Lighting apparatus

• US 8,710,995 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masahide, Nagashima, Mitsunori, Sawada, Akinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/111,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 340/514, 340/515, 340/635, 340/636, 340/636.19, 340/657
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A lighting apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source; a power source unit arranged to power the light source; a detector unit arranged to detect the deterioration of ability of the power source unit to power the light source; and a determination unit arranged to determine the life of the power source unit in response to the detector unit.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source, wherein the power source unit is arranged to continuously receive electric power from a power line;

a detector unit arranged to detect a deterioration of ability of the power source unit to power the light source with the power source unit continuously receiving the electric power from the power line; and

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit in response to the detector unit.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source is arranged to continuously receive electric power from an alternating-current power line and includes an rectifier unit arranged to rectify the alternating-current and an electrolytic capacitor arranged to smooth the rectified current, and wherein the detector unit is arranged to detect a deterioration of the electrolytic capacitor.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source includes light emitting diodes, and wherein the lighting apparatus further comprises a second determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light emitting diodes by controlling the light source in response to the second determination unit.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source not to light.

6. A lighting apparatus for giving a normal illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes; and

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source by forcibly controlling the light source itself to show an illumination status different from the normal illumination in response to the determination unit, the light source otherwise being capable of continuing the normal illumination.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source not to light for informing the duration of life.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source to periodically change the lighting for informing the duration of life.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source to reduce the lighting for informing the duration of life.

10. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes; and

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit,

wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source to light a part of the light emitting diodes for informing the duration of life.

11. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the light source to turn on or off, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source for informing the duration of life in response to the direction by the directing unit.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a recording unit arranged to record the duration of life determined by the determination unit, wherein the controller unit is arranged to inform the duration of life on the record in response to the direction by the directing unit.

13. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the determination unit to carry out the determination, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source for informing the duration of life when the determination is carried out.

14. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the controller unit to terminate the control of the light source for informing the duration, whereby the light source comes back to ordinary lighting in response to the directing unit.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the directing unit is arranged to put a limit on the direction.

16. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes; and

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit,

wherein the lighting apparatus is for illumination with a first light source and a second light source, and wherein the controller unit is arranged to prevent both the first and second light sources from going off ordinary lighting due to the control for informing the duration of life.

17. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a first test unit for the determination unit, a fire alarm apparatus and a second test unit for the fire alarm apparatus, wherein the second test unit is arranged to link up with lighting function including the first test unit.

18. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source including light emitting diodes comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the light source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the light source to turn on or off, a fire alarm apparatus and a test unit for the fire alarm apparatus, wherein the test unit is arranged to link up with the directing unit.

19. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising;

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a directing unit arranged to direct the light source to turn on or off;

a fire alarm apparatus;

a test unit for the fire alarm apparatus; and

a controller unit arranged to have the test unit link up with the directing unit.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the light emitting diodes, wherein the controller is arranged to further control the light source for informing the duration of life in response to the determination unit and the directing unit.

21. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit to power the light source;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the light source to turn on or off, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source for informing the duration of life in response to the direction by the directing unit.

22. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit to power the light source;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the determination unit to carry out the determination, wherein the controller is arranged to control the light source for informing the duration of life when the determination is carried out.

23. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit to power the light source;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the controller unit to terminate the control of the light source for informing the duration, whereby the light source comes back to ordinary lighting in response to the directing unit.

24. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit to power the light source; and

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit,

wherein the lighting apparatus is for illumination with a first light source and a second light source, and wherein the controller unit is arranged to prevent both the first and second light sources from going off ordinary lighting due to the control for informing the duration of life.

25. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of the power source unit to power the light source;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a first test unit for the determination unit, a fire alarm apparatus and a second test unit for the fire alarm apparatus, wherein the second test unit is arranged to link up with lighting function including the first test unit.

26. A lighting apparatus for illumination with a light source comprising:

a power source unit arranged to power the light source;

a determination unit arranged to determine duration of life of the power source unit to power the light source;

a controller unit arranged to inform the duration of life of the power source unit by controlling the light source in response to the determination unit; and

a directing unit arranged to direct the light source to turn on or off, a fire alarm apparatus and a test unit for the fire alarm apparatus, wherein the test unit is arranged to link up with the directing unit.