SETTABLE LIGHT BULBS

• US 20110204777A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Ronald J.
• Application Number:
  US13/059,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204777A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/32
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/56 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/64 with built-in switch

Abstract

A settable light bulb whose brightness can be set by the user, and more particularly, to the use of a switch or a slide built in to the bulb itself to control the brightness in either discrete or continuous increments.

Claims

1. A settable LED light bulb comprising:

at least one LED;

an outer shell;

a base adapted to fit within an electrical socket; and

a control mechanism which is part of the bulb, said control mechanism setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling the current of the at least one LED.

2. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is a slider.

3. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 2, wherein the slider is a potentiometer that sends a feedback signal to a control circuit, and wherein the signal is proportional to the current of the at least one LED.

4. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 2, wherein the slider is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.

5. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is a switch.

6. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 5, wherein the switch controls at least one resistor that sends a feedback signal to a control circuit, and wherein the feedback signal is proportional to the at least one LED current.

7. A settable LED light bulb as set forth in claim 5, wherein the switch is electrically isolated from the other circuitry in said bulb.

8. A settable fluorescent light bulb comprising:

a fluorescent light bulb; and

a control mechanism which is part of the bulb, said control mechanism setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling current through a plasma column.

9. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control mechanism is a slider.

10. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 9, wherein the slider is a potentiometer that sets a frequency of oscillation of a ballast running the fluorescent bulb.

11. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 9, wherein the slider is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.

12. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control mechanism is a switch.

13. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 12, wherein the switch controls at least one resistor that sets the frequency of oscillation of a ballast running the fluorescent bulb.

14. A settable fluorescent light bulb as set forth in claim 12, wherein the switch is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.

15. A settable incandescent light bulb comprising:

an incandescent light bulb; and

a switch which is part of the bulb, said switch setting a brightness of the bulb by controlling which of at least two filaments is powered.

16. A settable incandescent light bulb as set forth in claim 15, wherein the switch is electrically isolated from other circuitry in said bulb.