Light and light sensor

• US 10,560,992 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scapa, James R., Simon, David L., Ivey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wei (Victor)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong, Henry
• Application Number:
  US16/244,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20190150242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/031 the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4252 for testing LED's
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An LED-based light includes one or more LEDs, a sensor arranged to detect a brightness level in an area resulting from the combination of light emitted by the LEDs with light from at least one ambient light source other than the LEDs, and operable to output a signal corresponding to the detected brightness level, a controller operable to regulate an amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to the signal, a light transmitting housing for the LEDs, the sensor and the controller and a connector shaped for connection with a light socket disposed at an end of the housing.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an LED-based lighting device comprising;

a housing,

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed within the housing, and

a connector coupled to an end of the housing, wherein the connector is configured to engage with a light socket;

a sensor configured to;

determine a brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device, and

output a signal corresponding to the determined brightness level; and

a controller configured to;

estimate an efficiency of the plurality of LEDs based on the signal,

determine that the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs is less than a threshold efficiency, and

responsive to determining that the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs is less than the threshold efficiency, operating at least some of the plurality of LEDs to indicate that the efficiency of the plurality LEDs is less than the threshold efficiency,

wherein operating said at least some of the plurality of LEDS to indicate that the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs is less than the threshold efficiency comprises illuminating a first LED according to a first color and a second LED according to a second color, the first LED being adjacent to the second LED, and the first color being different than the second color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein controller is operable to operate at least one of the plurality of LEDs to indicate the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising indicating the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs using a digital read-out integral with the LED-based lighting device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising indicating the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs using a bar of light having a length corresponding to the efficiency.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is external to the housing of the LED-based lighting device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is integral with the LED-based lighting device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor is disposed within the housing of the LED-based lighting device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor protrudes from the housing of the LED-based lighting device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed within the housing of the LED-based lighting device.