Intelligent illumination device
First Claim
1. An illumination device comprising:
- a light source configured to provide illumination when the illumination device is set in an on-state;
a light control circuit configured to control the light source responsive to incident light originating outside the illumination device from an external device configured to communicate with the illumination device, wherein the light control circuit is configured to control the light source by;
periodically and momentarily turning the light source off at certain times when the illumination device is set in the on-state to produce periodic gaps in the illumination, wherein each said periodic gap is produced by the illumination device at the conclusion of east one synchronization pulse;
configuring the light source to detect the incident light from the external device during the periodic gaps and when the illumination device is set to an off-state, during which the illumination device enters a low power state and is not enabled to produce illumination; and
responding to an optically modulated command conveyed within the incident light by the external device in synchronization with the at least one synchronization pulse.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.
255 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An illumination device comprising:
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a light source configured to provide illumination when the illumination device is set in an on-state; a light control circuit configured to control the light source responsive to incident light originating outside the illumination device from an external device configured to communicate with the illumination device, wherein the light control circuit is configured to control the light source by; periodically and momentarily turning the light source off at certain times when the illumination device is set in the on-state to produce periodic gaps in the illumination, wherein each said periodic gap is produced by the illumination device at the conclusion of east one synchronization pulse; configuring the light source to detect the incident light from the external device during the periodic gaps and when the illumination device is set to an off-state, during which the illumination device enters a low power state and is not enabled to produce illumination; and responding to an optically modulated command conveyed within the incident light by the external device in synchronization with the at least one synchronization pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 54)
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16. The illumination device as recited in 1 wherein the light control circuit is configured to control the light source to communicate with the external device using light.
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17. The illumination device as recited in 16 wherein the external device comprises a second illumination device.
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18. The illumination device as recited in 16 wherein the external device comprises a remote controller.
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19. The illumination device as recited in 1 wherein during the certain times, the light source is momentarily turned off for a duration of time that a human eye cannot perceive.
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20. A method for operating an illumination device comprising a light source, wherein when the illumination device is set in an on-state, the method comprises:
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engaging the light source at first times to provide pulse-width-modulated (PWM) illumination at a modulation frequency; periodically and momentarily turning the light source off at second times to produce periodic gaps in the PWM illumination at a frequency less than the modulation frequency of the PWM illumination; engaging the light source during said periodic gaps for detecting incident light originating from outside the illumination device , wherein the incident light comprises an optically modulated data command, which is conveyed by an external device; controlling the illumination device responsive to the incident light detected by the light source, wherein the controlling step comprises; demodulating the incident light to decode the optically modulated data command conveyed by the external device; and changing an attribute of the illumination device in response to the data command decoded from the incident light; and engaging the light source during third times for transmitting a response to the external device after receiving the data command. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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31. The method as recited in 20 wherein the incident light originating from outside of the illumination device comprises light from a second illumination device.
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32. The method as recited in 20 wherein the incident light originating from outside of the illumination device comprises light from a remote controller.
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33. The method as recited in 20 wherein said controlling step comprises controlling said light source to communicate with the external device.
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34. The method as recited in 33 wherein the external device comprises a second illumination device.
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35. The method as recited in 33 wherein the external device comprises a remote controller.
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36. The method as recited in 20 wherein during the second times the light source is turned off momentarily for a duration of time that a human eye cannot perceive.
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41. An illumination device system, comprising:
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an illumination device comprising; a light source configured to provide illumination when the illumination device is set in an on-state; a light control circuit configured to control the light source, so as to provide the illumination during first times, produce periodic gaps in the illumination during second times by periodically and momentarily turning the light source off, and change an attribute of the illumination device in response to incident light received by the light source, wherein the attribute comprises a change in illumination state after a controllable time delay after a particular event, wherein before each of periodic gaps, the light control circuit is further configured to modulate the illumination provided by the light source with at least one synchronization pulse that is detectable by the remote control device; and a remote control device configured to convey optically modulated data commands to the light source during the periodic gaps and when the illumination device is set to an off-state, during which the illumination device enters a low power state and is not enabled to produce illumination. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An illumination device comprising:
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a light source configured to provide pulse-width-modulated (PWM) illumination at a modulation frequency when the illumination device is set in an on-state; and a light control circuit configured to control the light source responsive to incident light originating outside the illumination device from a second illumination device, which is configured to communicate with the illumination device using visible light, wherein the light control circuit is configured to turn off the light source momentarily at certain times to produce periodic gaps in the PWM illumination when the illumination device is set in the on-state, so that the light source can detect the incident light from the second illumination device during the periodic gaps, and wherein the periodic gaps are produced at a frequency less than the modulation frequency of the PWM illumination. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for operating an illumination device comprising a light source, wherein when the illumination device is set in an on-state, the method comprises:
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engaging the light source at first times to provide pulse-width-modulated (PWM) illumination at a modulation frequency; periodically and momentarily turning the light source off at second times to produce periodic gaps in the PWM illumination at a frequency less than the modulation frequency of the PWM illumination; engaging the light source during said periodic gaps for detecting incident light originating from outside the illumination device, wherein the incident light comprises an optically modulated data command, which is conveyed by an external device; and controlling the illumination device responsive to the incident light detected by the light source, wherein the controlling step comprises; demodulating the incident light to decode the optically modulated data command conveyed by the external device; and changing an attribute of the illumination device in response to the data command decoded from the incident light, wherein the attribute comprises a change in illumination state after a controllable time delay after a particular event.
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Specification