REPLACEABLE LIGHTING UNIT WITH ADJUSTABLE OUTPUT INTENSITY AND OPTIONAL CAPABILITY FOR REPORTING USAGE INFORMATION, AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
First Claim
1. A self-contained, replaceable lighting unit with user-settable output intensity designed for use in a light fixture, the lighting unit comprising:
- a power supply;
a light source;
an output intensity adjustment mechanism configured to allow a user to set an output intensity of a plurality of non-zero output intensities generatable by the light source; and
a controller operably coupled to the power supply, the light source and the output intensity adjustment mechanism, the controller operable to control a supply of electrical power from the power supply to the light source such that the light source illuminates in accordance with the output intensity set by the user.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting unit includes a power supply, a light source, a controller, and an output intensity adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is configured to allow a user to set an output intensity of a plurality of non-zero intensities generatable by the light source. The controller is operable to control a supply of electrical power from the power supply to the light source such that the light source illuminates in accordance with the intensity set by the user. The lighting unit is also operable to optionally report usage information for the lighting unit (e.g., cumulative on time) using the light source to produce a visually undetectable information signal. The controller is further optionally operable to adjust (e.g., increase) the electrical power supplied to the light source when the cumulative on time for the light source corresponds to a point on a lumen depreciation curve indicating a reduction in light source intensity.
61 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A self-contained, replaceable lighting unit with user-settable output intensity designed for use in a light fixture, the lighting unit comprising:
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a power supply; a light source; an output intensity adjustment mechanism configured to allow a user to set an output intensity of a plurality of non-zero output intensities generatable by the light source; and a controller operably coupled to the power supply, the light source and the output intensity adjustment mechanism, the controller operable to control a supply of electrical power from the power supply to the light source such that the light source illuminates in accordance with the output intensity set by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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9-11. -11. (canceled)
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21. A self-contained, replaceable lighting unit with user-settable output intensity designed for use in a light fixture, the lighting unit comprising:
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a power supply; a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED including a lens; a light concentrating lens element defining a plurality of generally conical light-concentrating members, each light-concentrating member being positioned in substantial registry with a corresponding LED and defining a receiving recess, the receiving recess receiving the lens of the corresponding LED; a hollow, generally cylindrical base member defining, in an outer surface thereof, at least one channel extending along at least a portion of a length of the base member, the at least one channel terminating at one end in at least one wall defining at least one wall aperture; a support plate; at least one magnetizable fastener insertable through the at least one wall aperture for fastening at least the base member to the support plate; a generally circular ring member including at least one socket projecting toward a center of a circle defined by the ring member, the at least one socket being configured to fit within the at least one channel of the base member and defining a recess for retaining at least one magnet, the ring member being positionable about the base member such that the at least one socket resides within the at least one channel and is in contact with the at least one fastener, wherein contact between the at least one magnet and the at least one fastener magnetizes the at least one fastener to produce at least one magnetic field; at least one magnetic field detector positioned proximate the at least one fastener when the at least one fastener is fastened to the support plate; and a controller operably coupled to the power supply, the plurality of LEDs and the at least one magnetic field detector, the controller operable to; determine an output intensity setting for the lighting unit based on whether the at least one magnetic field is detected by the at least one magnetic field detector, and control a supply of electrical power from the power supply to the plurality of LEDs such that the plurality of LEDs illuminate in accordance with the output intensity setting. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. (canceled)
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24. A method for a lighting unit to optically report usage information from a light source of the lighting unit, the method comprising:
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determining a cumulative amount of time that the light source has been illuminated; determining whether a reporting time interval has arrived; and when a reporting time interval has arrived, using the light source to generate an optical, visually undetectable information signal that includes a value representing the cumulative amount of time that the light source has been illuminated. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for maintaining an output intensity for a lighting unit utilizing a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), the method comprising:
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storing at least one lumen depreciation curve for the plurality of LEDs, the at least one lumen depreciation curve indicating an estimated variation in output intensity of the plurality of LEDs over time; determining a cumulative amount of time that the plurality of LEDs have been illuminated; and adjusting a supply of electrical power to the plurality of LEDs based on the cumulative amount of time that the plurality of LEDs have been illuminated and the at least one lumen depreciation curve. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification