WIRELESS REPLACEMENT LED BULB WITH ONE OR MORE ACCOMPANYING CONTROL SWITCHES

• US 20170171948A1
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 9,918,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• 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 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A wireless replacement light bulb with one or more accompanying control switches, such as an integrated switch and/or a wireless lamp switch is provided. The bulb comprises a light source, such as an LED element, a controller, a wireless interface, and one or more accompanying control switches, such as an integrated switch and/or a wireless lamp switch. The bulb can be controlled, such as turned on or off, by a user using the integrated switch, the wireless lamp switch, or a combination thereof. The integrated switch and the wireless lamp switch does not remove power from the controller, allowing the controller to control the bulb in response to receiving a wireless control signal from a remote electronic device, such as a remote control, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like.

Claims

1. A wirelessly controllable bulb comprising:

a light source;

a wireless interface adapted to receive wireless control signals;

an integrated switch adapted to be actuated by a user; and

a controller electrically connected to the light source, the wireless interface, and the integrated switch, wherein the controller controls an operation of the light source in response to;

(i) receiving a wireless control signal via the wireless interface, or (ii) actuation of the integrated switch.

2. The bulb of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED element.

3. The bulb of claim 2, further comprising:

an LED driver circuit that includes the controller; and

a bulb base that supports the LED driver circuit.

4. The bulb of claim 3, wherein the bulb base comprises the integrated switch.

5. The bulb of claim 1, wherein the integrated switch comprises a capacitive sensor switch that energizes an electrically conductive surface on the bulb and detects the user touching the electrically conductive surface.

6. The bulb of claim 1, wherein the integrated switch comprises one of a rotary collar switch, a rotary switch, a push button switch, a toggle switch, a rocker switch, a pull chain switch, a slide switch, a tactile switch, a paddle switch, and a capacitive sensor switch.

7. The bulb of claim 1, further comprising a bulb shell that covers the light source, wherein the integrated switch is operably connected to the bulb shell, and wherein the bulb shell is adapted to actuate the integrated switch by being pressed.

8. The bulb of claim 1, further comprising a bulb base, wherein the switch comprises a rotary collar surrounding the bulb base and adapted to be rotated about the bulb base by the user to control the operation of the light source.

9. The bulb of claim 1, wherein the integrated switch comprises one or more of an on and off switch, a high-medium-low switch, a dimming switch, and any combination thereof.

10. The bulb of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface receives the wireless control signals from a remote electronic device.

11. The bulb of claim 10, wherein the remote electronic device comprises one of a remote control, a wireless wall switch, a smartphone, a tablet, a portable computer, intermediary network device, a wireless gateway, a router, a dedicated touch screen, a central control processor, a wireless hub, and any combination thereof.

12. The bulb of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical means for deterring the user from using a lamp switch of a lamp on which the bulb is installed.

13. The bulb of claim 12, wherein the mechanical means comprises a cover over the lamp switch.

14. The bulb of claim 1, further comprising a rotary actuator adapted to connect to a rotary lamp switch of a lamp on which the bulb is installed, wherein the rotary actuator comprises:

a first portion adapted to connect to the rotary lamp switch and adapted to actuate the rotary lamp switch upon rotation; and

a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion and adapted to rotate with respect to first portion and the rotary lamp switch upon rotation.

15. The bulb of claim 14, wherein the first portion comprises an actuator knob connected to a longitudinal actuator portion, which is adapted to connect to the rotary lamp switch, wherein the second portion comprises a longitudinal rotating shaft having a bore sized to rotationally receive the longitudinal actuator portion therein.

16. The bulb of claim 14, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a wireless lamp switch comprising:

a power source;

a sensor adapted to sense a rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion; and

a wireless interface adapted to transmit a wireless control signal to the controller of the bulb upon the sensor sensing a change in the rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

17. The bulb of claim 1, further comprising a rotary actuator adapted to connect to a rotary lamp switch of a lamp on which the bulb is installed, wherein the rotary actuator comprises:

a first portion adapted to connect to the rotary lamp switch;

a second portion connected to the first portion and having a first position and a second position;

wherein at the first position the second portion is adapted to rotate with respect to the first portion and the rotary lamp switch;

wherein at the second position the second portion is adapted to engage the first portion to actuate the rotary lamp switch.

18. The bulb of claim 17, wherein the second portion comprises an actuator knob connected to an end of the first portion, wherein the first position comprises the actuator knob in an unpressed position with respect to the second portion, wherein the second position comprises the actuator knob in a pressed position with respect to the second portion.

19. The bulb of claim 18, wherein the first portion comprises a first portion of an indexing gear with indexing teeth and wherein the actuator knob comprises a second portion of the indexing gear with indexing teeth, wherein the second portion of the indexing gear engages the first portion of the indexing gear at the second position.

20. The bulb of claim 18, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a wireless lamp switch comprising:

a power source;

a sensor adapted to sense a rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion when the second portion is rotated while being in the first position;

a wireless interface adapted to transmit a wireless control signal to the controller of the bulb upon the sensor sensing a change in the rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

21. The bulb of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery electrically connected to the controller;

wherein the controller, upon detecting lack of power supply, transmits a warning control signal configured for indicating to the user that the power supply has been removed from the bulb.

22. The bulb of claim 21, wherein the controller transmits the warning control signal to one of the light source of the bulb, a light indicator electrically connected to the battery and the controller, an audible indicator electrically connected to the battery and the controller, a remote electronic device, a smartphone, and any combination thereof.

23. The bulb of claim 22, wherein the indication comprises one of a blinking light, a red light color, a graphical or alphanumeric message, an audible noise, and any combination thereof.

24. A method for controlling a bulb having a controller, a light source, a wireless interface, and an integrated switch, the method comprising the controller:

controlling the light source upon actuation of the integrated switch by a user; and

controlling the light source upon receiving a wireless control signals via the wireless interface from a remote electronic device.