Lighting device

• US 9,357,609 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Litonics Limited
• Original Assignee: Litonics Limited
• Inventors: Williams, Nicolas
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skibinski, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/009,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 315/161, 315/160, 315/86, 315/88, 315/246, 315/274, 315/276, 315/291, 315/165, 315/166, 315/175, 315/176
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• 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: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/248 UPS systems or standby or emergency generators

Abstract

A lighting device has one or more light sources; a primary input power connection; and electronic circuitry for controlling delivery of power from the primary input power connection to the one or more light sources. The electronic circuitry determines an indication of an external electrical loading on a primary power supply network coupled, in use, with the primary input power connection the circuitry varies the power drawn from the primary input power connection in dependence upon the determined indication of the external electrical loading on the primary power supply network. In this way, during times of high demand on the primary supply network, the lighting device can reduce the amount of power drawn from the primary supply.

Claims

1. A lighting control device comprising:

a housing;

a primary input power connection in the housing for receiving power from a primary power supply network;

a secondary input power connection in the housing for receiving power from a secondary power supply;

an output power connection in the housing for delivering power to one or more light sources; and

electronic circuitry in the housing for controlling delivery of power from the primary and secondary input power connections to the output power connection to control delivery of power to the one or more light sources;

wherein the electronic circuitry comprises;

circuitry that determines an indication of an external electrical loading on a primary power supply network coupled, in use, with the primary input power connection; and

circuitry that varies the power drawn from the primary and secondary input power connections in dependence upon the determined indication of the external electrical loading on the primary power supply network;

wherein the lighting control device comprises;

a normal mode of operation in which the electronic circuitry is arranged to deliver power from the primary input power connection to the output power connection for delivering power to the one or more light sources;

an economy mode of operation in which the electronic circuitry is arranged to take no power or minimal power from the primary input power connection and to deliver power from the secondary input power connection to the output power connection for delivering power to the one or more light sources; and

a charging mode of operation in which the electronic circuitry is arranged to deliver power from the primary input power connection to the secondary input power connection to charge the secondary power supply;

wherein the circuitry that determines an indication is arranged to determine a frequency measurement of a power signal received at said primary input power connection;

wherein the electronic circuitry is arranged to use the frequency measurement to determine whether there is a high demand, a low demand or a normal demand on the primary power supply network; and

wherein the electronic circuitry is arranged to configure the lighting control device to operate in the charging mode if there is low demand on the primary power supply network;

to operate in the normal mode if there is normal demand on the primary power supply network; and

to operate in the economy mode if there is high demand on the primary power supply network.

2. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry that varies the power drawn comprises a processor arranged to receive the indication of the external electrical loading and arranged to output control signals in dependence upon the determined indication of the external electrical loading on the primary power supply network, for controlling the power drawn from the primary and secondary power connections.

3. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry that varies the power drawn from the primary and secondary input power connections is arranged to provide power delivered to the output power connection to maintain brightness of the one or more light sources independent of the electrical loading on the primary supply network.

4. A lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises:

circuitry that provides at least one threshold value; and

circuitry that compares the threshold value to the measurement of the frequency of the power signal.

5. The lighting control device according to any preceding claim, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to decrease the power drawn from the primary input power connection from a first non-zero power level to a second non-zero power level, when the circuitry that determines an indication determines that there is a high electrical loading on the primary power supply network.

6. The lighting control device according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is operable to decrease the power drawn from the primary input power connection by inhibiting operation of a charging circuit used to charge a secondary charge storage device associated with the lighting device.

7. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is operable to decrease the power drawn from the primary input power connection by reducing brightness of light generated by the one or more light sources.

8. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is operable to replace power drawn from the primary input power connection with power drawn from the secondary power supply associated with the lighting device.

9. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to increase the power drawn from the primary input power connection from a third non-zero power level to a fourth non-zero power level, when the circuitry that determines an indication, determines that there is a low electrical loading on the primary power supply network.

10. The lighting control device according to claim 9, wherein the secondary power supply is a charge storage device and wherein said circuitry that varies the power is operable to increase the power drawn from the primary power supply by allowing operation of a charging circuit used to charge the secondary charge storage device associated with the lighting device, and/or is operable to increase the power drawn from the primary input power connection by increasing brightness of light generated by the one or more light sources.

11. The lighting control device according to claim 9, wherein the lighting device is operable to replace or supplement power drawn from the primary input power connection with power drawn from the secondary power supply associated with the lighting device.

12. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the secondary power supply comprises a charge storage device and wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises circuitry that determines a remaining charge of the charge storage device;

and

wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to vary the power drawn from the secondary power supply in dependence upon the remaining charge of the charge storage device.

13. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the secondary power supply comprises a charge storage device;

and

wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to vary the power drawn from the secondary power supply in dependence upon the capacity of the charge storage device.

14. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the secondary power supply comprises a charge storage device;

and

wherein during periods of high grid demand, the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to draw power from the secondary power supply for a predefined or deduced time period.

15. The lighting control device of claim 14, wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises circuitry that determines a remaining charge of the charge storage device;

and wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to reduce the power drawn from the secondary power supply during said period of time if the remaining charge of the charge storage device is below a threshold or if the secondary power supply has been used for a second period of time.

16. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to increase the power drawn from the primary power supply when it reduces the power drawn from the secondary power supply, and/or is arranged to reduce the power drawn from the primary power supply when the circuitry that varies the power increases the power drawn from the secondary power supply.

17. The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry that determines an indication of an external electrical loading on a primary power supply network coupled, in use, with the primary input power connection is arranged to measure one or more parameters of the primary input power signal to determine instantaneous loading on the supply network.

18. A lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry further comprises circuitry that measures an external impedance coupled, in use, to the primary input power connection and wherein the circuitry that varies the power is arranged to control power drawn from the secondary power supply in dependence upon impedance measure.

19. The lighting control device of claim 18, wherein the circuitry that varies the power is further configured to increase the power drawn from the secondary power supply when the power signal is not present at the primary input power connection and the impedance measure is below a predetermined threshold value.

20. A lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the housing forms at least part of a light bulb enclosure, elongate tube or similar transparent or translucent housing, and/or wherein the housing forms at least part of a power supply unit, a ceiling rose or an inline adapter.

21. A lighting control method using a lighting control device having a housing, the method comprising:

receiving power from a primary power supply network at a primary input power connection in the housing of the lighting control device;

receiving power from a secondary power supply at a secondary input power connection in the housing of the lighting control device;

delivering power to one or more light sources via an output power connection in the housing of the lighting control device; and

controlling delivery of power from the primary and secondary input power connections to the output power connection to control delivery of power to the one or more light sources using control circuitry in the housing of the lighting control device;

wherein the controlling comprises;

determining an indication of an external electrical loading on the primary power supply network; and

varying the power drawn from the primary and secondary input power connections in dependence upon the determined indication of the external electrical loading on the primary power supply network;

wherein the lighting control device comprises;

a normal mode of operation in which power from the primary input power connection is delivered to the output power connection for the one or more light sources;

an economy mode of operation in which no power or minimal power from the primary input power connection is taken and power from the secondary input power connection is delivered to the output power connection for the one or more light sources; and

a charging mode of operation in which power from the primary input power connection is delivered to the secondary input power connection to charge the secondary power supply;

wherein the determining determines a frequency measurement of a power signal received at said primary input power connection;

using the frequency measurement to determine whether there is a high demand, a low demand or a normal demand on the primary power supply network; and

operating in the charging mode if there is low demand on the primary power supply network;

operating in the normal mode if there is normal demand on the primary power supply network; and

operating in the economy mode if there is high demand on the primary power supply network.