Power outage detector and transmitter

• US 9,074,736 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• 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): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US13/267,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/210, 315/224, 315/225, 315/86, 315/119, 315/127, 315/160, 315/161, 315/171, 315/172, 315/173, 315/186, 315/187, 315/193, 315/291, 315/294, 315/295, 315/297, 315/299, 315/306, 315/307, 315/308, 315/311, 315/362
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• 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 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• 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: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that employ a control component and/or power source integrated in an LED based light source to control and/or power the LED light source wirelessly. In embodiments, the LED based light source may take the form of a standard light bulb that plugs into a standard lighting socket or fixture.

Claims

1. A power change detection apparatus comprising:

an electric power interface in electrical communication with an electric power source;

a detector configured to detect a change in electric power of the electric power source, wherein the electric power source is an AC power source;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a first control signal to at least one wireless lighting module to indicate a lighting action to be performed by the at least one wireless lighting module responsive to the detected change in the electric power, wherein the detected change in the electric power includes a loss of power in the AC power source;

a control button configured to, after detection of the loss of power in the AC power source, receive a user input and cause a second control signal to be transmitted to the at least one wireless lighting module in response to the user input; and

an energy storage device configured to provide power to the power change detection apparatus.

2. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the transmitter to transmit the first control signal, wherein the first control signal comprises at least one of an on signal, off signal, dim signal or test signal, and wherein the first control signal is transmitted based on at least one of a change in electric power of the electric power source, a result of a timer, a time of day, an environmental sensor output signal, a power line control signal or a signal from an auxiliary device.

3. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric power interface is in electrical communication via a wall outlet socket.

4. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is further configured to detect the presence of power or an increase in power of the electric power source and to trigger the transmitter to transmit a second control signal to the at least one wireless light module to reverse the lighting action.

5. The power change detection apparatus of claim 4, wherein reversing the lighting action comprises turning the at least one wireless lighting module off.

6. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell, or a capacitor.

7. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one wireless lighting module comprises a first plurality of wireless lighting modules, each of the first plurality of wireless lighting modules being part of a first group; and

the transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one of an on signal, dim signal or off signal to at least one of the first plurality of wireless lighting modules in the first group to indicate a lighting action, responsive to the detected change in the electric power, to be performed by the wireless lighting modules in the first group.

8. The power change detection apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the at least one wireless lighting module comprises a second plurality of wireless lighting modules each of which is part of a second group that is different from the first group, and wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one of an on signal, dim signal or an off signal to each of the second plurality of wireless lighting modules in the second group to indicate a lighting action, responsive to the detected change in the electric power, to be performed by all of the wireless lighting modules in the second group; and

wherein the signal transmitted to the second group is different from the signal transmitted to the first group.

9. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal light module that provides at least one of a source of light when the power change detection apparatus is removed from the electric power interface or a source of light while the power change detection apparatus is connected to the electric power source.

10. The power change detection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power change detection apparatus further comprises a control interface configured to receive user input commands;

and wherein the power change detection apparatus is further configured to be removed from the electric power interface to operate the at least one wireless lighting module remotely.

11. A method comprising:

detecting, via a detector, a change in electric power of an electric power source via an electric power interface connected to the electric power source, wherein the electric power source is an AC power source;

wirelessly transmitting, via a transmitter, a first control signal to at least one wireless lighting module, wherein the first control signal indicates a lighting action, responsive to the detected change in the electric power, to be performed by the at least one wireless lighting module, wherein the detected change in the electric power includes a loss of power in the AC power source;

after detection of the loss of power in the AC power source, receiving a user input and causing a second control signal to be transmitted to the at least one wireless lighting module in response to the user input; and

providing power to the detector and transmitter via an energy storage device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling, via a controller, the transmitter to transmit the first control signal, wherein the first control signal comprises an on signal, off signal, dim signal or test signal transmitted based on at least one of result of a timer, a time of day, an environmental sensor input signal, a power line control signal and a wirelessly received control signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the change in the electric power of the electric power source includes a lowering of power, which is detected by the detector via the electric power interface connection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device provides power to the transmitter in response to a power outage of an electric wall outlet socket, wherein the power provided by the energy storage device controls the transmitter to wirelessly transmit the first control signal to the at least one wireless lighting module to indicate a lighting action to be performed by the at least one wireless lighting module.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a restoration in power generated by the electric power interface and triggering the transmitter to transmit the first control signal to the at least one wireless lighting module to reverse the lighting action.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting keep alive messages to the at least one wireless lighting module to maintain a present operating state of the at least one wireless lighting module.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one wireless lighting module comprises a first plurality of wireless lighting modules, each of the first plurality of wireless lighting modules being part of a first group; and

the transmitter is further configured for transmitting at least one of an on signal, dim signal or off signal to each of the first plurality of wireless lighting modules in the first group to indicate a lighting action, responsive to the detected change in the electric power, to be performed by the wireless lighting modules in the first group.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the at least one wireless lighting module comprises a second plurality of wireless lighting modules each of which is part of a second group that is different from the first group; and

the transmitter is further configured for transmitting at least one of an on signal, dim signal or off signal to each of the second plurality of wireless lighting modules in the second group to indicate a lighting action, responsive to the detected change in the electric power, to be performed by all of the wireless lighting modules in the second group, wherein the signal transmitted to the second group is different from the signal transmitted to the first group.

19. A power change detection apparatus comprising:

an electric power interface in electrical communication with an electric power source;

a detector configured to detect a change in electric power of the electric power source, wherein the electric power source is an AC power source;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a control signal to at least one device, the control signal indicating at least one response to the detected change in the electric power, wherein the detected change in the electric power includes a loss of power in the AC power source;

a control button configured to, after detection of the loss of power in the AC power source, receive a user input and cause a second control signal to be transmitted to the at least one device in response to the user input; and

an energy storage device configured to provide power to the power change detection apparatus.