Wirelessly controllable communication module

• US 10,390,413 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Dedei K
• Application Number:
  US15/983,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 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 first lighting device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a camera;

a motion sensor;

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;

detecting an object using the motion sensor;

generating, using the camera, video data representing one or more images;

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the video data to a remote electronic device; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, a signal to a second lighting device, the signal representing an instruction to change an illumination of a light source of the second lighting device.

2. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, 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:

generating, using the microphone, audio data representing sound; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the audio data to the remote electronic device.

3. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising an additional light source, 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 causing a change in illumination of the additional light source.

4. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery configured to provide power to the first lighting device.

5. The first lighting device of claim 4, further comprising a solar power source configured to charge the rechargeable battery of the first lighting device.

6. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a timer, 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:

initiating the timer; and

after the timer elapses, transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, an additional signal to the second lighting device, the additional signal representing an additional instruction to change in the illumination of the light source.

7. The first lighting device of claim 1, wherein the second lighting device comprises one of a spotlight, a ceiling light, an under cabinet light, a wall sconce, a step light, a night light, a path light, or a light fixture.

8. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a power component configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from an AC power source.

9. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a power component configured to receive direct current (DC) from a rechargeable battery.

10. The first lighting device of 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 transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, an additional signal to a third lighting device, the additional signal representing an additional instruction to change an additional illumination of an additional light source of the third lighting device.

11. The first lighting device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, 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 audio data from the remote electronic device; and

outputting, using the speaker, sound represented by the audio data.

12. The first lighting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the generating of the video data or the transmitting of the signal occurs after detecting of the object.

13. A method comprising:

generating, by a first electronic device, a motion signal using a motion sensor;

activating, by the first electronic device, a first light source of the first electronic device;

generating, by the first electronic device, video data representing one or more images using a camera;

transmitting, by the first electronic device, the image data to a second electronic device; and

transmitting, by the first electronic device, a control signal to a third electronic device, the control signal representing an instruction to activate a second light source of the third electronic device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating audio data using a microphone of the first electronic device; and

transmitting the audio data to the second electronic device.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, at a power module of the first lighting device, at least one of alternating current (AC) power from an AC power source or direct current (DC) from a rechargeable battery of the first electronic device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

starting a timer of the first electronic device; and

after the timer expires;

deactivating the first light source of the first electronic device; and

transmitting an additional control signal to the third electronic device, the additional control signal representing an additional instruction to deactivate the second light source of the third electronic device.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting an additional control signal to a fourth electronic device, the additional control signal representing an additional instruction to activate a third light source of the fourth electronic device.

18. A first electronic device comprising:

a light source;

a wireless communication interface;

a camera;

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;

detecting an object;

after the detecting of the object, causing the light source to emit light;

generating video data using the camera, the video data representing one or more images; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the video data to a second electronic device.

19. The first electronic device of claim 18, 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 transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, a control signal to a third electronic device, the control signal representing an instruction to activate an additional light source.

20. The first electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a speaker, 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:

generating, using the speaker, audio data representing sound; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the audio data to the second electronic device.