Standby switch sense emergency lighting device

• US 9,543,788 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• 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): Deberadinis, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/974,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20160172904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• 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: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for providing intelligent power control in response to an external power interruption, causing a processor is in an electrical fixture to interrogate an external power control switch to gain an understanding of the switch'"'"'s state, where prior to the external power interruption the electrical fixture may be powered by external power and where external power may be connected and disconnected by a user of the switch. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to operate using a backup power supply. In the event that the switch'"'"'s state is determined to be such that it would normally not pass power to the electrical fixture, the processor causes the electrical fixture to act as if the user of the switch has intentionally removed power. In response to a return of external power, powering the electrical fixture is then through external power where the user of the switch switches external power.

Claims

1. A lighting unit comprising:

a power input adapted to receive power via a power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit is adapted to receive a supply of power from a primary power source through a switch and includes a secondary source of power;

at least one light source adapted to receive power from the secondary source of power;

a sensor configured to generate an output indicative of the amount of current in an electrical signal sent onto the power supply circuit and

a controller configured to;

cause application of the electrical signal to the power supply circuit;

determine an operational state of the switch based a comparison of one or more measurements of the amount of current in the electrical signal applied to the power supply circuit and a threshold amount of current; and

cause the power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the light source when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the threshold is set manually.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein establishing the threshold level further includes dynamically setting the threshold value according to at least one measurement relating to the operational state of the switch.

4. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the applied electrical signal generated by the controller is one or more square pulses driven through a sense resistor and a coupling circuit to couple the one or more pulses onto the power supply circuit wherein the amount of current flowing through the sense resistor is indicative of the position of the switch.

5. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the secondary source of power is integrated into the lighting unit.

6. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the secondary source of power includes at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

7. The lighting unit of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to control charging of the at least one rechargeable battery, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

8. The lighting unit of claim 6, wherein the photovoltaic cell is configured to recharge the at least one rechargeable battery, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

9. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is configured for mounting to an Edison socket.

10. The lighting unit of claim 1, further including a timer, wherein the controller is further configured to control a supply of power to the light source based at least in part on an output of the timer.

11. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the light source is only illuminated when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

12. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to turn the light source on or off, change an illumination level of the light source, flash the light source, or change a color content of illumination of the light source.

13. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the switch includes a dimmer switch.

14. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit comprises or is a component integrated into a bulb, tube, lamp, lighting fixture, or retrofit fixture.

15. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to change at least an illumination level of the light source to increase the energy efficiency of the lighting unit and wherein increasing the energy efficiency of the lighting unit includes decreasing power supplied from the secondary source of power supplied to the light source.

16. A retrofit lighting fixture comprising:

a housing configured for installation into an existing structure;

a power input adapted to receive power via a power supply circuit associated with the existing structure, wherein the power supply circuit receives a power from a primary power source through a switch;

at least one light source adapted to receive power from the secondary source of power;

a source of secondary source of power adapted to selectively provide power to the at least one light source;

a sensor configured to generate an output indicative of the amount of current in an electrical signal sent onto the power supply circuit; and

a controller configured to;

cause application of the electrical signal to the power supply circuit;

make at least one determination of an operational state of the switch based on a comparison of one or more measurements of the output of the sensor and a threshold; and

cause power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the at least one light source from the secondary source of power when power through the switch is not present on the power input and the operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

17. The lighting unit of claim 16, wherein the threshold is set one of manually or dynamically.

18. The lighting unit of claim 16 wherein:

the secondary source of power is integrated into the lighting unit and includes at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, fuel cell, or super capacitor.

19. A lighting unit comprising:

a power input adapted to receive power via a power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit is adapted to receive a supply of power from a primary power source through a switch and includes a secondary source of power;

at least one light source adapted to receive power from the secondary source of power;

a sensor configured to generate an output indicative of the amount of current in an electrical signal sent onto the power supply circuit; and

a controller configured to;

cause application of the electrical signal to the power supply circuit;

determine an operational state of the switch based on a comparison of one or more measurements of the amount of current in the electrical signal applied to the power supply circuit and a threshold amount of current; and

cause the power from the secondary source of power to be supplied to the light source when power from the primary source is not present on the power input and the determined operational state of the switch indicates that the switch is in a closed state.

20. The lighting unit of claim 19, wherein the lighting unit comprises or is a component integrated into a bulb, tube, lamp, lighting fixture, or retrofit fixture.