CONTROL AND MONITORING OF LIGHT-EMITTING-DIODE (LED) BULBS

• US 20140203939A1
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: R.T.C., Inc. (Texas)
• Original Assignee: R.T.C., Inc. (Texas)
• Inventors: Harrington, Richard H., Krapf, Charles W.
• Application Number:
  US14/160,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/584
• 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 23/0478 by means of an image recording device, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0485 the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A smart light-emitting-diode (LED) bulb includes apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed without the use of a wall switch. Such apparatus may include circuitry responsive to rotating the LED portion of the bulb, circuitry responsive to touching or tapping on the bulb, or a Bluetooth or WiFi interconnection enabling the bulb to be controlled using a smartphone or other device executing a bulb-control application. Other apparatus may include a microphone enabling the bulb to be controlled with a voice, sound or music. In other embodiments, apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed may include a power line communication (PLC) interface enabling the bulb or bulbs to be controlled via the Internet. A camera or image sensor may be provided enabling the bulb to be gesture-controlled. A system may include a plurality of smart LED light bulbs.

Claims

1. A smart light-emitting-diode (LED) bulb, comprising:

a base portion that screws into a conventional light-bulb socket;

a light-emitting portion that includes one or more LEDs; and

apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed without the use of a wall switch.

2. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, including apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed by rotating the LED portion of the bulb.

3. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, including apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed by touching or tapping on the bulb.

4. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed includes a Bluetooth or WiFi interconnection enabling the bulb to be controlled using a smartphone or other device executing a bulb-control application.

5. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed includes a microphone enabling the bulb to be controlled with a voice, sound or music.

6. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed includes a power line communication (PLC) interface enabling the bulb or bulbs to be controlled via the Internet.

7. The smart LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed includes a camera or image sensor enabling the bulb to be gesture-controlled.

8. A smart light-emitting-diode (LED) bulb system, comprising:

a plurality of light bulbs, each including a base portion that screws into a conventional light-bulb socket and a light-emitting portion that includes one or more LEDs; and

a wireless mesh network enabling each bulb to measure temperature and light output, enabling each bulb to function as a fire detector.

9. The system of claim 8, including a smart phone programmed to call 911 with a pre-programmed message in the event that one of the bulbs detects a fire.

10. The system of claim 8, including a light sensor operative to detect a modulated light intensity as fire produces irregular light output.

11. The system of claim 8, including an interface enabling each bulb to generate a status report regarding bulb temperature, current draw or intensity.