Remote switch sensing in lighting devices

• US 9,236,767 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• 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): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US13/949,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20140183946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 307/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for providing intelligent power control in response to an external power interruption, causing a processor is in an electrical fixture to interrogate an external power control switch to gain an understanding of the switch'"'"'s state, where prior to the external power interruption the electrical fixture may be powered by external power and where external power may be connected and disconnected by a user of the switch. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to operate using a backup power supply. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally not pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to act as if the user of the switch has intentionally removed power. In response to a return of external power, powering the electrical fixture is then through external power where the user of the switch switches external power.

Claims

1. An intelligent power outage lighting management system comprising:

at least one lighting device comprising a processor, a switched power connection to external power, a light source, an internal power source, a power selection device, and a switch sense interface; and

an external power control switch comprising a switch sense module, a power feed to the at least one lighting device, a switch, an internal power source, and a connection to an external power supply;

wherein the switch sense module detects a disruption in the external power supply, detects the state of the switch and communicates the state of the external power supply and the switch to the switch sense interface in the at least one lighting device, and wherein the processor selects the internal power source to power the lighting device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the external power switch communicates with the at least one lighting device by wireless communication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external power switch communicates with the at least one lighting device by power line communication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch sense module includes at least one of a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital logic circuit, or analog circuitry.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal power source includes at least one of a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, a super capacitor or at least one photovoltaic cell.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the input communicated to the switch sense interface from the switch sense module allows the processor to determine if the user intent was to turn off the light source, that there is a disruption in power prior to the switch and select the internal power source to power the light source.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch sense module detects the state of the switch by at least one of direct electrical connection to the switch, current sensing, or time domain reflectometry.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lighting devices receives communication from one switch sense module.

9. An intelligent power charging management system for lighting comprising:

at least one lighting device comprising a processor, a switched power connection to external power, a light source, and an internal power source; and

an intelligent power control switch comprising a charge mode controller, a power feed to the at least one lighting device, a switch, and a connection to an external power supply;

wherein the charge mode controller is configured to control the switch to supply power to the power feed to the at least one lighting device and communicate to the processor in the at least one lighting device to recharge the internal power source without activating the light source.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the intelligent power control switch communicates with the at least one lighting device by wireless communication.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the intelligent power control switch communicates with the at least one lighting device by power line communication.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the internal power source includes a rechargeable battery.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of lighting devices receives communication from one charge controller.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the intelligent power control switch may be programmed directly via a user interface with the configuration maintained in the intelligent power control switch.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the intelligent power control switch automatically closes the switch or bypasses the switch allowing power to be applied to the power feed at times when power was not intended to be applied to the power feed.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the intelligent power control switch is programmed to use time of day to enter charge mode.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one lighting device detects that power is applied on the power feed, the system is in charge mode, and the at least one lighting device will use the applied power only for charging purposes.