LED bulb for general and low intensity light

• US 8,723,434 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calvin Hugh Watson
• Original Assignee: Calvin Hugh Watson
• Inventors: Watson, Calvin Hugh, Heinsohn, Cheryl Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US13/452,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278162A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 315/201
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A bimodal light emitting diode (LED) light bulb, method, and system having a form factor compatible with industry standard light bulb sockets provides general lighting when power is received via one or more light bulb electrical contacts, then as a different luminosity when power is removed from the contacts. A first subset of LEDs is powerable via the contacts for general light, while a second subset of LEDs is powerable via an energy storage device. Both subsets of LEDs are packaged in a replaceable light bulb. The energy storage device may comprise a capacitor or battery which may be charged when power is supplied via the contacts. In one embodiment, power to LEDs is controlled by a timer, motion sensor, light sensor, sound sensor, dimmer, voltage sensor, or manual switch. In another embodiment, an ambience generator emits fragrance or background sound. In another embodiment, LEDs are individually replaceable.

Claims

1. A light bulb comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a light bulb base having a form factor compatible with at least one industry standard light bulb socket;

one or more light bulb base electrical contacts to supply power to a first subset of the plurality of LEDs; and

an energy storage device to supply power to a second subset of the plurality of LEDs,

wherein the energy storage device does not supply power to the first subset.

2. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is charged via power supplied by the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

3. The light bulb of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier to convert power supplied via the one or more light bulb electrical contacts from AC to DC.

4. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein at least one LED is included in each of the first subset and the second subset.

5. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein power to the second subset of LEDs is configurable to be supplied via the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

6. The light both of claim 1, further comprising an ambience generator configured to emit at least one selected from a group consisting of fragrance and background sound.

7. The light bulb of claim 1, further comprising a switch to control power to at least one of the first and second subset of LEDs, the switch comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of:

timer switch, motion sensor switch, light sensor switch, sound sensor switch, dimmer switch, voltage sensor switch, and manual switch.

8. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the first subset of LEDs provide a first level of light, and the second subset of LEDs provide a second level of fight less luminous than the first level.

9. The light bulb of claim 1, further comprises one or more LED bases having a form factor compatible with industry standard LED sockets.

10. The light bulb of claim 9, wherein individual LEDS are replaceable.

11. A light bulb comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);

a light bulb base having a form factor compatible with industry standard light bulb sockets;

wherein a first subset of the plurality of LEDs is coupled to a first power source via one or more light bulb base electrical contacts, and a second subset of the plurality of LEDs is coupled to a second power source; and

wherein the first subset is not coupled to second power source.

12. The light bulb of claim 11, wherein the second power source comprises an energy storage device.

13. The light bulb of claim 11, wherein power to the second subset is configurable to be supplied via the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

14. The light bulb of claim 11, further comprising a rectifier to convert power supplied via the one or more light bulb electrical contacts from AC to DC.

15. The light bulb of claim 11, further comprising a switch to control power to at least one of the first and second subset of LEDs, the switch comprising at least one selected from a group consisting of:

timer switch, motion sensor switch, light sensor switch, sound sensor switch, dimmer switch, voltage sensor switch, and manual switch.

16. The light bulb of claim 11, wherein the first subset of LEDs provides a first level of light, and the second subset of LEDs provides a second level of light less luminous than the first level.

17. The light bulb of claim 11, further comprising one or more LED bases having a form factor compatible with industry standard LED sockets.

18. The light bulb of claim 17, wherein individual LEDs are replaceable.

19. In a system comprising a light bulb with a light bulb base having a form factor compatible with at least one industry standard light bulb socket, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a method comprising:

receiving power at one or more light bulb base electrical contacts;

illuminating a first subset of the plurality of LEDs via power supplied by the one or more light bulb base electrical contacts;

illuminating a second subset of the plurality of LEDs via power supplied by an energy storage device; and

wherein the first subset of LEDs and second subset of LEDs are packaged on the light bulb.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising charging the energy storage device via power supplied by the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising rectifying AC power from the light bulb socket to DC power.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling power to at least one of the first and second subset of LEDs by at least one selected from a group consisting:

timer switch, motion sensor switch, light sensor switch, sound sensor switch, dimmer switch, voltage sensor switch, and manual switch.

23. A light bulb system comprising:

a light bulb comprising as plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a light bulb base, one or more light bulb base electrical contacts to supply power to a first subset of the plurality of LEDs, an energy storage device to supply power to a second subset of the plurality of LEDs, wherein the energy storage device does not supply power to the first subset;

light bulb socket compatible with at least one industry standard for light bulb sockets; and

wherein the light bulb base is compatible with the light bulb socket.

24. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein the energy storage device is charged via power supplied by the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

25. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein power to the second subset of LEDs is configurable to be supplied via the one or more light bulb electrical contacts.

26. The lighting system of claim 23, further comprising a rectifier to convert power supplied via the one or more right bulb electrical contacts from AC to DC.