Off-grid LED power failure lights

• US 9,338,839 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• 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): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US13/283,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 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 apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a wireless receiver configured to receive a first command to control light produced via the light source, the first command directing the lighting apparatus to turn on the light source in response to a power outage at a remote AC power source;

a power source configured to provide power to the light source;

a controller configured to control the power source according to the first command; and

a housing including the light source, the wireless receiver, and the power source.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an on signal, a timing delay signal, an increase power consumption signal or a test signal.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first command comprises a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication signal.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the power source comprises a load control switch configured to transfer power from at least one of the battery power source or an AC power source to the light source, and wherein the first command instructs the controller to transfer power from the battery power source or the AC power source to the light source via the load switch.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the power source comprises a battery power source comprising at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor; and

the first command is configured to cause the controller to switch to the battery power source.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first command is configured to cause the controller to switch from an external power source to the battery power source.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first command is configured to cause the controller to reduce power consumed by the lighting apparatus from an external power source.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 8, wherein a second command is configured to cause the controller to at least one of increase power consumption of the lighting apparatus and cause the controller to increase power consumed by the lighting apparatus from the external power source.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote AC power source is electrically isolated from the lighting apparatus.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless receiver of a lighting apparatus, a first command directing the lighting apparatus to turn on the light source in response to a power outage at a remote AC power source; and

providing power to a light source, via the lighting apparatus, responsive to the first command.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an on signal, a timing delay signal, an increase power consumption signal or a test signal.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first command comprises a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication signal.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises at least one of an external power source and a battery power source, the battery power source comprising at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising switching, via the lighting apparatus, to the battery power source in response to the first command.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at the lighting apparatus, a second command; and

in response to the second command, switching from the battery power source to the external power source.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising at least one of:

lowering power consumed from the external power source in response to the first command;

increasing power consumed from the external power source in response to the second command;

or

increasing power consumption of a part of the lighting apparatus in response to the second command.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to the first command, transferring power to the light source from at least one of the battery power source or the external power source via a load control switch.