# US 11,310,876 B2 · Switch and method of operation

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- Number: US 11,310,876 B2
- Document ID: US11310876B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/159,406
- Filed: 2018-10-12
- Published: 2019-02-21
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-07
- Assignees: LIFI Labs, Inc.
- Applicants: LIFI Labs, Inc.
- Inventors: Phillip Bosua; Marc Alexander
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310876B2

## CPC

- H05B 39/041: {the light-intensity of the source (H05B39/08 takes precedence)}
- F21V 23/023: {Power supplies in a casing (F21V23/003 takes precedence)}
- F21V 23/0492: {the sensor detecting a change in orientation, a movement or an acceleration of the lighting device, e.g. a tilt switch}
- H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission
- H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light
- 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
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A control system including: a base including a central axis; a knob rotatably connected to the base, the knob rotatable about the central axis; a plurality of individually indexed light emitting elements distributed along the base perimeter and arranged to direct light radially outward of the central axis; a diffuser arranged radially outward of the light emitting elements; a wireless communication module enclosed between the knob and base; and a processor enclosed between the knob and base, the processor connected to the wireless communication mechanism and plurality of light emitting elements, the processor configured to individually control each light emitting element based on a control signal received from the wireless communication mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for control of a luminaire group comprising:
at a first light element of a switch, emitting light with first set of characteristics associated with an initial setting value for the luminaire group;
at a second light element of the switch, emitting light with a second set of characteristics associated with a second setting value for the luminaire group, wherein the second set of characteristics is different from the first set of characteristics and the second setting value is different from the initial setting value;
controlling the luminaire group based on the initial setting value;
receiving an input at an input mechanism of the switch associated with a position of the second light emitting element;
in response to receiving the input, emitting light with the second set of characteristics at the first light element of the switch; and
within a threshold time interval, controlling a first and second subset of the luminaire group based on the second setting value using wired powerlines and wireless communications, respectively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising: within a threshold time interval, controlling the luminaire group based on the second setting value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the position comprises an angular position about an axis of the switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second setting value comprises a shutoff mode wherein a power provision to the luminaire group is below a threshold value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the switch is connected to a power supply, wherein each luminaire of the luminaire group is electrically connected to the switch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the switch and each luminaire of the luminaire group are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the input mechanism comprises a touch sensor.

### Claim 8

A lighting control system comprising:
a base configured to mount to a wall;
an input mechanism configured to mount to the base;
a processor arranged between the base and the input mechanism and electrically connected to the input mechanism, wherein the processor is configured to communicatively connect to a plurality of luminaires,
wherein the processor is configured to determine a lighting mode, comprising:
controlling a reference light to emit light having a first parameter value associated with an initial setting value;
controlling a second light to emit light having a second parameter value associated with a second setting value, the second parameter value different from the first parameter value and the second setting value being different from the initial setting value; and
at the processor, determining the second setting value based on receipt of a signal from an input device, wherein the reference light and the second light are controlled based on the signal;
wherein, in response to receipt of a second user input at the input mechanism, the processor is configured to control the plurality of luminaires to operate at the second setting value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the input device comprises the processor and the input mechanism.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to electrically connect to each of the plurality of luminaires, wherein the processor is further configured to electrically connect to a power supply, wherein the processor is configured to control a power provision to each of the plurality of luminaires based on the receipt of the second user input.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The lighting control system of claim 10, wherein the first setting value is associated with a first set of lighting elements of the plurality of luminaires and the second setting value is associated with a second set of lighting elements of the plurality of luminaires, wherein controlling the plurality of luminaires to operate at the second setting value comprises controlling a power provision to each of the second set of lighting elements.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the second setting value comprises a light color and an emission intensity associated with the light color.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the second setting value is stored within a memory of at least one of: a lighting of the plurality and the lighting control system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a plurality of light channels, wherein the input mechanism comprises a touch sensor mechanically coupled to a diffuser, wherein a broad face of the diffuser encloses each of the plurality of light channels.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, further comprising a Wi-Fi communication system connected to the processor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a circular cross section.

### Claim 17

A method comprising:
determining a luminaire group comprising a plurality of luminaires;
controlling a reference luminaire to emit light having a first set of characteristics associated with an initial setting value for the luminaire group;
controlling a second luminaire to emit light having a second set of characteristics associated with a second setting value, the second set of characteristics different from the first set of characteristics and the second setting value different from the initial setting value;
at a remote device, receiving a user input;
in response to receipt of the user input, controlling the reference luminaire to emit light having the second set of characteristics; and
sending a signal to the luminaire group to operate at the second setting value.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising: within a threshold time of receiving the user input, operating at the second setting value at the remote device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the user input comprises an angular position about an axis of the remote device, wherein the angular position is associated with the second setting value.