Emergency lighting device with remote lighting

• US 10,601,244 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• 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): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barnett, Joel
• Application Number:
  US15/375,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20170093210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for providing intelligent power control in response to an external power interruption, causing a processor is in an electrical fixture to interrogate an external power control switch to gain an understanding of the switch'"'"'s state, where prior to the external power interruption the electrical fixture may be powered by external power and where external power may be connected and disconnected by a user of the switch. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to operate using a backup power supply. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally not pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to act as if the user of the switch has intentionally removed power. In response to a return of external power, powering the electrical fixture is then through external power where the user of the switch switches external power.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a first lighting device comprising;

a first light source;

a wireless transmitter;

one or more first processors; and

a first memory storing first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the one or more first processors to perform first operations comprising;

causing first power from a power source input to be provided to the first light source;

detecting a loss in power from the power source input; and

after detecting the loss in power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, a signal representing a command to activate;

a second lighting device comprising;

a second light source;

an energy storage device;

a wireless receiver;

one or more second processors; and

a second memory storing second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the one or more second processors to perform second operations comprising;

receiving, using the wireless receiver, the signal from the first lighting device; and

after receiving the signal, causing second power from the energy storage device to be provided to the second light source.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, the first lighting device further comprising a housing, and wherein the emergency lighting detection apparatus is located within the housing.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, the second lighting device further comprising an additional wireless transmitter, and wherein the second memory stores third instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the one or more second processors to perform third operations comprising transmitting, using the additional wireless transmitter and to a third lighting device, an additional signal representing an additional command to activate.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, the first memory storing third instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the one or more first processors to perform third operations comprising transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, an additional signal representing a command for maintaining a present operating state of the second lighting device.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of:

a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell, or a capacitor.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, the first lighting device further comprising an additional energy storage device, and wherein the first memory stores third instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the one or more first processors to perform third operations comprising, after detecting the loss in power, causing third power from the additional energy storage device to be provided to the first light source.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, the first memory storing third instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the one or more first processors to perform third operations comprising:

detecting third power from the power source input; and

after detecting the third power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, an additional signal the second lighting device.

8. The lighting system of claim 7, the second memory storing fourth instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the one or more second processors to perform fourth operations comprising:

receiving, using the wireless receiver, the additional signal from the first lighting device; and

after receiving the additional signal, forgoing providing fourth power from the energy storage device to the second light source.

9. A first lighting device comprising:

a light source;

a wireless transmitter;

one or more processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

causing power from a power source input to be provided to the light source;

detecting a loss in power from the power source input; and

after detecting the loss in power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, a signal to a second lighting device, the signal representing a command to activate.

10. The first lighting device of claim 9, further comprising an energy storage device, and wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

detecting at least one of an absence of, or a decrease in, additional power of the energy storage device; and

after detecting the at least one of the absence of, or the decrease in, the additional power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, an additional signal to the second lighting device.

11. The first lighting device of claim 10, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of:

a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell, or a capacitor.

12. The first lighting device of claim 9, further comprising an energy storage device, and wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising, after detecting the loss in power, causing additional power from the energy storage device to be provided to the light source.

13. The first lighting device of claim 9, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising:

detecting additional power from the power source input; and

after detecting the additional power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, an additional signal to the second lighting device.

14. The first lighting device of claim 9, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising, after detecting the loss in power, transmitting, using the wireless transmitter, an additional signal to a third lighting device, the additional signal representing an additional command to activate.

15. The first lighting device of claim 9, the memory 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 transmitter, an additional signal to the second lighting device, the additional signal representing a command for maintaining a present operating state of the second lighting device.

16. The first lighting device of claim 9, the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform further operations comprising, before detecting the loss in power, causing additional power from the power source input to be provided to an energy storage device.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first lighting device, a first signal from a second lighting device, the first signal indicating a loss in power;

after receiving the first signal, providing, by the first lighting device, power from an energy storage device to a light source; and

sending, by the first lighting device, a second signal to a third lighting device, the second signal representing a command to activate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, before receiving the first signal, causing additional power to be provided from a power source input to the energy storage device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising, before receiving the first signal, causing additional power to be provided from a power source input to the light source.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, by the first lighting device, a third signal from the second lighting device; and

after receiving the third signal, forgoing causing additional power to be provided from the energy storage device to the light source.