Electroluminescent lighting device

• US 6,337,541 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 01/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Tack & Hardware Company Incorporated (Jackson Deerfield Manufacturing Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Elumina Lighting Technologies, Inc. (Jackson Deerfield Manufacturing Corp.)
• Inventors: Dickie, Robert G., Van Tuyl, David J., Tierney, T. Kirkwood
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US09/414,947
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.3, 315/200.R, 315/246, 315/291, 315/DIG.4, 315/149, 315/158, 439/375, 439/597, 439/598, 439/599
• US Class Current: 315/169.3
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A supplementary lighting device with a replaceable electroluminescent light element is disclosed. A control system is provided to boost the light intensity of the electroluminescent light element. A light sensor is provided which detects light emitted from the electroluminescent lighting element and inputs this information to the control system. The control system automatically adjusts the intensity of the electroluminescent lighting element according to a pre-set value and the information from the light sensor. This allows for the electroluminescent lighting element to maintain a constant output despite the ageing of the electroluminescent lighting element. The pre-set value for the intensity of the electroluminescent lighting element can be adjusted by a user controlled dimmer. The dimmer varies the amount of light detected by the light sensor in order to increase or decrease the power provided by the control system to the electroluminescent lighting element.

Claims

1. A supplementary lighting device comprising:

an electroluminescent lighting element having a light intensity;

a control system coupled to said electroluminescent lighting element, wherein said control system varies the light intensity of said electroluminescent lighting element;

a user-adjustable dimmer coupled to said control system, wherein said dimmer includes a dimmer control and user adjustment of said dimmer control causes said control system to vary the light intensity of said electroluminescent lighting element;

electrical connection blades, wherein the supplementary lighting device is coupled to a standard alternating current outlet through said electrical connection blades; and

a light sensor coupled to said control system and disposed in the device so as to detect light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element, wherein said control system varies the light intensity of said electroluminescent element so that said control system receives an input from said light sensor which effectively matches a pre-set level.

wherein said user-adjustable dimmer includes a mechanical dimmer element positioned to optically and/or mechanically adjust the amount of light which is detected by said light sensor from said electroluminescent lighting element.

2. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element comprises a shutter which progressively blocks or unblocks light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element from being detected by said light sensor according to the adjustment of said dimmer control.

3. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element comprises a reflector which progressively reflects more or less light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element onto said light sensor, according to the adjustment of said dimmer control.

4. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element comprises a lens which progressively focuses more or less light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element onto said light sensor, according to the adjustment of said dimmer control.

5. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element comprises a light-pipe which progressively directs more or less light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element onto said light sensor according to the adjustment of said dimmer control.

6. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element couples said dimmer control to said electroluminescent lighting element and user adjustment of said dimmer control moves at least a portion of said electroluminescent lighting element towards or away from said light sensor.

7. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer elelment couples said dimmer control to said light sensor and user adjustment of said dimmer control moves at least a portion of said light sensor towards or away from said electroluminescent lighting element.

8. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element couples said dimmer control to said light sensor and user adjustment of said dimmer control varies the angle of said light sensor such that said light sensor detects more or less light emitted from said electroluminescent light element.

9. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said mechanical dimmer element couples said dimmer control to said electroluminescent lighting element and user adjustment of said dimmer control varies the angle of at least some portion of said electroluminescent lighting element such that said light sensor detects more or less light emitted from said electroluminescent lighting element.

10. The supplementary lighting device of claim 1, wherein said light sensor also detects ambient light around the device and said control system reduces or eliminates the light intensity of said electroluminescent lighting element when the input received from said light sensor effectively reaches a pre-set level.

11. The supplementary light device of claim 1, further comprising a second light sensor coupled to said control system which detects ambient light around the device and said control system reduces or eliminates the light intensity of said electroluminescent lighting element when the input received from said second light sensor reaches a pre-set level.

12. A supplementary lighting device comprising:

a housing;

a user replaceable electroluminescent lighting element disposed within said housing;

a control system disposed within said housing and coupled to said electro luminescent lighting element, wherein said control system varies the light intensity of said electroluminescent lighting element;

a guide-way disposed within said housing, wherein said guide-way aligns and guides said user replaceable electroluminescent lighting element into mechanical and electrical contact with said control system; and

a window coupled to said housing by a fastener, wherein said electroluminescent lighting element is disposed behind said window and said fastener cannot be uncoupled without first removing the device from a power source.

13. A supplementary lighting device comprising:

a housing;

electrical connection blades projecting from a rear surface of said housing; and

a protector surrounding said electrical connection blades, said protector retracting as said electrical connection blades are inserted into an electrical outlet and extendidng to surround said electrical connection blades as said electrical connection blades are removed from the electrical outlet.

14. The supplementary lighting device of claim 13, wherein said protector is formed as collapsible bellows.

15. The supplementary lighting device of claim 14, further comprising a cavity in said rear surface of said housing, wherein said protector collapses into said cavity as said electrical connection blades are inserted into the electrical outlet.