PHONE-LINE POWERED LIGHTING DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING SAME

• US 20100080367A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lynk Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Miskin, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/444,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20100080367A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/90.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04

Abstract

A telephone service provider or alarm company, supplies phone-line-power for auxiliary, backup, and/or emergency lighting in residential, commercial and/or industrial facilities at a reasonable charge in exchange for providing, maintaining and ensuring that lighting service and power will be available when needed such as under power failure situations. A phone-line-driven lighting device includes a sensor capable of detecting a primary power source. Once the sensor senses that the primary power source is not present, circuitry connects the device'"'"'s phone line terminal to a light producing element, in turn powering the light producing element via a telephone line'"'"'s DC or AC power. Such a device may include a control circuit which responds to a predetermined phone line signal, thereby controlling the operational state of the device. Such a signal could be broadcast in emergency or other informative situation by the provider of the phone line service.

Claims

1. A phone-line-driven lighting device comprising:

a. a light producing element;

b. a sensor capable of detecting a primary power source;

c. a terminal for connecting the device to a phone line; and

d. a circuit connecting the phone line terminal to the light producing element when the sensor no longer detects a primary power source.

2. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 wherein the sensor includes a receiver for receiving a wireless signal indicative of the presence of a primary power source.

3. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 including a transmitter which transmits a wireless signal from the primary power source.

4. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 wherein the light producing element is at least one of an LED, halogen bulb, or incandescent bulb.

5. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 wherein the light producing element is driven by one of either DC or AC power from the phone line.

6. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 having circuitry that prevents AC ring voltage of the phone line from damaging a DC driven light producing element.

7. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 having an override switch which controls the operational state of the device.

8. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 having a control circuit which responds to predetermined phone line signals to control the operational state of the device.

9. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 8 wherein the predetermined signal is generated by a phone line service provider.

10. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 being integrated into a primary light source.

11. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 10, the primary light source having a terminal for connection to the primary power supply.

12. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 being integrated into the charging base unit of a cordless phone.

13. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 being integrated into a cover for a mains switch or power outlet.

14. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 being integrated into at least one of a charging base unit or a base station transmitter of a baby monitor.

15. The phone-line-driven lighting device of claim 1 being integrated into a charging base unit of a rechargeable electronic product.

16. A method of providing auxiliary lighting when a primary power source fails comprising the steps of:

a. sensing the failure of a primary power source; and

b. illuminating a lighting element with current from a phone line

17. The method of claim 16 including the step of switching the light producing element off when the primary power is again detected.

18. The method of claim 16 including the step of powering the light producing element from the primary power source when the primary power source has power.

19. A method of distributing power from the POTS for emergency, auxiliary, or backup lighting to multiple locations, residences, buildings, or facilities comprising:

identifying customers desiring such lighting and allowing the customers to use the power from the POTS lines in return for a fee.

20. The method of claim 19 where the distributor of power is an alarm company, and including the step of providing security alarm services over the POTS lines for a fee.

21. The method of claim 19 including the step of registering a lighting device with the telephone line lighting service provider over the telephone line when the phone-line-driven lighting device is connected to the line.