Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a light with reduced glare and light trespass. The light includes a light source that emits light, a primary optic that at least partially encloses the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source passes through the primary optic, and a secondary optic including a portion shaped as a non-spherical frustum. The non-spherical frustum is bounded between first and second parallel planes. The secondary optic is securable relative to the primary optic such that at least a portion of the primary optic is at least partially enclosed by the secondary optic and positioned between the first and second parallel planes.

Abstract: A system to control solid state light sources, including a photosensor responsive primarily to wavelengths of light outside the emitted light band of wavelengths that the solid state light sources emit when the solid state light sources are in the ON state, and which produces a light level signal representative of a level of sensed light primarily for wavelengths outside of the emitted light band of wavelengths. A set of circuitry receives the light level signal representative of the sensed level of light from the photosensor, determines a contribution by the solid state light sources to the sensed level of light, and uses a compensated light level or a compensated threshold in assessing a dusk condition or a dawn condition when the solid state light sources are in the ON state to compensate for the contribution by the solid state light sources to the sensed level of light.

Abstract: A system to control solid state light sources, including a photosensor responsive primarily to wavelengths of light outside the emitted light band of wavelengths that the solid state light sources emit when the solid state light sources are in the ON state, and which produces a light level signal representative of a level of sensed light primarily for wavelengths outside of the emitted light band of wavelengths. A set of circuitry receives the light level signal representative of the sensed level of light from the photosensor, determines a contribution by the solid state light sources to the sensed level of light, and uses a compensated light level or a compensated threshold in assessing a dusk condition or a dawn condition when the solid state light sources are in the ON state to compensate for the contribution by the solid state light sources to the sensed level of light.

Abstract: A photocontrol circuit includes a set of light level detection circuitry which is powered by a 0 to 10V dimming input. In response to a determination that light sensed in ambient environment is at or below the light level threshold, the light level detection circuitry switches a 0 to 10V dimming input line to approximately 10V, controlling a luminaire to emit maximum light. In response to a determination that light sensed in ambient environment is above the light level threshold, the light level detection circuitry switches the 0 to 10V dimming input line to less than approximately 1 Volt, thereby controlling the luminaire to emit minimum or no light. The photocontrols embodiments described herein advantageously employ the 0 to 10V dimming line as the luminaire control line, and photocontrol power source, unlike previous photocontrols which typically switch the power input to the luminaire. The photocontrol circuit may be housed in a photocontrol module comprising a base and a cover.

Abstract: A light having a first set of electrically coupled solid state light sources having a first forward voltage drop and a second set of electrically coupled solid state light sources having a second forward voltage at least approximately matching the first forward voltage drop. The first set and second sets of solid state light sources are electrically coupled in parallel to a constant current source. A resistor is electrically coupled to at least one of the first and second sets of solid state light sources. Control circuitry is operably coupled to control a resistance electrically coupled in series with said at least one of the first set and the second set of solid state light sources to adjust a respective current therethrough and thereby dim said at least one of the first set and the second set of solid state light sources while maintaining the respective forward voltage drops.

Abstract: A twist-lock connector that includes a printed circuit board component with one or more flexible portions is disclosed. The flexible portions may be formed within an interior portion of the printed circuit board by routing or otherwise removing a portion of the printed circuit board to create one or a plurality of side for each flexible portion. One or more electrical contacts may be positioned on each flexible portion and arranged to be electrically coupled with male electrical contacts that are part of a corresponding twist-lock plug, thereby deflecting the flexible portions. When deflected, the flexible portions exert an opposing, biasing force in the direction of the male electrical contacts to maintain contact there between. One or more of a mounting base and a support base may be clamped to either or both sides of the printed circuit board to provide further stability for the flexible portions.

