Automatic creation of occupancy sets of smart sensors
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure EP2026051393_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] 2024PF80484
[0002] 1
[0003] Automatic Creation of Occupancy Sets of Smart Sensors
[0004] FIELD OF INVENTION
[0005] This document relates to lighting systems, and specifically a system for creating sets of smart sensors for lighting systems.
[0006] BACKGROUND
[0007] Lighting systems for large spaces are sometimes made up of zones or areas that are separately controlled by sensors and switches so that only a small area of the large space is lit if only a small zone is occupied. Multiple occupancy sensors may be used in a large space and their outputs aggregated to provide singular occupancy control with a coverage area larger than that of the individual sensors. This is done by adding a switch-pack component to the system that supplies low-voltage power to all sensors and that combines all sensor outputs to drive an internal high-power lighting relay. Wiring installation between sensors and switch-pack is done by electricians in the initial building construction and interconnecting wiring is hidden by drop ceiling panels or is bundled and tied to ceiling support beams to achieve a clean appearance. Later, commissioners adjust and fine-tune the sensor parameters after construction is complete. The commissioners often have difficulty determining the wiring interconnections as these wires are hidden in the ceiling. This document describes a solution to determining the wiring structure.
[0008] BRIEF SUMMARY
[0009] In one aspect, a method includes configuring a lighting system including a plurality of occupancy sensors (304-332) arranged and a plurality of switchpacks (402-408), where each of the plurality of occupancy sensors belongs to one of a plurality of sets of occupancy sensors, and where each of the plurality of sets of occupancy sensors is connected to one of the plurality of switchpacks. The method also includes for each of the plurality of occupancy sensors transmitting, by one or more processors (204), a command to the occupancy sensor to turn its output on, and receiving, by one or more processors, an indication from each of the other occupancy sensors of the plurality whether any other occupancy sensor belonging to the same set has its output turned on. The method also2024PF80484
[0010] 2
[0011] includes determining, by the one or more processors, which of the plurality of occupancy sensors belong to which of the plurality of sets based on the received indications. The method also includes generating, by the one or more processors, a user interface including a graphical display of the set of occupancy sensors connected to each of the plurality of switchpacks.
[0012] The method may also include where the commands are transmitted to each of the plurality of occupancy sensors in a sequential manner.
[0013] The method may also include wherein, for each of the plurality of sets of occupancy sensors, each of the occupancy sensors within the set are connected to the one of the plurality of switchpacks in a wire-OR arrangement.
[0014] The method may also include where the one or more processors are processors of a mobile device.
[0015] The method may also include where the one of the plurality of switchpacks is electrically wired to the plurality of occupancy sensors.
[0016] The method may also include where the one of the plurality of switchpacks is mechanically installed above a ceiling.
[0017] In one aspect, a lighting system includes a sensor (202) includes a processor(204), a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the processor, an occupancy sensing device (224) electrically connected to the processor, the occupancy sensing device configured to deliver information to the processor regarding a presence of occupants within a space, an input interface (206) electrically connected to the processor, and an output interface (218) electrically connected to the processor and to the input interface, the output interface configured to be wired together with a wire to a switch-pack (104) and a plurality of other sensors. The lighting system also includes a mobile device includes a mobile processor (1106), mobile memory (1108) electrically connected to the processor, a mobile display device (1112) electrically connected to the mobile processor, a mobile input device (1110) electrically connected to the mobile processor, and a mobile wireless transceiver (1104) electrically connected to the mobile processor and wirelessly communicatively coupled with the wireless transceiver. The lighting system also includes a sensor (202) where the mobile processor is configured to detect the sensor and the plurality of other sensors, to send a wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor and the plurality of other sensors, the wireless signal instructing the sensor and the plurality of other sensors to turn off their output interfaces, to send a second wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor to toggle the output interface, to poll the sensor and the plurality of other sensors for a status of their input interfaces, to assemble a list of the plurality of other2024PF80484
[0018] 3
[0019] sensors who report that their input interfaces are on, and to send a third wireless signal to the sensor to turn off the output interface.
[0020] The lighting system may also include the switch-pack electrically wired to the sensor and the plurality of other sensors.
[0021] The lighting system may also include where the mobile processor is further configured to send a fourth wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to one of the plurality of other sensors not on the list to toggle the output interface, to poll the sensor, and the plurality of other sensors for a status of their input interfaces, to assemble a second list of the sensor and the plurality of other sensors who report that their input interfaces are on, and to send a fifth wireless signal to one of the plurality of other sensors not on the list to turn off the output interface.
[0022] The lighting system may also include where the mobile display device displays the list.
[0023] The lighting system may also include where the mobile input device accepts information to name the list, sends the information to the processor, and the processor stores the information in the mobile memory.
[0024] The lighting system may also include where the mobile input device accepts direction to turn on the output interface and sends a sixth wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor to turn on the output interface.
[0025] The lighting system may also include where the sensor and the plurality of other sensors are wire-ORed together.
[0026] The lighting system may also include where the sensor is mounted below a ceiling.
[0027] Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.
[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
[0030] Fig. 1 is a diagram of a set of sensors wired to a switchpack in one embodiment.
[0031] Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the sensors, the switchpack, and the mobile device in one embodiment.2024PF80484
[0032] 4
[0033] Fig. 3 illustrates a set of sensors in a room in one embodiment.
[0034] Fig. 4 illustrates a set of sensors in a room connected to switchpacks in one embodiment.
[0035] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of an application on the mobile device in one embodiment.
[0036] Fig. 6 is a scanning screenshot of the mobile application in one embodiment. Fig. 7 is a discovery screenshot of the mobile application in one embodiment. Fig. 8 is an occupancy group screenshot of the mobile application in one embodiment.
[0037] Fig. 9 is a screenshot of a sensor group of the mobile application in one embodiment.
[0038] Fig. 10 is a settings screenshot of the mobile application in one embodiment. Fig. 11 illustrates a block diagram of the components of the mobile device.
[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] In some embodiments of lighting systems, large open areas may include clusters of sensors that are wire-OR connected to a switch-pack and light fixture intended to illuminate a section of the large space. A wire-OR creates a logical OR function by wiring multiple outputs together into a single wire. Wiring installation between sensors and switchpack is done in the initial building construction and interconnecting wiring is hidden by drop ceiling panels or is bundled and tied to ceiling support beams to achieve a clean appearance. Therefore, the commonly connected occupancy groups are not visible / obvious to the commissioner who adjusts sensor parameters after construction is complete.
[0041] As seen in FIG. 1, a wall station button 112 may provide manual lighting control that can turn the lights on manually and can turn the lighting on or off even when the space is occupied. Small, low voltage, lightweight, and aesthetic ceiling sensors 114, 116,118,120 sense and report occupancy to a switchpack 104that provides lighting logic and control. The switchpack 104 provides high voltage wiring, lighting relay 110, lighting logic 108, and AC -DC supply 106 for the sensor 114,116,118,120.
[0042] After electricians finish the wiring of the lighting system, commissioners access the building and wirelessly connect to sensors with a mobile device for parameter adjustments. Often the electricians are no longer present, and it is not clear which sensors are commonly connected to which switch-pack(s). Therefore, the commonly connected occupancy groups are not obvious to the commissioner.2024PF80484
[0043] 5
[0044] The switchpack 104 may include one or more lighting relays 110 that are connected to the lighting elements 102. When the lighting relay 110 in the switchpack 104 closes, the lighting elements 102 turn on. The control of the lighting relay 110 may be managed by the lighting logic 108, perhaps with the lighting logic 108 energizing the coil to close the lighting relay 110. The lighting logic 108 takes input from the wall station button 112 and from the wired OR 124. The wired OR 124 takes the signals from the sensor 114,116,118,120 and combines them (perhaps by connecting all of the wires together) into a single signal to the lighting logic 108. In other embodiments, the wired OR 124 could be an OR logic element, a bus bar, a processor, an amplifier, or similar device.
[0045] The switchpack 104 may also include an AC-DC supply 106 to convert line power into a 12 or 24 volt direct current to power the sensors 114,116,118,120.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a similar lighting installation to that of FIG. 1 with a focus on the sensors 202, 208. The switchpack 104 powers the lighting elements 102 based on a wired OR of the signals from sensor 202 and sensor 208.
