Lighting connectivity module

• US 10,375,804 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Feit Electric Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LiFi Labs, Inc. (Buddy Technologies Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alexander, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alaeddini, Borna
• Application Number:
  US15/915,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20180199417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 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: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A lighting module, including: a baseboard configured to receive a user signal indicating a user lighting preference; a communication submodule configured to receive the user signal and convert the user signal to machine readable data indicating the user lighting preference; a control submodule communicably coupled to the wireless communication submodule for receiving the machine readable data, wherein the microcontroller submodule comprises: memory configured to store a lighting parameter provided by a provider, and a processor configured to generate lighting driver instructions based on the user lighting preference and the lighting parameter; and a lighting mode output submodule configured to output the lighting driver instructions to a lighting driver module of a lighting assembly for controlling light emitting elements of the lighting assembly.

Claims

1. A lighting connectivity module comprising:

a baseboard comprising a first region adjacent a second region;

a radio frequency (RF) component connected to the second region;

a wireless communication chipset mounted to the first region, the RF component communicably coupled to the wireless communication chipset;

a microcontroller mounted to the first region, the microcontroller electrically coupled to the wireless communication chipset, wherein the microcontroller comprises a processor configured to;

receive an input from the wireless communication chipset,

execute firmware for generating lighting instructions based on the input, and

provide an output signal at a processor output contact based on the lighting instructions; and

an electromagnetic shield mounted to the first region and not the second region, wherein the electromagnetic shield encloses the wireless communication chipset and the microcontroller.

2. The lighting connectivity module of claim 1, further comprising:

a lighting mode output contact coupled to the baseboard; and

a lighting mode processor, the lighting mode processor electrically coupled to the processor output contact and to the lighting mode output contact, wherein the lighting mode processor is configured to;

receive the lighting instructions;

execute firmware for generating LED driver instructions based the lighting instructions; and

output the LED driver instructions at the lighting mode output contact.

3. The lighting connectivity module of claim 2, further comprising an LED driver enable output contact electrically coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware for:

determining an idle state of the lighting mode processor; and

controlling an enable output at the LED driver enable output contact based on the idle state.

4. The lighting connectivity module of claim 2, wherein the lighting connectivity module is contained within a housing of an LED assembly, the LED assembly electrically connected to the lighting mode output contact.

5. The lighting connectivity module of claim 2, wherein:

the baseboard defines a first end and a second end opposing the first end across a midplane, the midplane normal a baseboard longitudinal axis of the baseboard;

the lighting mode output contact is arranged proximal the first end; and

the RF component is arranged proximal the second end.

6. The lighting connectivity module of claim 5, wherein the RF component comprises an antenna connected to the second region, wherein:

the antenna is communicably coupled to the wireless communication chipset.

7. The lighting connectivity module of claim 1, wherein the RF component comprises an antenna connected to the second region, the antenna communicably coupled to the wireless communication chipset.

8. The lighting connectivity module of claim 7, wherein the antenna is a trace antenna integrated with the second region.

9. The lighting connectivity module of claim 8, wherein:

the trace antenna forms a boustrophedon pattern; and

a trace pattern longitudinal axis of the boustrophedon pattern is substantially perpendicular to a baseboard longitudinal axis of the baseboard.

10. The lighting connectivity module of claim 1, wherein the RF component comprises an RF connector mounted to the second region, the RF connector communicably coupled to the wireless communication chipset.

11. The lighting connectivity module of claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication chipset comprises a wireless communication chipset power input;

the microcontroller further comprises a microcontroller power input; and

the lighting connectivity module further comprises a power input contact electrically connected to the wireless communication chipset power input and to the microcontroller power input.

12. A system comprising:

a baseboard comprising a first region adjacent a second region;

an antenna connected to the second region;

a microcontroller mounted to the first region, the antenna communicably coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller comprises;

non-volatile memory, and a processor configured to;

execute firmware for generating lighting instructions based on a state of the non-volatile memory and an input received by the antenna, and

provide an output signal based on the lighting instructions;

a lighting mode processor mounted to the first region, the lighting mode processor electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the lighting mode processor is configured to;

receive the output signal from the processor,

execute firmware for generating LED driver instructions based on the output signal, and

output the LED driver instructions at a lighting mode output contact electrically coupled to the lighting mode processor; and

an electromagnetic shield mounted to the first region and not the second region, wherein the electromagnetic shield encloses the microcontroller and the lighting mode processor.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a wireless communication chipset mounted to the first region, the wireless communication chipset communicably coupling the antenna to the microcontroller.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is contained within a housing of an LED assembly, the LED assembly electrically connected to the lighting mode output contact.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the antenna is a trace antenna integrated with the second region.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the trace antenna defines a boustrophedon pattern.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

a second region longitudinal axis of the second region is substantially perpendicular to a baseboard longitudinal axis of the baseboard; and

a trace pattern longitudinal axis defined by the trace antenna is substantially perpendicular to the baseboard longitudinal axis.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the baseboard defines a first end and a second end opposing the first end across a midplane, the midplane normal a baseboard longitudinal axis of the baseboard;

the lighting mode output contact is arranged proximal the first end; and

the antenna is arranged proximal the second end.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein a second region longitudinal axis of the second region is substantially perpendicular to a baseboard longitudinal axis of the baseboard.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising an LED driver enable output contact electrically coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the processor is further configured to execute firmware for:

determining an idle state of the lighting mode processor; and

controlling an enable output at the LED driver enable output contact based on the idle state.