Wireless emergency lighting system

• US 8,491,159 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• 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): Guharay, Karabi
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, NATHANIEL J.
• Application Number:
  US12/827,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/20, 362157-208
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00308 Overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0007 by modifying the frame length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0004 Initialisation of the receiver H04L7/0075 and H04L7/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• 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

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that provide for a power outage lighting management within an environment, comprising a power outage detection device adapted to detect a power outage condition and to wirelessly transmit power outage indication data to a plurality of lighting systems within the environment, where at least one of the plurality of lighting systems include an LED light source that is powered by an internal power source.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless lighting units, each unit including;

one or more LED light sources;

a power source configured to provide power to the one or more LED light sources;

a receiving unit configured to receive a wireless control signal; and

circuitry configured to cause power from the power source to be supplied to the one or more LED light sources based on the control signal; and

a power detection module configured as a hand-held remote control unit to be located remotely with respect to the plurality of wireless lighting units, the power detection module including;

a source of DC power for supplying power to the power detection module;

at least one user interface element configured to receive input from a user;

a power interface configured to receive AC power;

circuitry to detect a change in the received AC power and to generate the wireless control signal for one or more of the plurality of wireless lighting units based on the detected change in the received AC power; and

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless control signal to one or more of the plurality of wireless lighting units located remotely with respect to the power detection module.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power source for each unit of the plurality of wireless lighting units includes a battery.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit includes a transceiver, the transceiver being configured to transmit a second control signal to others of the plurality of wireless lighting units.

4. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the second control signal includes a re-transmitted wireless control signal received from the power detection module.

5. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless control signal includes a radio frequency signal or an infrared signal.

6. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the change in AC power includes at least one of a disruption in AC power, a reduction in AC power, or a surge in AC power.

7. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless control signal is configured to cause at least one of activation, deactivation, or modulation of illumination of the one or more LED light sources associated with any of the plurality of wireless lighting units.

8. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power detection module further includes a light source, wherein the source of DC power in the power detection module is configured to provide power to the light source.

9. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the source of DC power includes a rechargeable battery.

10. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one user interface element includes one or more buttons, switches, dials, or a touch screen.

11. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power interface is configured for hardwiring to an AC power distribution component.

12. The lighting unit of claim 11, wherein the AC power distribution component includes a circuit breaker, a switch, or wiring configured to carry AC power.

13. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power interface includes a plug for removably engaging with an AC electrical socket.

14. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power detection module further includes an environmental sensor, including at least one of a light sensor, a motion sensor, or a smoke sensor, and circuitry configured to generate the control signal for a wireless lighting unit based on an output of the environmental sensor.

15. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power detection module includes a timer and circuitry configured to generate the control signal for a wireless lighting unit based on an output of the timer.

16. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless lighting units include one or more of stair lights, spotlights, path lights, exit sign lighting, stair well lights, floor lights, wall lights, or ceiling lights.

17. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless lighting units includes one or more environmental sensors configured to provide an output used in controlling a lighting state of the one or more LED light sources.

18. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless lighting units includes a timer configured to provide an output used in controlling a lighting state of the one or more LED light sources.

19. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the wireless control signal includes a channel number corresponding to one or more of the plurality of wireless lighting units.

20. The lighting unit of claim 19, wherein the channel number is selected through use of a channel number input interface associated with the power detection module.

21. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein a first group of wireless lighting units including at least one of the plurality of wireless lighting units is configured to respond to a channel number associated with a wireless control signal of a first power detection module, and a second group of wireless lighting units including at least one of the plurality of wireless lighting units is configured to respond to a channel number associated with a wireless control signal of a second power detection module.

22. A power detection module, comprising:

a power interface configured to receive AC power;

circuitry to detect a change in the received AC power and to generate a control signal for a wireless lighting unit based on the detected change in the received AC power;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the control signal to one or more wireless lighting units located remotely with respect to the power detection module;

a source of DC power for providing power to the power detection module; and

at least one user interface element configured to receive input from a user when the power detection module is used as a hand-held remote control.

23. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the change in AC power includes at least one of a disruption in AC power, a reduction in AC power, or a surge in AC power.

24. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the control signal is configured to cause at least one of activation, deactivation, or modulation of illumination of a lighting source associated with the wireless lighting unit.

25. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the power detection module further includes a light source configured to receive power from the source of DC power in the power detection module.

26. The power detection module of claim 25, wherein the at least one user interface element includes one or more buttons, switches, dials, or a touch screen.

27. The power detection module of claim 25, wherein the source of DC power includes a rechargeable battery.

28. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the power interface is configured for hardwiring to an AC power distribution component, including a circuit breaker, a switch, or wiring configured to carry AC power.

29. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the power interface includes a plug for removably engaging with an AC electrical socket.

30. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the power detection module further includes an environmental sensor and circuitry configured to generate the control signal for a wireless lighting unit based on an output of the environmental sensor.

31. The power detection module of claim 30, wherein the environmental sensor includes at least one of a light sensor, a motion sensor, or a smoke sensor.

32. The power detection module of claim 22, wherein the power detection module includes a timer and circuitry configured to generate the control signal for a wireless lighting unit based on an output of the timer.

33. The lighting unit of claim 22, wherein the control signal includes a channel number corresponding to the one or more wireless lighting units.

34. The lighting unit of claim 33, wherein the channel number is selected through use of a channel number input interface associated with the power detection module.