Retrofit LED lamp for fluorescent fixtures without ballast

• US 20070228999A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: DeNovo Lighting, LLC
• Inventors: Kit, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An energy saving device for an LED lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp where the ballast is removed or bypassed. The LEDs are positioned within a tube and electrical power is delivered from a power source to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes means for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the power source to the LEDs, wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such means for controlling includes means for detecting the level of daylight in the illumination area of said least one LED, in particular a light level photosensor, and means for transmitting to the means for controlling relating to the detected level of daylight from the photosensor. The photosensor can be used in operative association with an on-off switch in power connection to the LEDs, a timer, or with a computer or logic gate array in operative association with a switch, timer, or dimmer that regulates the power to the LEDs. An occupancy sensor that detects motion or a person in the illumination area of the LEDs can be also be used in association with the photosensor and the computer, switch, timer, or dimmer, or in solo operation by itself. Two or more such LED lamps with a computer or logic gate array used with at least one of the lamps can be in network communication with at least one photosensor and/or at least one occupancy sensor to control the power to all the LEDs.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) lamp for mounting to a fluorescent light fixture having the ballast removed or bypassed including opposed electrical sockets, comprising:

a tube having tube ends,

said tube having opposed electrical contacts for positioning into the opposed electrical sockets,

at least one LED positioned within said tube between said tube ends,

a source of electrical power,

electrical circuit means for providing electrical power from said source of electrical power to said at least one LED,

means for electrically connecting said electrical circuit means from said opposed electrical contacts to the opposed electrical sockets,

said electrical circuit means including an LED electrical circuit including at least one electrical string positioned within said tube and generally extending between said tube ends,

said at least one LED being in electrical connection with said at least one electrical string,

said at least one LED being positioned to emit light through said tube,

means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit,

means for sensing requirements for lighting around the illumination area of said at least one LED, and

means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power from said source of electrical power to said at least one LED relating to said means for sensing requirements for lighting around the illumination area of said at least one LED.

2. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said source of electrical power is AC power.

3. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said source of electrical power is DC power.

4. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, further including means for transforming AC power to DC power positioned in said tube and in electrical connection with said electrical circuit means.

5. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, further including means for suppressing voltage being delivered from said source of electrical power and in electrical connection with said electrical circuit means.

6. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes an on-off switch positioned in said LED lamp in operative association with said at least one LED, said switch being operable between an on mode wherein said electrical power is delivered to said at least one LED, and an off mode wherein said electrical power is not delivered to said at least one LED.

7. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 6, wherein said means for sensing is at least one photosensor in operative signal association with said switch, wherein said at least one photosensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an on mode when a lower level of daylight is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, wherein power is transmitted to said at least one LED to illuminate, and further wherein said at least one photosensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an off mode when a higher level of daylight is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, and wherein power is not transmitted to said at least one LED and illumination from said at least one LED ceases.

8. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 7, wherein said means for sending a signal includes a signal path comprising a signal line connection from said at least one photosensor to said switch.

9. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 7, wherein said means for sending a signal includes a signal path comprising a wireless signal from said at least one photosensor to said switch.

10. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 7, wherein said means for sending a signal includes a signal path comprising a PLC line extending from said power source to said at least one photosensor and to said switch.

11. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 7, wherein said at least one photosensor is positioned internal to said LED lamp.

12. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 7, wherein said at least one photosensor is positioned external to said LED lamp.

13. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 6, wherein said means for sensing is at least one occupancy sensor in operative signal association with said switch, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an on mode when a person is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, wherein power is transmitted to said at least one LED to illuminate, and further wherein said at least one occupancy sensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an off mode when a person is not detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, and wherein power is not transmitted to said at least one LED and illumination from said at least one LED ceases.

14. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor is positioned internal to said LED lamp.

15. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 13, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor is positioned external to said LED lamp.

16. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 13, wherein said means for sending a signal includes a signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor to said switch.

17. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 16, wherein said signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprises a signal line connection to said switch.

18. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 16, wherein said signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprises a wireless signal to said switch.

19. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for sending a signal includes a signal path comprising a PLC line extending from said power source to said at least one occupancy sensor and to said switch.

20. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes a computer positioned in said LED lamp in operative signal association with said means for sensing requirements for lighting and with said means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED.

21. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 20, further including a dimmer in operative association with said computer and with said at least one LED.

22. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 21, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor in operative signal association with said computer.

23. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 22, wherein said at least one photosensor transmits a signal to said computer to control said dimmer to decrease the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED when a higher level of daylight is sensed around the illumination area of said at least one LED, so that lower power is transmitted to said at least one LED to reduce illumination in accordance with said means for sensing requirements for lighting, and further wherein said photosensor transmits a signal to said computer to control said dimmer to increase the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED when a lower level of daylight is sensed around the illumination area of said at least one LED, so that higher power is transmitted to said at least one LED to increase illumination in accordance with said means for sensing requirements for lighting.

24. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a signal line connection from said at least one photosensor to said computer.

25. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a wireless signal from said at least one photosensor to said computer.

26. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 23, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a PLC line extending from said power source to said at least one photosensor and to said computer.

27. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 21, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one occupancy sensor in operative signal association with said computer.

28. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 27, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor transmits a signal to said computer to control said dimmer to decrease the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED when a person is not sensed around the illumination area of said at least one LED, so that lower power is transmitted to said at least one LED to reduce illumination in accordance with said means for sensing requirements for lighting, and further wherein said at least one occupancy sensor transmits a signal to said computer to control said dimmer to increase the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED when a person is sensed around the illumination area of said at least one LED, so that higher power is transmitted to said at least one LED to increase illumination in accordance with said means for sensing requirements for lighting.

29. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 28, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a signal line connection from said at least one occupancy sensor to said computer.

30. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 28, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a wireless signal from said at least one occupancy sensor to said computer.

31. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 28, wherein said means for transmitting a signal includes a signal path comprising a PLC line extending from said power source to said at least one occupancy sensor to said computer.

32. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 21, wherein said dimmer is a plurality of dimmers.

33. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power is a logic gate array.

34. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor and at least one occupancy sensor.

35. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs.

36. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 21, further including a second LED lamp including,

a second tube,

a second tube at least one LED positioned in said second tube,

second tube circuit means for providing second tube electrical power from said source of electrical power to said second tube at least one LED,

second tube means for sensing requirements for lighting around the illumination area of said second tube at least one LED positioned in said second tube,

second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power to said second tube at least one LED relating to said second tube means for sensing requirements for lighting around the second tube at least one LED illumination area,

wherein said means for controlling delivery and said second tube means for controlling delivery are in network signal communication with said means for sensing and said second tube means for sensing, and

said means for sensing including first data signals sent to said means for controlling delivery of said electrical power and said second tube means for sensing including second data signals sent to said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power, said first data signals and said second data signals being continuously compared in accordance with a data program, wherein power outputs to said means for controlling and said second tube means for controlling are regulated in accordance with said data program.

37. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 36, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube dimmer.

38. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 37, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube computer, said second tube computer being in operative signal association with said second tube dimmer.

39. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 37, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube logic gate array, said second tube logic gate array being in operative signal association with said second tube dimmer.

40. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 36, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor, and said second tube means for sensing includes a second tube at least one photosensor.

41. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 36, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one occupancy sensor, and said second tube means for sensing includes a second tube at least one occupancy sensor.

42. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 36, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor and at least one occupancy sensor, and said second tube means for sensing includes a second tube at least one photosensor and a second tube at least one occupancy sensor.

43. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 21, further including a second LED lamp including

a second tube,

a second tube at least one LED positioned in said second tube,

second tube circuit means for providing second tube electrical power from said source of electrical power to said second tube at least one LED,

second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power to said second at least one LED relating to said means for sensing requirements for lighting around said illumination area of said at least one LED of said LED lamp,

wherein said means for controlling delivery and said second tube means for controlling delivery are in network signal communication with said means for sensing,

said means for sensing including data signals sent to said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power, and

said means for sensing including first data signals sent to said means for controlling delivery of said electrical power and including second data signals sent to said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power, said first data signals and said second data signals being continuously compared in accordance with a data program, wherein power outputs to said means for controlling and said second tube means for controlling are regulated in accordance with said data program.

44. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 43, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube dimmer.

45. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 44, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube computer, said second tube computer being in operative signal association with said second tube dimmer.

46. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 44, wherein said second tube means for controlling delivery of said second tube electrical power includes a second tube logic gate array, said second tube logic gate array being in operative signal association with said second tube dimmer.

47. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 43, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor.

48. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 43, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one occupancy sensor.

49. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 43, wherein said means for sensing includes at least one photosensor and at least one occupancy sensor.

50. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 43, further including a remote controller to provide serial control data to said first data signals of said LED lamp.

51. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one LED is at least one OLED.

52. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes a timer.

53. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 4, wherein said means for converting AC power to DC power is a rectifier.

54. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for suppressing input voltage includes at least one voltage surge absorber (ZNR).

55. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for suppressing input voltage includes at least one movistor (MOV).

56. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for suppressing input voltage includes at least one varistor.

57. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for suppressing input voltage includes at least one inductor.

58. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit includes at least one circuit board.

59. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit is positioned in the tube.

60. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit is located at the tube ends.

61. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit includes a heat sink.

62. An LED lighting device for replacing a fluorescent lamp, comprising:

a tube having tube ends,

said tube having electrical contacts,

at least one LED positioned within said tube between said tube ends,

a source of electrical power,

electrical circuit means for providing electrical power from said source of electrical power to said at least one LED,

means for electrically connecting said electrical circuit means with said electrical contacts,

said electrical circuit means including an LED electrical circuit including at least one electrical string positioned within said tube and generally extending between said tube ends,

said at least one LED being in electrical connection with said at least one electrical string,

said at least one LED being positioned to emit light through said tube,

means for sensing requirements for lighting around the illumination area of said at least one LED, and

means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power from said source of electrical power to said at least one LED relating to said means for sensing requirements for lighting around the illumination area of said at least one LED.