# US 11,116,064 B2 · Intelligent lighting control system method for automated adjustment by occupancy detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,116,064 B2 - Document ID: US11116064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/330,819 - Filed: 2017-09-06 - Published: 2019-08-01 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-06 - Assignees: Racepoint Energy, LLC - Applicants: Racepoint Energy, LLC - Inventors: Erik Allen Charlton; William Lark, Jr.; Ann Claire Lim Chi Cheung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11116064B2 ## CPC - H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - H04L 12/2803: {Home automation networks} - H04L 12/282: {based on user interaction within the home (receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204)} - H04L 12/2829: {involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered} - H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] - H05B 45/30: Driver circuits - H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters - H05B 47/13: by using passive infrared detectors - H05B 47/16: by timing means - H05B 47/1965: {using handheld communication devices} - H05B 47/1985: {Creation of lighting zones or scenes} - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - H05B 47/1975: {Gesture control} - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract The present disclosure provides an intelligent lighting control system. A first light control module of a plurality of light control modules determines a time of day. Each light control module in the plurality of light control modules configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to a lighting circuit of a light fixture electrically connected to the respective lighting control module. Occupancy at the first light control module is detected after a specific time of day. The flow of electricity from one or more light control modules in the plurality of light control modules is changed to change the flow of electricity to the respective lighting circuits connected to the one or more light control modules to turn off the respective light fixture based on the occupancy detection the time of day. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a lighting control system comprising: transmitting a communication signal from a first light control module to a second light control module of a plurality of light control modules, each light control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to one of a plurality of lighting circuits of one of a plurality of light fixtures electrically connected to a respective light control module; determining a time of day; detecting occupancy at each light control module in the plurality of light control modules; determining a last light control module to detect occupancy; and after a specified time of day and in response to a negative occupancy detection at each light control module of the plurality of light control modules, changing a flow of electricity to at least one of the lighting circuits to turn off a respective light fixture and, in response to detecting a positive occupancy at the last light control module, turn on the respective light fixture connected to the last light control module of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a number of the light control modules of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a time of a last occupancy detection at each light control module of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via one or more of an infrared sensor, a time of flight sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, and an optical sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the infrared sensor is a passive infrared sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing a Bluetooth signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via a passive infrared sensor and wherein the at least one light control module is configured to change the flow of electricity to the at least one of the lighting circuits to turn off the respective light fixture in response to, sensing no activity by the passive infrared sensor within a specified period of time; and failing to detect presence of a registered mobile device in response to checking for the registered mobile device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein checking for the registered mobile device comprises transmitting a Bluetooth low energy signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein checking for the registered mobile device comprises determining whether the registered mobile device is within a geo-fence threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein determining whether the registered mobile device is within the geo-fence threshold comprises determining a position of the registered mobile device via a global positioning system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein determining whether the registered mobile device is within the geo-fence threshold comprises determining whether the registered mobile device is connected to a home wireless network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via a passive infrared sensor and wherein the at least one light control module is configured to change the flow of electricity to the at least one of the lighting circuits to turn off the respective light fixture in response to sensing no activity by the passive infrared sensor within a specified period of time. ### Claim 14 A method of controlling a lighting control system comprising: determining a time of day at a first light control module of a plurality of light control modules, each light control module configured to cause a transmission of a quantity of electrical energy to one of a plurality of lighting circuits of one of a plurality of light fixtures electrically connected to a respective light control module; detecting occupancy at the first light control module after a specific time of day; and changing a flow of electricity from one or more light control modules of the plurality of light control modules to change the flow of electricity to respective lighting circuits connected to the one or more light control modules to turn off a respective light fixture based on a positive occupancy detection at the first light control module after the specific time of day. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via one or more of an infrared sensor, a time of flight sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, and an electromagnetic sensor, and an optical sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the time of flight sensor is configured to detect a change in a time of flight of a transmitted signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising detecting occupancy at each light control module of the plurality of light control modules and precluding turning off the respective light fixture where occupancy is detected by a respective light control module. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy at the first light control module comprises sensing via one or more of an infrared sensor, a time of flight sensor, a light sensor, a sound sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, and an optical sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy at the first light control module comprises checking for a registered mobile device via the one or more of the light control modules of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein checking for the registered mobile device comprises determining whether the registered mobile device is within a geo-fence threshold. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein determining whether the registered mobile device is within the geo-fence threshold comprises determining a position of the registered mobile device via a global positioning system. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein determining whether the registered mobile device is within the geo-fence threshold comprises determining whether the registered mobile device is connected to a home wireless network. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein determining whether the registered mobile device is within the geo-fence threshold comprises transmitting a Bluetooth low energy signal from the one or more of the light control modules of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein changing the flow of electricity comprises gradually reducing the flow of electricity over a specified period of time to dim the respective light fixture before it is turned off. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising precluding the respective light fixture from turning off in response to detecting a change in occupancy during the diming. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein occupancy is detected at the first light control module via geo-fencing, wherein the geo-fencing is configured to detect the occupancy by detecting at least one of: a. a determination of whether a mobile electronic device is within a preset proximity to a building within which the lighting control system is located based on a GPS signal from the mobile electronic device, b. a connection state of a WiFi connection of the mobile electronic device configured to establish a steady connection to a network of the building within which the lighting control system is located, and a connection state of a class of Bluetooth of the mobile electronic device configured to connect the mobile electronic device to the one or more light control modules of the plurality of light control modules. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via an infrared sensor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein the infrared sensor is a passive infrared sensor. ### Claim 29 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing a class of a Bluetooth signal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via a sonar sensor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing via a camera. ### Claim 32 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting occupancy comprises sensing motion from a registered mobile device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, wherein sensing motion of the registered mobile device comprises obtaining a reading from an accelerometer of the registered mobile device.