Wireless lighting devices and grid-shifting applications

• US 8,362,713 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Environment LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shallenberger, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/772,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 362/802, 362/249.02, 315/293, 307/43, 307/44, 307/64
• US Class Current: 315/293
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide a method of power management of a lighting source, including providing a lighting facility, wherein the lighting facility includes the lighting source, an external control device for communicating between the lighting facility and an external control source, an internal control facility, an energy storage device, and a connection to external power; and shifting power usage between the external power and the energy storage device as controlled by the internal control facility and as a result of information received from the external control source.

Claims

1. A method for a distributed energy storage solution in a lighting unit, the method comprising:

charging a battery from an external power supply;

powering a light source with the external power supply, such that the light source emits light in response to receiving an amount of power from the external power supply;

receiving, from an external control source, information concerning power amounts to be supplied to the light source from the external power supply and from the battery;

selecting, based on the received information, a first portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the light source from the external power supply;

selecting, based on the received information, a second portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the light source from the battery; and

supplying the amount of power to the light source by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery while maintaining an intensity level of the light source based on at least one of the received information from the external control source or a reduction in power demand from the external power supply during a period of peak usage.

2. A lighting unit for a distributed energy storage solution, the lighting unit comprising:

a light source configured to emit light when powered by an amount of power from an external power supply;

a battery configured to be charged from the external power supply;

a receiver configured to receive, from an external control source, information concerning power amounts to be supplied to the light source from the external power supply and from the battery; and

a controller configured to;

select, based on the received information, a first portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the light source from the external power supply;

select, based on the received information, a second portion of the amount of power to be supplied to the light source from the battery; and

supply the amount of power to the light source by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery to cause the light source to emit light at an intensity level based on at least one of the received information from the external control source or a reduction in power demand from the external power supply during a period of peak usage.

3. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein selection of the first portion is based,

at least in part, on at least one of:

improving energy efficiency of the lighting unit;

reducing the cost of operating the lighting unit;

reducing energy demand of the lighting unit during peak energy demand of the external power supply;

or

reducing energy demand of the lighting unit during a specific time period.

4. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein supplying the amount of power to the light source by supplying the first portion of the amount of power from the external power supply and the second portion of the amount of power from the battery results in a decreased cost compared to all of the amount of power being supplied by the external power supply.

5. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of selecting the first portion or charging the battery is based, at least in part, on a time of day when the amount of power is supplied to the light source.

6. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the information is generated, at least in part, by a building management system.

7. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the light source includes an LED light source.

8. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of the amount of power or the intensity is associated with an operating specification of the light source.

9. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein supplying the amount of power includes maintaining the amount of power during a decrease in power supplied by the external power supply.

10. The lighting unit of claim 9, wherein supplying the amount of power includes maintaining the intensity of light emitted from the light source while decreasing power drawn from the external power supply during periods of peak usage.

11. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the external power supply includes one of a connection to mains power or a grid connection.

12. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the first portion is zero and power is available from the external power supply.