Power controls with photosensor for tube mounted LEDs with ballast

• US 7,490,957 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: DeNovo Lighting, LLC
• Inventors: Leong, Susan J., Kit, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward; John A
• Application Number:
  US11/198,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 362/217, 362/219, 362/221, 362/227, 362/240, 362/249, 362/251, 362/252, 362/800, 315/51, 315/250, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312, 315/246
• US Class Current: 362/249.05
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/37 U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3577 Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A power saving device for a light emitting diode (LED) lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly and LEDs positioned within a tube and electrical power delivered from the ballast assembly to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes means for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the ballast assembly to the LEDs wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such means for controlling include means for detecting the level of daylight in the illumination area of said least one LED in particular a light level photosensor and means for transmitting to the means for controlling a control signal relating to the detected level of daylight from the photosensor. The photosensor can be used in operative association with an on-off switch in power connection to the LEDs, or with a computer or logic gate array in operative association with a dimmer that controls the power to the LEDs. An occupancy sensor that detects motion or a person in the illumination area of the LEDs can be optionally used in association with the photosensor and the computer and dimmer. Two or more such LED lamps with one or more computers or logic gate arrays can be in network communication with the photosensors and the occupancy sensors to control the power to the LEDs.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) lamp for mounting to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp having a ballast assembly including ballast opposed electrical contacts, comprising:

a tube having tube ends,

at least one LED positioned within said tube between said tube ends,

electrical circuit means for providing electrical power from the ballast assembly to said at least one LED,

means for electrically connecting said electrical circuit means with the ballast opposed electrical contacts,

said electrical circuit means including an LED electrical circuit including at least one electrical string positioned within said tube and generally extending between said tube ends,

said at least one LED being in electrical connection with said at least one electrical string,

said at least one LED being positioned to emit light through said tube,

means for supporting and holding said at least one LED and said LED electrical circuit,

means for controlling the delivery of said electrical power to said at least one LED,

means for detecting the level of daylight around the illumination area of said at least one LED,

a signal relating to the detected level of daylight emanating from said means for detecting,

means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling, and

a voltage surge suppressor device that both reduces excess voltage from the ballast assembly during the start-up mode of the electrical system and suppresses transient voltage surge during the operating mode of the electrical system.

2. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes an on-off switch positioned in said LED lamp on said electrical circuit in operative association with said at least one LED, said switch being operable between an on mode wherein electrical power is delivered to said at least one LED in accordance with said signal, and an off mode wherein said electrical power is not delivered to said at least one LED in accordance with said signal.

3. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 2, wherein said means for detecting is at least one photosensor in operative signal association with said switch, wherein said at least one photosensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to a closed mode when a lower level of daylight is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, wherein power is transmitted to said at least one LED to illuminate, and further wherein said at least one photosensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an open mode when a higher level of daylight is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, and wherein power is not transmitted to said at least one LED and illumination ceases.

4. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means for transmitting to said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path comprising a signal line connection from said at least one photosensor to said switch.

5. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said means for transmitting to said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path comprising a wireless signal from said at least one photosensor to said switch.

6. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, further including an external source of AC power and a PLC line connecting said source of AC power with said switch, and wherein said means for transmitting to said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path comprising a signal line path connected to said PLC line from said at least one photosensor to said switch.

7. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said at least one photosensor is positioned within said LED lamp.

8. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said at least one photosensor is positioned external to said LED lamp.

9. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, further including at least one occupancy sensor in operative signal association with said switch, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to a closed mode when a person is detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, wherein power is transmitted to said at least one LED to illuminate, and further wherein said at least one occupancy sensor sends a signal to said switch to operate said switch to an open mode when a person is not detected around the illumination area of said at least one LED, wherein power is not transmitted to said at least one LED and illumination from said at least one LED ceases.

10. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor is positioned internal to said LED lamp.

11. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor is positioned external to said LED lamp.

12. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 9, wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor to said switch.

13. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 12, wherein said signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprises a control signal line connection to said switch.

14. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 12, wherein said signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprises a wireless signal to said switch.

15. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 12, further including an external source of AC power and a PLC line connecting said source of AC power with said switch, and wherein said signal path from said occupancy sensor comprises a signal line wire connected to said PLC line to said switch.

16. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes at least one current driver dimmer positioned in said LED lamp and in operative signal and power association with said at least one LED, said at least one dimmer being for regulating the amount of power provided by said electrical power to said at least one LED.

17. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 16, wherein said means for controlling further includes a computer positioned in said lamp in operative power and signal association with said at least one dimmer, wherein said computer includes computer controls for signaling said at least one dimmer to regulate the degree of power input to said at least one LED to control the degree of illumination by said at least one LED, said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling relating to the detected level of daylight from said means for detecting being directed to said computer.

18. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 17, further including at least one photosensor in operative signal association with said computer, wherein said at least one photosensor sends a signal to said computer to operate said computer depending on the level of daylight present around the illumination area of said at least one LED, to regulate power transmitted from said at least one dimmer to said at least one LED.

19. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 18, wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path comprising a signal line connection from said at least one photosensor to said computer.

20. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 18, wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path from said at least one photosensor comprising a wireless signal to said computer.

21. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 18, further including an external source of AC power and a PLC line connecting said source of AC power with said computer, and wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path comprising a signal line path from said at least one photosensor connected to said PLC line to said computer.

22. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 17, further including at least one occupancy sensor in operative signal association with said computer, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor sends a signal to said computer to operate said computer depending on the presence or lack of presence of a person around the illumination area of said at least one LED, to regulate power transmitted from said at least one dimmer to said at least one LED.

23. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 22, wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprising a signal line connection to said computer.

24. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 22, wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling includes a signal path from said at least one occupancy sensor comprising a wireless signal to said computer.

25. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 22, further including an external source of AC power and a PLC line connecting said source of AC power with said computer, and wherein said means for transmitting said signal to said means for transmitting includes a signal path comprising a signal line path from said at least one occupancy sensor connected to said PLC line to said computer.

26. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 22, further including another LED lamp having another at least one LED positioned in another tube including other electrical power and another ballast assembly and other means for controlling the delivery of said other electrical power from said another ballast assembly to said another LED lamp, said another LED lamp further including at least one another photosensor in operative signal and power association with said at least one LED, said at least one another photosensor being positioned in said another tube, said at least one another photosensor being for detecting the level of daylight around the illumination area of said at least one another LED.

27. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 26, further including another current driver dimmer in operative signal and power association with said another at least one LED, said another dimmer being positioned in said another tube, said another dimmer being for regulating the amount of power provided by said other electrical power to said another at least one LED, said at least one another photosensor being in operative signal and power association with said another at least one LED.

28. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 27, wherein said means for controlling further includes another computer positioned in said another lamp in operative power and signal association with said another dimmer, wherein said another computer includes computer controls for signaling said another dimmer to regulate the degree of power input to said another at least one LED to control the degree of illumination by said another at least one LED, said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling relating to the detected level of daylight from said means for detecting being directed from said at least one another photosensor to said another computer.

29. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 28, wherein said computer and said at least one photosensor are in network signal communication with said at least one another photosensor and with said another computer, wherein first photosensor data signals from said at least one photosensor and second photosensor data from said at least one another photosensor received by said computer and by said another computer are continuously compared in accordance with a computer program, wherein said computer signals said dimmer and said at least one another computer signals said another dimmer, and wherein the regulation of power outputs of said dimmer and said another dimmer to said at least one LED and said another at least one LED are equal.

30. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 28, wherein said computer and said at least one photosensor are in network signal communication with said at least one another photosensor and with said another computer, wherein first photosensor data signals from said at least one photosensor and second photosensor data from said at least one another photosensor received by said computer and by said another computer are continuously compared in accordance with a computer program, wherein said computer signals said dimmer and said at least one another computer signals said another dimmer, and wherein the regulation of power outputs of said dimmer and said another dimmer to said at least one LED and said another at least one LED are not equal.

31. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 29, further including another at least one occupancy sensor positioned in said another tube in operative signal and power association with said at least one LED, said another at least one occupancy sensor being for detecting the presence or lack of presence of a person around the illumination area of said another at least one LED, said means for transmitting said signal to said means for controlling relating to the presence or lack of presence of a person from said means for detecting being directed from said another at least one occupancy sensor to said another computer.

32. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 31, wherein said at least one photosensor, said another at least one photosensor, said at least one occupancy sensor, and said another at least one occupancy sensor are in mutual network communication in relation to said dimmer and said another dimmer.

33. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one LED is a plurality of LEDs.

34. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one LED is at least one OLED.

35. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said current driver dimmer is a plurality of current driver dimmers.

36. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes a logic gate array.

37. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes a timer.

38. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage surge suppressor device includes at least one voltage surge absorber (ZNR).

39. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage surge suppressor device includes at least one movistor (MOV).

40. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 1, wherein said voltage surge suppressor device voltage includes at least one varistor (VAR).

41. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 3, wherein said at least one photosensor is a plurality of photosensors.

42. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one occupancy sensor is a plurality of occupancy sensors.

43. The LED lamp in accordance with claim 17, wherein said computer is a logic gate array.