TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a light fixture configuration module, and in particular to a fixture configuration module that controls a light fixture to produce light within a particular range.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a movement has gained traction to replace incandescent light bulbs with light fixtures that employ more efficient lighting technologies as well as to replace relatively efficient fluorescent light fixtures with lighting technologies that produce a more pleasing, natural light. One such technology that shows tremendous promise employs light emitting diodes (LEDs). Compared with incandescent bulbs, LED-based light fixtures are much more efficient at converting electrical energy into light, are longer lasting, and are also capable of producing light that is very natural. Compared with fluorescent lighting, LED-based fixtures are also very efficient, but are capable of producing light that is much more natural and more capable of accurately rendering colors. As a result, light fixtures that employ LED technologies are expected to replace incandescent and fluorescent bulbs in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

Unlike incandescent bulbs that operate by subjecting a filament to a desired current, LED-based light fixtures require electronics to drive one or more LEDs. The electronics generally include a power supply and a special control circuitry to provide uniquely configured signals that are required to drive the one or more LEDs in a desired fashion. The presence of the control circuitry adds a potentially significant level of intelligence to the light fixtures that can be leveraged to employ various types of lighting control.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a light fixture, electronics that control a light fixture, a computer readable medium configured with software instructions that (when executed) control a light fixture, and/or methods of controlling a light fixture. Particular embodiments are directed to a fixture configuration module that controls the light fixture to produce light in accordance with particular lighting parameters. Such a fixture configuration module may be removably coupled to the light fixture or may be integrated with the electronics of the light fixture, according to particular embodiments. In some such embodiments, the fixture configuration module controls the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with a stored range for a given lighting parameter. The stored range identifies at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light.

Particular embodiments are directed to a fixture configuration module. The fixture configuration module comprises range control circuitry and fixture control circuitry. The range control circuitry is configured to store a range of a lighting parameter. The range identifies at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light. The fixture control circuitry is communicatively coupled to the range control circuitry and is configured to control the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the range stored by the range control circuitry.

In some embodiments, the fixture configuration module further comprises user interface circuitry communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry independently of the range control circuitry. The user interface circuitry is configured to receive one or more values of the lighting parameter. To control the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the range, the fixture control circuitry is configured to control the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received by the user interface circuitry that are within the range stored by the range control circuitry. In some such embodiments, to receive the one or more values of the lighting parameter, the user interface circuitry comprises radio circuitry configured to receive the one or more values of the lighting parameter via radio communication. In some further such embodiments, the radio circuitry is configured to receive a software license enabling remote management of the light fixture, and control the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received via the radio communication that are within the range stored by the range control circuitry in response.

In some embodiments, the range control circuitry comprises a mechanical switch configured to designate the range of the lighting parameter from a plurality of different ranges by positioning the mechanical switch to one of a plurality of respective switch positions. In some such embodiments, the range control circuitry further comprises near-field communication (NFC) circuitry configured to program the range control circuitry with a range received via NFC signaling, and the plurality of respective switch positions comprises a first position corresponding to the range programmed by the NFC circuitry and a second position corresponding to a different range not programmed by the NFC circuitry. In some further such embodiments, the fixture configuration module further comprises a connector communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry. The connector is configured to removably couple with a corresponding connector of the light fixture and transfer electrical power from the light fixture to the fixture control circuitry while the connector is coupled to the corresponding connector of the light fixture. To program the range control circuitry with the range received via the NFC signaling, the NFC circuitry is communicatively coupled to non-volatile memory and further configured to store the range received via the NFC signaling in the non-volatile memory while powered by magnetic induction produced by the NFC signaling and while the connector is decoupled from the corresponding connector of the light fixture. Additionally or alternatively, the range control circuitry further comprises a further mechanical switch, wherein the mechanical switch and further mechanical switch are configured to designate ranges for different respective lighting parameters of the light fixture. In some such embodiments, the ranges for the different respective lighting parameters comprise a color temperature range and a brightness range.

In some embodiments, the fixture configuration module further comprises a mechanical reset button communicatively coupled to the range control circuitry and configured to produce a reset signal. The range control circuitry is configured to override the range of the lighting parameter stored by the range control circuitry with a default range responsive to receiving the reset signal.

Other embodiments are directed to a method of controlling a light fixture. The method is implemented by a fixture configuration module. The method comprises storing a range of a lighting parameter. The range identifies at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light. The method further comprises controlling the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the stored range.

In some embodiments, controlling the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the stored range comprises controlling the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter, received by a user interface of the fixture configuration module, that are within the stored range. In some such embodiments, receiving the values of the lighting parameter comprises receiving the values of the lighting parameter via radio communication. In some further such embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a software license enabling remote management of the light fixture, and in response, controlling the light fixture to produce the light at such values of the lighting parameter received via radio communication that are within the stored range.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises designating the range of the lighting parameter from a plurality of different ranges by positioning a mechanical switch of the fixture control module to one of a plurality of respective switch positions. In some such embodiments, the method further comprises programming the fixture configuration module with a range received via near-field communication (NFC) signaling. The plurality of respective switch positions comprises a first position corresponding to the programmed range received via the NFC signaling and a second position corresponding to a different range not received by the NFC circuitry. In some further such embodiments, the method further comprises removably coupling, via a connector of the fixture configuration module, with a corresponding connector of the light fixture, and receiving electrical power from the light fixture in response. Programming the fixture configuration module with the range received via the NFC signaling comprises storing the range received via the NFC signaling in a non-volatile memory of the fixture configuration module while powered by magnetic induction produced by the NFC signaling and while the connector is decoupled from the corresponding connector of the light fixture. Additionally or alternatively, the method further comprises designating a different range of a different lighting parameter of the light fixture using a further mechanical switch of the fixture configuration module. In some such embodiments, the range is a color temperature range of the light fixture, and the different range is a brightness range of the light fixture.

Yet other embodiments are directed to a non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions for controlling a programmable fixture configuration module, wherein the software instructions, when executed by processing circuitry of the programmable fixture configuration module, cause the programmable fixture configuration module to perform any of the methods disclosed herein.

Additional embodiments are directed to a light fixture comprising range control circuitry and fixture control circuitry. The range control circuitry is configured to store a range of a lighting parameter. The range identifies at least a subset of values of the lighting parameter supported by the light fixture to produce light. The fixture control circuitry is communicatively coupled to the range control circuitry and is configured to control the light fixture to produce the light in accordance with the range stored by the range control circuitry.

In some embodiments, the light fixture further comprises driver circuitry communicatively coupled to the fixture control circuitry. To control the light fixture to produce the light, the fixture control circuitry is configured to send control signaling to the driver circuitry. The driver circuitry is configured to respond to the control signaling by driving electrical power to solid-state lighting based on the control signaling. In some such embodiments, the light fixture further comprises a printed circuit board on which at least the driver circuitry and the fixture control circuitry are integrated.

