Wireless lighting control system

• US 9,295,144 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ilumi Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Bora, Swapnil, Egan, Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don
• Application Number:
  US14/077,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20140062297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 315/292, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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

A lighting device includes a AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, and one or more LEDs electrically connected to the LED current control circuit.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a housing;

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter disposed within the housing;

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and disposed within the housing;

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter and disposed within the housing; and

one or more LEDs electrically connected to the LED current control circuit and disposed proximate to or within an aperture of the housing.

2. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs comprise at least a first type or color LED and a second type or color LED.

3. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing has a bi-pin connector electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter.

4. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing has a plug-in connector electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter.

5. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing has a battery connector electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter.

6. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a heat sink disposed within or outside the housing.

7. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the housing comprises a can light housing;

a wire, a cable or a connecting strip electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

an electrical connector electrically connected to the wire, the cable or the connecting strip; and

a heat sink disposed within or integrated into the can light housing.

8. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reflector disposed within the aperture of the housing and around the two or more LEDs.

9. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a diffuser or lens sealing the aperture of the housing.

10. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, the one or more LEDs comprising two or more LEDs having different type or colors, and the LED current control circuit provides an on/off signal having a cycle time to each LED in response to one or more control signals received from the controller/processor such that two or more LEDs produce a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.

11. The lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein the specified color is produced by turning ON the first color LED for a first portion of the cycle time and turning ON the second color LED for a second portion of the cycle time.

12. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, the one or more LEDs comprising two or more LEDs having different colors and the two or more LEDs are not turned ON at the same time.

13. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, the one or more LEDs comprising two or more LEDs having different colors and each LED is turned ON and OFF for a time period calculated using a count corresponding to a color and brightness combination.

14. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the LED comprises a series of LEDs, a group of LEDs, an array of LEDs, two or more series-connected LEDs, two or more parallel-connected LEDs or a combination thereof.

15. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs comprise a blacklight or ultraviolet LED selected to illuminate one or more fluorescent objects.

16. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs comprise a laser diode selected to illuminate one or more objects based a current or timing limitation of the laser diode.

17. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a memory communicably coupled to or integrated into the controller/processor.

18. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the LED current control circuit comprises a PWM driver, a switching or multiplexer circuit, or one or more LED driver circuit.

19. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an ambient light sensor circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor.

20. The lighting device as recited in claim 19, the ambient light sensor detects a level of one or more color components of an ambient light, wherein the one or more color components comprise a red, a green, a blue, a cyan, a yellow, a magenta, or a black.

21. The lighting device as recited in claim 19, the ambient light sensor is located to detect an ambient light and a light emitted by the lighting device such that the controller/processor adjusts one or more of the on/off signals provided to the two or more LEDs.

22. The lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein the ambient light sensor is disposed on a LED board with the one or more LEDs.

23. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a hard reset circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor.

24. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, the DC/DC or AC/DC power converter comprising a battery, a battery backup or a rechargeable battery.

25. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a wireless energy receiver connected to the DC/DC or AC/DC power converter.

26. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an external switch communicably coupled to the controller/processor that controls the lighting device based a program triggered by a specified number of ON/OFF combinations from the external switch within a specified period of time.

27. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor; and

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit.

28. The lighting device as recited in claim 27, the antenna is external to the lighting device.

29. The lighting device as recited in claim 27, further comprising a signal booster or repeater communicably coupled to the antenna.

30. The lighting device as recited in claim 27, further comprising one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, wireless controllers, wireless devices, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof that communicates with the controller/processor of the lighting device using the wireless transceiver circuit, the antenna and one or more communication protocols.

31. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, further comprising a group of lighting devices comprising the lighting device and at least two or more of the other lighting devices.

32. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein one or more parameters of the lighting device or the one or more other lighting devices are displayed on the remote controller, wireless controller or wireless device.

33. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein the lighting device or the one or more lighting devices are displayed on the remote controller, wireless controller or wireless device in accordance with a user-defined filter or a user-defined sorting based on one or more criteria.

34. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, the one or more communication protocols comprising multiple simultaneous communication protocols.

35. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein a communication or discovery of the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof are based on a signal strength.

36. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, the controller/processor controls the one or more LEDs based on data received from the one or more sensors.

37. The lighting device as recited in claim 36, further comprising an intermediate device communicably coupled between the controller/processor and the one or more sensors.

38. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein the one or more sensors comprise a motion or accelerometer sensor.

39. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, the controller/processor receives and executes one or more commands from the one or more other lighting devices, remote controllers, sensors, other devices, or a combination thereof.

40. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, the one or more commands comprise one or more voice commands.

41. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, the one or more commands comprise one or more broadcast commands.

42. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more commands select and control one or more groups of lighting devices using a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

43. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more commands select and control one or more favorites of lighting devices or one or more screens of lighting devices using a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

44. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more commands select and control one or more modes or programs of lighting devices using a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

45. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more commands select and control a color, a brightness or a saturation of one or more groups of lighting devices using a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

46. The lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein the one or more commands select and control a color, a brightness or a saturation of one or more favorites of lighting devices using a user interface on the wireless controller or wireless device.

47. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein the lighting device and the other lighting devices are part of a mesh network, a group or a combination thereof.

48. The lighting device as recited in claim 47, wherein the controller/processor provides a status information to the other lighting devices, remote controllers or other devices within the mesh network or group.

49. The lighting device as recited in claim 47, wherein the controller/processor receives a status information from the other lighting devices, remote controllers or other devices within the mesh network and uses the status information as an input to execute one or more commands, change the on/off signals, trigger a communication or command to the mesh network or group, or a combination thereof.

50. The lighting device as recited in claim 47, wherein the controller/processor enters a discovery mode to detect the other lighting devices within the mesh network or group when the lighting device is turned on.

51. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, wherein the one or more other devices relay and/or transmit one or more commands.

52. The lighting device as recited in claim 30, the one or more other devices comprising an access point, a repeater or a booster.

53. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller/processor executes one or more modes or programs to control the LED current control circuit to produce a light in accordance with the one or more modes or programs.

54. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise one or more default modes or programs, one or more user created modes or programs, one or more user profiles, an application programming interface program, a diagnostic/testing program, a user interface, or a combination thereof.

55. The lighting device as recited in claim 54, wherein the application programming interface program include a memory read/write function, a sensor communication setup function, a color adjustment function, a brightness adjustment function, an amplitude/saturation function communications setup function, or a combination thereof.

56. The lighting device as recited in claim 54, wherein the one or more user profiles are shared between the lighting device and the one or more other lighting devices.

57. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs include a reintegration mode that when executed reconnects the lighting device to the one or more other lighting devices.

58. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs when executed selects a level of control of the lighting device, converts the selected level of control into one or more light control settings, and transmits the one or more light control settings to the lighting device for execution by the controller/processor.

59. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs when executed selects the lighting device or one or more other lighting devices, and assigns the selected lighting device(s) to a new or existing group of lighting devices.

60. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs when executed selects the lighting device, one or more other lighting devices or one or more groups of lighting devices, selects a configuration or one or more settings for the selected lighting device(s), selects a timing condition when the selected configuration or settings are to executed, and saves the selected timing condition and selected configurations or settings as an automated mode or program.

61. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs includes a soft reset process.

62. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs includes a visual or virtual representation of the lighting device located within one or more spaces.

63. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the controller/processor includes a security program that when executed prevents unauthorized access to the one or more modes or programs.

64. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein at least one of the one or more modes or programs are assigned a priority.

65. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a learning program that when executed learns an activity, routine or behavior of a user and operates the lighting device in accordance with the activity, routine or behavior of the user.

66. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a circadian clock program.

67. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs when executed adjust the lighting device as a function of a color temperature and a time.

68. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a scheduling program.

69. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise an energy reduction program, energy monitoring program, energy reporting program, or a combination thereof.

70. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a data program that when executed translates a data feed into one or more light settings or commands based on one or more user-defined or default settings.

71. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a recording program that when executed captures and plays back one or more commands received by the lighting device.

72. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise an image reflection program that when executed translates one or more images, sequences of images or characteristics of images into one or more lighting conditions.

73. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a quick scene creation program that when executed captures, saves and executes one or more scenes or settings.

74. The lighting device as recited in claim 53, wherein the one or more modes or programs comprise a location services and interactions program.

75. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, the controller/processor includes a mode or program that when executed provides two or more layers of control over the lighting device.

76. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a control connector, a programming connector or a diagnostics connector communicably connected to the controller/processor.

77. The lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, the controller/processor, the light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit and the one or more LEDs are configured into two or more modules.

78. The lighting device as recited in claim 77, further comprising a program for virtually designing the lighting device using a set of modules selected from the two or more modules and a set of parameters.

79. The lighting device as recited in claim 78, the program further comprising testing one or more parameters of the virtual lighting device.

80. A lighting device comprising:

a panel housing;

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter disposed within the panel housing;

a controller/processor disposed within the panel housing;

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit disposed within the panel housing and communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

a wire, a cable or a connecting strip electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

an electrical connector electrically connected to the wire, the cable or the connecting strip; and

one or more LEDs affixed to the panel housing and electrically connected to the LED current control circuit.

81. A lighting device comprising:

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter;

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter; and

a strip wherein one or more LEDs are affixed to the strip;

a first electrical connector affixed to the strip and electrically connected to the one or more LEDs; and

wherein the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, the controller/processor and the LED current control circuit are remotely located with respect to the strip and electrically connected to the first electrical connector via a wire, a cable or a connecting strip.

82. The lighting device as recited in claim 81, further comprising a second electrical connector affixed to the strip and electrically connected to at least the first electrical connector and one or more other lighting devices.

83. A lighting system comprising:

two or lighting devices, wherein each lighting device comprises;

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

one or more LEDs electrically connected to the LED current control circuit, a wireless transceiver circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor, and

an antenna communicably coupled to the wireless transceiver circuit; and

wherein the controller/processors of the two or more lighting devices communicate with one another using the wireless transceivers and antennas of the two or more lighting devices.

84. A method for controlling one or more lighting devices comprising the steps of:

providing the one or lighting devices, wherein each lighting device comprises;

an AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter,

a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, and

one or more LEDs electrically connected to the LED current control circuit;

sending one or more control signals from the controller/processor to the LED current control circuit corresponding to a blended light having a specified color; and

sending an on/off signal having a cycle time from the LED current control circuit to each LED in response to the one or more control signals such that the two or more LEDs produce the blended light having the specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.