Modular Networked Light Bulb

• US 20120187835A1
• Filed: 08/01/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Greenwave Reality, Pte Ltd. (Greenwave Reality, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jonsson, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/51
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/801 Bedroom lighting, e.g. modular combinations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Various methods of manufacturing a lighting apparatus and embodiments of a modular networked lighting apparatus are disclosed. One method defines a mechanical form factor with a minimum set of electrical connections for a networking module, builds a subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the subassembly comprising attachment points compatible with the mechanical form factor for the networking module and contacts for the minimum set of electrical connections for the networking module, installs a networking module into the subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the networking module compatible with a selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus, completes the final assembly of the networked lighting module, and marks the networked lighting apparatus to indicate the selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may function without the networking module installed. One embodiment of the modular, networked light bulb has means for supporting and holding an electronics module conforming with a predetermined form factor in place, and means for allowing the electronics module to control at least a brightness level of the at least one LED. The modular networked light bulb may have a networked controller conforming with the predetermined form factor used as the electronics module. The networked controller is able to connect to a network and may be positioned and held by the means for supporting and holding an electronics module.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A modular light emitting apparatus comprising:

a light emitting device;

a casing at least partially surrounding the light emitting element and having a support structure able to position and hold an electronics module, the electronics module conforming with a predetermined form factor;

at least two external electrical terminals situated externally to the casing; and

circuitry driving the light emitting device; and

a first and a second internal electrical contact accessible to the electronics module if the electronics module is positioned and held by the support structure;

wherein

the circuitry driving the light emitting device is electrically connected to, and receives power from, the at least two external electrical terminals,

the circuitry driving the light emitting device is electrically connected to the light emitting device,

the circuitry driving the light emitting device has at least one control input and at least one electrical power output;

the first internal contact is electrically connected to the at least one electrical power output of the circuitry driving the light emitting device, and

the second internal contact is communicatively coupled to the at least one control input of the circuitry driving the light emitting device.

8. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the casing is substantially symmetric about an axis;

the at least two external electrical terminals are situated on an Edison screw fitting base attached to the casing and situated at a proximal end of the axis of symmetry;

the casing is bulbous in shape at a distal end of the axis of symmetry; and

the predetermined form factor of the electronics module is substantially circular in shape.

9. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a networked controller conforming to the predetermined form factor assembled into the modular light emitting apparatus as the electronics module;

wherein the networked controller is positioned and held by the support structure;

the networked controller is connected to the first internal contact to receive power;

the networked controller is able to connect to a network;

the networked controller is electrically connected to the second internal contact so that the networked controller is able to control an aspect of the operation of the circuitry driving the light emitting device; and

the modular light emitting apparatus is externally marked to identify a network protocol supported by the networked controller.

10. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the networked controller supports a network protocol utilizing radio frequency communication.

11. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 9, the networked controller comprising:

a controller,

a network adapter,

a circuit board, and

a user input device communicatively connected to the controller and accessible to the user through an opening in the casing of the modular light emitting apparatus.

12. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 11 wherein the circuit board is substantially circular in shape.

13. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the casing is substantially the same size and shape as a typical incandescent light bulb and the at least two external electrical terminals are situated on an Edison screw fitting base attached to the casing.

14. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 13, the networked controller comprising at least a controller, a network adapter, and a circuit board, the circuit board substantially circular in shape.

20. The modular light emitting apparatus of claim 7, wherein no electronics module conforming with the predetermined form factor is included, and the modular light emitting apparatus is externally marked to identify that no network connectivity is supported.

22. At least two lighting apparatuses comprising:

a first modular light emitting apparatus comprising the modular light emitting apparatus of claim 9; and

a second modular light emitting apparatus comprising;

a light emitting device that is the same as the light emitting device of the first modular light emitting apparatus;

a casing that is the same as the casing of the first modular light emitting apparatus, at least partially surrounds the light emitting element, and has a support structure able to position and hold an electronics module, the electronics module conforming with the predetermined form factor of the first modular light emitting apparatus;

at least two external electrical terminals situated externally to the casing;

circuitry driving the light emitting device that is the same as the circuitry of the first modular light emitting apparatus; and

a first and a second internal electrical contact accessible to the electronics module if the electronics module is positioned and held by the support structure;

wherein

the circuitry driving the light emitting device is electrically connected to, and receives power from, the at least two external electrical terminals;

the circuitry driving the light emitting device is electrically connected to the light emitting device;

the circuitry driving the light emitting device has at least one control input and at least one electrical power output;

the first internal contact is electrically connected to the at least one electrical power output of the circuitry driving the light emitting device; and

the second internal contact is communicatively coupled to the at least one control input of the circuitry driving the light emitting device.

23. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 22, wherein no electronics module conforming with the predetermined form factor is included in the second modular light emitting apparatus, and the second modular light emitting apparatus is externally marked to identify that no network connectivity is supported.

24. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 22, wherein the second modular light emitting apparatus further comprises:

a second networked controller conforming to the predetermined form factor assembled into the second modular light emitting apparatus as the electronics module of the second modular light emitting apparatus;

wherein the second networked controller is positioned and held by the support structure of the second modular light emitting apparatus;

the second networked controller is connected to the first internal contact of the second modular light emitting apparatus to receive power;

the second networked controller is able to connect to a second network supporting a second network protocol that is different than the network protocol of the networked controller of the first modular light emitting apparatus;

the second networked controller is electrically connected to the second internal contact of the second modular light emitting apparatus so that the second networked controller is able to control an aspect of the operation of the circuitry driving the light emitting device of the second modular light emitting apparatus; and

the second modular light emitting apparatus is externally marked to identify the second network protocol supported by the networked controller of the second light emitting apparatus.

25. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 24, wherein the aspect of operation of the circuitry driving the light emitting device of the second modular light emitting apparatus is the brightness of the light emitting device of the second modular light emitting apparatus;

and

wherein the aspect of operation of the circuitry driving the light emitting device of the first modular light emitting apparatus is the brightness of the light emitting device of the first modular light emitting apparatus.

26. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 24, wherein the first modular light emitting apparatus further comprises a first user input device;

and

the second modular light emitting apparatus further comprises a second user input device.

27. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 22, wherein the light emitting device of the first modular light emitting apparatus comprises at least one LED;

and

the light emitting device of the second modular light emitting apparatus comprises at least another LED.

28. The at least two lighting apparatuses of claim 22, wherein the light emitting device of the fist modular light emitting apparatus comprises at least one LED;

and

the light emitting device of the second modular light emitting apparatus comprises at least another LED.

15. A modular light bulb comprising:

at least one LED;

means for connecting to an AC power source;

means for converting AC power to DC power;

means for driving the at least one LED;

means for supporting and holding an electronics module conforming with a predetermined form factor in place; and

means for allowing the electronics module to control at least a brightness level of the at least one LED.

21. The modular light bulb of claim 15, wherein no electronics module conforming with the predetermined form factor is included, and the modular networked light bulb is externally marked to identify that no network connectivity is supported.

29. The modular light bulb of claim 15, wherein no electronics module conforming with the predetermined form factor is included, and the modular networked light bulb is externally marked to identify that no network connectivity is supported.

30. The modular light bulb of claim 15, wherein the predetermined form factor is substantially circular in shape.

16-19. -19. (canceled)