Durable super-cooled intelligent light bulb

• US 8,075,172 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A66, Inc.
• Original Assignee: A66, Inc.
• Inventors: Davey, George, Pieper, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): SEMBER, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US11/811,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20080304249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 36224901-24919, 362/294, 362/580, 362/373, 362554-556, 362/551, 362/511, 362/650, 362/363, 362/809, 362/545, 313/500, 313/512
• US Class Current: 362/554
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/237 Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/43 using gas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/20 on convex supports or substrates, e.g. on the outer surface of spheres
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 : using optical feedback

Abstract

A self cooling light effects device for use in a standard light bulb socket having a socket adaptor, surface embedded LEDs for generating light effects, controllable light effects, and various ways for cooling. Fiber optic cables provide further light effects. Controlling light effects may include a logic board. Cooling may be accomplished by any combination of fans, heat sinks, heat pipes, thermoelectric cooling, a heat conductive filler, and a heat conductive housing.

Claims

1. A self cooling light effects device for use in a light bulb socket providing power comprising:

a) a housing having an exterior surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion;

b) a plurality of LEDs surrounding said upper portion of said housing;

c) an adaptor associated with said lower portion of said housing and formed to electrically and frictionally engage said light bulb socket;

d) means for cooling said device;

e) means for generating light effects, wherein said light effects generating means includes;

i) a plurality of fiber optic cables extending from within said housing to said exterior surface of said housing;

ii) and a light source associated with said plurality of fiber optic cables within said housing, wherein said housing defines a plurality of holes, each of said holes associated with each of said plurality of fiber optic cables to transmit light from said light source through said housing; and

f) a wireless interface for controlling light effects incorporated in said device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing defines at least one aperture through said exterior surface and said means for cooling includes at least one fan for transferring air through said at least one aperture.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said fan is mounted inside said housing.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said at least one fan is mounted on the exterior surface of said housing.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for cooling includes at least one heat sink.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said means for cooling includes a plurality of heat sinks.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said means for cooling includes a plurality of heat pipes conductively associated with each of said plurality of heat sinks and extending to said housing.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said housing is composed of a heat conductive material.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein said heat pipes extend through said exterior surface to transfer heat from said device.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for cooling includes a heat conductive filler inside of said housing.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said filler is copper fiber, a liquid fluid, or a heat conducting granule.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said housing is composed of a heat conducting material.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said housing does not include more than an insubstantial volume of unfilled space.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein said filler is surrounded by a barrier to retain said filler within said housing.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein said cooling means includes a thermoelectric cooling device associated with said means for controlling light effects.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said cooling means includes said housing and said housing is composed of a heat conducting material.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said heat conducting material includes a metal.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said heat conducting material is copper or aluminum.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of LEDs are embedded in said exterior surface on said upper portion of said housing.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes a skin surrounding said upper portion of said housing and said plurality of LEDs are embedded in said skin.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of LEDs are SMT LEDs.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein each of said plurality of LEDs includes an optical diffuser.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fiber optic cables includes an optical diffuser at its terminus in proximity to said plurality of holes, each of said optical diffusers attaching each of said fiber optic cables to said housing.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the diameter of each of said holes is about 0.015 to about 0.025 inches and the diameter of said optical diffuser is about 0.40 inches.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein said device further comprises means for providing emergency lighting independent of power provided by said socket.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said means for providing emergency lighting comprises a battery for powering said device.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said battery is rechargeable and said means for providing emergency lighting includes an electronic circuit for switching power to said battery when power is not provided by said socket.

28. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for controlling light effects includes an electronic circuit inside said housing and connected to said means for generating light effects.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein said electronic circuit includes a logic board for storing and executing at least one light effects program.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein said logic board is removably attached to said electronic circuit.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein said electronic circuit includes a wireless adaptor providing said logic board with wireless communication.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein said means for controlling light effects includes a computer in wireless communication with said logic board.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein said logic board includes a preprogrammed web browser based interface accessible by said computer.

34. The device of claim 29 wherein said means for controlling light effects includes a light sensor located on said exterior surface of said housing for sensing light levels and said logic board is adapted to communicate with said light sensor for maintaining a constant ambient light around said device.

35. The device of claim 1 further comprising a logic board inside said housing, wherein said housing is formed of a heat conductive material and said means for cooling includes:

a) a heat sink conductively associated with said logic board; and

b) a heat pipe conductively associated with said heat sink and extending to said exterior surface of said housing to transfer heat from said logic board to said exterior surface.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein said housing defines an aperture through said exterior surface and said means for cooling further includes a fan mounted inside said housing for transferring air through said aperture.