The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 01, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 01, 2008
Dragan Veskovic, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert Anselmo, Allentown, PA (US);
Audwin W. Cash, Bethlehem, PA (US);
Matthew A. Skvoretz, Columbia, SC (US);
Dragan Veskovic, Allentown, PA (US);
Robert Anselmo, Allentown, PA (US);
Audwin W. Cash, Bethlehem, PA (US);
Matthew A. Skvoretz, Columbia, SC (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network. The ballast comprises a power circuit portion for providing an electrical current to power a lamp. The ballast further includes a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device, a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast, and a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data. The ballast processor is operative to receive a serial data that has a portion defining whether the message is in a first or a second format, the first format comprising a DALI standard format and the second format comprising a format providing extended functionality. The ballast processor is capable of processing messages in either the first or second formats.