IP Library Granted Patent US 12,641,691
Granted Patent B2
US 12,641,691 · App. 19/012,466 · Granted May 26, 2026

Systems and methods for controlling color temperature

Inventors: Ethan Charles Biery (Orefield, PA); Craig Alan Casey (Coopersburg, PA); Venkatesh Chitta (Center Valley, PA); Brent Protzman (Easton, PA); Thomas M. Shearer (Macungie, PA); Mark S. Taipale (Harleysville, PA)
Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
H05B45/20H05B45/22H05B47/19
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,641,691
App. No.
19/012,466
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems may be used to control the output parameters of one or more light sources (e.g., discrete-spectrum light sources) based on fixture capability information. Fixture capability information may be obtained using a configuration tool. The fixture capability information may be determined by the configuration tool, and the fixture capability information determined by the configuration tool may be stored and/or processed. The fixture may have a memory for storing the fixture capability information. The fixture capability information may also be stored in a remote network device. A system controller may obtain the fixture capability information from the fixture or the remote control device. The system controller may generate control instructions based on the fixture capability information and send the control instructions to the fixtures.

Claims (136)

1 . A lighting system controller, comprising:

memory circuitry;

first communication interface circuitry;

control circuitry to:

receive, via the first communication interface circuitry, a fixture capability parameter from each of a plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in a space;

cause a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to provide a plurality of fixture capability parameters;

identify, as a space capability parameter, an overlapping range of fixture capability parameters shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters;

receive an input indicative of a target lighting value in the space;

determine whether a component of the target lighting value falls within the identified space capability parameter; and

responsive to the determination that the component of the target lighting value does not fall within the space capability parameter:

determine a modified space capability parameter using the fixture capability parameter associated with a group of lighting fixtures included in the plurality of networked lighting fixtures such that the component of the target lighting value falls within the modified space capability parameter;

cause the lighting fixtures not included in the group of lighting fixtures to enter a non-illuminated state; and

cause the group of lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

2 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 , the control circuitry to further:

responsive to the determination that the component of the target lighting values falls within the space capability parameter:

cause the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

3 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 further comprising:

user input interface circuitry;

wherein to receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space, the control circuitry to further:

receive, via the user input interface circuitry the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space.

4 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 further comprising:

second communication interface circuitry;

wherein to receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space, the control circuitry to further:

receive, via the second communication interface circuitry the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space.

5 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 wherein to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry, the control circuitry to further:

poll each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry; and

responsive to the poll of each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures, receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry.

6 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 wherein to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry, the control circuitry to further:

receive the fixture capability parameter from a new lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the new lighting to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

cause a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the new lighting fixture; and

identify, a new overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the new lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

7 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 wherein to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry, the control circuitry to further:

receive the fixture capability parameter from a replacement lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the replacement lighting fixture to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

removing, the fixture capability parameter associated with the replaced lighting fixture from the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

cause a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the replacement lighting fixture; and

identify, a new overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the replacement lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

8 . The lighting system controller of claim 1 wherein to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry, the control circuitry to further:

receive, at least one of the following from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures:

a dimming range of the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature range of the respective lighting fixture;

a maximum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a minimum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a color gamut of the respective lighting fixture;

a spectral power distribution of the respective lighting fixture;

a power range of the respective lighting fixture;

a dimming curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color mix curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a lumen range for each source included in the respective lighting fixture; or

a power consumption for each source included in the respective lighting fixture.

9 . A lighting system control method, comprising:

receiving, by lighting control circuitry, a fixture capability parameter from each of a plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in a space via communicatively coupled first communication interface circuitry;

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, a storage in memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to provide a plurality of fixture capability parameters;

identifying, by the lighting control circuitry, as a space capability parameter, an overlapping range of fixture capability parameters shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters;

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, an input indicative of a target lighting value in the space;

determining, by the lighting control circuitry, whether a component of the target lighting value falls within the identified space capability parameter; and

responsive to the determination by the lighting control circuitry that the component of the target lighting value does not fall within the identified space capability parameter:

determining, by the lighting control circuitry, a modified space capability parameter using the fixture capability parameter associated with a group of lighting fixtures included in the plurality of networked lighting fixtures such that the component of the target lighting value falls within the modified space capability parameter;

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, the lighting fixtures not included in the group of lighting fixtures to enter a non-illuminated state; and

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, the group of lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

responsive to the determination by the lighting control circuitry that the component of the target lighting values falls within the space capability parameter:

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space, further comprises:

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space via communicatively coupled user input interface circuitry.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space, further comprises:

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space via communicatively coupled second communication interface circuitry.

13 . The method of claim 9 wherein receiving the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further comprises:

polling, by the lighting control circuitry, each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures; and

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to the poll of each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein receiving the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further comprises:

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, the fixture capability parameter from a new lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the new lighting to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the new lighting fixture; and

identifying, by the lighting control circuitry, an overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the new lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

15 . The method of claim 9 wherein receiving, the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further comprises:

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, the fixture capability parameter from a replacement lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the replacement lighting fixture to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

removing, by the lighting control circuitry, the fixture capability parameter associated with the replaced lighting fixture from the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

causing, by the lighting control circuitry, a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the replacement lighting fixture; and

identifying, by the lighting control circuitry, an overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the replacement lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

16 . The method of claim 9 wherein receiving the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry further comprises:

receiving, by the lighting control circuitry, at least one of the following from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures:

a dimming range of the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature range of the respective lighting fixture;

a maximum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a minimum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a color gamut of the respective lighting fixture;

a spectral power distribution of the respective lighting fixture;

a power range of the respective lighting fixture;

a dimming curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color mix curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a lumen range for each source included in the respective lighting fixture; or

a power consumption for each source included in the respective lighting fixture.

17 . A non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device that includes instructions that, when executed by lighting control circuitry, cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive a fixture capability parameter from each of a plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in a space via communicatively coupled first communication interface circuitry;

cause a storage in memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to provide a plurality of fixture capability parameters;

identify as a space capability parameter, an overlapping range of fixture capability parameters shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters;

receive an input indicative of a target lighting value in the space;

determine whether a component of the target lighting value falls within the identified space capability parameter; and

responsive to the determination by the lighting control circuitry that the component of the target lighting value does not fall within the identified space capability parameter:

determine a modified space capability parameter using the fixture capability parameter associated with a group of lighting fixtures included in the plurality of networked lighting fixtures such that the component of the target lighting value falls within the modified space capability parameter;

cause the lighting fixtures not included in the group of lighting fixtures to enter a non-illuminated state; and

cause the group of lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

18 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions, when executed by the lighting control circuitry, further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

responsive to the determination by the lighting control circuitry that the component of the target lighting values falls within the space capability parameter:

cause the plurality of networked lighting fixtures to enter an illuminated state to provide the target lighting value in the space.

19 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space via communicatively coupled user input interface circuitry.

20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 , wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive the input indicative of the target lighting value in the space via communicatively coupled second communication interface circuitry.

21 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

poll each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures; and

receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to the poll of each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures.

22 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive the fixture capability parameter from a new lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the new lighting to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

cause a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the new lighting fixture; and

identify an overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the new lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

23 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures disposed in the space via the first communication interface circuitry further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive the fixture capability parameter from a replacement lighting fixture via the first communication interface circuitry responsive to communicatively coupling the replacement lighting fixture to the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

remove the fixture capability parameter associated with the replaced lighting fixture from the plurality of networked lighting fixtures;

cause a storage in the memory circuitry of the fixture capability parameter received from the replacement lighting fixture; and

identify an overlapping range shared across the plurality of fixture capability parameters that includes the fixture capability parameter of the replacement lighting fixture as a new space capability parameter.

24 . The non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device of claim 17 wherein the instructions that cause the lighting control circuitry to receive the fixture capability parameter from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures via the first communication interface circuitry further cause the lighting control circuitry to:

receive at least one of the following from each of the plurality of networked lighting fixtures:

a dimming range of the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature range of the respective lighting fixture;

a maximum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a minimum color temperature of the respective lighting fixture;

a color gamut of the respective lighting fixture;

a spectral power distribution of the respective lighting fixture;

a power range of the respective lighting fixture;

a dimming curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color mix curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a color temperature curve for the respective lighting fixture;

a lumen range for each source included in the respective lighting fixture; or

a power consumption for each source included in the respective lighting fixture.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 17986472 · Nov 14, 2022
Continuation 17081981 · Oct 27, 2020
Continuation 16543038 · Aug 16, 2019
Continuation 15832716 · Dec 5, 2017
Provisional Application 62430310 · Dec 5, 2016
Related Publication 20250151182A1 · May 8, 2025
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