A method and apparatus for operating a lighting arrangement comprising lighting fixtures and lighting fixture arrays composed of lighting fixtures, wherein the lighting fixtures or lighting fixture arrays of the lighting arrangement are controlled by means of an extractable hardware user interface.

The present invention proposes a DC power distribution system comprising power source equipment (PSE) providing high powered power over ethernet connections of 200 W per ethernet cable connected with powered devices (PDs) and power distribution units (PDUs). The PD and PDUs connected to the PSE have second ethernet port for extending the high power PoE connection to at least a second PDU or PD. The system also provides a common mode longitudinal system for communicating across the network of PSE, PD and PDU devices and sensor data and command data sent to and from connected PD. The PD and PDU devices incorporate a supervisor circuit for monitoring the s high power PoE connection and for directing the communications with other connected devices. The PDU devices incorporate DC-to-AC inverters for providing AC power, locally from the high power PoE DC connections, where AC power is required.

A power over ethernet lighting system includes a plurality of nodes electrically connected to a power/communication bus. Each of the nodes includes a PoE interface, a micro-controller and a PoE driver electrically connected to a PoE luminaire. At least one of the nodes is an emergency management node that includes a rechargeable battery and a PoE battery charger. The system has a maintained mode in which the PoE luminaire of each of the nodes is powered by electricity from the power/communication bus, and has an emergency mode characterized by a power loss on the power/communication bus. A micro-controller of the emergency management node includes a charge control algorithm configured to determine a charge level of the battery based on a signal from a charge sensor, and configured to dynamically adjust an allocation of power to the PoE battery charger responsive to the charge level.

In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE, that power to the PD should be maintained.

Systems and methods for backup power sources and controls for Power over Ethernet light sources are provided. In one example embodiment, a lighting system includes one or more light sources configured to receive power over one or more Ethernet cables. The lighting system also includes a battery pack comprising an energy storage medium. The battery pack can be configured to provide power to the one or more light sources over one or more Ethernet cables. The lighting system can also include an output control circuit configured to manage delivery of power from the battery pack to the one or more light sources.

In a Power over Ethernet (PoE) system, a Powered Device (PD) having circuitry to measure the load current from a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) in the PD. Circuitry compares the measured load current with a first threshold. Circuitry automatically generates load pulses for signaling the PSE. The pulse widths of the load pulses are measured and the widths are automatically adjusted, that power to the PD should be maintained.

A power over ethernet lighting system includes a plurality of nodes electrically connected to a power/communication bus. Each of the nodes includes a PoE interface, a micro-controller and a PoE driver electrically connected to a PoE luminaire. At least one of the nodes is an emergency management node that includes a rechargeable battery and a PoE battery charger. The system has a maintained mode in which the PoE luminaire of each of the nodes is powered by electricity from the power/communication bus, and has an emergency mode characterized by a power loss on the power/communication bus. A micro-controller of the emergency management node includes a charge control algorithm configured to determine a charge level of the battery based on a signal from a charge sensor, and configured to dynamically adjust an allocation of power to the PoE battery charger responsive to the charge level.

A method (3600) and system (2800, 2900, 3000, 3100) autonomously create a restore point for a luminaire controller (2810, 3110) and restore it to proper operation when required. The luminaire controller operates by using first operating software having a first software image, and receives a second software image of second operating software. The luminaire controller communicates the first software image to a first device (2820, 3120) connected to the luminaire controller via a communication network (2805, 3105), installs the second operating software, and performs a self test of the luminaire controller. If the luminaire controller fails the self test, the luminaire controller requests via the network that the first device transfer the first software image to the luminaire controller via the network, receives the first software image, installs the first operating software, and reverts to operation with the first operating software.

An improved LED lighting system is provided for overhead ceiling lighting, as well as for other uses. The LED lighting system comprises elongated linear lamps having an LED luminary as a source of illumination and configured to operate as a node of an automated networked lighting system. The linear LED lamps have internal modular network connectors and control components so that they can receive control data and power signals over a single network cable according to a standardized power and data network communications architecture such as Ethernet. The system includes connector assemblies designed to securely mount the networkable linear LED lamps to conventional tube lamp lighting fixtures or to another support housing and to provide integrated power and data connectivity to internal components of the lamps. In one form, the disclosed system includes a network enabled snap-fit connector assembly mounted to a lighting fixture and configured to provide Ethernet power and data connectivity to the lamp. The LED lamps have first and second mechanical connectors at opposite ends of the lamp body, and the snap-fit connectors are configured to secure the lamps to an overhead lighting fixture or other support structure as an incident of the lamp ends moving relative to the mounting connectors in a substantially straight path that is transverse to the length of the body into an engaged position. The snap-fit connectors are also configured to form a network connection with an internal modular network connector associated with the lamp with the lamp mounted in its operative state on a support. In another form, a clipping mechanism is provided for mounting linear networkable LED lamps to an overhead grid ceiling system.

A system for providing power over Ethernet emergency lighting is disclosed. The system includes a rechargeable battery pack that is charged without interfering with data signals present on a power over Ethernet link that provides normal lighting. The system includes a power loss monitor for monitoring the presence of normal lighting power present on a power over Ethernet link without interference.