Lighting device operating at different power levels

• US 9,642,213 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard D. Ashoff
• Original Assignee: Richard D. Ashoff
• Inventors: Ashoff, Richard d.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US13/552,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20130020883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2614 HVAC, heating, ventillation, climate control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

The current subject matter relates to a lighting device that can be installed in an already existing fixture in a structure. The lighting device can include a light emitting diode (LED) lighting segment and a fluorescent lighting segment. The LED lighting segment can include a LED lighting source, and the fluorescent lighting segment can include a fluorescent lighting source. The LED lighting source can be activated. Motion sensors and/or occupancy sensors can detect motion and/or occupancy of an occupant in the structure. If there is motion or if the occupancy is more than a predetermined threshold, the fluorescent lighting source can be activated. After each regular interval of time, the detection of motion or occupancy can be re-performed. If there is no detection of motion and/or occupancy, the fluorescent lighting source can be deactivated, after a period of time. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

installing a lighting device in a container including a ballast, the lighting device comprising at least a single inseparable structure being at least one of a T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15, T16, T17, T26, T29, or T38 bulb that includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment comprising a first lighting source that comprises a fluorescent light, the second segment comprising a second lighting source that comprises one or more light emitting diodes, the lighting device configured to be powered by the ballast, the lighting device enclosing an electronic component to reduce power generated by the ballast, the single inseparable structure further including a microprocessor configured to receive one or more instructions from a computing server operably coupled to the microprocessor via a communication network, the microprocessor configured to selectively activate at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source in response to the one or more instructions;

activating the second lighting source;

detecting motion using a detector located within the single inseparable structure; and

activating, based on the detecting of the motion, the first lighting source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the container is an already existing fixture having a standard size;

the ballast is preinstalled in the container;

the ballast is configured to power fluorescent tubes;

the computing server is a web portal;

the second segment comprises one or more capacitors configured to activate the second segment when the ballast is deactivated; and

the ballast is configured to provide up to seven hundred volts of alternating current at a frequency of at least twenty kilohertz when the lighting device is installed in the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lighting source includes a first set of one or more light emitting diodes, and the second lighting source includes a second set of one or more light emitting diodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second segment receives a signal from a remote portal, wherein the activating of the first lighting source is further based on the signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more relays are used to control power to the first lighting source and the second lighting source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second segment includes a power board that includes at least one of a microprocessor that determines which of the first lighting source and the second lighting source is to be activated, the step down transformer, one or more resistors, one or more capacitors to power the microcontroller, the one or more relays, and a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor to activate at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor includes a clocking device that detects time elapsed since the activation of at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating a second electrical device upon detecting motion using the detector.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, after regular periods of time, a location of the at least one occupant;

activating the first lighting source of lighting devices within an area, the detected location being a center of the area; and

deactivating the first lighting source of one or more lighting devices outside the area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the area is a circular area.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein radius of each circular area has a corresponding predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the motion has stopped;

deactivating the first lighting source after a period of time; and

reactivating the second lighting source while receiving power from the ballast.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting device is installed in the container by moving ends of the container either inward or outward.

14. A system comprising:

a first segment comprising a first lighting source that activates with a high power and provides light with a high brightness, the first lighting source comprising a fluorescent light; and

a second segment comprising;

a second lighting source that activates with a low power and provides light with a low brightness, the second lighting source comprising one or more light emitting diodes;

a motion sensor that determines motion of an occupant;

a microprocessor that determines, based on the detection of motion, at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source that is to be activated, the activation of at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source by the microprocessor being additionally controlled by a computing server operably coupled to the microprocessor via a communication network,

wherein the first segment and the second segment are located within a single inseparable structure being at least one of a T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15, T16, T17, T26, T29, or T38 bulb that is capable of being installed in an existing light fixture including a ballast, the single inseparable structure configured to receive power from the ballast when the combination is installed in the existing light fixture, the ballast providing up to seven hundred volts of alternating current at a frequency of at least twenty kilohertz when the lighting device is installed, the single inseparable structure further including a step down transformer that reduces the power from the ballast.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the existing light fixture has a standard size without modifying the existing light fixture.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second electrical device that is activated detection of motion by the motion sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second electrical device is a controller for activating a heating ventilation and air conditioning system.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the motion sensor is implemented at a location remote to first segment and the second segment.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the motion detector ceases detecting motion and the microprocessor deactivates the active lighting source after a period of time.

20. A system comprising:

at least one master lighting device, the master lighting device comprising at least a single inseparable structure being at least one of a T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14 T15 T16 T17 T26, T29 or T38 bulb that includes a first segment, a second segment, a motion sensor, and a first microprocessor, the first microprocessor being operably connected to a server;

the first segment comprising a first lighting source, the first lighting source comprising a fluorescent light;

the second segment comprising a second lighting source, the second lighting source comprising one or more light emitting diodes, one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source being activated based on at least one of a detection by the motion sensor and an instruction received by the first microprocessor from the server; and

at least one slave lighting device, the slave lighting device comprising a third lighting source and a second microprocessor that communicates with the first microprocessor to determine if the third lighting source is to be activated based on a command received by the second microprocessor from the first microprocessor,

wherein at least one of the at least one master lighting device and the at least one slave lighting device is configured to be powered by a ballast preinstalled in a container, the ballast providing at least five hundred volts of alternating current at a frequency of at least twenty kilohertz when the at least one of the at least one master lighting device and the at least one slave lighting device are operably coupled to the container.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein one or more of the at least one master lighting device and the at least one slave lighting device are connected to form a wireless network.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein one or more master lighting devices and one or more slave lighting devices are configured to wirelessly connect with other lighting devices.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the motion sensor is implemented within the second segment.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the motion sensor is implemented at a location remote to the master lighting device.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one of a gateway, a router, and a digital radio to facilitate communication between the at least one master lighting device and the at least one slave lighting device,

wherein the gateway includes at least one of protocol translators, impedance matching devices, rate converters, fault isolators, and signal translators.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the gateway and the router facilitate communication between the at least one master lighting device and the at least one slave lighting device over a communication network that includes one or more of:

local area network, a wide area network, internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth network, and infrared network.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the container is an already existing fixture having a standard size; and

the ballast is configured to power fluorescent tubes.

28. A system comprising:

a first segment comprising a first lighting source that activates with a high power and provides light with a high brightness, the first lighting source comprising a fluorescent light; and

a second segment comprising;

a second lighting source that activates with a low power and provides light with a low brightness, the second lighting source comprising one or more light emitting diodes;

an occupancy sensor that determines occupancy;

a microprocessor that determines, based on the detection of occupancy, at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source that is to be activated, the activation of at least one of the first lighting source and the second lighting source by the microprocessor being additionally controlled by a computing server operably coupled to the microprocessor via a communication network,

wherein the first segment and the second segment are included within a single inseparable structure being at least one of a T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15, T16, T17, T26, T29, or T38 bulb that is capable of being installed in an existing light fixture including a ballast, the single inseparable structure being configured to receive power from the ballast after the single separable structure is installed within the existing light fixture, the ballast providing at least five hundred volts of alternating current at a frequency of at least twenty kilohertz.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the existing light fixture has a standard size without modifying the existing light fixture.