Directional lighting system and method

• US 10,375,789 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Feit Electric Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LiFi Labs, Inc. (Buddy Technologies Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bosua, Phillip Anthony, Alexander, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US15/836,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20180103522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/235 Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The method of spatial lightbulb operation includes determining the position of the lightbulb relative to a physical space, detecting a contextual event, determining a spatial lighting pattern associated with the contextual event, and selectively controlling lightbulb light emitting elements based on the position of the lightbulb and the spatial lighting pattern. A lightbulb including: a plurality of individually controlled light emitting elements mounted in fixed, predetermined positions on the substrate; a light sensor mounted to the substrate; a wireless communication module; and a processor configured to: index each light emitting element; progress each of the plurality of light emitting elements through an orientation pattern; associate a reference point on the lightbulb with an external reference point; and selectively operate individual light emitting elements of the plurality according to lighting instructions, based on a relationship between the reference point on the lightbulb and the external reference point.

Claims

1. A method for controlling lightbulb operation, comprising:

determining a lightbulb orientation for the lightbulb within a venue, the lightbulb comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, each with a predetermined spatial position on the lightbulb;

determining a spatial lighting pattern for the venue, the spatial lighting pattern comprising a set of light parameters for a target location within the venue;

identifying a light emitting element from the plurality of light emitting elements based on the lightbulb orientation, the predetermined spatial positions, and the target location; and

selectively operating the identified light emitting element, based on the set of light parameters, using a processor of the lightbulb.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lightbulb orientation within the venue is determined by an external device, external the lightbulb.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the lightbulb orientation comprises:

emitting a wireless signal from the lightbulb; and

determining the lightbulb orientation based on an angle of arrival of the wireless signal at the external device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal comprises light emitted by the light emitting element, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise visible light-emitting elements and non-visible light-emitting elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial lighting pattern is determined by an external device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selectively operating the identified light emitting element comprises synchronously operating the identified light emitting element with media playback with the external device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the light parameters are transmitted to the lightbulb by a secondary device, separate from the external device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary device comprises a second lightbulb.

9. A method for lightbulb control, comprising:

determining relative positions of each of a set of lightbulbs within a venue;

receiving a spatial lighting pattern for the venue, the spatial lighting pattern comprising a set of light parameters for a target location within the venue;

automatically identifying a lightbulb from the set of lightbulbs based on the respective relative position and the target location; and

selectively operating the identified lightbulb based on the set of light parameters using a processor of the lightbulb.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the relative position of each lightbulb within the set is determined relative to an external device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the relative position of each lightbulb of the set is determined by the external device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the lightbulb orientation comprises:

emitting a wireless signal from the lightbulb; and

determining the lightbulb orientation based on an angle of arrival of the wireless signal at the external device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal comprises light emitted by the lightbulb, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise visible light-emitting elements and non-visible light-emitting elements.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the relative positions are manually assigned.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the spatial lighting pattern is received from a remote computing system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the lightbulb is identified from the set based on the spatial lighting pattern by an external device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, at the external device:

generating control instructions based on the set of light parameters; and

transmitting the control instructions to the lightbulb.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the external device comprises a media device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the control instructions comprises a first and second instruction for the lightbulb and a second lightbulb, respectively, the method further comprising, at the lightbulb:

wirelessly transmitting the second instruction for the second lightbulb to the second lightbulb.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein selectively operating the lightbulb comprises synchronously operating the lightbulb with media playback on an external device.