[0047] The sensors 202,208 may each include a system on a chip 204,210 (SoC) to manage the operation of the sensor 202, 208. The SoC 204,208 can include, for example, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) Chip such as a Nordic nRF52832 or a Cyprus Semiconductor PSOC BLE chip. Other common wireless interfaces for non-mobile app processors could be Thread, Zigbee, Wifi, etc. The BLE Chip includes memory, communications circuitry, and a microprocessor (BLE processor), as well as circuitry for interfacing with various sensing devices 224,226, such as an occupancy sensor, an infra-red sensor, a motion sensor, or similar device for determining occupancy of an area. In another embodiment, the BLE chip has the functionality integrated into a single integrated circuit, either as an ASIC or as a custom chip. Any combination or integration within an integrated circuit and separate components could be used without deviating from the disclosures herein.
[0048] The SoC 204,208 may take as digital or analog inputs that may include a signal representing a wall station button 112. This signal from the wall station button 112 could be wire-ORed into the sensor signals to the switchpack 104 or could be connected to one or more sensors 202,208. In some embodiments, there is no wall station button 112.
[0049] The SoC 204,208 could receive a signal from the other sensors, perhaps through an amplifier 206. This signal informs the SoC 204,208 that at least one of the sensors 202,208 is ON. The SoC 204,208, when it determines that its sensing device 224,226 has determined that the area is occupied (or that the mobile device 214 has instructed it to turn on), then the SoC 204,208 will send a digital or analog signal to the small relay 218,220,2024PF80484
[0050] 6
[0051] closing the switch and sending 24 volts direct current to the switchpack 104. In another embodiment, the SoC 204,208 may drive the output signal directly to the switchpack 104.
[0052] The SoC 204,208 may also communicate with a mobile device 214 over a wireless interface 216 such a Bluetooth, WiFi, or similar communications protocols. When the SoC 204,208 receives a command from the mobile device 214 in “Discovery Mode” to determine the occupancy groups, all selected sensors will not respond to their motion events; they will instead only turn their outputs ON / OFF when commanded by the mobile application 222.
[0053] FIG. 3 shows a large conference room 302 with fifteen sensors 304 - 332. In other embodiments, the conference room 302 could be replaced with a large lobby, a hallway, an area with many offices, a storefront, a room in a factory, a bam, or similar areas that require a plurality of luminaires and sensors for lighting.
[0054] When commissioners access the building and wirelessly connect to the sensors 304 - 332 with a mobile device 214 for parameter adjustments, it is not clear to the commissioners which sensors 304 - 332 are commonly connected to which switch-pack(s) 104, represented by question marks in FIG. 3. Therefore, the commonly connected occupancy groups are not obvious to the commissioner.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows one possible embodiment of the conference room 302 with the sensors 304 - 332 connected to their switchpacks 402, 404,406,408. By virtue of an additional circuit that allows each sensors 304 - 332 to read the switch-pack wired OR 124 input, and a novel process by which the mobile application 222 coordinates all sensors 304 -332 to assert outputs while reading the switch-pack(s) wired OR 124 input, the mobile application 222 can leam which sensors 304 - 332 are commonly connected to a switchpack 402.404.406.408 and provide a graphical display of the same. Since the mobile application 222 has knowledge of which sensors 304 - 332 are common to a switchpack 402, 404.406.408 and therefore are a part of an occupancy group, it can dramatically reduce individual sensor 304 - 332 adjustments by sending common occupancy-level values such as hold-time and / or vacancy-mode settings to all related sensors in the commonly connected occupancy group.
[0056] As the layout of the conference room 302 shows in this embodiment, sensors 304, 306,314 are electrically connected to switchpack 402. Sensors 308, 310,312,316,318 are electrically connected to switchpack 404. Sensors 320,322,324,326,328 are connected to switchpack 406. And sensors 330,332 are connected to switchpack 408.2024PF80484
[0057] 7
[0058] While the electricians may have implemented the sensors 304 - 332 and the switchpacks 402,404,406,408 as shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the associations are hidden above the ceiling of the conference room 302. There is no easy way for the commissioners to easily determine the associations. The circuitry shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
[0059] 2 along with the flowchart in FIG. 5 provide the commissioners with an easy way to determine the associations.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart that the mobile application 222 follows to discover the associations. Some occupancy sensors 304 - 332 provide a wireless interface 216 to a mobile application 222 for the purposes of convenient configuration and troubleshooting. Because neither the switchpacks 402,404,406,408 nor the occupancy sensors 304 - 332 have knowledge of which sensors 304 - 332 are wired to which switchpacks 402,404,406,408 the commissioner does not have convenient access to this information which is critical to adjusting and / or troubleshooting sensor systems. This is because the switchpacks 402,404,406,408 combine the inputs of multiple occupancy sensors 304 - 332. If the lighting elements 102 sporadically turn ON without occupancy the commissioner needs to know which sensors 304 - 332 in the space are connected to the switchpack 402,404,406,408 so the sensitivity settings of one or more of these sensors 304 - 332 can be adjusted. When adjusting the hold-time and other settings that should be the same for all sensors 304 - 332 connected to a switchpack 402,404,406,408, the commissioner needs to know which sensors 304 - 332 are connected to which switchpack 402,404,406,408. The commissioner also needs to save common settings into each sensor 304 - 332 one at a time. This is time-consuming and error prone.
