Distributed intelligence ballast system and extended lighting control protocol

A method for commissioning a ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, the method comprising:

• providing the ballast with an out-of-box default mode wherein the ballast is configured to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;
• installing the ballast so that it is in communication with the digital electronic communication link;
• and
• electronically transmitting commands to the ballast over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics.

A method for establishing a set point determining a lamp load current in a ballast of a multi-ballast lighting system comprising a control communication link connecting the ballasts, the method comprising:

• receiving at the ballast an input control command for setting the ballast set point;
• establishing a high end light level for the ballast;
• establishing a low end light level for the ballast;
• and
• limiting the input control command to within the range set by the high end light level and the low end light level of the ballast.

A method for establishing a set point determining a lamp load current in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are connected together for exchanging data over a communication link, the method comprising:

• receiving an input control command from the link, including an input level determining the ballast set point;
• establishing a high end level and a low end level for the ballast;
• determine a maximum input level;
• subtracting the low end level from the high end level to calculate a difference;
• multiplying the difference by the ratio of the input level to the maximum input level to calculate a product;
• and
• adding the product to the low end level to calculate a sum to provide the ballast set point.

A ballast that processes electronic sensor information received in a multi-ballast lighting system, wherein the ballasts are connected together for exchanging data over a communication link, the ballast comprising:

• a communication port that is adapted to receive electronic sensor information from at least one remote device;
• a sensor input that is adapted to receive sensor information from a sensor device;
• a processor that is adapted to determine whether the ballast is configured either to broadcast electronic sensor information transmitted from any device on the link or if the ballast is configured to broadcast electronic sensor information from the at least one sensor device;
• a memory that is adapted to store the electronic sensor information;
• and
• a transmitter that is adapted to broadcast the electronic sensor information if the ballast is configured to broadcast electronic sensor information on the communication link.

A ballast in a distributed addressable lighting system having a plurality of ballasts connected by a digital electronic communication link, wherein the ballast is adapted to be commissioned for operation on the communication link, the ballast comprising:

• a memory storing a ballast configuration representing an out-of-box default mode wherein the out-of-box default mode allows the ballast to receive and transmit electronic information over the digital electronic communication link;
• a processor;
• a communication port enabling the processor to communicate over the digital electronic communication link;
• and
• wherein the processor receives commands transmitted over the digital electronic communication link to assign an address to the ballast and to configure the ballast with desired performance characteristics.

A ballast that is adapted to establish a set point determining a lamp load current in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are connected together for exchanging data over a communication link, the ballast comprising:

• a communication port that is adapted to receive an input control command from the link, including an input level determining the ballast set point;
• a processor that is adapted to:
• establish a high end level and a low end level for the ballast;
• determine a maximum input level;
• subtract the low end level from the high end level to calculate a difference;
• multiply the difference by the ratio of the input level to the maximum input level to calculate a product;
• and
• add the product to the low end level to calculate a sum to provide the ballast set point.

A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network, the ballast comprising:

• a power circuit portion having an input to an AC main supply and for providing an electrical current to power a lamp;
• a digital processing circuit portion having a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device in the space illuminated by the system;
• further comprising a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast;
• and further comprising a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data with the communication network;
• further wherein the ballast has an out-of-box mode in which the ballast has a default configuration allowing the ballast to communicate with the network and receive at least one input from the sensor input circuit without requiring any programming configuration of the ballast when the ballast is installed in the system.

A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network, the ballast comprising:

• a power circuit portion having an input to an AC main supply and for providing an electrical current to power a lamp;
• a digital processing circuit portion having a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device in the space illuminated by the system;
• further comprising a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast;
• and further comprising a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data with the communication network;
• further wherein the ballast processor is operative to receive a serial data message from the communication network, the serial data message having a portion defining whether the message is in a first or a second format, the first format comprising a DALI standard format and the second format comprising a format providing functionality different than the first format, said ballast processor being capable of processing messages in either said first or second formats.

A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network, the ballast comprising:

• a power circuit portion having an input to an AC main supply and for providing an electrical current to power a lamp;
• a digital processing circuit portion having a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device in the space illuminated by the system;
• further comprising a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast;
• and further comprising a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication networks for exchanging data with the communication network;
• further wherein the ballast processor is responsive to input commands from the communication network, and wherein the input command comprises a desired lamp brightness level, and further wherein the ballast has a high end light level limit and a low end light level limit and wherein the process scaled or value converts the input command to a ballast setpoint level by scaling the input command to a range from the low end light level to the high end light level and uses the scaled value as the ballast set point.