# US 11,006,509 B2 · Node and method of controlling devices connected to node

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- Number: US 11,006,509 B2
- Document ID: US11006509B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/833,741
- Filed: 2020-03-30
- Published: 2020-07-16
- Granted: 2021-05-11
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-16
- Assignees: Igor, Inc.
- Applicants: Igor, Inc.
- Inventors: Dwight L. Stewart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11006509B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- H05B 44/00: Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources (for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00)
- H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source
- H05B 47/16: by timing means
- H05B 47/175: by remote control
- H05B 47/187: {using power over ethernet [PoE] supplies}
- H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

Example embodiments relate to a node and a method of controlling devices connected to the node. In example embodiments the devices may be, but are not required to be, lights.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A node comprising:
a microprocessor; and
an emergency backup circuit comprising an energy storage unit and a relay configured to route power from the energy storage unit to an output driver when a countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches a predetermined value, wherein the microprocessor stores a user command and controls a powered device using the user command until the countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches the predetermined value and controls the powered device using the energy storage unit if the countdown reaches the predetermined value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The node of claim 1, wherein the countdown is a decaying emergency countdown.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The node of claim 2, wherein the microprocessor is configured to deprecate a clock once every predetermined period of time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The node of claim 3, wherein the microprocessor causes a powered device to be powered by the energy storage unit when the decaying emergency countdown reaches the predetermined value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The node of claim 4, wherein the predetermined value is zero.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The node of claim 1, wherein the emergency backup circuit is configured to charge the energy storage unit.

### Claim 7

A node comprising:
a microprocessor; and
an emergency backup circuit comprising an energy storage unit and a relay configured to route power from the energy storage unit to an output driver when a countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches a predetermined value, wherein the microprocessor stores a user command and controls a powered device using the user command until the countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches the predetermined value and controls the powered device using the energy storage unit if the countdown reaches the predetermined value and the microprocessor operates in an emergency operations mode if an emergency countdown reaches the predetermined value.

### Claim 8

A node comprising:
a microprocessor; and
an emergency backup circuit comprising an energy storage unit and a relay configured to route power from the energy storage unit to an output driver when a countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches a predetermined value, wherein the microprocessor stores a user command and controls a powered device using the user command until the countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches the predetermined value and controls the powered device using the energy storage unit if an emergency countdown reaches the predetermined value and operates in an emergency operations mode by controlling the powered device to have a certain dim level or executing a script.

### Claim 9

A system comprising:
a microprocessor; and
an emergency backup circuit comprising an energy storage unit and a relay configured to route power from the energy storage unit to an output driver when a countdown executed by the microprocessor reaches a predetermined value, wherein the microprocessor stores a user command and controls a powered device using the user command until an emergency countdown reaches the predetermined value and controls the powered device in an emergency mode using the energy storage unit if the emergency countdown reaches the predetermined value.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor deprecates a clock once every predetermined period of time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The node of claim 9, wherein the predetermined value is zero.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The node of claim 9, wherein the emergency backup circuit is configured to charge the energy storage unit.