LED Lighting System

Abstract

An LED control system is provided for connection to an LED lighting system via a power line to control the LED lighting system using commands formed by manipulation of frequency and amplitude of a signal transmitted over the power line. The signal may be for example a wave or a sequence of pulses. The signal may be provided in superposition with line power or the line power may be formed as the signal. The signal can be provided intermittently and a carrier wave also provided and modulated at the same time as the signal. When the signal is not being produced, the power on the power line may be power that is allowed to flow without manipulation from an external portion of the power line.

1 . An LED lighting system including a command generator, the command generator being configured to allow power to flow from a first point to one or more secondary points of a power line without injection of a carrier wave, and the command generator being configured to generate or modify a power waveform on the one or more secondary points of the power line when a command is to be sent to LED lighting system equipment of the LED lighting system on the one or more secondary points of the power line, and the command generator being configured to inject and modulate a carrier wave on the one or more secondary points of the power line to send the command during a time period in which the generated or modified power waveform is present on the one or more secondary points of the power line. 
     
     
         2 . The LED lighting system of  claim 1  in which the command generator is also configured to send signals by manipulating characteristics of the generated or modified power waveform. 
     
     
         3 . The LED lighting system of  claim 2  in which the characteristics are manipulated simultaneously with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         4 . The LED lighting system of  claim 2  in which the characteristics are manipulated sequentially with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         5 . The LED lighting system of  claim 1  in which the command generator is also configured to generate or modify the power waveform on the one or more secondary points of the power line when a signal is to be received from the LED lighting system equipment on the one or more secondary points of the power line, the LED lighting system equipment being configured to modulate the carrier wave or a different carrier wave on the one or more secondary points of the power line to send the signal during the time period in which the generated or modified power waveform is present on the one or more secondary points of the power line. 
     
     
         6 . The LED lighting system of  claim 1  in which the command generator is also configured to communicate with other command generators of the LED lighting system using a local network or multiple networks. 
     
     
         7 . The LED lighting system of  claim 1  in which the LED lighting system equipment comprises a functional distribution system for controlling LEDs of the LED lighting system. 
     
     
         8 . The LED lighting system of  claim 1  in which the LED lighting system equipment comprises at least an additional command generator of the LED lighting system. 
     
     
         9 . An LED lighting system including a command generator, the command generator being configured to receive an input power waveform on a first point of a power line and to generate an output power waveform on one or more secondary points of the power line for transmission to LED lighting system equipment of the LED lighting system, and to manipulate one or more characteristics of the generated output power waveform, the one or more characteristics including one or more of a frequency of the power and a voltage amplitude of the power, and the command generator also being configured to inject a carrier wave onto the transmitted power and modulate the carrier wave, the manipulation of the one or more characteristics and the modulation of the carrier wave forming commands to be received by the LED lighting system equipment on the one or more secondary points of the power line. 
     
     
         10 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the characteristics are manipulated simultaneously with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         11 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the characteristics are manipulated sequentially with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         12 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the command generator is also configured to at some times allow power to flow from the first point of the power line to the one or more secondary points of the power line without injection of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         13 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the command generator is also configured to generate the output power waveform on the one or more secondary points of the power line when a signal is to be received from at least one unit of the LED lighting system equipment at at least one of the secondary points of the power line, the at least one unit of the LED lighting system equipment being configured to modulate the carrier wave or a different carrier wave on the at least one of the secondary points of the power line to send the signal during the time period in which the generated power is present on the one or more secondary points of the power line. 
     
     
         14 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the command generator is also configured to communicate with other command generators of the LED lighting system using a local network or multiple networks. 
     
     
         15 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the LED lighting system equipment comprises a functional distribution system for controlling LEDs of the LED lighting system. 
     
     
         16 . The LED lighting system of  claim 9  in which the LED lighting system equipment comprises at least an additional command generator of the LED lighting system. 
     
     
         17 . An LED lighting system including a command generator, the command generator being configured to manipulate one or more characteristics of power flowing from a first point of a power line to one or more secondary points of the power line for transmission on the one or more secondary points of the power line to LED lighting system equipment of the LED lighting system, the one or more characteristics including one or more of a frequency of the power and a voltage amplitude of the power, and the command generator also being configured to inject a carrier wave onto the transmitted power and modulate the carrier wave, the manipulation of the one or more characteristics and the modulation of the carrier wave forming commands to be received on the one or more secondary points of the power line by the LED lighting system equipment. 
     
     
         18 . The LED lighting system of  claim 17  in which the characteristics are manipulated simultaneously with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         19 . The LED lighting system of  claim 17  in which the characteristics are manipulated sequentially with the modulation of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         20 . The LED lighting system of  claim 17  in which the command generator is also configured to at some times allow power to flow from the first point of the power line to the one or more secondary points of the power line without the manipulation of the one or more characteristics and without injection of the carrier wave. 
     
     
         21 - 36 . (canceled)