IACS CO., LIMITED (Yiwu Fuwei e-commerce firm)

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to light management systems, devices and method. More particularly, the present invention relates to light management systems and devices for and methods of automatically and manually controlling a load circuit with room lights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of different light management systems are known. One type of light management system utilizes a motion detector or sensor. In such systems, room lights are turned off, turned on and/or are dimmed according to a detected level of motion within the room.

There is a continual push to reduce energy consumption, because of rising energy costs and negative environmental impacts of energy usage and energy generation. Therefore, there is a need for improved light management systems, devices and methods which help to conserve energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device and system for and method of controlling a load circuit, such as a load circuit coupled to a room light. A system, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention comprises a switch unit for coupling to the load circuit. The switch unit is preferably configured to replace a standard light switch and secure to an electrical receptacle box on a wall.

The switch unit preferably has a manual switch for manually controlling the room light through the load circuit. The manual switch is preferably a momentary switch, which herein describes a touch switch that is depressed to change the operation of the switch unit and then returns to its original position. However, it is understood that any other type of switch for manually controlling the room light through the load circuit, such as a rheostat, a toggle or a flip switch are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The switch unit also has a light unit, also referred to herein as a night light, for emitting low level room light when the manual switch opens the load circuit to turn the room light off, or when current that is drawn through the load circuit reaches a predetermined value.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch unit has a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is configured to instruct the switch unit to adjust room lighting by adjusting the level of light emitting from the room light, the night light or both, based on a level of detected motion within an area around the switch unit. For example, when no motion is detected by the motion sensor in the area around the switch unit, then the sensor, after a time delay, instructs the switch unit to dim the room light, dim the night light, shut the room light off, shut the night light off or a combination thereof. Likewise, when the motion detector detects motion within the area around the switch unit, then the motion sensor instructs the switch unit to increase the level of room lighting by turning the room light on, turning the night light on, brightening the room light, brightening the night light or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the switch unit has a micro-processor for programming modes of operation, including setting the time delay value for when the room light and/or night light are shut off or dimmed in the absence of detected motion. Preferably, the micro-processor is programable through an internal dip switch, the manual switch or a combination thereof. For example, during the installation of the switch unit, a technician actuates the internal dip switch to place the switch unit in program mode. Then the technician can toggle through options, including automatic operation or manual operation of the room light and automatic or manual operation of the night light. In yet further embodiments, the switch unit is programmable to have the room lights and/or the night light turn on and/or off based on the time of day. For example, the switch unit is programmable to have the night light capabilities only during the hours of 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the manual switch of the switch unit is a momentary switch with the night light and the motion detector integrated into the momentary switch. The motion sensor is preferably an infrared motion sensor and the night light preferably comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this preferred embodiment, dimming the night light is accomplished by providing a pulsed current to the LEDs, such that the LEDs shut on and off to give an apparent dimming effect. Alternatively, or in addition to providing a pulsed current, dimming the night light is accomplished the by disabling one or more of the light emitting diodes.

In accordance with still further embodiments of the invention, the switch unit has a light detector for measuring a level of room lighting. The light sensor is preferably configured to turn on, turn off, and/or dim the room light and/or the night light based on a level of detected room lighting. For example, if the load circuit is open and the night light is on, when the light sensor detects that there is a sufficient level of room lighting coming from, for example sun light or from lights in adjacent room(s), then the light sensor instructs the switch unit to turn the night light off, turn the room light off, dim the room light or any combination thereof.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, a lighting control system includes a control module. The control module is electrically coupled to a load circuit for controlling and powering outdoor lights. The control module includes a night light unit with a night light source, which can be an LED light source, an incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, a halogen light source or any combination thereof. The night light unit and the light source are controlled using or more sensor units, such as a light sensor unit and/or a motion sensor unit.

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, the lighting control system can also be turned on and off and/or controlled through one or manual switches. For example, a manual switch on the control module can be used to turn on and off and/or control the lighting control system. Alternatively, or in addition to the manual switch on the control module, the lighting control system can include an in-line manual switch that is electrically coupled to the control module thorough the load circuit. The in-line manual switch can be configured to turn on and off the outdoor lights and can also be configured to select a mode of operation of the lighting control system, such as described below.

In operation, the control module is configured to open and close the load circuit in response to control signals generated by the one or more sensor units. The lighting control system can be configured to automatically turn on at a selected time and/or in response to outdoor lighting conditions in an area corresponding to the control module. For example, the lighting control system can be configured to automatically turn on and go into a night light mode from the hours of 6 PM to 6 AM and/or when the light sensor unit detects light levels that are below a preset or selected threshold value. In the night light operating mode, the night light unit powers the night light source at the selected or programmed time and/or when the light levels detected by the light sensor unit are below the threshold value. The motion sensor monitors motion in an area corresponding to the motion sensor unit. When the motion sensor unit detects motion above a threshold level, the motion sensor unit generates control signals that instruct the night light unit to shut off the night light source and the control module to close the load circuit and turn on the outdoor lights. Preferably, the outdoor lights are configured to illuminate an area corresponding to a location where the motion is detected. After a duration of time that motion is either not detected or motion is detected at levels below the threshold level by the motion senor unit, the motion senor unit generates control signals that instruct the control module to open the load circuit and shut off the outdoor lights, and simultaneously instructs the night light unit to turn on the night light source.

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, the lighting control system can be programmed in any number of different ways. For example, the lighting control system has a micro-processor with a user interface, such as a keyboard and/or a micro-switch that allow a user to select and set various parameters, programs and/or modes of operation, such as the time when the lighting control system turns on and goes into night light operation mode and the duration of time that the outdoor light remains on after motion is detected by the motion sensor unit. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the mode of operation of the lighting control system can be selected with the in-line manual switch. For example, moving the in-line manual switch through a plurality of off/on sequences within a predetermined duration of (e.g., 2 seconds), the lighting control system can be configured to go into an override mode, whereby control signals from the one or more sensor units are ignored or blocked and the control module keeps the load circuit closed and the outdoor lights on for a predetermined duration of time (e.g., 4 hours). After the outdoor lights have stayed on for the predetermined period of time, the lighting control system then reverts to night light operation mode, such as previously described. The in-line manual switch and/or the control module can also be equipped with an indicator means, such as one or more LED lights, that flashes, displays or otherwise indicates the mode of operation of the lighting control system.