[0061] These discloures allow the mobile application 222 to leam which sensors 304 -332 are connected to which switchpacks 402,404,406,408 which greatly improves the speed and efficiency of troubleshooting a system that experiences false occupancy. If the mobile application 222 has knowledge of which sensors 304 - 332 are commonly connected it could, as configured by the commissioner, automatically apply some common sensor settings to all sensors 304 - 332 in the commonly connected occupancy group, greatly reducing configuration time.
[0062] The system requires that each sensor 304-332 have the ability to read the wired OR 124 that is wired to the switchpack 402,404,406,408 input, as seen in FIG. 2.
[0063] The mobile application 222 has a learning algorithm that can connect and communicate with the sensors 304 - 332. This mobile application 222 first allows the commissioner to select a group of occupancy sensors 304 - 332. Then, the mobile2024PF80484
[0064] 8
[0065] application 222 allows the commissioner to initiate a leaming / discovery algorithm. The learning / discovery algorithm 500 sequentially commands a single sensor to toggle its output 508. As each sensor toggles its output the mobile application 222 queries all other sensors 304-332 to read their switch-pack’s wire-OR input 510. Based on which sensor 304-332 is toggling its output and which other sensors 304-332 can see their switch-pack’s wired OR 124 input toggling the mobile application 222 constructs set(s) of sensors 304-332 that are commonly connected to a switchpack 402,404,406,408. The mobile application 222 can construct a graphical or other display (see FIG. 6- FIG. 9) of each commonly connected occupancy group that the commissioner can use to understand the relationship between sensors 304-332 and lighting elements 102. This information can be saved for future use. This information could be used to identify wiring or electrical drawing errors.
[0066] Once commonly connected occupancy groups are identified, the mobile application 222 user interface provides a button associated with each occupancy group. The operator can press this button to flash the lighting elements 102 associated with each group. When the user observes the lights flashing, he can create a logical name for the occupancy group such as “Main Lights”, “Entrance Lights”, “Panel Lights”, etc. The discovery process can be run multiple times as the commissioner takes different positions in the space, allowing the sensors 304-332 that may have been out of wireless connection range to be added to the occupancy groups. The sensors 304-332 that are not identified as part of any group are also displayed in the mobile application 222 user interface with a control to toggle the sensor’s output. If this action toggles an existing occupancy group’s lighting output the sensor 304-332 can be manually added to the occupancy group by dragging it into the occupancy group on the mobile application 222 user interface.
[0067] The mobile application 222 can wirelessly connect and communicate with sensors 304-332 in the area and present a list of reachable sensors 304-332. The operator can select the sensors 304-332 of interest to discover any commonly connected sensors 304-332 (occupancy groups). The flowchart in FIG. 5 describes a method for discovering which of the selected sensors 304-332 are connected to the same switchpack 402,404,406,408 and therefore are part of a commonly connected occupancy group: the lighting elements 102 will turn ON if any of the sensors 304-332 are in an occupancy cycle.
[0068] The discovery algorithm 500 starts 502 with block 504 setting several variables, the number of sensors 304-332 is assigned to N and the running count variable X is set to 1. Next, the mobile application 222 tells all sensors 304-332 to turn their outputs OFF 506 and not to respond to any motion detected by the sensing devices 224. The discovery2024PF80484
[0069] 9
[0070] algorithm 500 then enters a loop, looping through each sensor 304-332. First, block 508 toggles the output of sensor[X] ON. Then, in block 510, all of the other sensors 304-332 are queried to see if the sensor 304-332 saw the input toggled ON. If so, then this sensor is associated with sensor[X], and the mobile application 222 saves this association. Block 512 then increments X to the next sensor 304-332, and continues looping until decision block 514 sees that X is equal to N. Then X is equal to N, the discovery algorithm 500 stops. The sensing devices 224 are turned back on at 518 and the process ends at the done block 516.
[0071] When the discovery process is complete the mobile application 222 can create a graphical or hierarchical display of each commonly connected occupancy group.
[0072] Commonly connected occupancy groups are similar to wirelessly connected / configured Occupancy Sets and can simplify / expedite configuration by automatically programming the included sensors 304-332 to common configuration values such as occupancy hold time, auto-on versus manual-on, etc. while retaining sensor-specific settings such as motion and acoustic sensitivities as sensor-specific settings.
[0073] FIG. 6 shows a sample screenshot from the mobile application 222 at the start of the process of determining the associations. Here, the mobile device 214 scans the wireless interface 216 for sensors 304-332 within wireless reach of the mobile device 214. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 this is a Bluetooth discovery process and is used to identify all sensors 304-332 within range of the Bluetooth radio of the mobile device 214. All sensors 304-332 seen are put in a list for the mobile application 222, as seen in FIG. 7.
[0074] The mobile application 222 may scan and display the sensors 304-332 that are within wireless range, as seen in FIG. 7. The commissioner can select all or a subset of the sensors 304-332 to be part of the occupancy group discovery process. When the user taps the “CREATE GROUP” button at the bottom right, the system automatically discovers and identifies the commonly connected occupancy group(s), as seen in FIG. 8.
[0075] The signal strength indicator SSI 706 shows the strength of the wireless signal, possibly indicating the proximity of the sensor 304-332. The SSI 706 may be read from the mobile device 214 radio. The occupied indicator 704 is retrieved from the sensor 304-332 and indicates whether the occupancy sensor sees an occupant within the range of the sensor 304-322. Flash sensor 702 may be an input from the user requesting that the sensor 304-332 turn on its output, thus illuminating the lighting elements 102 associated with that sensor 304-332. In this display, six sensors 304-332 are seen. The second, third, and last sensors can see an occupant in the space. The user has the option to select some or all of the sensors, and has the option of re-scanning or creating a group.2024PF80484
[0076] 10
[0077] After discovery the mobile application 222 knows which sensors 304-332 are in a commonly connected group, therefore common group settings such as auto / manual mode, hold-time, and test mode can be set once at the group level as shown in FIG. 10 instead of the user connecting to and configuring multiple individual sensors 304-332.
[0078] Grouping sensors in the user interface of the mobile application 222 according to their commonly connected group and allowing custom group names also allows for logical navigation to individual sensors 304-332 as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.
[0079] FIG. 8 shows three commonly connected occupancy groups being identified and the number of sensors 304-332 in each group. In addition, there is a list of individual occupancy sensors that have not been assigned to a group. If the user selects the light icon, the entire group of lighting elements 102 associated with that group are toggled ON or OFF. If the user selects the trash can icon, the grouping association is deleted, and the sensors 304-332 in that group are returned to the individual occupancy sensor group.
[0080] If the user selects a specific occupancy group, then the screen seen in FIG. 9 could be shown in some embodiments. This screen shows each sensor 304-332 in the group, and allows the selection of either all of the lighting elements 102 by selecting the top light icon or the selection of a specific sensor 304-332 to force the specific sensor 304-332 to turn ON its output. The light icon could also indicate the state of the input from the wired OR 124 to the sensor. The SSI 706 of each sensor and the occupied indicator 704 are also displayed for the sensor.
[0081] Selecting any of the specific sensors 304-332 in FIG. 9 may bring up a sensor configuration screen, as seen in FIG. 10. This screen allows the setting of the occupancy value and the hold time in minutes. FIG. 10 settings are occupancy-group level settings which are common to all sensors in the group. Using the screen in FIG. 10 allows the operator to efficiently change the settings of all group sensors simultaneously, instead of navigating to and configuring the sensors individually. There is also a test mode.
[0082] FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a representative mobile device 214 usable to implement the present disclosure. Mobile device 214 can be implemented, for example, as a consumer device such as a smartphone, other mobile phone, tablet computer, wearable computing device (for example, a smartwatch, eyeglasses, or a head wearable display), desktop computer, laptop computer, or implemented with distributed computing devices. The mobile device 214 may include conventional computer components, such as a processing unit(s) 1106, storage 1108, a network interface 1104, a user input device 1110, and a user output device 1112.2024PF80484
[0083] 11
[0084] Network interface 1104 can provide a connection to a wide area network (for example, the Internet) to which a WAN interface of a remote server system is also connected. Network interface 1104 can include a wired interface (for example, ethemet) and / or a wireless interface implementing various RF data communication standards, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular data network standards (for example, 3G, 4G, 5G, 60 GHz, or LTE).
