Motion sensitive communication device for controlling IR lighting

• US 10,448,489 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2018
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• 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:
  US15/905,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 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 communication device comprising:

a wireless communication interface;

a camera;

a light source;

a motion sensor;

one or more processors; and

one or more 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 an output from the motion sensor, the output indicating possible motion of an object;

after receiving the output, causing the camera to generate image data representing one or more images;

causing the light source to illuminate an area during a time period when the camera is generating the image data; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the image data representing the one or more images to one or more computing devices.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an infrared (IR) light source that emits IR light.

3. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

4. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone, and wherein the one or more 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 the microphone to generate audio data representing sound; and

transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, the audio data representing the sound to the one or more computing devices.

5. The communication device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the one or more 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, using the wireless communication interface, audio data from the one or more computing devices, and

causing the speaker to output sound represented by the audio data.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to be located outside a house, and wherein the one or more computing devices are located remotely relative to the house.

7. The communication device of claim 1, the one or more 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, after receiving the output, transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, a motion alert signal to the one or more computing devices.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the one or more images comprise a video stream.

9. The communication device of claim 1, the one or more 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:

determining that an ambient light level is below a threshold level,

wherein causing the light source to illuminate the area occurs after determining that the ambient light level is below the threshold level.

10. The communication device of claim 1, the one or more 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 wireless communication interface, a control signal from the one or more computing devices; and

after receiving the control signal, adjusting at least one component of the communication device.

11. A method comprising:

receiving an output from a motion sensor, the output indicating possible motion of an object;

generating, using a camera, image data representing one or more images within a field of view of the camera;

causing a light source to illuminate an area within the field of view of the camera during a time period when the camera is generating the image data; and

transmitting, using a wireless communication interface, the image data representing the one or more images to one or more computing devices.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the light source to illuminate the area within the field of view of the camera comprises causing the light source to emit IR light to illuminate the area.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the output from the motion sensor comprises receiving the output from a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

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

sending, using the wireless communication interface, the audio data representing the sound to the one or more computing devices.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, using the wireless communication interface, audio data from the one or more computing devices; and

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

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after receiving the output, transmitting, using the wireless communication interface, a motion alert signal to the one or more computing devices.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, using the wireless communication interface, a control signal from the one or more computing devices; and

after receiving the control signal, adjusting at least one component of a communication device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more images comprise a video stream.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that an ambient light level is below a threshold level,

wherein causing the light source to illuminate the area occurs after determining that the ambient light level is below the threshold level.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, using the wireless communication interface, a control signal from the one or more computing devices; and

after receiving the control signal, outputting a sound using a speaker.