LED LAMP FAILURE ALERTING SYSTEM

• US 20100052542A1
• Filed: 09/02/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Altair Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Siemiet, Dennis, Ivey, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,674,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/129
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in 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: 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 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of failure alerting systems for LED lamps and LED lamps having the same. An illustrative failure alerting system comprises a photodetector configured to detect an actual light output from the at least one LED, a regulator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output is below a target light output and to increase a current to the at least one LED to maintain the target light output, and a low light output indicator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output remains below the target light output and to produce a low light output signal. A thermal sensor can also be included and configured to sense an operating temperature of the LED and to control the regulator to increase the current and the target light output to ensure the operating temperature does not exceed the target temperature.

Claims

1. An LED lamp with failure alerting system comprising:

an LED lighting unit comprising at least one LED and a circuit board;

a photodetector configured to detect an actual light output from at least one LED;

a regulator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output is below a target light output and to increase current to the at least one LED to maintain the target light output;

a thermal sensor configured to sense an operating temperature of the at least one LED, wherein the regulator is further configured to receive a thermal signal from the thermal sensor and to maintain the current and the target light output such that the operating temperature does not exceed a target temperature; and

a low light output indicator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output remains below the target light output and to produce a low light output signal.

2. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the low light output signal is an audible broadcast.

3. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the low light output indicator is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to an external receiver.

4. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the low light output signal is a visual signal.

5. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 4, wherein the visual signal is produced with the at least one LED.

6. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the photodetector is located external to the LED lighting unit.

7. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the LED lighting unit is configured for use in an existing fluorescent fixture.

8. The LED lamp with failure alerting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs having at least one supplemental LED, and wherein the regulator is further configured to provide current to the at least one supplemental LED when the regulator receives a signal from the photodetector.

9. An LED failure alerting system for use with LED lighting fixtures having at least one LED comprising:

a photodetector configured to detect an actual light output from the at least one LED;

a regulator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output is below a target light output and to increase a current to the at least one LED to maintain the target light output;

a thermal sensor configured to sense an operating temperature of the at least one LED and to control the regulator to increase the current and the target light output to ensure the operating temperature does not exceed a target temperature; and

a low light output indicator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output remains below the target light output and to produce a low light output signal.

10. The LED failure alerting system of claim 9, wherein the low light output signal is at least one of an audible broadcast and a visual signal.

11. The LED failure alerting system of claim 9, wherein the low light output indicator is configured to transmit a wireless broadcast to an external receiver.

12. The LED failure alerting system of claim 10, wherein the visual signal is produced with the at least one LED.

13. The LED failure alerting system of claim 9, wherein the photodetector is located external to the LED lighting fixture.

14. The LED failure alerting system of claim 9 further comprising a supplemental bank of at least one LED, wherein the low light output signal is sent to the regulator which sends current to the supplemental bank to maintain the target light output.

15. The LED failure alerting system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured to adapt to an existing LED lamp.

16. An LED failure alerting system for use with LED lighting fixtures having at least one LED comprising:

a photodetector configured to detect an actual light output from the at least one LED;

a regulator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output is below a target light output and to increase a current to the at least one LED to maintain the target light output; and

a low light output indicator configured to receive a signal from the photodetector when the actual light output remains below the target light output and to produce a low light output signal.

17. The LED failure alerting system of claim 16, wherein the photodetector is located external to the LED lighting fixture.

18. The LED failure alerting system of claim 16, wherein the low light output signal is at least one of an audible broadcast and a visual signal.

19. The LED failure alerting system of claim 16 further comprising a supplemental bank of at least one LED, wherein the low light output signal is sent to the regulator which sends current to the supplemental bank to maintain the target light output.

20. The LED failure alerting system of claim 16, wherein the system is configured to adapt to an existing LED lamp.