User input systems for an LED-based light

• US 9,510,400 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scapa, James R., Simon, David L., Ivey, John, Amrine, James M. Jr., Nickol, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US14/709,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/246, 315/185.R, 315/312, 315/158
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3574 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An LED-based replacement light includes a plurality of LEDs, an LED controller for operating the LEDs, a user input interface in communication with the LED controller, a housing for the LEDs, the LED controller and the user input interface, and a connector disposed at an end of the housing and shaped for connection with a light socket. The LED controller establishes different operating states for the LEDs that include only a limited number of discrete ON states. The user input interface is configured to receive user input, and in response to the user input, activate the LED controller to operate the LEDs according to one of the different operating states.

Claims

1. A fluorescent tube replacement device for use in a conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:

a housing comprising;

an opaque portion extending between opposing ends of the housing, and

a transparent or translucent portion extending between the opposing ends of the housing;

a first end cap and a second end cap disposed on respective ones of the opposing ends of the housing, wherein the first and second end caps are configured to physically engage the device with one or more sockets of the conventional fluorescent tube fixture;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the housing and oriented to emit light towards the transparent or translucent portion of the housing;

an LED controller disposed within the housing and configured to operate the LEDs according to a plurality of different operating states, the different operating states including a plurality of discrete ON states; and

a user input interface in communication with the LED controller, the user input interface configured to receive user input, and in response to the user input, activate the LED controller to operate the LEDs according to the different operating states, wherein the user input interface comprises a switch mounted to an exterior of the opaque portion and accessible to a user when the device is engaged with the one or more sockets of the conventional fluorescent tube fixture.

2. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete ON states varies a given characteristic of light emanating from the fluorescent tube replacement device upon operation of the LEDs.

3. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 2, wherein the given characteristic is an intensity of the light emanating from the fluorescent tube replacement device upon operation of the LEDs.

4. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of discrete ON states includes a high intensity ON state and one or more intermediate intensity ON states.

5. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete ON states is varies a power consumed by the fluorescent tube replacement device upon operation of the LEDs.

6. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of discrete ON states includes a high power ON state and one or more intermediate power ON states.

7. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 6, wherein the given characteristic is a spatial, spectral, color, color temperature or temporal aspect of light emanating from the fluorescent tube replacement device upon operation of the LEDs.

8. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, having two discrete ON states.

9. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, of having between two and ten discrete ON states.

10. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, wherein the different operating states further include an OFF state.

11. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, wherein the LED controller is implemented at least in part by a programmable controller, and the different operating states for the LEDs are established at least in part in connection with a programming of the programmable controller.

12. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 1, wherein the LED controller is implemented at least in part by an integrated circuit, and the different operating states for the LEDs are established at least in part in connection with circuitry of the integrated circuit.

13. A fluorescent tube replacement device, comprising:

a housing comprising;

an opaque portion extending between opposing ends of the housing, and

a transparent or translucent portion extending between the opposing ends of the housing;

a first end cap and a second end cap disposed on respective ones of the opposing ends of the housing, wherein the first and second end caps are configured to physically engage the device with one or more sockets of the conventional fluorescent tube fixture,

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the housing and oriented to emit light towards the transparent or translucent portion of the housing;

power supply circuitry for the LEDs disposed within the housing, the power supply circuitry;

including an integrated circuit configured to receive analog dimming signals, and in response to the analog dimming signals, generate respective PWM dimming signals, and

configured to operate the LEDs in response to the PWM dimming signals according to respective associated operating states for the LEDs, the operating states including a plurality of discrete ON states; and

a user input interface in communication with the power supply circuitry, the user input interface configured to receive user input, and in response to the user input, selectively activate the power supply circuitry to operate the LEDs according to the operating states, wherein the user input interface comprises a switch mounted to an exterior of the opaque portion and accessible to a user when the device is engaged with the one or more sockets of the conventional fluorescent tube fixture.

14. The fluorescent tube replacement device of claim 13, wherein the user input interface includes a user actuated switch for selectively activating the power supply circuitry to operate the LEDs according to the operating states.