Switch sensing emergency lighting power supply

• US 9,247,623 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• 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: Levine, David B., Recker, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US13/247,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20130063027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 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: 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: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/24 Circuit arrangements for protecting against overvoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/28 Circuit arrangements for protecting against abnormal temperature
• 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: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

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 power supply comprising:

a power input adapted to receive power via a power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit is adapted to receive a supply of power from a primary source of power through a switch and includes a secondary source of power;

a power output configured to condition power from the secondary source of power for at least one light emitting diode (LED), the power output comprising one or more of an uninterruptable power source inverter, a battery backup power supply, and a LED driver;

an impedance sensor configured to generate an output indicative of an impedance, resistance or capacitance associated with the power supply circuit; and

a controller configured to;

determine an operational state of the switch based on a comparison of one or more measurements of the output of the impedance sensor and a threshold impedance, wherein the threshold impedance is established by the controller; and

cause the power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the at least one LED when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

2. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein the threshold impedance is set manually.

3. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein establishing the threshold impedance level further includes dynamically setting the threshold impedance value according to at least one measurement relating to the operational state of the switch.

4. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein the impedance sensor generates the output indicative of an impedance associated with the power supply circuit as part of a time domain reflectometry process.

5. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein the secondary source of power includes a DC power source.

6. The lighting power supply of claim 5, wherein the DC power source includes at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

7. The lighting power supply of claim 5, wherein DC power from the DC power source is converted to AC power to supply power to the at least one LED.

8. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED is adapted to receive power via the power input.

9. The lighting power supply of claim 1, wherein the lighting power supply provides power to a bulb, tube, lamp, lighting fixture, or retrofit fixture.

10. A switch sensing power supply comprising:

a power input adapted to receive power via a power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit is adapted to receive power from a primary source of power through a switch and includes a secondary source of power;

a power output configured to condition power from the secondary source of power for a device attached to the switch sensing power supply, the power output comprising one or more of an uninterruptable power source inverter, an adapter, a ballast, a battery backup power supply, and a light emitting diode (LED) driver;

a housing configured for connecting to the power input and to the device;

a sensor configured to generate an output indicative of an impedance, resistance or capacitance associated with the power supply circuit; and

a controller configured to;

determine an operational state of the switch based on a comparison of one or more measurements of the output of the sensor and a threshold impedance, wherein the threshold impedance is established by the controller; and

cause the power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the device when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

11. The switch sensing power supply of claim 10, wherein the device is a light source.

12. The switch sensing power supply of claim 10, wherein the threshold impedance is set one of manually or dynamically.

13. The switch sensing power supply of claim 10, wherein the secondary source of power includes at least one of a rechargeable, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

14. The switch sensing power supply of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to control charging of the at least one rechargeable battery, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

15. A lighting adapter comprising:

a first connector configured to connect the adapter to a power supply circuit and a second connector configured to connect a lighting device to the adapter, wherein the first connector is configured for mounting to a first Edison socket, and the second connector includes a second Edison socket;

a power input configured to receive power via the power supply circuit through the first connector, wherein the power supply circuit is configured to receive a power from a primary source of power through a switch and includes a secondary source of power;

a power source inverter configured to condition power from the secondary source of power for the lighting device;

a sensor configured to sense an impedance, resistance or capacitance associated with the power supply circuit through the first connector and generate an output indicative of the sensed impedance, resistance or capacitance; and

a controller configured to;

determine an operational state of the switch based on a comparison of one or more generated outputs of the sensor and a threshold impedance, wherein the threshold impedance is established by the controller; and

cause power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the lighting device when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state, wherein the secondary source includes a battery, and the power source inverter is used to supply power to the lighting device.

16. The lighting adapter of claim 15, wherein the lighting device comprises of a bulb, tube, lamp, lighting fixture, or retrofit fixture.

17. The lighting adapter of claim 15, further comprising a relay configured to switch between the primary source of power and the secondary source of power to supply power to the lighting device.