Light and light sensor

• US 8,901,823 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scapa, James R., Simon, David L., Ivey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOPER, JONATHAN G
• Application Number:
  US13/829,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-159
• US Class Current: 315/131
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/031 the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4252 for testing LED's
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system of LED-based lights comprises first and second LED-based light having respective first and second electrical connectors configured for engagement with first and second conventional fluorescent fixtures, first and second LEDs configured to produce light in an area when the first and second electrical connectors are engaged with the first and second fixtures and first and second controllers electrically coupled to the first and second LEDs; and one or more sensors operable to detect a brightness level in the area and output respectively one or more signals indicative of the brightness level, wherein: the first and second controllers are configured to control an amount of power provided to the respective first and second LEDs at least partially based on a signal to adjust the light produced in the area towards a desired brightness level.

Claims

1. A system of LED-based lights, comprising:

a first LED-based light having a first electrical connector configured for engagement with a first conventional fluorescent fixture, a first LED configured to produce light in an area when the first electrical connector is engaged with the first fixture and a first controller electrically coupled to the first LED;

a second LED-based light having a second electrical connector configured for engagement with a second conventional fluorescent fixture, a second LED configured to produce light in the area when the second electrical connector is engaged with the second fixture and a second controller electrically coupled to the second LED; and

one or more sensors operable to detect a brightness level in the area and output respectively one or more signals indicative of the brightness level, wherein;

the first and second controllers are configured to control an amount of power provided to the respective first and second LEDs at least partially based on a signal to adjust the light produced in the area towards a desired brightness level, and

at least one of the first and second controllers is operable to estimate an efficiency of the system of LED-based lights, the estimated efficiency being at least partially based on a comparison of the brightness level in the area with a power consumed by the first and second LED-based lights.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the brightness level in the area is a function of the light produced by the first and second LEDs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a sensor of the at least one sensor is positioned in the area, remote from the first and second LED-based lights, to detect a brightness level in the area and includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal, and wherein at least one of the first and second LED-based lights includes a receiver configured for receiving the signal.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a circuit board disposed within a housing of the first LED-based light, wherein the first LED, a sensor of the at least one sensor and the first controller are mounted on the circuit board.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector includes a pair of bi-pin electrical connectors attaching to opposing ends of a housing of the first LED-based light.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first LED, a sensor of the at least one sensor and the first controller are in electrical communication with the first electrical connector.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimated efficiency of the system of LED-based lights is at least partially based on a comparison of the brightness level in the area with a reference brightness level.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second controllers is operable to activate an alarm when the estimated efficiency of the system of LED-based lights is below a predetermined amount.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the alarm includes at least one of operating an LED that produces colored light, displaying the efficiency of the system of LED-based lights on a display, and operating at least one of the first and second LEDs in a flashing pattern.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit at least one of the brightness level in the area and the estimated efficiency of the system of LED-based lights.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power measuring device operable to measure the power consumed by the first and second LED-based lights and output one or more signals indicative of the power consumed.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the power measuring device is one or more of an ammeter, a voltmeter or a wattmeter.

11. A system for measuring an efficiency of a plurality of LED-based lights, comprising:

a first LED-based light having a first electrical connector compatible with a first standardized light fixture, a first LED configured to produce light in an area when the first electrical connector is engaged with the first fixture and a first controller electrically coupled to the first LED;

a second LED-based light having a second electrical connector compatible with a second standardized light fixture, a second LED configured to produce light in the area when the second electrical connector is engaged with the second fixture and a second controller electrically coupled to the second LED; and

one or more sensors operable to detect a brightness level in the area and output respectively one or more signals indicative of the brightness level, wherein;

the brightness level in the area is a function of the light produced by the first and second LEDs, and

at least one of the first and second controllers is operable to estimate an efficiency of the system of LED-based lights at least partially based on a comparison of the brightness level in the area with a power consumed by the first and second LED-based lights.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second controllers are configured to control an amount of power provided to the respective first and second LEDs at least partially based on a signal to adjust the light produced in the area towards a desired brightness level.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second controllers is operable to activate an alarm when the estimated efficiency of the system of LED-based lights is below a predetermined amount.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the alarm includes at least one of operating an LED that produces colored light, displaying the efficiency of the system of LED-based lights on a display, and operating at least one of the first and second LEDs in a flashing pattern.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the estimated efficiency of the system of LED-based lights is at least partially based on a comparison of the brightness level in the area with a reference brightness level.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a circuit board disposed within a housing of the first LED-based light, wherein the first LED, a sensor of the at least one sensor and the first controller are mounted on the circuit board.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein a sensor of the at least one sensor is positioned in the area, remote from the first and second LED-based lights, to detect a brightness level in the area and includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal, and wherein at least one of the first and second LED-based lights includes a receiver configured for receiving the signal.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a power measuring device operable to measure the power consumed by the first and second LED-based lights and output one or more signals indicative of the power consumed.