WIRELESS LIGHTING DEVICES AND GRID-SHIFTING APPLICATIONS

• US 20100271802A1
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Environment LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/20
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• 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 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide a method of power management of a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, wherein the lighting facility includes the lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to external power; and shifting power usage between the external power and the energy storage device as controlled by the internal control facility and as a result of information received from the external control source.

Claims

1. A method of power management comprising:

providing a lighting facility including a lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to an external power source; and

shifting a power usage between the external power source and the energy storage device with the internal control facility based on information received from the external control source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting source includes an LED lighting source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes a rechargeable battery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein shifting the power usage includes sharing power between the external power source and the energy storage device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein shifting the power usage includes at least one of providing power to the lighting facility from the energy storage device when the external power source is interrupted and reducing energy consumption of the lighting facility.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein shifting the power usage includes at least one of improving energy efficiency of the lighting facility and reducing a cost of operating the lighting facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein shifting the power usage included receiving a control input at the internal control facility from an input device to manage the power usage.