Lighting device capable of maintaining light intensity in demand response applications

• US 9,544,967 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• 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): Richardson, Jany
• Application Number:
  US13/446,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/210, 315224-225, 315/119, 315/127, 315160-161, 315/171, 315172-173, 315186-193, 315291-299, 315306-311, 315/362, 362/276, 362/20, 362157-208, 362/802, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention further include a lighting system comprising a lighting source, a connector in electrical communication with the lighting source and an external power source, an energy storage device, an input device, and a controller. The controller may be configured to identify the presence of a load indicator signal received via the input device, determine whether the load indicator signal indicates a load-reducing state, and when the load indicator signal indicates the load-reducing state, discharge the energy storage device to maintain an intensity of the lighting source.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a lighting source;

a connector in electrical communication with the lighting source and an external power source;

an energy storage device configured to selectively provide power to the lighting source;

a controller configured to;

communicate with a remote measurement device and via a data input, wherein the remote measurement device comprises a sensor, electrically connected to a power distribution installation to acquire measurement information relating to power consumption at the power distribution installation, wherein the remote measurement device also includes a transmitter configured to send a load reduction command signal to the data input of the controller, wherein the load reduction command signal is derived from an analysis of the measurement information;

determine based on the load reduction command whether a load-reducing state exists; and

when the load-reducing state exists, discharge the energy storage device to maintain an intensity of the lighting source.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to

recharge the energy storage device when the load-reducing state does not exist.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting source is configured to receive power from both the external power source and the energy storage device in the load-reducing state.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting source is configured to receive power only from the energy storage device in the load-reducing state.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the data input is configured to receive one or more control signals and provide the one or more control signals to the controller.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the one or more control signals are generated by a demand response system, a utility company, or a building management system.

7. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the one or more control signals are received wirelessly from a network, via power lines, or through a wired network connection.

8. A lighting system, comprising:

a lighting source;

a connector in electrical communication with an external power source;

an energy storage device configured to selectively provide power to the lighting source; and

a controller configured to manage power usage of the lighting source based on a load reduction command derived from an analysis of measurement information received from a remote measurement device via a data input wherein the remote measurement device comprises a sensor, electrically connected to a power distribution installation to acquire measurement information relating to power consumption at the power distribution installation, wherein the remote measurement device also includes a transmitter configured to send the load reduction command signal to the data input of the controller, wherein the load reduction command signal is derived from an analysis of the measurement information.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein management of the power usage of the lighting source includes selecting a power source from which the lighting source receives power.

10. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to control charging of the energy storage device.

11. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein management of the power usage of the lighting source includes controlling of an amount of load shared by the external power source and the energy storage device.

12. A lighting system, comprising:

a lighting source;

a controller configured to;

determine an intensity of light emitted by the lighting source while the lighting source draws a first amount of power from an external power source;

communicate with a remote measurement device and via a data input, wherein the remote measurement device comprises a sensor, electrically connected to a power distribution installation to acquire measurement information relating to power consumption at the power distribution installation, wherein the remote measurement device also includes a transmitter configured to send a load reduction command signal to the data input of the controller, wherein the load reduction command signal is derived from an analysis of the measurement information;

determine based on the load reduction command whether a load-reducing state exists; and

when the load-reducing state exists;

determine a second amount of power for the lighting source to draw from the external power source; and

determine a third amount of power for the lighting source to draw from the energy storage device, wherein drawing the second and third amounts of power causes the lighting source to emit light at the determined intensity.

13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein, when the lighting source draws the first amount of power from the external power source, the lighting source does not draw power from the energy storage device.

14. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to recharge the energy storage device when the load-reducing state does not exist.

15. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the second amount of power is zero.

16. The lighting system of claim 12 further comprising an input device configured to receive one or more control signals and provide the one or more control signals to the controller.

17. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the input device is further configured to receive the measurement information and provide the measurement information to the controller.

18. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the one or more control signals are generated by a demand response system, a utility company, or a building management system.

19. The lighting system of claim 16, wherein the one or more control signals are received wirelessly from a network, via power lines, or through a wired network connection.

20. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on the measurement information, at least one of how much power to consume from the external power source or the energy storage device, when to consume power from the external power source or the energy storage device, or how long to consume the power from the external power source or the energy storage device.