WO2017192806A1

WO2017192806A1 - Control system for workstation luminaires and plug load receptacles

Info

Publication number: WO2017192806A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/030982
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dave PFUND; William A. LESIEUTRE
Original assignee: Sylvan R. Shemitz Designs, Llc
Priority date: 2016-05-04
Filing date: 2017-05-04
Publication date: 2017-11-09

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for automatic control of individual workstation luminaires and automatic control of workstation plug loads in response to the presence of one or more workstation occupants. The system includes a motion sensor associated with a luminaire, said luminaire being in communication with a circuit switching device configured to control electrical power delivered to one or more plug load receptacle(s) serving one or more workstation(s).

Description

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WORKSTATION LUMINAIRES AND PLUG LOAD

RECEPTACLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a system for controlling workstation plug load receptacles. More particularly, the disclosure relates to offices or workspaces where motion sensors are deployed in association with workstation luminaires to provide individual automatic control of the workstation luminaires in response to the presence or absence of workstation occupants. The luminaires are in communication with a switching device to provide automatic control of plug load receptacle circuits in response to the presence or absence of the occupants detected by the sensors.

BACKGROUND

In an effort to reduce office energy consumption, and, in some jurisdictions, to comply with energy conservation regulations, known office plug load control systems comprise a circuit switching device in communication with motion sensors to detect the presence and/or absence of workstation occupants and, accordingly, electrically disconnect plug loads from their power source for periods during which workstations are not occupied. Similarly, workstation luminaires are typically deployed with dedicated motion sensors to limit operation of each luminaire to hours when workstations are occupied. This often results in a duplicity of sensors deployed to detect workstation occupants, thus unnecessarily elevating the cost and complexity of deploying, operating, and maintaining office spaces. BRIEF SUMMARY

A control system for office workstations is provided herein including a workstation luminaire, at least one light source disposed within the workstation luminaire, at least one sensor associated with the workstation luminaire, where the sensor is configured to provide automatic control of the one light source, and a control device in communication with the workstation luminaire and configured to electrically connect and disconnect from an electrical circuit at least one electrical load in response to signals received by the sensor.

In one embodiment, the at least one electrical load is at least one receptacle used for powering portable workstation resources.

In another embodiment, the workstation luminaire is a portable luminaire.

In a further embodiment, the control device communicates with the luminaire via a wired connection. In another configuration the control device communicates with the luminaire via a wireless signal.

The sensor may disposed on the luminaire. Alternatively, the sensor is disposed remote from the luminaire.

In an embodiment, the sensor is associated with the luminaire via a wired connection. In another embodiment, the sensor is associated with the luminaire via a wireless signal.

Still further, the at least one electrical load is at least one portable workstation resource or portion thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGS.:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an open office comprising an exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention;

FIG 2 is a diagram of an open office comprising another exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention; FIG 3 is a diagram of an office workstation comprising another exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention;

FIG 4 is a diagram of an office workstation comprising another exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention;

FIG 5 is a diagram of an office workstation comprising another exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention;

FIG 6 is another diagram of the office workstation of FIG. 5; and

FIG 7 is a diagram of an office workstation comprising another exemplary embodiment of the system of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 discloses an open office 80 with power circuits 11 and 12, circuit switching device 32 comprising switching circuit 33, and a plurality of workstations 90. Each workstation 90 comprises a portable electrical workstation resource 22 with electrical cord and plug 23 associated with power circuit 11 via power receptacle 13. Workstation resource 22 may be any electrical office equipment device typically referred to as an office plug load, such as a visual display terminal or the like. Power receptacles 13 and 14 may be comprised with the office infrastructure or they may be disposed within a portable modular furniture system that comprises the workstations 90. Similarly, circuit switching device 32 may be comprised with the office infrastructure or may be disposed within a portable modular furniture system that comprises the workstations 90.

Figure 1 further discloses a control hub 31 with plug-in ports 36. The control hub 31 is in communication with the circuit switching device 32 which comprises the switching circuit 33 disposed in association with power circuit 11 and power receptacles 13.

Specifically, Figure 1 discloses a wired communication link between control hub 31 and circuit switching device 32 with plug-in port 38 and a communication cable 37; however, wireless communication between control hub 31 and circuit switching device 32 is also contemplated within the broad scope of the invention. Furthermore, control hub 31 may comprise a wireless transceiver 39 to communicate with other wireless control devices and networks, and may comprise user interfaces, such as one or more switches or pushbuttons or the like, to manually operate switching circuit 33 or for use in configuring a variety of settings that define the operation of control hub 31. Accordingly, control hub 31 may be advantageously located to optimize wireless communications and to provide access to said user interfaces while circuit switching device 32 may be located at a relatively inaccessible location either comprised with the office infrastructure or disposed within a portable modular furniture system that comprises the workstations 90. Alternatively, the control hub 31 may be combined with transceiver 39 and circuit control device 32 into a single device.

