# US 10,120,010 B2 · Method and system for localization on a DC lighting and power grid

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- Number: US 10,120,010 B2
- Document ID: US10120010B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/238,291
- Filed: 2012-08-17
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-17
- Assignees: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
- Applicants: Alan James Davie; Andrew Alexander Takmakoff; Paul Rlchard Simons
- Inventors: Alan James Davie; Andrew Alexander Takmakoff; Paul Rlchard Simons
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120010B2

## CPC

- H05B 44/00: Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources (for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00)
- G01R 19/0046: {characterised by a specific application or detail not covered by any other subgroup of G01R19/00}
- G01R 31/58: Testing of lines, cables or conductors (testing of electric windings G01R31/72)
- G01S 11/02: using radio waves (G01S19/00 takes precedence)
- G01S 11/06: using intensity measurements
- H05B 47/185: via power line carrier transmission
- G01S 5/0205: {Details}
- G01S 2205/01: specially adapted for specific applications
- H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B 47/1995: {Auto-commissioning}
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for locating luminaires within a lighting system where multiple luminaires are located on a grid of DC power rails. The AC signal generator connects to each DC power rail and transmits an AC signal along each DC power rail in turn to luminaires that each compute their distance from the generator based upon the AC signal. The AC signal generator may similarly transmit and receive data communications with luminaires across DC power rails.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for locating a luminaire on a DC grid, the DC grid comprising a first DC grid power line, an AC signal generator switchably connected to the first DC grid power line, and a first luminaire in electrical communication with the first DC grid power line, the first luminaire disposed along the first DC grid power line at a first distance from the AC signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting the AC signal generator to the first DC grid power line;
transmitting, by the AC signal generator, an AC signal along the first DC grid power line;
receiving the AC signal by the first luminaire; and
calculating the first distance between the AC signal generator and the first luminaire, based in part upon the AC signal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, where the first DC grid power line is terminated for the AC signal with a resistance approximating a characteristic impedance of the first DC grid power line, the method further comprising the steps of:
recording, by the first luminaire, a first phase of the AC signal at the first luminaire; and
recording, by the AC signal generator, a second phase of the AC signal at the AC signal generator;
wherein the step of calculating the first distance further comprises measuring a difference between the first phase and the second phase.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first DC grid power line is unterminated for the AC signal, the method further comprising the steps of:
setting the frequency of the AC signal such that the AC signal forms a standing wave across the first DC grid power line, the standing wave comprising a maximum amplitude; and
recording, by the first luminaire, a first amplitude of the AC signal at the first luminaire;
wherein the step of calculating the first distance further comprises measuring a difference between the first amplitude and the maximum amplitude.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first DC grid power line is unterminated for the AC signal, the AC signal further comprising an amplitude, the method further comprising the steps of:
sweeping the frequency of the AC signal between a first frequency and a second frequency;
recording, by the first luminaire, a first time corresponding to a time the first luminaire initially detects the AC signal; and
recording, by the first luminaire, a second time corresponding to a time the first luminaire detects the amplitude of the AC signal corresponding to a null amplitude;
wherein the step of calculating the first distance further comprises measuring a difference between the first time and the second time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the AC signal comprises a pulse signal, the first DC grid power line is unterminated for the AC signal, the method further comprising the steps of:
recording, by the first luminaire, a first time corresponding to a time the first luminaire initially detects the pulse signal; and
recording, by the first luminaire, a second time corresponding to a time the first luminaire initially detects a reflection of the pulse signal;
wherein the step of calculating the first distance further comprises measuring a difference between the first time and the second time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the DC grid further comprises a second DC grid power line, the AC signal generator switchably connected to the second DC grid power line, and a second luminaire in electrical communication with the second DC grid power line, the second luminaire disposed along the second DC grid power line at a second distance from the AC signal generator, the method further comprising the steps of:
connecting the AC signal generator to the second DC grid power line;
transmitting, by the AC signal generator, an AC signal along the second DC grid power line;
receiving the AC signal by the second luminaire; and
calculating the second distance between the AC signal generator and the second luminaire, based in part upon the AC signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the DC grid further comprises a memory, the method further comprising the steps of:
storing the first distance in the memory; and
communicating the first distance to a DC grid mapper.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the step of communicating the first distance to the DC grid mapper further comprises the step of transmitting a wireless signal to the DC grid mapper.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the memory is disposed within the first luminaire, the DC grid mapper is in electrical communication with the DC grid, and the step of communicating the first distance to a DC grid mapper further comprises the step of transmitting a communication signal along the first DC grid power line from the first luminaire to the DC grid mapper.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
assigning a first identifier to the first luminaire; and
communicating the first identifier between the first luminaire and the AC signal generator.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the step of communicating the first identifier further comprises the step of transmitting a wireless signal to the DC grid mapper.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the DC grid mapper is in electrical communication with the DC grid, and wherein the step of communicating the first identifier further comprises the step of transmitting a communication signal along the first DC grid power line from DC grid mapper to the first luminaire.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the DC grid further comprises an EMerge Alliance Standard-compliant lighting system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising recording a property of said AC signal at said first luminaire, wherein the calculating the first distance is based at least in part on the recorded property of said AC signal at said first luminaire.