Monitoring and control device and method for an illumination apparatus

• US 9,578,717 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Bolton Po-Yu, Chen, Cliff Pei-Ju, Chen, Patrick Chun-Chi, Huang, Michk
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US14/964,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 315/159, 315/160, 315/175, 315/158, 315/291
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/58 involving end of life detection of LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/24 Circuit arrangements for protecting against overvoltage

Abstract

Disclosed is a monitoring and control device, applicable to an illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus includes a lighting unit which outputs a signal representative of a status of the lighting unit. The illumination apparatus includes an apparatus identifier. The illumination apparatus includes: a monitoring circuit electrically coupled to the lighting unit, for receiving the signal and determining whether the illumination apparatus needs to be replaced in response to the signal satisfying a condition; a controller electrically coupled to the monitoring circuit; and a receiving/transmitting unit electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the controller controls the receiving/transmitting unit to transmit the apparatus identifier of the illumination apparatus to be replaced in response to the determination is affirmative. A method thereof is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A monitoring and control device, applicable to an illumination apparatus comprising a lighting unit which outputs a signal representative of a status of the lighting unit, the illumination apparatus comprising an apparatus identifier, the monitoring and control device comprising:

a monitoring circuit, electrically coupled to the lighting unit and adapted for receiving the signal and determining whether the illumination apparatus needs to be replaced in response to the signal satisfying a condition;

a controller, electrically coupled to the monitoring circuit; and

a receiving/transmitting unit, electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the controller controls the receiving/transmitting unit to transmit the apparatus identifier of the illumination apparatus to be replaced in response to the illumination apparatus being determined to be replaced,

wherein the receiving/transmitting unit comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, and the illumination apparatus comprises a LED lamp, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a street lamp, or an indicating lamp and further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the controller and the receiving/transmitting unit, wherein the lighting unit comprises an ampere-meter outputting the signal representative of the status of the lighting unit, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises an ampere monitor.

2. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving/transmitting unit periodically transmits the apparatus identifier.

3. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination apparatus is adapted for communicating with a communication unit, wherein the communication unit transmits a control signal to the receiving/transmitting unit so that the receiving/transmitting unit stops transmitting the apparatus identifier in response to the communication unit receiving the apparatus identifier.

4. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the communication unit transmits the apparatus identifier to an information system in response to the communication unit receiving the apparatus identifier, wherein the information system comprises an information processing system managing the illumination apparatus, an information processing system managing other illumination apparatuses, or a central control information processing system.

5. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition comprises:

an output of the ampere-meter is determined to be zero by the ampere monitor, wherein the controller controls the switch to turn on so that the receiving/transmitting unit transmits the apparatus identifier in response to the output of the ampere-meter being zero.

6. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition comprises:

an output of the ampere-meter is determined to be lower than and/or equal to a certain proportion of an initial output value of the ampere-meter by the ampere monitor, wherein the controller controls the switch to turn on so that the receiving/transmitting unit transmits the apparatus identifier.

7. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the certain proportion is between 10% and 50%.

8. The monitoring and control device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a battery, electrically coupled to the receiving/transmitting unit, supplying power to the receiving/transmitting unit when the illumination apparatus is damaged.

9. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a lighting unit;

a ground; and

a monitoring and control device comprising;

a monitoring circuit, electrically coupled to the lighting unit and adapted for receiving the signal and determining whether the illumination apparatus needs to be replaced in response to the signal satisfying a condition;

a controller, electrically coupled to the monitoring circuit; and

a receiving/transmitting unit, electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the controller controls the receiving/transmitting unit to transmit the apparatus identifier of the illumination apparatus to be replaced in response to the illumination apparatus being determined to be replaced,

wherein the receiving/transmitting unit comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, and the illumination apparatus comprises a LED lamp, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a street lamp, or an indicating lamp and further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the controller and the receiving/transmitting unit, wherein the lighting unit comprises an ampere-meter outputting the signal representative of the status of the lighting unit, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises an ampere monitor.

10. A monitoring and control method, applicable to an illumination apparatus comprising a monitoring circuit, a controller, a receiving/transmitting unit and a lighting unit which outputs a signal representative of a status of the lighting unit, the illumination apparatus comprising an apparatus identifier, the monitoring and control method comprising:

the monitoring circuit receiving the signal and determining whether the illumination apparatus needs to be replaced in response to the signal satisfying a condition; and

the controller controlling the receiving/transmitting unit to transmit the apparatus identifier of the illumination apparatus to be replaced in response to the illumination apparatus being determined to be replaced,

wherein the receiving/transmitting unit comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, and the illumination apparatus comprises a LED lamp, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, a street lamp, or an indicating lamp and wherein the illumination apparatus comprises a switch electrically coupled to the controller and the receiving/transmitting unit, wherein the lighting unit comprises an ampere-meter outputting the signal representative of the status of the lighting unit, wherein the monitoring circuit comprises an ampere monitor.

11. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the receiving/transmitting unit periodically transmits the apparatus identifier.

12. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the illumination apparatus is adapted for communicating with a communication unit, and the monitoring and control method further comprising:

the communication unit transmitting a control signal to the receiving/transmitting unit so that the receiving/transmitting unit stops transmitting the apparatus identifier in response to the communication unit receiving the apparatus identifier.

13. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the communication unit transmitting the apparatus identifier to an information system in response to the communication unit receiving the apparatus identifier, wherein the information system comprises an information processing system managing the illumination apparatus, an information processing system managing other illumination apparatuses, or a central control information processing system.

14. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising

determining whether the illumination apparatus functions properly before determining whether the illumination apparatus needs to be replaced.

15. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the condition comprises:

an output of the ampere-meter is determined to be zero by the ampere monitor, wherein the controller controls the switch to turn on so that the receiving/transmitting unit transmits the apparatus identifier in response to the output of the ampere-meter being zero.

16. The monitoring and control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the condition comprises:

an output of the ampere-meter is determined to be lower than and/or equal to a certain proportion of an initial output value of the ampere-meter by the ampere monitor, wherein the controller controls the switch to turn on so that the receiving/transmitting unit transmits the apparatus identifier.