Battery backup motion sensing lighting device

• US 9,089,016 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• 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): HAMMOND, DEDEI KHALIEAH
• Application Number:
  US14/468,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20140361688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/20 responsive to excess voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/56 involving measures to prevent abnormal temperature of the LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• 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 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• 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

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for autonomous shifting of at least a portion of a lighting load off an energy distribution grid, comprising electrically connecting a lighting device to the energy distribution grid; causing the lighting device to interpret information obtained from an information source proximate the lighting device; and causing the lighting device to select from at least two different power sources based on the interpretation, where selecting may include a sharing of the load between the two different power sources, and where one power source may be the energy distribution grid.

Claims

1. A motion sensing light fixture comprising:

a housing;

a light source disposed within the housing;

a connector associated with the housing and configured to receive power from an external AC power source, wherein the external AC power source has access to an electrical grid connection;

a battery disposed within the housing;

an environmental sensor associated with the housing, the environmental sensor being configured to detect an environmental condition in a vicinity of the fixture and transmit an environmental sensor signal, wherein the environmental sensor signal is indicative of a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion; and

a controller comprising a timing component, the controller being configured to;

determine an illumination state of the light source based on at least the environmental sensor signal and a setting of the timing component;

apply power for illumination of the light source from the external AC power source when power is available at the connector to the external AC power source, and the environmental sensor signal indicates a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion; and

apply power for the illumination of the light source from the battery when power is not available at the connector to the external AC power source, and the environmental sensor indicates a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion.

2. The light fixture of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the lighting fixture comprises a ceiling light fixture.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the illumination state of the light source based on availability of power at the connector to the external AC power source.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the environmental sensor signal from the environmental sensor; and

in response to the received environmental sensor signal, determine a time duration of the illumination of the light source according to a timing protocol associated with the setting of the timing component.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED or a fluorescent light source.

7. A lighting device comprising:

a housing;

a light source disposed within the housing;

a connector associated with the housing and configured to receive power from an external AC power source, wherein the external AC power source has access to an electrical grid connection;

a battery disposed within the housing;

an environmental sensor associated with the housing, the environmental sensor being configured to detect an environmental condition in a vicinity of the lighting device and transmit an environmental sensor signal, wherein the environmental sensor signal is indicative of a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion; and

a controller comprising a timing component, the controller being configured to;

determine an illumination state of the light source based on at least availability of power from the external AC power source;

apply power for illumination of the light source from the external AC power source when power is available at the connector to the external AC power source, regardless of whether the environmental sensor signal is received at the controller; and

apply power for the illumination of the light source from the battery when power is not available at the connector to the external AC power source, and the environmental sensor signal indicates a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion.

8. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the lighting device comprises a bulb, tube, lamp, lighting fixture, or retrofit fixture.

9. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the illumination state of the light source based on the environmental sensor signal and a setting of the timing component.

10. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the environmental sensor signal from the environmental sensor indicating a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion;

determine that power is not available at the connector to the external AC power source; and

determine a time duration of the illumination of the light source according to a timing protocol associated with setting of the timing component.

11. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the light source is an LED or a fluorescent light source.

12. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the battery comprises a non-rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery.

13. A light bulb comprising:

a light source;

a power interface to receive power from an external AC power source, wherein the light bulb is enclosed by a housing, the housing includes a screw base, and the power interface to the external AC power source is associated with the screw base;

a battery disposed within the light bulb;

an environmental sensor associated with the housing of the light bulb, the environmental sensor being configured to detect an environmental condition in a vicinity of the light bulb and transmit an environmental sensor signal, wherein the environmental sensor signal is indicative of a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion, and wherein a lens associated with the environmental sensor is located on an external surface of the housing; and

a controller comprising a timing component, the controller being configured to;

determine an illumination state of the light source based on at least availability of AC power at the screw base;

apply power for illumination of the light source from the external AC power source when AC power is available at the power interface associated with the screw base, regardless of whether the environmental sensor signal is received at the controller; and

apply power for the illumination of the light source from the battery when AC power is not available at the power interface of the screw base, and the environmental sensor signal indicates a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion.

14. The light bulb of claim 13, wherein the light source includes an LED light source or a fluorescent light source.

15. The light bulb of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the illumination state of the light source based on the environmental sensor signal and setting of the timing component.

16. The light bulb of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the environmental sensor signal from the environmental sensor indicating a detected proximity of an object or a detected motion;

determine that AC power is not available at the power interface associated with the screw base; and

determine a time duration of the illumination of the light source according to a timing protocol associated with a setting of the timing component.

17. The light bulb of claim 13, wherein the screw base includes an Edison socket.

18. The light bulb of claim 13, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery.