Modular lamp controller

A modular lamp controller for dimming a high intensity discharge lamp based upon occupancy, the lamp having a port within a lamp fixture and the port being coupled to a lamp capacitor, the modular lamp controller comprising:

• a housing;
• a plug coupled to the housing and adapted to connect with the port;
• a capacitor within the housing and coupled to the plug, the capacitor being adapted to be coupled to the lamp capacitor and being configured to reduce a power state of the lamp when the plug is attached to the port;
• a switch within the housing and coupled to the capacitor, the switch defining a full and reduced power state of the lamp;
• an occupancy sensor within the housing and coupled to the switch, the occupancy sensor for generating a signal indicating the presence of an occupant within a monitored space;
• a switch controller within the housing and coupled to the switch and occupancy sensor, the switch controller operating the switch to activate the full or reduced power state of the lamp based upon the signal;
• and
• a power supply coupled to the occupancy sensor and the switch controller.

A modular lamp controller for dimming a high intensity discharge lamp based upon occupancy, the lamp having a port within a lamp fixture and the port being coupled to a lamp capacitor, the modular lamp controller comprising:

• a housing;
• a plug coupled to the housing and being adapted to connect to the port;
• a capacitor within the housing and coupled to the plug, the capacitor being configured to be coupled in series with the lamp capacitor and being configured to reduce a power state of the lamp when the plug is attached to the port;
• a switch within the housing and coupled to the capacitor, the switch defining a full and reduced power state of the lamp;
• an occupancy sensor within the housing and coupled to the switch, the occupancy sensor for generating a signal indicating the presence of an occupant within a monitored space;
• a switch controller within the housing and coupled to the switch and occupancy sensor, the switch controller operating the switch to activate the full or reduced power state of the lamp based upon the signal;
• and
• a power supply coupled to the occupancy sensor and switch controller, the power supply operating using current from the lamp when the plug is attached to the port;
• an interchangeable lens assembly coupled to the housing in operative relation to the occupancy sensor;
• and
• a mounting adapter assembly coupled to the housing and configured to mount and lock the modular lamp controller into position.

An occupancy-based light dimming system, comprising:

• a high discharge lamp having a lamp fixture and a lamp capacitor;
• a port within the lamp fixture, the port being coupled to the lamp capacitor;
• and
• a modular lamp controller for dimming the high intensity discharge lamp, comprising:
• a plug configured to attach to the port;
• a capacitor configured to couple to the lamp capacitor and configured to reduce a power state of the lamp when the plug is attached to the port;
• a switch coupled to the capacitor and configured to define a full and reduced power state of the lamp;
• an occupancy sensor configured to generate a signal indicating the presence of an occupant within a vicinity of the lamp;
• a switch controller coupled to the switch and occupancy sensor and configured to operate the switch to activate the full or reduced power state of the lamp based upon the signal;
• and
• a power supply coupled to the occupancy sensor and switch controller.

A method for dimming a high intensity discharge lamp based upon occupancy, comprising:

• attaching a plug of a modular lamp controller to a corresponding port within a fixture of the lamp to place a first capacitor within the lamp in series with a second capacitor within the modular lamp controller;
• detecting the presence of an occupant within a vicinity of the lamp;
• and
• reducing the power of the lamp using the second capacitor if occupancy is not detected;
• and
• maintaining full power of the lamp if occupancy is detected.