Referring to Figure 1, in a preferred embodiment, portable luminaires 91 are deployed in workstations 90. Each portable luminaire 91 comprises an integral light source and an electrical cord and plug 92 associated with power circuit 12 via power receptacle 14. The luminaires 91 each further comprise an integral motion sensor 93 and a signal cable 95 with plug-in connector 96 that is associated with control hub 31 via multi-port plug-and-play connection blocks 34, extension cables 35, and one plug-in port 36 of control hub 31.

In this preferred embodiment, the presence of an occupant 21 of any given

workstation 90 is detected by variations in infrared radiation 94 received by sensor 93 of luminaire 91 of said any given workstation, or by another detection means of said sensor 93, whereby the light source of luminaire 91 of said any given workstation is automatically switched ON or OFF or otherwise modulated in accordance with the presence or absence of said workstation occupant. Moreover, each luminaire 91 communicates a status signal on each respective signal cable 95 indicating the presence or absence of a workstation occupant in each respective workstation 90. This status signal may be a voltage and may be zero or no signal to indicate that the respective workstation is either occupied or unoccupied.

Accordingly, when control hub 31 receives at least one status signal indicating the detection of one or more workstation occupant(s) 21, the control hub communicates with circuit control device 32 via communication cable 37 to electrically connect receptacles 13 to circuit 11 thereby providing electrical power to workstation resources 22 for use by said one or more workstation occupant(s). Likewise, the absence of all workstation occupants 21 will result in each luminaire 91 sending a corresponding status signal to control hub 31, which in turn communicates with circuit control device 32 via communication cable 37 to electrically disconnect receptacles 13 from circuit 11 causing workstation resources 22 to be de- energized. Furthermore, each luminaire 91 comprises a circuit or processor that prevents status signals transmitted by any one given luminaire 91 from activating or deactivating the light source associated with any other luminaire 91 connected to control hub 31. For example, each luminaire 91 of the system may include a diode, pull-down resistor, or processor to limit, ignore, or otherwise suppress signals generated by other luminaires of the system. Referring now to Figure 2, in another preferred embodiment, where many of the items disclosed in open office 80 and workstations 90 of Figure 1 are deployed in open office 100 and workstations 110, portable luminaires 111 are deployed in workstations 110, each portable luminaire 111 comprising an integral light source and an electrical cord and plug 112 associated with power circuit 12 via power receptacle 14, an integral motion sensor 113, and a transmitter 117 in communication with sensor control hub 31 via transceiver 39. The operation and advantages of this preferred embodiment are identical to the advantages and operation of the embodiment disclosed in Figure 1 except that the disclosed status signals are transmitted from each luminaire 111 via transmitter 117 instead of via signal cables 95 and are received by control hub 31 via transceiver 39 instead of plug-in port 36.

Referring now to Figure 3, in another preferred embodiment, where many of the items disclosed in open office 100 and workstations 110 of Figure 2 are deployed in workstation 210, workstation 210 is further comprised with plug load power distribution unit 211 associated with work surface 212 via mounting bracket 213. The plug load power distribution unit 211 comprises one or more plug load power receptacles 215. The workstation 210 further includes a plug-in control unit 220 comprising an internal switching circuit, a plugging connector 221 configured for electrical association with power receptacle 14, a power receptacle 222 configured for electrical association with power cord and plug 214 of plug load power distribution unit 211, and a transceiver 223. The plug load control unit 220 is in communication with transmitter 117 of portable luminaire 111 via the transceiver 223. In this preferred embodiment, electrical workstation resource 22 is associated with one of said power receptacles 215 via electrical cord and plug 23 and, along with any additional plug loads that may be associated with plug load power unit 211, is electrically connected to, and disconnected from, power circuit 12 by way of said internal switching circuit of plug load control unit 220 according to the presence or absence of occupant 21 as detected by sensor 113 and communicated to power unit 220 via transmitter 117 of luminaire 111.

Referring now to Figure 4, in another preferred embodiment, where many of the items disclosed in workstation 210 of Figure 3 are deployed in workstation 310, plugging connector 221 of plug load control unit 220 is associated with plug load power receptacle 215' of plug load power distribution unit 211, and cord and plug 23 of electrical workstation resource 22 is associated with power receptacle 222 of plug load control unit 220. In this embodiment, workstation resource 22, is electrically connected to, and disconnected from, power circuit 12 by way of said internal switching circuit of plug load control unit 220 according to the presence or absence of occupant 21 as detected by sensor 113 and communicated to power unit 220 via transmitter 117 of luminaire 111. Notably, other electrical workstation resources that may be associated with other plug load power receptacles 215 of plug load power distribution unit 211 remain connected to circuit 12 at all times irrespective of the presence or absence of workstation occupant 21 and the switching state of plug load control unit 220.