Abstract: Systems and methods which utilize luminaires that include wireless communication capabilities that allow the luminaires to be controlled by a wireless-enabled mobile system disposed proximate the luminaires. Control of a network of wireless-enabled luminaires is provided via a single mobile system utilizing wireless communication through at least one gateway luminaire without requiring connection between the luminaires and a central management system (CMS). Information sent to or collected from the luminaires through the mobile system may be transferred via a mobile network interface from or to a CMS. The luminaires may use their wireless communication ability to obtain data from nearby wireless sensors, which data may be collected by the mobile system from luminaires in the network of luminaires when the mobile system is positioned proximate at least one of the luminaires. The sensor data and/or other data may be uploaded to the central management system in a non-real-time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing inrush current into a component, such as a power converter (e.g., LED driver), which receives alternating current (AC) power from an AC power source (e.g., AC mains). The method may include pre-charging the input capacitance of a component or circuit for a determined period of time after closing of a control switch (e.g., photocontrol, contactor) using a capacitive load pre-charge circuit (e.g., resistor), and then shorting the capacitive load pre-charge circuit using a bidirectional AC switch coupled in parallel with the capacitive load pre-charge circuit after the determined period of time to selectively bypass the capacitive load pre-charge circuit. The bidirectional AC switch may include two source-connected metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) which have a very low “on resistance,” such that during steady-state operation, the protection circuit wastes very little power compared to conventional inrush protection circuits.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to regulate an input power applied to a plurality of light emitters are provided. A regulator device includes a plurality of switches and a control circuit that controls the plurality of switches. The plurality of switches selectively couple respective strings of the light emitters in series to the input power to emit light when deactivated. The control circuit may deactivate a number of the switches to couple the respective light emitters to the input power in response to a sensed operational parameter of the input power. The control circuit may adjust the number of the switches deactivated in response to a change in the sensed operational parameter of the input power. A number of the light emitters may be coupled to the input power regardless of the sensed operational parameter of the input power.

Abstract: An article and circuit that controllably dims a luminaire, for example without controlling a line power of the luminaire. The luminaire includes a traditional three-contact socket to receive a photocontroller, such as that used for street lights. The article uses a desired dimming control signal to provide an output control signal that controls whether the light source in the luminaire is turned ON or turned OFF to thereby effect the desired amount of dimming. The output control signal may be a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal with a duty cycle that is related to the desired level of illumination or dimming. The system may use a dimming signal from a five or seven contact dimming photocontroller to provide such an output control signal to control the light-level for the luminaire.

Abstract: An illumination system verifies whether one or more aspects of an output signal provided by a photosensitive transducer fall within a threshold of an expected value for the aspect. The aspect may include a sunrise time, a sunset time, a dawn time, a dusk time, a solar noon time, a solar midnight time, or similar. Upon verification the illumination system uses a microcontroller to adjust one or more output parameters of a solid-state light source responsive to the output signal provided by the photosensitive transducer. Where verification is not possible, the illumination system uses the microcontroller to adjust one or more output parameters of the solid-state light source responsive to a schedule.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for providing lighting or illumination systems having drive circuits that employ a magnetic amplifier (“mag-amp”) and one or more feedback circuits to form a power converter that powers solid-state light sources (e.g., LEDs). The magnetic amplifier includes one or more magnetic cores which provides a controllable reluctance for magnetic flux. The magnetic amplifier includes one or more power windings which receive energy from an alternating current (AC) supply (e.g., AC mains) and delivers rectified AC current as direct current (DC) to one or more solid-state light sources. The magnetic amplifier includes one or more control windings coupled to a DC control source. The drive circuit may have two or more rectifiers (e.g., solid-state rectifiers) to provide a direct current to drive the solid-state light sources and also to isolate the one or more control windings from interference from the magnetic flux of the one or more power windings.

Abstract: An illumination system verifies controls the operation of a luminaire without the use of any photometric data. The illumination system uses data indicative of a current time, date or latitude to determine one or more aspects of a solar event. Such aspects can include a scheduled, predicted or expected time of occurrence of the scheduled solar event. Responsive to the determination of a scheduled, predicted or expected time of occurrence of the scheduled solar event, a control subsystem can adjust the luminous output of a light source.

Abstract: Photocontrol apparatus that controls a luminaire or other load such that the luminaire is switched on during nighttime hours and off during the daytime. The photocontrol consumes only microwatts of power in either the ON or the OFF state, unlike traditional relay- or triac-based photocontrols. The photocontrol does not require a voltage generating photo sensor to generate power for the photocontrol. A solar cell, semiconductor photo diode or photo diode string, cadmium sulfide cell, semiconductor ambient light sensor, etc., may be used as the sensor element. The photocontrol switches power to the load at the zero-crossing of an AC input voltage, which reduces inrush current and the switching currents caused by traditional photocontrols which may switch at any point on the AC input voltage waveform.

Abstract: An illumination system and methods to control a light source are provided. An illumination system includes a light source, a two-dimensional non-Passive Infrared (non-PIR) imager, and a controller. The light source provides at least two levels of illumination. The non-PIR imager images an area and to produce image data representative of images across at least part of a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. The controller is communicatively coupled to receive the image data from the non-PIR imager and process the received image data to detect at least one ambient environmental characteristic of the area in the part of the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the ambient environmental characteristic is indicative of a presence or imminent presence of a body in the area. The controller is also coupled to control operation of the light source based on, at least in part, detection of the ambient characteristic of the environment.

Abstract: A photocontrol includes a switch that consumes very low power when the switch is turned ON and when it is turned OFF. The photocontrol can provide low-power digital control signals to high-impedance inputs of control devices that control the delivery of power to load devices, such as LED drivers that control the delivery of power to arrays of LEDs. The photocontrol also can provide power signals to control devices that control the delivery of power to light sources, such as electronic transformers that control the delivery of power to fluorescent lamps. The photocontrol may include a comparator that causes the photocontrol to have switching hysteresis.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for providing centralized control of area lighting hours of illumination. An area illumination system includes a central control system operatively coupled to a plurality of luminaires through a data communications network. In some implementations, the data communications network may include a power-line power distribution system and/or a wired or wireless communications network. Each of the plurality of luminaires includes a local illumination control system, which may include a photosensor. The central control system identifies one or more luminaires as having a faulty local illumination control system and issues illumination commands to such luminaires through the data communications network so that the luminaires continue to operate normally without a working local illumination control system. The central control system may store data relating to luminaires having faulty illumination control systems, such as addresses, map data, routing data, or the like.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles for providing lighting or illumination systems having drive circuits that employ a magnetic amplifier (“mag-amp”) and one or more feedback circuits to form a power converter that powers solid-state light sources (e.g., LEDs). The magnetic amplifier includes one or more magnetic cores which provides a controllable reluctance for magnetic flux. The magnetic amplifier includes one or more power windings which receive energy from an alternating current (AC) supply (e.g., AC mains) and delivers rectified AC current as direct current (DC) to one or more solid-state light sources. The magnetic amplifier includes one or more control windings coupled to a DC control source. The drive circuit may have two or more rectifiers (e.g., solid-state rectifiers) to provide a direct current to drive the solid-state light sources and also to isolate the one or more control windings from interference from the magnetic flux of the one or more power windings.

Abstract: The power consumption of a switch-mode power converter can be determined based upon at least one of a converter drive signal pulse width or a converter drive signal frequency. Such power consumption can be determined using an algorithm providing a functional relationship between switch-mode power converter power consumption and at least converter drive signal pulse width or frequency. Such algorithms can be either calculated using known component values or empirically determined. Such power consumption may also be determined using store power consumption data in a data store that is indexed by at least one of the converter drive signal pulse width or frequency.

Abstract: A line voltage signal at a first voltage and a first current supplied by a line voltage switching device responsive to a sensed or detected event can be provided to a first node of a regulator. A portion of the line voltage signal can be passed at the first voltage through a capacitive device in the regulator and provided at a second node for return to an electrical circuit containing a load device. The remaining portion of the line voltage signal can be passed to a voltage divider comprising at least a first resistive device and a second resistive device. A signal output at a second voltage and a second current that is suitable for introduction to a high-impedance controller input can be obtained at a third node electrically coupled to a point between the first resistive device and the second resistive device.