Power line communication for lighting systems

摘要

Techniques are provided for bi-directional communication between a power supply and one or more light engines (and/or other lighting system components) via the existing power lines so that no additional communication wires are needed. In particular, the power supply can transmit information by modulating its output (voltage or current) and the light engine (or other lighting componentry, such as a sensor) can communicate back by modulating how much power it draws from the power supply. Any suitable type of modulation scheme can be used, and a master-slave arrangement can be used to control the bi-directional communication if so desired, so as to avoid multiple devices communicating over the power line communication channel at the same time. Other embodiments allow a multiple simultaneous communications over the power line communication channel.

主权项

1. A lighting system, comprising:
a first light source; a first modulation element operatively coupled to the first light source; a first processor configured to use the first modulation element to modulate one of current flow through the first modulation element or voltage drop across the first light source, thereby providing a first power line communication signal; and a first switch configured to control the in-circuit presence of the first modulation element in response to a first modulation control signal provided by the first processor, so as to modulate the one of current flow through the first modulation element or voltage drop across the first light source, thereby providing the first power line communication signal wherein the first modulation element is electrically connected in parallel with the first light source and the first switch is electrically connected in series to the first modulation element, such that the current flow through the first modulation element is modulated in response to the first modulation control signal.