Systems and methods for security controlled LED lighting fixture

• US 8,159,149 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Mubaslat, Saed M., Poling, Mark, Tyson, William III
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US12/258,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/185.R, 315/185.S, 315/291, 315/307, 315/7, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 340/5.61, 340/7
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits

Abstract

A secure light emitting diodes (LEDs) power system controls power to a plurality of LEDs residing in a secure LED fixture coupled to a secure LED fixture mounting. An exemplary embodiment provides power to the plurality of LEDs and senses the power provided to the LEDs. In response to sensing the power, an authorization signal is communicated from a security sensor residing in the secure LED fixture. Power to the plurality of LEDs is maintained only in response to the communicated authorization signal.

Claims

1. A method for operating a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) residing in a secure LED fixture that is configured to detachably couple to a secure LED fixture mounting, the method comprising:

coupling a secure LED fixture to a secure LED fixture mounting, the secure LED fixture comprising the plurality of LEDs, a connector to a power source, and a security sensor;

providing power to the plurality of LEDs, the power provided via the connector, and the power provided by a power source external to the secure LED fixture;

sensing on the connector the power provided to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the sensing is performed by the security sensor residing in the secure LED fixture, the security sensor comprises a resistor, and wherein sensing the power comprises;

sensing a change in a voltage of the resistor;

in response to sensing the power on the connector, communicating an authorization signal from the security sensor residing in the secure LED fixture to a LED driver and controller that is external to the secure LED fixture when the sensed voltage change of the resistor corresponds to powering the plurality of LEDs; and

maintaining power to the plurality of LEDs only in response to communicating the authorization signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the LED driver and controller provides the power to the plurality of LEDs, and further comprising:

receiving the communicated authorization signal by the LED driver and controller, wherein the LED driver and controller maintains the power to the plurality of LEDs only in response to communicating the authorization signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

interrupting the power to the plurality of LEDs when the authorization signal is not received.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the LED driver and controller interrupts the power to the plurality of LEDs when the authorization signal is not received within a predefined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

controlling a duty cycle of the power provided to the plurality of LEDs based upon the received authorization signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the authorization signal from the security sensor comprises:

communicating the authorization signal over a wire.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating the authorization signal from the security sensor comprises:

communicating the authorization signal wirelessly.

8. A secure light emitting diodes (LEDs) power system comprising:

a secure LED fixture comprising;

a plurality of LEDs;

a first connector configured to receive power from a power source to power the LEDs residing in the secure LED fixture;

a security sensor, wherein the security sensor comprising a resistor coupled in series with the plurality of LEDs senses power initially provided to the plurality of LEDs on the first connector be sensing a change in a voltage of the resistor, and wherein the security sensor is configured to communicate an authorization signal in response to sensing the voltage change of the resistor that corresponds to the power on the first connector that initially powers the plurality of LEDs;

a secure LED fixture mounting, comprising;

a second connector configured to physically couple with the first connector of the secure LED fixture, and configured to provide power to the first connector to the plurality of LEDs of the secure LED fixture;

a LED driver and controller external to the secure LED fixture, configured to receive the authorization signal from the security sensor of the secure LED fixture, and configured to interrupt or maintain the power provided to the plurality of LEDs of the secure LED fixture; and

wherein power is maintained to the plurality of LEDs only in response to communication of the authorization signal from the security sensor in the secure LED fixture to the LED driver and controller.

9. The LED power system of claim 8, wherein the LED driver and controller receives the authorization signal, and wherein a duty cycle of the power provided to the plurality of LEDs is controlled by the LED driver and controller based upon the received authorization signal.

10. The LED power system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first transceiver communicatively coupled to the security sensor and configured to wirelessly communicate the authorization signal; and

a second transceiver communicatively coupled to the LED driver and controller and configured to receive the wirelessly communicated authorization signal.

11. The LED power system of claim 10, wherein the secure LED fixture further comprises:

a switch communicatively coupled to the second transceiver, wherein the switch interrupts power to the plurality of LEDs when the authorization signal is not received.

12. The LED power system of claim 8, wherein the secure LED fixture mounting further comprises:

a switch communicatively coupled to the LED driver and controller, wherein the switch interrupts power to the plurality of LEDs when the authorization signal is not received.

13. The LED power system of claim 8, wherein the secure LED fixture further comprises:

a switch residing in the secure LED fixture, wherein the switch is communicatively coupled to the security sensor and is electrically coupled to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the switch interrupts power to the plurality of LEDs when the authorization signal is not received.

14. The LED power system of claim 8, further comprising:

a wire connection coupled to the security sensor and the LED driver and controller, wherein the authorization signal is communicated over the wire connection to the LED driver and controller.

15. The LED power system of claim 8, wherein the security sensor residing in the secure LED fixture is a component of the LED driver and controller, and wherein the component comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a resistor, a transistor, an inductor, and a diode.

16. A LED power system for operating a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) residing in a secure LED fixture coupled to a secure LED fixture mounting, the method comprising:

a means for providing power to the plurality of LEDs;

a means for sensing the power provided to the LEDs residing in the secure LED fixture, wherein the means for sensing senses a change in a voltage of a resistor residing in the secure LED fixture;

a first transceiver means for wirelessly communicating an authorization signal in response to sensing the voltage change when the power is provided to the plurality of LEDs, the first transceiver means residing in the secure LED fixture and communicatively coupled to the sensor means the first transceiver means wirelessly communicates the authorization signal to the second transceiver means;

a second transceiver means for receiving the wirelessly communicated authorization signal communicated from the first transceiver means; and

a means for controlling a duty cycle of the power provided to the plurality of LEDs, the means for controlling communicatively coupled to the second transceiver means, wherein the duty cycle is controlled to power the plurality of LEDs based upon the received authorization signal.