# US 2025/0098043 A1 · Low-voltage lighting systems and methods

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- Number: US 2025/0098043 A1
- Document ID: US20250098043A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/903,729
- Filed: 2024-10-01
- Published: 2025-03-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-04-01
- Assignees: DMF, Inc.
- Applicants: DMF, Inc.
- Inventors: Russikesh Kumar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250098043A1

## CPC

- H05B 45/14: using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
- H05B 47/20: Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
- H05B 45/24: using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
- H05B 47/18: via data-bus transmission
- H05B 47/183: {using digital addressable lighting interface [DALI] communication protocols}
- H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission
- H05B 47/196: {characterised by user interface arrangements}
- H05B 47/199: {Commissioning of light sources}
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Apparatus and methods for operating low-voltage lighting systems are described. Wiring hubs can reduce installation wiring complexity. A smart power supply can provide more than 100 watts of power on Class 2 low-voltage wiring to compliant loads and limit power delivery to 100 watts for non-compliant loads.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power supply comprising:
a power source to output electrical current;
an output terminal coupled to the power source to provide the electrical current to a device when the device is coupled to the output terminal to receive power from the power source;
power metering circuitry to sense at least one of the electrical current or first electrical power delivered to the output terminal; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the power metering circuitry and the power source, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a first amount that is indicative of the first electrical power delivered from the power source to the output terminal to power at least the device when the device is operating and coupled to the output terminal;
compare the first amount to a second amount, wherein the second amount is indicative of second electrical power consumed by at least the device when the device is operating and coupled to the output terminal; and
if the first amount differs from the second amount by more than a predetermined threshold amount, limit the first electrical power to a predetermined power level.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, wherein:
the predetermined power level is no larger than 100 watts and a voltage provided to the output terminal by the power supply is no greater than 60 volts; and the controller is further configured to:
control the power source to deliver from 100 watts to 500 watts of electrical power to the output terminal if the first amount does not differ from the second amount by more than the predetermined threshold amount.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the output terminal to transmit signals via the output terminal and receive signals via the output terminal, wherein the controller is further configured to:
send first signals to the device via the transceiver to control the device, when the device is coupled to the output terminal and operating;
receive a second signal from the device via the transceiver, the second signal indicative of third electrical power consumed by the device; and
determine the second amount based, at least in part, on the second signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The power supply of claim 3, wherein the device is an LED lighting fixture and the first signals control at least one of intensity of light output from the LED lighting fixture or color temperature of the light output from the LED lighting fixture.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The power supply of claim 4 in combination with the LED lighting fixture, wherein the controller is a first controller, the transceiver is a first transceiver, and the lighting fixture comprises:
a second transceiver coupled to a low-voltage power line; and
a second controller communicatively coupled to the second transceiver, the second controller configured to:
receive the first signals via the second transceiver; and
control at least one of the intensity of the light output from the LED lighting fixture or the color temperature of the light output from the LED lighting fixture based on information included in the first signals.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The power supply of claim 5, wherein the second controller is further configured to:
determine at least one of current or power consumed by the LED lighting fixture; and
transmit to the power supply the second signal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The power supply of claim 3, wherein the device is a first device and the controller is further configured to:
send third signals to a second device via the transceiver to control the second device, when the second device is coupled to the output terminal and operating;
receive a fourth signal from the second device via the transceiver, the fourth signal indicative of fourth electrical power consumed by the second device; and
determine the second amount based, at least in part, on the second signal and the fourth signal.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the second amount based, at least in part, on information stored in memory and accessible to the controller, the information identifying power consumption of the device as a function of settings for the device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The power supply of claim 8, wherein the information is stored in a look-up table.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:
initiate a temporary suspension of the first electrical power delivered to the output terminal;
determine from a time interval following the suspension whether power is being drawn from the output terminal during the time interval; and
if power is being drawn from the output terminal during the time interval, limit the first electrical power to the predetermined power level.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver communicatively coupled to the output terminal to transmit signals via the output terminal and receive signals via the output terminal, wherein the controller is further configured to:
issue a query command via the output terminal;
receive in response to the query command, via the output terminal, identification information for the device; and
if no or non-compliant identification information for the device is received, limit the first electrical power to the predetermined power level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The power supply of claim 1, further comprising:
a power converter configured to receive input electrical power of a first form and produce output electrical power of a second form, the second form differing from the first form in at least one of voltage or maximum power provided on a single power line.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1, 12)

The power supply of claim 12 included in a wiring hub, the wiring hub comprising:
an input to receive the input electrical power of the first form classified according to United States National Electrical Code Class 1 criterion; and
the power supply of claim 1 arranged to receive the input electrical power and provide at its output port output electrical power of a second form classified according to United States National Electrical Code Class 2 criterion.

### Claim 14

A method of operating a power supply, the method comprising:
outputting electrical current with a power source;
delivering, to an output terminal coupled to the power source, the electrical current to provide first electrical power to a device coupled to the output terminal;
sensing, with power metering circuitry, at least one of the electrical current or the first electrical power delivered to the output terminal;
determining, with a controller communicatively coupled to the power metering circuitry, a first amount that is indicative of the first electrical power delivered to the output terminal to power at least the device;
comparing the first amount to a second amount, wherein the second amount is indicative of second electrical power consumed by at least the device; and
if the first amount differs from the second amount by more than a predetermined threshold amount, limiting the first electrical power to a predetermined power level.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined power level is no larger than 100 watts and a voltage provided to the output terminal by the power supply is no greater than 60 volts, the method further comprising:
controlling, by the controller, the power source to deliver from 100 watts to 500 watts of electrical power to the output terminal if the first amount does not differ from the second amount by more than the predetermined threshold amount.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
transmitting, with a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the controller, first signals to the device to control the device;
receiving, via the transceiver, a second signal from the device that is indicative of third electrical power consumed by the device; and
determining, by the controller, the second amount based, at least in part, on the second signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the device is an LED lighting fixture and the first signals control at least one of intensity of light output from the LED lighting fixture or color temperature of the light output from the LED lighting fixture.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the controller is a first controller, the transceiver is a first transceiver, and the method further comprises:
receiving the first signals via a second transceiver at the LED lighting fixture; and
controlling, with a second controller at the LED lighting fixture, at least one of the intensity of the light output from the LED lighting fixture or the color temperature of the light output from the LED lighting fixture based on information included in the first signals.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
determining, with the second controller, at least one of current or power consumed by the LED lighting fixture; and
transmitting, by the second transceiver, the second signal to the power supply.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the device is a first device, the method further comprising:
sending, via the transceiver, third signals to a second device to control the second device;
receiving, via the transceiver, a fourth signal from the second device, the fourth signal indicative of fourth electrical power consumed by the second device; and
determining, by the controller, the second amount based, at least in part, on the second signal and the fourth signal.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
determining, by the controller, the second amount based, at least in part, on information stored in memory and accessible to the controller, the information identifying power consumption of the device as a function of settings for the device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the determining comprises accessing a look-up table.

### Claim at position 23

23-50. (canceled)