# US 11,353,839 B2 · Node and method of controlling devices connected to node

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- Number: US 11,353,839 B2
- Document ID: US11353839B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/316,282
- Filed: 2021-05-10
- Published: 2021-08-26
- Granted: 2022-06-07
- Earliest claimed: 2015-07-16
- Assignees: Igor, Inc.
- Applicants: Igor, Inc.
- Inventors: Dwight L. Stewart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11353839B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- G05B 19/0426: {Programming the control sequence}
- 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 47/187: {using power over ethernet [PoE] supplies}
- G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
- 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 system comprising:
a network switch;
a first node;
a powered device connected to the first node;
a second node configured to receive an expected signal;
an auxiliary power source; and
a passthrough between the network switch and the first node, the passthrough receiving a first power from the network switch and auxiliary power from the auxiliary power source, wherein the second node controls the passthrough to shunt power from the auxiliary power source to the first node when the expected signal is not received.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the network switch includes a plurality of ports and the network switch is configured to distribute power to the plurality of ports.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the passthrough comprises a plurality of relays controlled by the second node.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the passthrough includes at least one cable directly connecting the network switch to the passthrough, at least one cable directly connecting the auxiliary power source to the passthrough, and at least one cable directly connecting the passthrough to the first node.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the auxiliary power source is a second network switch providing the auxiliary power and data to the passthrough.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the expected signal is expected to come from the first node.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the second node is configured to shunt data via the passthrough to the first node when the expected signal is not received.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the expected signal is a heartbeat signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the passthrough includes a plurality of relays controlled by the second node, at least one cable directly connecting the network switch to the passthrough, at least one cable directly connecting the auxiliary power source to the passthrough, and at least one cable directly connecting the passthrough to the first node.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary power source is a second network switch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the passthrough shunts data from the second network switch to the first node.