[0085] User input device 1110 can include any device via which a user can provide signals to the mobile device 214, which in turn can interpret the signals as indicative of particular user requests or information. User input device 1110 can include any or all of a keyboard, a touchpad, a touch screen, a mouse or other pointing device, a scroll wheel, a click wheel, a dial, a button, a switch, a keypad, a microphone, a sensor (for example, a motion sensor or an eye tracking sensor).
[0086] User output device 1112 can include any device via which the mobile device 214 can provide information to a user. For example, user output device 1112 can include a display to display images generated by or delivered to mobile device 214. The display can incorporate various image generation technologies, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED), such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a projection system, a cathode ray tube (CRT), or the like, together with supporting electronics (for example, digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital converters, or signal processors). A device such as a touch screen that functions as both an input and output device can be used. User output device 1112 can be provided in addition to or instead of a display. Examples include indicator lights, speakers, tactile “display” devices, printers, and so on.
[0087] Some implementations include electronic components, such as microprocessors, storage, and memory that store computer program instructions in a computer readable storage medium (for example, a non-transitory computer readable medium).
[0088] Many of the features described in this specification can be implemented as processes that are specified as a set of program instructions encoded on a computer readable storage medium. When these program instructions are executed by one or more processors, they cause the processors to perform various operations indicated in the program instructions. Examples of program instructions or computer code include machine code, such as is produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that are executed by a computer, an electronic component, or a microprocessor using an interpreter. Through suitable programming, processing unit(s) 1106 can provide various functionalities for mobile device 214, including any of the functionality described herein as being performed by a server or client, or other functionality associated with message management services.2024PF80484
[0089] 12
[0090] It will be appreciated that mobile device 214 is illustrative and that variations and modifications are possible. Computer systems used in connection with the present disclosure can have other capabilities not specifically described here. Further, while the mobile device 214 is described with reference to particular blocks, it is to be understood that these blocks are defined for convenience of description and are not intended to imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts. For instance, different blocks can be located in the same facility, in the same server rack, or on the same motherboard. Further, the blocks need not correspond to physically distinct components. Blocks can be configured to perform various operations, for example, by programming a processor or providing appropriate control circuitry, and various blocks might or might not be reconfigurable depending on how the initial configuration is obtained. Implementations of the present disclosure can be realized in a variety of apparatus, including electronic devices implemented using any combination of circuitry and software.
[0091] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The claimed inventions are not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
[0092] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art of practicing the claimed inventions, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
[0093] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.
[0094] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to obtain an advantage.
[0095] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.2024PF80484
[0096] 13
[0097] LISTING OF DRAWING ELEMENTS
[0098] 102 lighting element
[0099] 104 switchpack
[0100] 106 AC-DC supply
[0101] 108 lighting logic
[0102] 110 lighting relay
[0103] 112 wall station button
[0104] 114 sensor
[0105] 116 sensor
[0106] 118 sensor
[0107] 120 sensor
[0108] 122 12-24 VDC
[0109] 124 wired OR
[0110] 202 sensor
[0111] 204 system on a chip
[0112] 206 amplifier
[0113] 208 sensor
[0114] 210 system on a chip
[0115] 212 amplifier
[0116] 214 mobile device
[0117] 216 wireless interface
[0118] 218 small relay
[0119] 220 small relay
[0120] 222 mobile application
[0121] 224 sensing device
[0122] 226 sensing device
[0123] 302 conference room
[0124] 304 sensor
[0125] 306 sensor
[0126] 308 sensor
[0127] 310 sensor
[0128] 312 sensor
[0129] 314 sensor
[0130] 316 sensor2024PF80484
[0131] 14
[0132] 318 sensor
[0133] 320 sensor
[0134] 322 sensor
[0135] 324 sensor
[0136] 326 sensor
[0137] 328 sensor
[0138] 330 sensor
[0139] 332 sensor
[0140] 402 switchpack
[0141] 404 switchpack
[0142] 406 switchpack
[0143] 408 switchpack
[0144] 502 start
[0145] 504 block
[0146] 506 block
[0147] 508 block
[0148] 510 block
[0149] 512 block
[0150] 514 decision block 516 done block
[0151] 500 discovery algorithm 702 flash sensor
[0152] 704 occupied indicator 706 SSI
[0153] 1102 computing system 1104 network interface 1106 processing unit(s) 1108 storage
