Lighting device

• US 7,557,524 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gestion Proche, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gestion Proche, Inc.
• Inventors: Martel, Alain, Chevalier, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US11/590,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/360, 315/362, 315/291, 315/307, 315/224, 315/149, 315/77, 315/82, 315/294, 315/318, 340/458, 250/214.AL, 250/553, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/318
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/101 of tunnels or the like, e.g. under bridges
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An LED lighting device is provided which is capable of being connected to a network and being controlled by a host computer also connected to the network. The lighting device has several lifespan expanding features such as including several extra LEDs such that as the LEDs of the lighting device degrade over time more LEDs can be turned on thus allowing a constant luminosity to be maintained.

Claims

1. An illumination lighting device comprising

a plurality of illumination groups, each of said illumination groups containing one or more light emitting diodes and being configured for passing between an energized light emitting state and a non-energized state, and

control means for maintaining the luminosity of the lighting device at a desired level, said luminosity being controlled by, at predetermined time intervals, transferring an appropriate number of illumination groups between said energized light emitting state and said non-energized state,

whereby

said transfer is effected in response to a luminosity reading and/or a usage time measurement, and

said lighting device comprises at least one of usage time measuring means for providing a usage time measurement for each of said illumination groups at predetermined time intervals, and

a luminosity measuring system comprising

i) luminosity measuring means,

ii) one or more test light emitting diodes equivalent to the light emitting diodes of said plurality of illumination groups,

said luminosity measuring means being able to provide said luminosity reading at predetermined time intervals, on the basis of the light of said one or more test light emitting diodes when said one or more test light emitting diodes are in an energized state, wherein said one or more test light emitting diodes are selected from among light emitting diodes which are part of said illumination groups and which are separate from said illumination groups.

2. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller means further comprises:

means for detecting whether any of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes have a light emitting diode unable to pass between said energized light emitting state and said non-energized state, and for transferring a so detected group to a nonfunctional state.

3. A lighting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes contains a plurality of light emitting diodes.

4. A lighting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein for the energization of light emitting diodes, said device comprises constant current source means.

5. A lighting device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lighting device is a single device.

6. A lighting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lighting device comprises said luminosity measuring system and wherein said lighting device further comprises said usage time measuring means.

7. A lighting device as defined in claim 6, wherein said test light emitting diodes are selected from light emitting diodes which are separate from the light emitting diodes of said illumination groups.

8. A lighting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said usage time measurement is a cumulative usage time measurement for each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes.

9. A lighting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said controller means is configured to equalize the cumulative usage time for each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes by prioritizing illumination groups of light emitting diodes having the lowest said cumulative usage time for transfer to said energized light emitting state.

10. A lighting device as defined in claim 8, wherein said test light emitting diodes are selected from light emitting diodes which are members of said illumination groups.

11. A lighting device as defined in claim 8, wherein said test light emitting diodes are selected from light emitting diodes which are separate from the light emitting diodes of said illumination groups.

12. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes contains a plurality of light emitting diodes.

13. A lighting device as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes contains a plurality of light emitting diodes.

14. A lighting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lighting device comprises said luminosity measuring system.

15. A lighting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said test light emitting diodes are selected from light emitting diodes which are members of said illumination groups.

16. A lighting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said test light emitting diodes are selected from light emitting diodes which are separate from the light emitting diodes of said illumination groups.

17. A lighting device as defined in claim 1, wherein said lighting device comprises said usage time measuring means.

18. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said usage time measurement is a cumulative usage time measurement for each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes.

19. A lighting device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said controller means is configured to equalize the cumulative usage time for each of said illumination groups of light emitting diodes by prioritizing illumination groups of light emitting diodes having the lowest said cumulative usage time for transfer to said energized light emitting state.

20. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein for the energization of light emitting diodes, said device comprises constant current source means.

21. A lighting device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lighting device is a single device.

22. A lighting device comprising

a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes, each of said groups of light emitting diodes containing one or more light emitting diodes, each of said light emitting diodes being configured so as to pass between an energized light emitting state and a non-energized state;

luminosity measuring means for providing a standard luminosity reading at predetermined time intervals;

controller means for transferring, at predetermined time intervals, in response to said standard luminosity reading, one or more of said groups of light emitting diodes between a first energized group wherein said light emitting diodes are in said energized light emitting state and a second non-energized group wherein said light emitting diodes are in said non-energized state and

wherein said controller means further comprises;

means for detecting whether any of said groups of light emitting diodes have a light emitting diode unable to pass between said energized light emitting state and said non-energized state, and for transferring a so detected group to a non-functional state.

23. A lighting device as claimed in claim 22 wherein each of said groups of light emitting diodes contains a plurality of light emitting diodes.

24. A lighting device as claimed in claim 22 wherein for the energization of light emitting diodes, said device comprises constant current source means.

25. A lighting device as claimed in claim 22 wherein said lighting device is a single device.

26. A lighting device comprising

a plurality of groups of light emitting diodes, each of said groups of light emitting diodes containing one or more light emitting diodes, each of said light emitting diodes being configured so as to pass between an energized light emitting state and a non-energized state;

usage time measuring means for providing a usage time measurement for each of said groups of light emitting diodes at predetermined intervals;

controller means for transferring, at predetermined time intervals, in response to said usage time measurements, one or more of said groups of light emitting diodes between a first energized group wherein said light emitting diodes are in said energized light emitting state and a second non-energized group wherein said light emitting diodes are in said non-energized state and wherein said controller means further comprises;

means for detecting whether any of said groups of light emitting diodes have a light emitting diode unable to pass between said energized light emitting state and said non-energized state, and for transferring a so detected group to a non-functional state.

27. A lighting device as claimed in claim 26 wherein each of said groups of light emitting diodes contains a plurality of light emitting diodes.

28. A lighting device as claimed in claim 26 wherein for the energization of light emitting diodes, said device comprises constant current source means.

29. A lighting device as claimed in claim 26 wherein said lighting device is a single device.