Systems and methods for providing a self-adjusting light source
First Claim
1. A lighting unit, comprising:
- a LED component including one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light from the lighting unit;
a LED driver connected to the LED component configured to provide current to the one or more light emitting diodes;
a light sensor configured to receive light from a surrounding of the light unit and to provide one or more light intensity signals based on the received light, wherein the light sensor is further configured to provide the one or more light intensity signals multiple times per second;
a LED controller configured to provide a drive control signal to the LED driver, wherein the drive control signal includes intermittent periods during which the intensity of the light emitted by the LED component is lowered; and
a measuring component configured to measure the one or more light intensity signals from the light sensor in synch with two or more of the intermittent periods in the drive control signal and to provide a measured light intensity to the LED controller.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System, methods, and apparatus, including devices and software, for providing self-adjusting light sources. In one aspect, a lighting unit includes one or more LEDs and an ambient light sensor. The light sensor measures ambient light in synchronization with intermittent off periods of light generated by the LEDs. For example, the LEDs in the lighting unit can be driven by a pulse width modulated signal that turns on and off the LEDs in an alternating manner, and the ambient light can be measured when the LEDs are turned off. In some implementations, a compact lighting unit, such as a light bulb, is provided that can be easily attached to standard light fixtures and can efficiently control its own brightness based on ambient light conditions.
12 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A lighting unit, comprising:
-
a LED component including one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light from the lighting unit; a LED driver connected to the LED component configured to provide current to the one or more light emitting diodes; a light sensor configured to receive light from a surrounding of the light unit and to provide one or more light intensity signals based on the received light, wherein the light sensor is further configured to provide the one or more light intensity signals multiple times per second; a LED controller configured to provide a drive control signal to the LED driver, wherein the drive control signal includes intermittent periods during which the intensity of the light emitted by the LED component is lowered; and a measuring component configured to measure the one or more light intensity signals from the light sensor in synch with two or more of the intermittent periods in the drive control signal and to provide a measured light intensity to the LED controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for operating a lighting unit including a light emitting diode (LED) component having one or more LEDs configured to emit light from the lighting unit and a light sensor configured to receive light from a surrounding of the lighting unit, the method comprising:
-
providing current to the one or more LEDs; controlling the current to the one or more LEDs using a drive control signal that includes intermittent periods during which the intensity of the light emitted by the LED component is lowered, wherein the LED controller is configured to lower the intensity of the light emitted by the LED component multiple times per second; providing one or more light intensity signals based on the light received by the light sensor multiple times a second; and performing measurements of the one or more light intensity signals from the light sensor in synch with two or more of the intermittent periods in the drive control signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification