Electronic devices for controlling lights

• US 10,334,701 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Recker, Michael, Hruska, Ryan David, Levine, David Brett
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Henry
• Application Number:
  US15/974,375
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• 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 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an electronic device that is capable of coordinating the control of various types of lights. For example, the electronic device may receive data indicating conditions for activating the light emitters. The electronic device may then obtain sensor data generated by various sensors, such as motion sensors, light sensors, or a timer. Using the sensor data, the electronic device may determine that the conditions are satisfied and, in response, cause the light emitters to activate. To activate a first type of light emitters, the electronic device may cause power to be provided to the first type of emitters via connectors. Additionally, to activate additional types of light emitters, the electronic device may transmit signals to the additional types of light emitters that include commands to activate. The additional types of light emitters may be powered by the electronic device or external power sources.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of terminals electrically coupled to an external power source, at least a terminal of the plurality of terminals configured to supply power from the external power source over a wired connection to a first light emitter;

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, using the network interface, first data from a client device, the first data indicating a first condition for activating the first light emitter;

storing second data associating the first condition with the first light emitter;

receiving, using the network interface, third data from the client device, the third data indicating a second condition for activating a second light emitter, the second light emitter including a second power source;

storing fourth data associating the second condition with the second light emitter;

obtaining first sensor data generated by a first sensor;

determining, using the first sensor data, that the first condition is satisfied;

based at least in part on the first condition being satisfied, causing the power from the first power source to be applied to the terminal to cause the first light emitter to emit light;

obtaining second sensor data generated by at least one of the first sensor or a second sensor;

determining, using the second sensor data, that the second condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the second condition being satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, a signal to the second light emitter, the signal including a command to cause the second light emitter to emit light.

2. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

obtaining third sensor data generated by the first sensor;

determining, using the third sensor data, that the first condition is no longer satisfied;

based at least in part on the first condition no longer being satisfied, ceasing from causing the power from the external power source to be applied to the terminal;

obtaining fourth sensor data generated by the at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor;

determining, using the fourth sensor data, that the second condition is no longer satisfied; and

based at least in part on the second condition no longer being satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to the second light emitter, the additional signal including an additional command to cease emitting the light.

3. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminals includes an additional terminal configured to supply the power from the external power source over an additional wired connection to a third light emitter, and the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

receiving, using the network interface, fifth data from the client device, the fifth data indicating a third condition for activating the third light emitter;

storing sixth data associating the third condition with the third light emitter;

determining that the third condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the third condition being satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to the third light emitter, the additional signal including an additional command to emit light.

4. The electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first condition indicates at least one of a first period of time, a first light threshold, or first motion detected by the first sensor, and wherein the second condition indicates at least one of a second period of time, a second light threshold, or second motion detected by the second sensor.

5. A method comprising:

receiving first data indicating a first condition associated with a first light emitter that receives power via an electronic device;

storing second data associating the first condition with the first light emitter;

receiving third data indicating a second condition associated with a second light emitter that is powered by a power source of the second light emitter;

storing fourth data associating the second condition with the second light emitter;

receiving sensor data generated by a sensor;

determining, using the sensor data, that the first condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the first condition being satisfied, causing the power to be provided from the electronic device to the first light emitter.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving additional sensor data generated by at least one of the sensor or an additional sensor;

determining, using the additional sensor data, that the second condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the additional condition being satisfied, transmitting a signal to the second light emitter, the signal including a command configured to cause the second light emitter to emit light.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving additional sensor data generated by the sensor;

determining, using the additional sensor data, that the first condition is no longer satisfied;

based at least in part on the first condition no longer being satisfied, ceasing from causing the power to be provided from the electronic device to the first light emitter.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving fifth data indicating a third condition for activating a third light emitter that receives additional power via the electronic device;

storing sixth data associating the third condition with the third light emitter;

determining that the third condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the third condition being satisfied, transmitting a signal to the third light emitter, the signal including a command to cause the third light emitter to emit light.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the first condition indicates a first period of time;

the second condition indicates a second period of time; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that a current time is within the first period of time.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the first condition indicates a first light threshold;

the second condition indicates a second light threshold; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that an amount of ambient light does not exceed the first light threshold.

11. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein:

the first condition indicates that first motion is detected by the sensor;

the second condition indicates that second motion is detected by an additional sensor; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that the first sensor detected the first motion.

12. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the first condition indicates at least one of a first period of time, a first light threshold, or first motion detected by the sensor, and wherein the second condition indicates at least one of a second period of time, a second light threshold, or second motion detected by an additional sensor.

13. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

receiving the power from a power source, the power including a first voltage; and

causing, using a transformer of the electronic device, the power at the first voltage to be converted to a second voltage.

14. A device comprising:

a terminal electrically coupled to a first light emitter;

a network interface;

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

receiving, using the network interface, first data indicating a first condition associated with the first light emitter;

storing second data associating the first condition with the first light emitter;

receiving, using the network interface, third data indicating a second condition associated with a second light emitter;

storing fourth data associating the second condition with the second light emitter;

receiving sensor data generated by a sensor;

determining, using the sensor data, that the first condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the first condition being satisfied, causing, using the terminal, power to be provided to the first light emitter.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

receiving, using the network interface, additional sensor data generated by at least one of the sensor or an additional sensor;

determining, using the additional sensor data, that the second condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the additional condition being satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, a signal to the second light emitter, the signal including a command configured to cause the second light emitter to emit light.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

receiving additional sensor data generated by the sensor;

determining, using the additional sensor data, that the first condition is no longer satisfied;

based at least in part on the first condition no longer being satisfied, ceasing from causing the power to be provided to the first light emitter.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising an additional terminal coupled to a third light emitter, and wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media store further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

receiving fifth data indicating a third condition for activating the third light emitter;

storing sixth data associating the third condition with the third light emitter;

determining that the third condition is satisfied; and

based at least in part on the third condition being satisfied, transmitting a signal to the third light emitter, the signal including a command to cause the third light emitter to emit light.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first condition indicates a first period of time;

the second condition indicates a second period of time; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that a current time is within the first period of time.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first condition indicates a first light threshold;

the second condition indicates a second light threshold; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that an amount of ambient light does not exceed the first light threshold.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first condition indicates that first motion is detected by the sensor;

the second condition indicates that second motion is detected by an additional sensor; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that the first sensor detected the first motion.