IP Library Granted Patent US 9,877,376
Granted Patent B2
US 9,877,376 · App. 15/236,878 · Granted Jan 23, 2018

System, method, and apparatus for powering intelligent lighting networks

Inventors: David M. Snyder (Cedar Rapids, IA); Leslie D. Baych (Robins, IA); Walter F. Emig, III (Cedar Rapids, IA)
Assignee: IDS-IP Holdings, LLC
H05B37/0254H05B33/0815H05B33/0854H05B33/0863H05B37/0218H05B37/0263H05B37/0272H04L12/28Y02B20/48
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,877,376
App. No.
15/236,878
Granted
Jan 23, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for powering intelligent lighting networks. The power for the intelligent lighting network is supplied by Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switches and/or Mid-Spans, which are conditioned by a powered device to distribute power tuned specifically for each, at least one light emitting diode (LED) fixture. The Power-over-Ethernet switch and/or Mid-Span with associated router and wireless access point can be used to communicate with, and power a sensor network that collects data relevant to the intelligent lighting network. Optionally, the Power-over-Ethernet switch and/or Mid-Span can be used to communicate with, and power a network of sensors that collects data relevant to the space the intelligent lighting network is operating in, or can be used to communicate with and power a network of AC wall plugs that can be turned on and off, and various switches, relays, and PLCs, RFID systems, USB hubs, etc.

Claims (39)

1. A system for powering and controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting network, the system comprising:

at least one router operably connected to a local network;

at least one line card including:

(a) at least one physical channel connected to an output port;

(b) a power conditioning module operably powering the at least one physical channel; and

(c) a controller, said controller configured to control an amount of conditioned power using one or more pulse width modulators, and control start and stop times of the one or more pulse width modulators;

at least one lighting system controller;

at least one Power-over-Ethernet switch configured to:

(a) control the flow of a lighting system switch and sensor data within the LED lighting network; and

(b) supply direct current power to the at least one line card;

a structured cabling network that is connected to the output port of the at least one line card; and

an LED fixture that is connected to a homerun cable that is connected to the output port of the at least one line card.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one line card is configured in one or more form factors.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a standard LED fixture.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a screw-based lighting fixture.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one Power-over-Ethernet switch is configured to power a sensor network that collects data by utilizing the at least one router that is operably connected to the local network.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor network includes at least one sensor, said at least one sensor is an ambient light sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one lighting system controller further comprises a shared memory device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the ambient light sensor is configured to store data on the shared memory device.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one power distribution utilizes a data from the ambient light sensor that is stored on the shared memory device to select the light setting.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting system controller is equipped with vertical and horizontal power regulation and distribution across multiple channels operating on multiple ports to optimize port usage.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is designed to include an industrial bus controller for managing and operating relays, solenoids, PLCs, and configured to communicate with building automation systems.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lighting system controller is configured to convert AC to DC for use by the at least one Power-over-Ethernet switch.

13. A system for powering and controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting network, the system comprising:

at least one router operably connected to a local network;

at least one line card including:

(a) at least one physical channel connected to an output port;

(b) a power conditioning module operably powering the at least one physical channel; and

(c) a controller, said controller configured to control an amount of conditioned power using one or more pulse width modulators, and control start and stop times of the one or more pulse width modulators;

at east one lighting system controller;

at least one Power-over-Ethernet switch configured to:

(a) control the flow of a lighting system switch and sensor data within the LED lighting network; and

(b) supply direct current power to the at least one line card; and

at least one LED fixture in a daisy chain that is connected via a jumper cable to an LED fixture that is connected via a homerun cable to the output port of the at least one line card.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at east one line card is configured in one or more form factors.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a standard LED fixture.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more form factors allows the system to be utilized with a screw-based lighting fixture.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one line card includes a wireless device configured to enable wireless communication with the controller.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the at least one line card utilizes wireless communication with the controller to turn lights on, off, or dim.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2018
From: IDS- IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: FRANK KERN III IRREVOCABLE TRUST
Reel/Frame 046161/0321 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2016
From: SNYDER, DAVID; BAYCH, LESLIE; EMIG, WALTER, III
To: IDS-IP HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 039587/0891 →
Continuity (31)
Continuation 15005886 · Jan 25, 2016
Provisional Application 62107092 · Jan 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62107104 · Jan 23, 2015
Provisional Application 62165510 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165485 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165478 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165468 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165462 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165449 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165442 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62165435 · May 22, 2015
Provisional Application 62173419 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173421 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173424 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173430 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173438 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173442 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173444 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173482 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173464 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173466 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62173447 · Jun 10, 2015
Provisional Application 62205079 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205082 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205085 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205091 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205108 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205110 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205067 · Aug 14, 2015
Provisional Application 62205094 · Aug 14, 2015
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