Redwood Systems, Inc.

Redwood System, Inc.

Mark Covaro

Dave Leonard

David Leonard

David Fowler

Jeremy Stieglitz

Robert Henig

Jonathan M Barrilleaux

Gopakumar Parameswaran

Nathanael A Ramella

A system comprises a fixture and a controller that is configured to power the fixture from an alternating current (AC) source and a direct current (DC) source. The controller is configured to automatically switch from powering the fixture from the DC source to powering the fixture from the AC source in response to a time of day. Related systems, methods and computer program products are described.

Powering a fixture from AC and DC sources

A power device may include channels coupled to conductors in lines, where each one of the channels is coupled to a different one of the lines than the other channels and where the channels deliver direct current power signals over the conductors to the load devices. Each one of the load devices may be powered by a different one of the direct current power signals. The power device may include a power communicator that communicates with the load devices over the conductors that propagate the direct current power signals. The power communicator may determine a target power level for the load devices based on the communication over the conductors. The load device may adjust an amount of power in the direct current power signals in order to match the target power level.

Smart power device

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a circuit coupled to a line, where the circuit may power a device, and where the power is transmitted to the device over the line as a pulse-width modulated signal. The circuit may set a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal in order to transmit a determined power level to the device. The apparatus may vary a frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal to transmit data to the device while the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal is fixed in order to continue to transmit the determined power level to the device. A variation in the frequency of the pulse-width modulated signal may be detectable by the device and represents at least a portion of the data.

Transmission of power and data at multiple power levels

A system and method for commissioning a lighting system is provided in which signals from light sensors are filtered in order to determine whether light is received from light fixtures in the lighting system or from external light sources. Alternatively or in addition, signals from light sensors may be filtered to determine the amount of light from external light sources. By filtering the signals from the light sensors, an identification of which light fixtures are colocated with which light sensors may be made even in the presence of light received from external light sources or light from multiple light fixtures in the lighting system. Physical locations of light fixtures and/or sensors may be determined based on detecting the amount of light received from external light sources.

Selective light sensor and auto-commissioning

A system to detect occupants is provided. The system may rotate the field of views of multiple sensors in order to scan an area. The system may scan the area multiple times. The system may determine the number of occupants in the area based on a comparison of a scan of the area with a scan of the area when the area is determined to be unoccupied. The system may determine the number of occupants in the area based on a maximum number of occupants detected by any of the sensors. The system may also determine a location of an object or an occupant from scans of the area obtained from multiple sensors.

Rotating sensor for occupancy detection

A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which may include a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires. The luminaires may include a light source whose output light level can be adjusted, a light sensor co-located therewith adapted to measure light received from adjacent fixtures. The remote driver may provide power for the light sources of the luminaires.

Group creation in auto-commissioning of lighting systems

A lighting system for areal illumination is disclosed which includes a remote driver and a plurality of fixtures including luminaires, control devices, and/or standalone sensors. The luminaires include a light source whose output light level can be adjusted, a light sensor co-located therewith adapted to measure light received from adjacent fixtures, and a microcontroller capable of transmitting the output of the light sensor over wires to the remote driver. The remote driver is capable of bidirectional communication with the luminaires and provides independently controllable power for the light sources of the luminaires. A movable orb region containing luminaires can also be defined and the light levels of individual luminaires can be set according to their location within the orb region.

Orbing and lighting systems

A system may communicate between a display device and a lighting system using light generated by the display device and a light sensor in the lighting system. A computing device and a building control system may communication over a wireless link. The building control system may determine that the computing device is co-located with a fixture in the building control system based on whether communication over the wireless link between the computing device and the building control system is detected.

Integration of computing device and lighting system

A flexible multi-line conductor and multiple luminaire connectors may be provided. Each one of the luminaire connectors may be coupled to a corresponding luminaire and the flexible multi-line conductor. Each of the luminaire connectors may be moveable relative to each other. The flexible multi-line conductor may bend in response to movement of any of the luminaire connectors relative to each other. The flexible multi-line conductor may include multiple conductors. Each one of the luminaire connectors may couple a corresponding one of the luminaires to a different set of the conductors than the other luminaire connectors couple to the other luminaires.

LED track lighting with flexible circuit

Transmission of power and data with frequency modulation

A system for auto-commissioning a light fixture may position the light fixture based on sensor data received from at least one sensor. In order to focus the light fixture on a target location, the system may vary the position of the light fixture and determine a position of the light fixture where the light level received by the photosensor reaches a determined light level. The system may adjust a light characteristic of light emitted by the light fixture so that the color of light received by the photosensor at the target location matches a target light characteristic, such as color or intensity. The system may determine a focus position and a light characteristic for multiple target locations. The system may auto-commission multiple light fixtures.

Color and position auto-commissioning

A lighting system is disclosed wherein each fixture in the lighting system includes a permanently attached radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Each fixture also includes either a matching hardwired identification chip or an RFID reader capable of reading the RFID tag. The tags can be used for commissioning the lighting system by reading the tags with a portable reader and assigning or removing fixtures from groups. The tags can also be used for other tasks requiring identification and tracking of specific fixtures.

Radio frequency identification of lighting fixtures

In one example, an electric circuit may be provided that is coupled to a line. The electric circuit may include a switch connected in series with a load, where the switch and the load are in series between two conductors of the line. The line may provide power to the load. The electric circuit may also include a resistive element connected in parallel with the switch and in series with the load. The switch may be configured to short circuit the resistive element when closed such that the voltage on the line varies between two voltage levels when the switch is opened and closed. The line provides power to the load when the switch is opened and when the switch is closed.

Growing community of inventors

Sonoma, CA, United States of America

Mark Covaro