Multi-purpose lightbulb

• US 9,651,243 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Astro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Astro, Inc.
• Inventors: Springer, Shaun
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaiser, Syed M
• Application Number:
  US15/195,357
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• 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: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/235 Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/237 Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases F21K9/238 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/777 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/80 with pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/062 the material being plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 : Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 : associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 : Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 : specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 : Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 : using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 : Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A lighting device for use with one or more other networked devices is disclosed. In embodiments, the lighting device may comprise an outer globe, a diffuser, a plurality of light pipes, an outer cowling, a power input connector, a power control printed circuit board, a communication and control printed circuit board, an indicator printed circuit board, one or more microprocessors, an auxiliary device, and an LED lighting printed circuit board. In embodiments, the lighting device may communicate with one or more other networked devices, such as second lighting devices, mobile phones, servers, remote controls, and/or home or office automation equipment. The lighting device may be powered through a light socket.

Claims

1. A lighting device for use with one or more other networked devices, comprising:

(a) an outer globe comprised of an at least partially transparent rigid material and forming the exterior of a head portion of the lighting device;

(b) a diffuser within the outer globe configured to receive light from one or more light sources and emit diffused light;

(c) a speaker comprising a speaker driver, the speaker mounted within the lighting device closer to the head of the lighting device than one or more printed circuit boards;

(d) an LED lighting printed circuit board comprising a plurality of LEDs configured to deliver light through the diffuser;

(e) an outer cowling forming the exterior of a base portion of the lighting device;

(f) a power input connector located at the base of the lighting device and configured to mate with a standard lightbulb socket;

(g) a power control printed circuit board within the lighting device operatively connected to the power input connector and disposed at least partially within a heat sink configured to dissipate heat, the power control printed circuit board comprising;

(i) a power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current;

(ii) a voltage regulator configured to output steady direct current power at one or more voltages;

(iii) an LED driver configured to control output of power to a plurality of LEDs;

(iv) current control components comprising at least one output current controller configured to control the output of electric current to the one or more other components within the lighting device; and

(v) an output power connector configured to output power to one or more other components within the lighting device; and

(h) one or more printed circuit boards within the lighting device operatively connected to the power control printed circuit board and comprising;

(i) a first wireless communications module operatively connected to a first communications antenna and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more mobile user devices;

(ii) a speaker control unit configured to control the speaker; and

(iii) one or more microprocessors operatively connected to first non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon first processing instructions readable by at least one of the one or more microprocessors to control the plurality of LEDs.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the speaker control unit comprises at least one of the one or more microprocessors, which is configured to control the speaker.

3. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Wi-Fi protocol.

4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Bluetooth protocol.

5. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a mesh network communications protocol.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the other networked devices include a second lighting device comprising:

(a) a second outer globe comprised of an at least partially transparent rigid material and forming the exterior of a respective head portion of the second lighting device;

(b) a second diffuser within the second outer globe configured to receive light from one or more light sources and emit diffused light;

(c) a second speaker comprising a respective speaker driver, the second speaker mounted within the second lighting device closer to the head of the second lighting device than one or more second printed circuit boards;

(d) an LED lighting printed circuit board comprising a plurality of LEDs configured to deliver light through the diffuser;

(e) a second outer cowling forming the exterior of a respective base portion of the second lighting device;

(f) a second power input connector located at the base of the second lighting device and configured to mate with a standard lightbulb socket;

(g) a second power control printed circuit board within the second lighting device operatively connected to the second power input connector and disposed at least partially within a second heat sink configured to dissipate heat, the second power control printed circuit board comprising;

(i) a second power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current;

(ii) a second voltage regulator configured to output steady direct current power at one or more voltages;

(iii) a second output power connector to output power to one or more other components within the second lighting device; and

(iv) a second output current controller configured to control the output of electric current to the one or more other components within the second lighting device; and

(h) one or more second printed circuit boards within the second lighting device operatively connected to the second power control printed circuit board and comprising;

(i) a second wireless communications module operatively connected to a second communications antenna and configured to communicate wirelessly with the one or more mobile user devices and the lighting device;

(ii) a second speaker control unit configured to control the second speaker; and

(iii) one or more second microprocessors operatively connected to second non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon second processing instructions readable by at least one of the one or more second microprocessors to control the second plurality of LEDs.

8. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the one or more printed circuit boards further comprise a second wireless communications module.

9. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications module is located on a first printed circuit board and the speaker control unit is located on a second printed circuit board.

10. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the LED lighting printed circuit board, the first printed circuit board, and the second printed circuit board comprise a stacked circuit board configuration within the lighting device.

11. A lighting device for use with one or more other networked devices, comprising:

(a) an outer globe comprised of an at least partially transparent rigid material and forming the exterior of a head portion of the lighting device;

(b) a diffuser within the outer globe configured to receive light from one or more light sources and emit diffused light;

(c) a camera mounted within the lighting device closer to the head of the lighting device than one or more printed circuit boards;

(d) an LED lighting printed circuit board comprising a plurality of LEDs configured to deliver light through the diffuser;

(e) an outer cowling forming the exterior of a base portion of the lighting device;

(f) a power input connector located at the base of the lighting device and configured to mate with a standard lightbulb socket;

(g) a power control printed circuit board within the lighting device operatively connected to the power input connector and disposed at least partially within a heat sink configured to dissipate heat, the power control printed circuit board comprising;

(i) a power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current;

(ii) a voltage regulator configured to output steady direct current power at one or more voltages;

(iii) an LED driver configured to control output of power to the plurality of LEDs;

(iv) current control components comprising at least one output current controller configured to control the output of electric current to the one or more other components within the lighting device; and

(v) an output power connector configured to output power to one or more other components within the lighting device; and

(h) one or more printed circuit boards within the lighting device operatively connected to the power control printed circuit board and comprising;

(i) a first wireless communications module operatively connected to a first communications antenna and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more mobile user devices;

(ii) camera control circuitry configured to control a camera; and

(iii) one or more microprocessors operatively connected to first non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon first processing instructions readable by at least one of the one or more microprocessors to control the plurality of LEDs.

12. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the camera control circuitry comprises at least one of the one or more microprocessors, which is configured to control the camera.

13. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Wi-Fi protocol.

14. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Bluetooth protocol.

15. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

16. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless communications module is configured to communicate with one or more of the one or more other networked devices using a mesh network communications protocol.

17. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the other networked devices include a second lighting device comprising:

(a) a second outer globe comprised of an at least partially transparent rigid material and forming the exterior of a respective head portion of the second lighting device;

(b) a second diffuser within the second outer globe configured to receive light from one or more light sources and emit diffused light;

(c) an LED lighting printed circuit board comprising a plurality of LEDs configured to deliver light through the diffuser;

(d) a second outer cowling forming the exterior of a respective base portion of the second lighting device;

(e) a second power input connector located at the base of the second lighting device and configured to mate with a standard lightbulb socket;

(f) a second power control printed circuit board within the second lighting device operatively connected to the second power input connector and disposed at least partially within a second heat sink configured to dissipate heat, the second power control printed circuit board comprising;

(i) a second power converter configured to convert alternating current to direct current;

(ii) a second voltage regulator configured to output steady direct current power at one or more voltages;

(iii) a second output power connector to output power to one or more other components within the second lighting device; and

(iv) a second output current controller configured to control the output of electric current to the one or more other components within the second lighting device; and

(g) one or more second printed circuit boards within the second lighting device operatively connected to the second power control printed circuit board and comprising;

(i) a second wireless communications module operatively connected to a second communications antenna and configured to communicate wirelessly with the one or more mobile user devices and the lighting device; and

(ii) one or more second microprocessors operatively connected to second non-transitory computer-readable memory having stored thereon second processing instructions readable by at least one of the one or more second microprocessors to control the second plurality of LEDs.

18. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the one or more printed circuit boards further comprise a second wireless communications module.

19. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the first wireless communications module is located on a first printed circuit board and the camera control circuitry is located on a second printed circuit board.

20. The lighting device of claim 19, wherein the LED lighting printed circuit board, the first printed circuit board, and the second printed circuit board comprise a stacked circuit board configuration within the lighting device.