Lighting wall switch with power failure capability

• US 9,078,313 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• 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:
  US13/309,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 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: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

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 lighting control apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a switch associated with the housing and having an input configured to receive power from a primary source of power;

a mode selector configured to select between a primary mode and a secondary mode;

an energy storage device disposed within the housing;

power converter circuitry associated with the housing, the power converter circuitry being configured to convert power from the energy storage device;

a lighting circuit input associated with the housing and configured to receive power for illuminating at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source is located remotely from the housing; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether power from the primary source of power is available at the input of the switch;

prevent application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in an open operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode;

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in a closed operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode; and

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in the open operational state, and the mode selector is in the secondary mode.

2. A lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an operational state of the switch; and

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch and if the switch is in a predetermined operational state.

3. A lighting control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined operational state of the switch corresponds to the closed operational state.

4. A lighting control apparatus of claim 2, wherein the predetermined operational state of the switch corresponds to the open operational state.

5. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises at least one of a wall switch, a dimmer switch, and a lighting control panel.

6. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power converter circuitry includes at least one of a DC/AC inverter, an AC/DC converter, a DC/DC converter, a relay, an optoisolator, and a solid state switch.

7. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes a DC power source including at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell, and a super capacitor.

8. The lighting control apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power converter circuitry is configured to convert DC power from the DC power source to AC power for supplying to the lighting circuit input.

9. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighting circuit input includes a power input interface.

10. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes one or more of an incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, an LED light source, or an AC power device that may derive power from the lighting circuit.

11. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, further including an uninterruptable power source inverter providing power to the lighting circuit from at least one of the power input and an energy storage device.

12. The lighting control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter configured to allow the controller to transmit control signals to remote lighting devices.

13. A wall switch module comprising:

a retrofit housing;

a switch associated with the retrofit housing and having an input configured to receive power from a primary source of power;

a mode selector configured to select between a primary mode and a secondary mode;

an energy storage device disposed within the retrofit housing;

power converter circuitry associated with the housing, the power converter circuitry being configured to convert power from the energy storage device;

a lighting circuit input associated with the retrofit housing and configured to receive power for illuminating at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source is located remotely from the retrofit housing; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether power from the primary source of power is available at the input of the switch;

prevent application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in an open operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode;

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in a closed operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode; and

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in the open operational state, and the mode selector is in the secondary mode.

14. The wall switch module of claim 13, wherein the switch comprises at least one of a wall switch, a dimmer switch, and a programmable control panel.

15. The wall switch module of claim 13, wherein the power converter circuitry includes at least one of a DC/AC inverter, AC/DC converter, DC/DC converter, a relay, an optoisolator, or a solid state switch.

16. The wall switch module of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor the operational state of the switch, determine that the switch is in at least one of an open and closed state, and determine whether the primary power source is present.

17. The wall switch module of claim 13, wherein the energy storage device includes a DC power source comprising at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell, or a super capacitor.

18. A lighting control apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a switch associated with the housing and having an input configured to receive power from a primary source of power;

a mode selector configured to select between a primary mode and a secondary mode;

an energy storage device disposed within the housing;

a lighting circuit input associated with the housing and configured to receive power for illuminating at least one light source, wherein the at least one light source is located remotely from the housing; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether power from the primary source of power is available at the input of the switch;

determine an operational state of the switch;

determine a mode of the mode selector;

prevent application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in an open operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode;

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in a closed operational state, and the mode selector is in the primary mode; and

cause application of power from the energy storage device to the lighting circuit input if power from the primary source of power is not available at the input of the switch, the switch is in the open operational state, and the mode selector is in the secondary mode.

19. The lighting control apparatus of claim 18, wherein the state of the mode selector is user selectable.

20. The lighting control apparatus of claim 18, wherein the primary mode of the mode selector corresponds to a non-emergency operational state of the lighting control apparatus, and the secondary mode of the mode selector corresponds to an emergency operational state of the lighting control apparatus.

21. The lighting control apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one light source includes one or more of an incandescent light source, a fluorescent light source, an LED light source or an AC power device that may derive power from the lighting circuit.