Electronic devices for controlling lights

• US 10,412,811 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• 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): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/974,434
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/002 with occupancy simulation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/39 continuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• 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 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a network device that is capable of coordinating the control of light emitters. For example, the network device may receive data indicating conditions for activating the light emitters. The network device may then receive sensor data generated by various sensors, such as motion sensors, light sensors, or a timer. Using the sensor data, the network device may determine that the conditions are satisfied and, in response, cause the light emitters to activate. To activate first light emitters, the network device may transmit a signal to an electronic device that causes the first light emitters to activate. The first light emitters may be powered by the electronic device. Additionally, to activate second light emitters, the network device may transmit signals to the second light emitters that include commands to activate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device, first data indicating a first condition for causing an electronic device to activate at least a first light emitter connected to the electronic device;

storing, by the network device, second data associating the first condition with at least the first light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, third data indicating a second condition for causing the electronic device to activate at least a second light emitter connected to the electronic device;

storing, by the network device, fourth data associating the second condition with at least the second light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, first sensor data generated by a first sensor;

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

based at least in part on the first condition being satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, a first signal to the electronic device, the first signal including a first command to activate at least the first light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, second sensor data generated by a second sensor;

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

based at least in part on the second condition being satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, a second signal to the electronic device, the second signal including a second command to activate at least the second light emitter.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the network device, third sensor data generated by the first sensor;

determining, by the network device and 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, transmitting, by the network device, a third signal to the electronic device, the third signal including a third command to deactivate at least the first light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, fourth sensor data generated by the second sensor;

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

based at least in part on the fourth condition no longer being satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, a fourth signal to the electronic device, the fourth signal including a fourth command to deactivate at least the second light emitter.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes at least one of a transformer, a ballast, or a light emitting diode (LED) driver, and the network device includes at least one of an audio/video recording and communication device, a hub device, a signaling device, or another electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the first sensor data generated by the first sensor comprises receiving, by the network device, the first sensor data generated by a first type of sensor, the first sensor including the first type of sensor;

the first type of sensor is associated with the first condition;

receiving the second sensor data generated by the second sensor comprises receiving, by the network device, the second sensor data generated by a second type of sensor, the second sensor including the second type of sensor; and

the second type of sensor is associated with the second condition.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network device, first data indicating a first condition for causing an electronic device to activate at least a first light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, second data indicating a second condition for causing the electronic device to activate at least a second light emitter;

receiving, by the network device, sensor data generated by a sensor;

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

after determining that the first condition is satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, a signal to the electronic device, the signal including a command to activate at least the first light emitter.

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

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

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

after determining that the second condition is satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, an additional signal to the electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to activate at least the second light emitter.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the electronic device includes a transformer, and the network device is at least one of a hub device, an audio/video recording and communication device, a signaling device, or another electronic device.

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

at least the first light emitter is connected to a first terminal of the electronic device; and

at least the second light emitter is connected to a second terminal of the electronic device.

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

receiving, by the network device, third data indicating a third condition for causing an additional electronic device to activate at least a third light emitter;

determining, by the network device, that the third condition is satisfied; and

after determining that the third condition is satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, an additional signal to the additional electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to activate at least the third light emitter.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising

receiving, by the network device, additional sensor data generated by the sensor;

determining, by the network device and using the additional sensor data, that the first condition is no longer satisfied; and

after determining that the first condition is no longer satisfied, transmitting, by the network device, an additional signal to the electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to deactivate at least the first light emitter.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein:

receiving the first data comprises receiving, by the network device, and from a client device associated with the electronic device, the first data indicating the first condition for causing the electronic device to activate the at least the first light emitter; and

receiving the second data comprises receiving, by the network device, and from the client device, the second data indicating the second condition for causing the electronic device to activate the at least the second light emitter.

12. A network device comprising:

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 for causing an electronic device to activate a first light emitter;

receiving, using the network interface, second data indicating at least one of the first condition or a second condition, the at least one of the first condition or the second condition for causing a second light emitter to activate;

receiving, using the network interface, sensor data generated by a sensor;

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

after determining that the first condition is satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, a signal to the electronic device, the signal including a command to activate the first light emitter.

13. The network device of claim 12, 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

after determining that the second condition is satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to the electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to activate the second light emitter.

14. The network device of claim 12, 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

after determining that the second condition is satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to the second light emitter, the additional signal including an additional command to activate.

15. The network device of claim 12, 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

after determining that the second condition is satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to an additional electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to activate the second light emitter.

16. The network device of claim 12, 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 the sensor;

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

after determining that the first condition is no longer satisfied, transmitting, using the network interface, an additional signal to the electronic device, the additional signal including an additional command to deactivate at least the first light emitter.

17. The network device of claim 12, wherein:

the first condition indicates a period of time; and

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

18. The network device of claim 12, wherein:

the first condition indicates a light threshold; and

determining that the first condition is satisfied comprises determining, using the sensor data, that an amount of ambient light is below the light threshold.

19. The network device of claim 12, wherein:

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

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

20. The network device of claim 12, wherein:

the first condition is for causing the electronic device to activate a first type of light emitter, the first light emitter including the first type of light emitter; and

the second condition is for causing the electronic device to activate a second type of light emitter, the second light emitter including the second type of light emitter.