[0154] 1110 user input device 1112 user output device 1114 computing system
Claims
2024PF8048415CLAIMS:
1. A method comprising:configuring a lighting system including a plurality of occupancy sensors (304-332) arranged and a plurality of switchpacks (402-408), wherein each of the plurality of occupancy sensors belongs to one of a plurality of sets of occupancy sensors, and wherein each of the plurality of sets of occupancy sensors is connected to one of the plurality of switchpacks;for each occupancy sensor (114) of the plurality of occupancy sensors: transmitting, by one or more processors (204), a signal to the occupancy sensors to turn off their output interfaces,transmitting, by the one or more processors (204), a command to the occupancy sensor to turn its output on; andreceiving, by the one or more processors, an indication from each of the other occupancy sensors of the plurality of occupancy sensors whether any other occupancy sensor belonging to the same set has its output turned on;determining, by the one or more processors, which of the plurality of occupancy sensors belong to which of the plurality of sets based on the indications received from the other occupancy sensors; andgenerating, by the one or more processors, a user interface including a graphical display of the set of occupancy sensors connected to each of the plurality of switchpacks.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the command is transmitted to each of the plurality of occupancy sensors in a sequential manner.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein, for each of the plurality of sets of occupancy sensors, each of the occupancy sensors within the set are connected to the one of the plurality of switchpacks in a wire-OR arrangement.2024PF80484164. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are processors of a mobile device.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one of the plurality of switchpacks is electrically wired to the plurality of occupancy sensors.
6. The method of claim 5 where the one of the plurality of switchpacks is electrically connected to a luminaire.
7. The method of claim 1 where the one of the plurality of switchpacks is mechanically installed above a ceiling.
8. A lighting system comprising:a sensor (202) comprising:a processor (204);a wireless transceiver electrically connected to the processor;an occupancy sensing device (224) electrically connected to the processor, the occupancy sensing device configured to deliver information to the processor regarding a presence of occupants within a space;an input interface (206) electrically connected to the processor; and an output interface (218) electrically connected to the processor and to the input interface, the output interface configured to be wired together with a wire to a switchpack (104) and a plurality of other sensors; anda mobile device comprising:a mobile processor (1106);mobile memory (1108) electrically connected to the processor; a mobile display device (1112) electrically connected to the mobile processor; a mobile input device (1110) electrically connected to the mobile processor; anda mobile wireless transceiver (1104) electrically connected to the mobile processor and wirelessly communicatively coupled with the wireless transceiver;where the mobile processor is configured:to detect the sensor and the plurality of other sensors,2024PF8048417to send a wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor and the plurality of other sensors, the wireless signal instructing the sensor and the plurality of other sensors to turn off their output interfaces,to send a second wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor to toggle the output interface,to poll the sensor and the plurality of other sensors for a status of their input interfaces,to assemble a list of the plurality of other sensors who report that their input interfaces are on, andto send a third wireless signal to the sensor to turn off the output interface.
9. The lighting system of claim 8 further comprising the switch-pack electrically wired to the sensor and the plurality of other sensors.
10. The lighting system of claim 9 where the switch-pack is electrically connected to a luminaire.
11. The lighting system of claim 9 where the switch-pack is mechanically installed above a ceiling.
12. The lighting system of claim 8 where the mobile processor is further configured:to send a fourth wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to one of the plurality of other sensors not on the list to toggle the output interface,to poll the sensor and the plurality of other sensors for the status of their input interfaces,to assemble a second list of the sensor and the plurality of other sensors who report that their input interfaces are on, andto send a fifth wireless signal to one of the plurality of other sensors not on the list to turn off the output interface.
13. The lighting system of claim 8 where the mobile display device displays the list.2024PF804841814. The lighting system of claim 8 where the mobile input device accepts information to name the list, sends the information to the processor, and the processor stores the information in the mobile memory.
15. The lighting system of claim 8 where the mobile input device accepts direction to turn on the output interface and sends a sixth wireless signal through the mobile wireless transceiver to the sensor to turn on the output interface.