input and output, a control input and output, a detection module, and a signal conversion module. The control input is configured to receive an original driver signal. The detection module is in signal communication with the control input and is configured to detect a first communication protocol of the original driver signal. The signal conversion module is in signal communication with the detection module and is configured to convert the original driver signal into an LED-compatible driver signal that includes a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol. The control output is in signal communication with the signal conversion module and is configured to facilitate transmission of the LED-compatible driver signal to an LED light fixture. The signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the first and second communication protocols.

Claims (63)

1. An adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller, the adapter comprising:

a power input configured for releasable electrical coupling with a power source to receive input power from the power source;

a power output for releasable electrical coupling with an LED light fixture;

a main bus electrically coupled with the power input and the power output, the main bus being configured to pass the input power from the power input directly to the power output to facilitate powering of an LED light fixture with the input power;

a control input configured for releasable communicative coupling to an automated greenhouse controller to receive an original driver signal from the automated greenhouse controller;

an autosensing module in signal communication with the control input and configured to detect a signal type of the original driver signal;

a signal differentiating module in signal communication with the autosensing module and configured to detect a first communication protocol of the original driver signal based upon the signal type detected by the autosensing module;

a signal conversion module in signal communication with the signal differentiating module to receive the first communication protocol and configured to convert the original driver signal into an LED-compatible driver signal that comprises a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol; and

a control output in signal communication with the signal conversion module and configured for releasable communicative coupling to the LED light fixture to facilitate transmission of the LED-compatible driver signal to the LED light fixture, wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module and the second communication protocol.

2. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon a predefined map that defines a relationship between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.

3. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier module in signal communication with the signal conversion module and the control output and configured to facilitate amplification of the original driver signal.

4. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a transformer module electrically coupled with the power input, the autosensing module, the signal differentiating module, and the signal conversion module, wherein:

the power from the power source has a first voltage;

the transformer module is configured to transform the first voltage of the power into a second voltage for powering of the autosensing module, the signal differentiating module and the signal conversion module; and

the second voltage is less than the first voltage.

5. The adapter of claim 4 wherein the transformer module comprises a fly back circuit.

6. The adapter of claim 1 further comprising a feedback module that is configured to monitor at least one operational parameter of an LED light fixture and selectively adjust the LED-compatible driver signal in response to the at least one operational parameter.

7. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the signal differentiating module is configured to transmit protocol data to the signal conversion module that identifies the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module.

8. The adapter of claim 7 wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the protocol data.

9. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the signal conversion module is configured to query an LED light fixture for the second communication protocol.

10. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the signal conversion module is preprogrammed with the second communication protocol.

11. A lighting system for an indoor grow facility, the lighting system comprising:

an adapter comprising:

a power input configured to receive input power from a power source;

a power output;

a main bus electrically coupled with the power input and the power output, the main bus being configured to pass the input power from the power input directly to the power output;

a control input configured for releasable communicative coupling to an automated greenhouse controller to receive an original driver signal from the automated greenhouse controller;

an autosensing module in signal communication with the control input and configured to detect a signal type of the original driver signal;

a signal differentiating module in signal communication with the autosensing module and configured to detect a first communication protocol of the original driver signal based upon the signal type detected by the autosensing module;

a signal conversion module in signal communication with the signal differentiating module to receive the first communication protocol and configured to convert the original driver signal into an LED-compatible driver signal that comprises a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol; and

a control output in signal communication with the signal conversion module; and

an LED light fixture comprising:

an LED driver circuit releasably communicatively coupled with the control output and releasably electrically coupled with the power output such that input power from the power input passes directly to the LED driver circuit via the power output to facilitate powering of the LED light fixture with the input power;

a plurality of LED lights electrically coupled with the LED driver circuit, wherein:

the signal differentiating module transmits the LED-compatible driver signal to the LED light fixture to facilitate control of the plurality of LED lights; and

the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module and the second communication protocol.

12. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon a predefined map that defines a relationship between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.

13. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the adapter further comprises an amplifier module in signal communication with the signal conversion module and the control output and is configured to facilitate amplification of the original driver signal.

14. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the adapter further comprises a feedback module that is configured to monitor at least one operational parameter of the LED light fixture and selectively adjust the LED-compatible driver signal in response to the at least one operational parameter.

15. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the signal differentiating module is configured to transmit protocol data to the signal conversion module that identifies the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module.

16. The lighting system of claim 15 wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the protocol data.

17. An adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller, the adapter comprising:

a power input configured to receive input power from a power source;

a power output for electrical coupling with an LED light fixture;

a main bus electrically coupled with the power input and the power output, the main bus being configured to pass the input power from the power input directly to the power output to facilitate powering of an LED light fixture with the input power;

a control input configured to receive an original driver signal from an automated greenhouse controller;

an autosensing module in signal communication with the control input and configured to detect a signal type of the original driver signal;

a signal differentiating module in signal communication with the autosensing module and configured to detect a first communication protocol of the original driver signal based upon the signal type detected by the autosensing module;

a signal conversion module in signal communication with the signal differentiating module and configured to convert the original driver signal into an LED-compatible driver signal that comprises a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol;

a control output in signal communication with the signal conversion module and configured to facilitate transmission of the LED-compatible driver signal to an LED light fixture; and

a feedback module that is configured to monitor at least one operational parameter of an LED light fixture and selectively adjust the LED-compatible driver signal in response to the at least one operational parameter, wherein the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module and the second communication protocol.

18. The adapter of claim 17 wherein:

the signal differentiating module is configured to transmit protocol data to the signal conversion module that identifies the first communication protocol detected by the signal differentiating module; and

the signal conversion module is configured to convert the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon the protocol data.

19. A method for controlling operation of an LED light fixture with an adapter for a greenhouse and indoor grow automated controller, the method comprising:

receiving, by the adapter, an input power from a power source;

transmitting, by the adapter, the input power directly to the LED light fixture;

receiving, by the adapter, an original driver signal from an automated greenhouse controller;

detecting, by the adapter, a first communication protocol of the original driver signal;

receiving, by the adapter, identification of a second communication protocol required to communicate with the LED light fixture, the first communication protocol being different from the second communication protocol;

converting, by the adapter, the original driver signal into an LED-compatible driver signal that comprises the second communication protocol based upon the detected first communication protocol and the identified second communication protocol; and

transmitting, by the adapter, the LED-compatible driver signal to the LED light fixture.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein converting, by the adapter, the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal, comprises converting the original driver signal into the LED-compatible driver signal based upon a predefined map that defines a relationship between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: HGCI LLC
Reel/Frame 075365/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2023
From: HGCI, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 065381/0668 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2021
From: CAI, DENGKE; MASON, MARTIN RAY, JR; SHROM, KARL FREDERICH THOMPSON
To: HGCI, INC.
Reel/Frame 055262/0416 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62877811 · Jul 23, 2019
Related Publication 20210029793A1 · Jan 28, 2021