Lighting system with flexible lighting sheet and intelligent light bulb base

• US 9,504,099 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Original Assignee: NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc.
• Inventors: McGuire, Kenneth Stephen, Steinhardt, Mark John, Bischoff, Corey Michael, Sawicki, Edward Mack, Hasenoehrl, Erik John
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Skibinski, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/063,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/291, 315/307, 315/312, 362/235, 362/427, 362/382, 362/249.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light bulb base includes a power source interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a light bulb socket. It also includes a bulb-coupling interface configured to removably couple the light bulb base to a bulb assembly. A user interface mechanism is also included in the light bulb base, and is operable to control a function of the bulb assembly or the base when the base is coupled to the bulb assembly. The light bulb base may also include a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote control source and/or a controller configured to perform the function.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a bulb assembly comprising;

a light emitting element comprising a curved, bent or folded flexible lighting sheet, the flexible lighting sheet comprising an array of light emitting diodes arranged on a flexible substrate; and

a coupling interface, the coupling interface comprising;

a first power interface circuit;

a data interface circuit; and

an electronic key circuit;

and

a light bulb base comprising;

a second power source interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a light bulb socket;

a bulb-coupling interface configured to removably couple the light bulb base to the bulb assembly;

a user interface mechanism operable to control a function of the bulb assembly or the base when the base is coupled to the bulb assembly; and

a controller adapted to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates a compatible bulb assembly and not to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates an incompatible bulb assembly.

2. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the bulb-coupling interface comprises a magnet configured to removably secure the bulb base to the bulb assembly, wherein the magnet is conductive and operable to communicate from the bulb base to the bulb assembly either an electrical power signal or a data signal.

3. A lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the electronic key circuit comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device operable to receive wireless power and to transmit wireless data.

4. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface mechanism comprises one or more of:

an annular control, a slider, a switch, a touch sensitive control, a button, and a display.

5. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to cooperate with the user interface mechanism to control the function.

6. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of:

a timer function, a dimmer function, a directional control, a circuit selection control, and a color control.

7. A lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the bulb assembly further comprises a plurality of illumination circuits, and wherein the light bulb base further comprises a plurality of selectively energizable outputs, wherein each of the outputs is configured to provide an electrical signal to a corresponding illumination circuit of the plurality of illumination circuits in the bulb assembly.

8. A lighting system according to claim 7, wherein the bulb assembly further comprises a plurality of illumination surfaces, each illumination surface having a corresponding illumination circuit of the plurality of illumination circuits, wherein a first selectively energizable output of the plurality of selectively energizable outputs is configured to cause illumination of a first illumination surface of the plurality of illumination surfaces of the bulb assembly, and wherein a second selectively energizable output of the plurality of selectively energizable outputs is configured to cause illumination of a second illumination surface of the plurality of illumination surfaces of the bulb assembly, the second illumination surface different from the first illumination surface.

9. A lighting system comprising:

a bulb assembly comprising;

a light emitting element comprising a curved, bent or folded flexible lighting sheet, the flexible lighting sheet comprising an array of light emitting diodes arranged on a flexible substrate; and

a coupling interface, the coupling interface comprising;

a first power interface circuit;

a data interface circuit; and

an electronic key circuit;

and

a light bulb base comprising;

a second power source interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a light bulb socket;

a bulb-coupling interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a bulb assembly;

a receiver operable to receive a signal from a remote control source; and

a controller adapted to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates a compatible bulb assembly and not to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates an incompatible bulb assembly.

10. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the light bulb base further comprises a transmitter operable to transmit a signal to an external device.

11. A lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the bulb-coupling interface comprises a magnet configured to removably secure the bulb base to the bulb assembly, wherein the magnet is conductive and operable to communicate from the bulb base to the bulb assembly either an electrical power signal or a data signal.

12. A lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the electronic key circuit comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device operable to receive wireless power and to transmit wireless data.

13. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the receiver is operable to receive a signal from one or more of:

a home automation controller, a wired remote control, a wireless remote control, an infrared transmitter, a radio-frequency transmitter, and a mobile device application.

14. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the receiver is operable to receive one or more of:

an infrared signal, a radio-frequency signal, and a signal from a wired data network.

15. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further adapted to control a function in response to the signal.

16. A lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to perform one or more of the following in response to the signal:

energize an illumination circuit of the bulb assembly;

de-energize an illumination circuit of the bulb assembly;

increase illumination output from the bulb assembly;

decrease illumination output from the bulb assembly;

set a timer function;

or

respond to one of a light detector, a motion detector, a vibration detector, and a sound detector.

17. A lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the bulb assembly further comprises a plurality of illumination circuits, and wherein the light bulb base further comprises a plurality of selectively energizable outputs, wherein each of the outputs of the plurality of selectively energizable outputs is configured to provide an electrical signal to a corresponding illumination circuit in the bulb assembly.

18. A lighting system according to claim 17, wherein the bulb assembly further comprises a plurality of illumination surfaces, each illumination surface having a corresponding illumination circuit of the plurality of illumination circuits, wherein a first selectively energizable output of the plurality of selectively energizable outputs is configured to cause illumination of a first illumination surface of the plurality of illumination surfaces of the bulb assembly, and wherein a second selectively energizable output of the plurality of selectively energizable outputs is configured to cause illumination of a second illumination surface of the plurality of illumination surfaces of the bulb assembly, the second illumination surface different from the first illumination surface.

19. A lighting system comprising:

a bulb assembly comprising;

a light emitting element comprising a curved, bent or folded flexible lighting sheet, the flexible lighting sheet comprising an array of light emitting diodes arranged on a flexible substrate; and

a coupling interface, the coupling interface comprising;

a first power interface circuit;

a data interface circuit; and

an electronic key circuit;

and

a light bulb base comprising;

a second power source interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a light bulb socket;

a bulb-coupling interface configured to couple the light bulb base to a bulb assembly;

a first inductive coupling element operable to conduct a current and to generate a first corresponding current in a first corresponding inductive coupling element in the bulb assembly; and

a controller adapted to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates a compatible bulb assembly and not to provide power to the first power interface circuit when the electronic key circuit indicates an incompatible bulb assembly.

20. A lighting system according to claim 19, wherein the electronic key circuit comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) device operable to receive wireless power and to transmit wireless data.