Motion sensitive communication device for controlling lighting

• US 10,085,332 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2018
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Environment LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAMMOND, DEDEI KHALIEAH
• Application Number:
  US15/905,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 211 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A power management system for a lighting circuit may include a grid shifting controller that includes a processor and a connection to an external power source. The power management system may also include a communication interface associated with the grid shifting controller. The grid shifting controller may be configured to provide control information to a processor of at least one grid shifting electrical fixture over the communication interface, the control information being configured to direct the at least one grid shifting electrical fixture on the use of power from the external power source and an energy storage device associated with the at least one grid shifting electrical fixture.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a wireless communication interface configured to communicate with a local network;

a camera configured to capture one or more images;

a microphone configured to capture at least one sound;

a motion sensor configured to generate an output indicative of detected motion within an area about the communication device; and

a processor configured to;

activate the camera to capture the one or more images in response to the output from the motion sensor indicative of the detected motion;

activate the microphone to capture the at least one sound in response to the output from the motion sensor indicative of the detected motion;

cause the wireless communication interface to transmit a motion alert signal, the captured one or more images, and the captured at least one sound to a client device through the local network; and

cause the wireless communication interface to transmit an activation signal to at least one lighting device coupled to the local network to turn on a light source of the at least one lighting device in response to the output from the motion sensor indicative of the detected motion.

2. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising a speaker,

wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to receive audio data from the client device through the local network, and

wherein the processor is further configured to cause the speaker to generate sound in response to the wireless communication interface receiving the audio data.

3. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to receive a signal from the at least one lighting device, and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the speaker to play a sound in response to the wireless communication interface receiving the signal from the at least one lighting device.

4. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to be located outside a house, and wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to be located inside the house.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to be located outside a house, and wherein the client device is a cellphone.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to receive a control signal, through the local network, from the client device.

7. The communication device of claim 6, wherein the at least one component of the communication device comprises a light source, and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the light source of the communication device to turn on after the control signal is received.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the activation signal defines a light intensity level for the light source of the at least one lighting device.

9. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is further configured to communicate with a bridge coupled to the local network and in communication with the at least one lighting device, and wherein the processor is further configured to cause the wireless communication interface to transmit the activation signal to the bridge to cause the light source of the at least one lighting device to turn on.

10. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to operate among a plurality of lighting device each being associated with a unique identification address, and wherein the activation signal comprises the unique identification address of the at least one lighting device.

11. A method for a communication device having a wireless communication interface, a camera, and a motion sensor, the method comprising:

detecting, by the motion sensor, motion within an area about the communication device;

activating the camera to capture images within a field of view of the camera;

sending, via the wireless communication interface, a motion alert signal to a client device when the motion is detected

sending, via the wireless communication interface, the captured images to the client device; and

sending, via the wireless communication interface, an activation signal to a set of one or more lighting devices that each comprises one or more light sources to cause the one or more light sources of each lighting device to turn on.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device further comprises a speaker, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless communication interface, audio data from the client device; and

playing sound, from the speaker, in response to receiving the audio data.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

receiving, at the wireless communication interface, a signal from one of the set of one or more lighting devices; and

performing an action in response to the received signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication device further comprises a speaker, and wherein the action comprises playing a sound from the speaker.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to be located outside a house, and wherein the set of one or more lighting devices is configured to be located inside the house.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising receiving, at the wireless communication interface, a control signal from the client device, the control signal for causing an adjustment to at least one component of the communication device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one component comprises a light source, and wherein the adjustment to the at least one component comprises turning on the light source of the communication device in response to receiving the control signal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation signal defines a light intensity level for the one or more light sources of each lighting device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the activation signal to the set of one or more lighting devices comprises sending the activation signal, via the wireless communication interface, to a bridge configured to communicate with a communication interface of each lighting device, wherein the bridge is configured to cause the one or more light sources of each lighting device to turn on after receiving the activation signal.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein a unique group address is assigned to the set of one or more lighting devices, and wherein the activation signal comprises the unique group address to cause the one or more light sources of each lighting device in the set to turn on together.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the unique group address is configurable by a user.