Referring now to Figure 5, in another preferred embodiment, where many of the items disclosed in workstation 310 of Figure 4 are deployed in workstation 410, workstation 410 is further comprised with plug load power distribution unit 411 associated with work surface 212 via mounting bracket 413. The plug load power distribution unit 411 comprises one or more plug load power receptacles 415 and 416, cord and plug 414 associated with power circuit 12 via workstation power receptacle 14, and internal switching circuit 420 associated with transceiver 423. The transceiver 423 is in wireless communication with transmitter 117 of portable luminaire 111. In this preferred embodiment, internal switching circuit 420 is configured to connect and disconnect power to and from one or more plug load power receptacles 416 of plug load power distribution unit 411 according to the presence or absence of occupant 21 as detected by sensor 113 and communicated to switching circuit 420 via transmitter 117 of luminaire 111 and transceiver 423. Notably, in this embodiment, one or more plug load power receptacles 415 of plug load power distribution unit 411 remain connected to circuit 12 at all times irrespective of the presence or absence of workstation occupant 21 and the switching state of internal switching circuit 420. However, it is also conceived that switching circuit 420 may be configured to connect and disconnect power to and from all plug load power receptacles 415 and 416 of power distribution unit 411.

Additionally, Figure 5 shows cord and plug 112 of portable luminaire 111 associated with power circuit 12 via a workstation power receptacle 14. Alternatively, cord and plug 112 may be associated with workstation power circuit 12 via an unswitched plug load power receptacle 415 of plug load power distribution unit 411 as suggested by Figure 4 and as shown in Figure 6, or, cord and plug 112 may be associated with another unswitched workstation power circuit. Referring now to Figure 7, in another preferred embodiment, where many of the items disclosed in workstation 410 of Figure 5 are deployed in workstation 510, workstation 510 is further comprised with portable electrical workstation resource 522 comprising an internal switching circuit, a transceiver 524, and cord and plug 523 associated with power circuit 12 via power receptacle 14, whereby said transceiver 524 is in communication with said internal switching circuit and transmitter 117 of portable luminaire 111. In this preferred embodiment, electrical workstation resource 522 may comprise a visual display terminal or the like and may be configured with a standby or energy- saving operating mode in addition to one or more normal operating modes(s) whereby said internal switching circuit is configured to connect and disconnect power to and from said visual display or otherwise switch operation of electrical workstation resource 522 between any operating modes thereof according to the presence or absence of occupant 21 as detected by sensor 113 and communicated to the electrical workstation resource 522 via transmitter 117 of luminaire 111 and transceiver 524.

Notably, the system of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 through 7 advantageously achieves the desirable control functionality of known control systems, specifically the individual automatic control of portable workstation luminaires and the collective circuit- based and/or singular control of office plug loads, using only the sensors supplied integrally with the portable workstation luminaires and used for individual automatic control of said portable workstation luminaires, thus eliminating the cost and complexity of known systems that rely on multiple of sensors.

It should be understood that any of the integral motion sensors 93 and 113 associated with luminaires 91 and 111, respectively, may be a remote workstation motion sensor in communication with the luminaire in each case via a signal cable, and configured to automatically switch the light source of the luminaire ON or OFF or otherwise modulate the light source in accordance with the presence or absence of an occupant of the respective workstation. Likewise, any of the integral motion sensors 93 and 113 may be a remote wireless workstation motion sensor in communication with the luminaire in each case via a wireless signal such as a radio frequency signal.

It should also be understood that the present invention may be applied to a single workstation or any number of workstations with plug loads powered via receptacles connected to switching circuit 33. Likewise, it should be understood that the present invention may be applied where switching circuit 33 or switching circuit 420 is associated with an electrical load other than a plug load receptacle. Moreover, it is further conceived that control hub 31, plug load control unit 220, plug load distribution unit 411, and electrical workstation resource 522 may communicate with other remote control devices, either via wired connections or wirelessly via transceiver 39, 223, 423, or 524, respectively, to implement additional control scenarios in response to the presence or absence of workstation occupants 21.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A control system for office workstations comprising:

a workstation luminaire;

at least one light source disposed within said workstation luminaire;

at least one sensor associated with said workstation luminaire,

wherein said sensor is configured to provide automatic control of said one light source, and a control device in communication with said workstation luminaire and configured to electrically connect and disconnect from an electrical circuit at least one electrical load in response to signals received by said sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one electrical load is at least one receptacle used for powering portable workstation resources.

3. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the workstation luminaire is a portable luminaire.

4. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the control device communicates with the luminaire via a wired connection.

5. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the control device communicates with the luminaire via a wireless signal.

6. The system of any of the preceding claims wherein the sensor is disposed on the luminaire.

7. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor is disposed remote from the luminaire.

8. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor is associated with the luminaire via a wired connection.

9. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor is associated with the luminaire via a wireless signal.

10. The system of any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one electrical load is at least one portable workstation resource or portion thereof.