Remote dimming of lighting
OwnerKarl S Jonssoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Power is provided to a powered device (PD) over a data cable from power sourcing equipment (PSE). A signature resistance of the device is detected through the data cable. If the signature resistance is in a first range, power is provided to the PD from the PSE over the data cable in a matter compliant with an IEEE standard for power over Ethernet (PoE). If the signature resistance is in a second range, information is received from the PD over the data cable and the existence of the PD is exposed by the PSE over a computer network. A command to control the PD is received by the PSE over the computer network and a power signal is provided to the PD from the PSE based on the command and the received information.
Claims22
A method of providing power to a device over a cable, the method comprising:
- determining whether the device is able to receive power over the cable as specified by an open industry standard;
- in response to determining that the device is able to receive power over the cable as specified by the open industry standard, providing power to the device over the cable as specified by the open industry standard;
- in response to determining that the device is not able to receive power over the cable as specified by the open industry standard:
- receiving information from the device over the cable;
- exposing an existence of the device over a computer network;
- receiving a command for the device over the computer network;
- and
- providing a power signal over the cable to the device based on the command and the received information.
An apparatus for controlling brightness of a luminaire, the apparatus comprising:
- a first connector to couple to a cable for the luminaire;
- an interface to a computer network;
- power circuitry, coupled to the first connector, to generate a power signal at the first connector;
- a processor, coupled to the interface to the computer network and the power circuitry;
- a memory, coupled to the processor and storing instructions which, as executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
- receiving a drive characteristic for the luminaire over the cable coupled to the luminaire;
- receiving a brightness level for the luminaire over a computer network;
- generating a power signal based on both the brightness level and the drive characteristic;
- and
- providing the power signal to the luminaire over the cable.
An apparatus for providing power to a device over a cable, the apparatus comprising:
- a first connector to couple to the cable for the device;
- an interface to a computer network;
- power circuitry, coupled to the first connector, to generate a power signal at the first connector;
- and
- a processor, coupled to the interface to the computer network and the power circuitry, the processor programmed to determine whether the device is able to receive power over the cable as specified by an open industry standard;
- in response to determining that the device is able to receive power over the cable as specified by the open industry standard, the processor is further programmed to provide power to the device over the cable as specified by the open industry standard;
- in response to determining that the device is not able to receive power over the cable as specified by the open industry standard, the processor is further programmed to:
- receive information from the device over the cable;
- expose an existence of the device over the computer network;
- receive a command for the device over the computer network;
- and
- provide the power signal over the cable to the device based on the command and the received information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.