ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT

• US 20090196041A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Original Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Inventors: Duitsman, Timothy L., Joseph, Peter D.
• Application Number:
  US12/334,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20090196041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/081 of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

An intelligent light, such as a solar or photocell light, is provided. The intelligent light includes a photocell that is in communication with a power source. The photocell receives and converts light energy into electrical energy to charge the power source. A processor is in communication with the photocell. A light source is in communication with the processor. The processor determines an amount of energy charged in the power source and operates the light source as a function of the determined amount of energy.

Claims

1. An intelligent light fixture comprising:

a photovoltaic cell in communication with a power source, the photovoltaic cell receives and converts light energy into electrical energy to charge the power source;

a processor in communication with the photovoltaic cell; and

a light source in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor determines an amount of energy charged in the power source and operates the light source as a function of the determined amount of energy.

2. The intelligent light fixture of claim 1, wherein the light source is within a housing, the housing configured to be placed in an outdoor environment.

3. The intelligent light fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor determines the amount of energy charged based on a charging current provided by the photovoltaic cell.

4. The intelligent light fixture of claim 1, wherein the processor operates the light source to set a brightness level.

5. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the processor maintains the brightness level by using a pulse width modulated signal.

6. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the processor maintains the brightness level by setting a duty cycle of an output signal.

7. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the processor maintains the brightness level by intermittently switching a power supply on and off, the power supply connected with the light source.

8. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the brightness level changes in relation to a time of day.

9. The intelligent light fixture of claim 8, wherein the brightness level is linearly adjusted from a high level and lowered over time to a low level.

10. The intelligent light fixture of claim 8, wherein the brightness level is step-wise adjusted from a high level and lowered over time to a low level.

11. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the brightness level changes in relation to a day of a week.

12. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the brightness level increases as a detected amount of ambient light increases.

13. The intelligent light fixture of claim 4, wherein the brightness level decreases as a detected amount of ambient light decreases.

14. The intelligent light fixture of claim 1, further comprising logic stored in a memory that is operative to cause the processor to indicate a health of the power source.

15. The intelligent light fixture of claim 14, further comprising logic stored in a memory that is operative to disable the light source when the health of the power source is below a threshold.

16. An intelligent light fixture comprising:

a power source in communication with a processor; and

a light source in communication with the processor,

wherein the processor determines an amount of energy stored in the power source and operates the light source as a function of the determined amount of energy.

17. The intelligent light fixture of claim 16, wherein the light source is within a housing, the housing configured to be placed in an outdoor environment.

18. The intelligent light fixture of claim 16, wherein the processor operates the light source to set a brightness level.

19. The intelligent light fixture of claim 16, further comprising logic stored in a memory that is operative to cause the processor to indicate a health of the power source.

20. The intelligent light fixture of claim 19, further comprising logic stored in a memory that is operative to cause the processor to disable the light source when the health of the power source is below a threshold.