Wireless replacement led bulb with one or more accompanying control switches

• US 9,918,371 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crestron Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, THAI N
• Application Number:
  US14/969,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20170171948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0485 the sensor sensing the physical interaction between a user and certain areas located on the lighting device, e.g. a touch sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A wireless replacement light bulb with one or more accompanying control switches, such as an integrated switch and/or a wireless lamp switch is provided. The bulb comprises a light source, such as an LED element, a controller, a wireless interface, and one or more accompanying control switches, such as an integrated switch and/or a wireless lamp switch. The bulb can be controlled, such as turned on or off, by a user using the integrated switch, the wireless lamp switch, or a combination thereof. The integrated switch and the wireless lamp switch does not remove power from the controller, allowing the controller to control the bulb in response to receiving a wireless control signal from a remote electronic device, such as a remote control, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like.

Claims

1. A wirelessly controllable bulb and rotary actuator combination comprising:

a bulb comprising;

a light source;

a first wireless interface adapted to receive wireless control signals;

an integrated actuator adapted to be actuated by a user; and

a controller electrically connected to the light source, the first wireless interface, and the integrated actuator, wherein the controller controlled an operation of the light source to turn the light source on or off in response to;

(i) receiving a wireless control signal via the first wireless interface, or (ii) actuation of the integrated actuator; and

a rotary actuator adapted to connect to a rotary lamp switch of a lamp on which the bulb is installed, wherein the rotary actuator comprises;

a first portion adapted to connect to the rotary lamp switch and adapted to actuate the rotary lamp switch upon rotation;

a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion and adapted to rotate with respect to first portion and the rotary lamp switch upon rotation; and

a wireless lamp switch comprising;

a power source;

a sensor adapted to sense a rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion; and

a second wireless interface adapted to transmit a wireless control signal to the controller of the bulb upon the sensor sensing a change in the rotational position of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

2. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED element.

3. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 2, wherein the bulb further comprises:

an LED driver circuit that includes the controller; and

a bulb base that supports the LED driver circuit.

4. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 3, wherein the bulb base comprises the integrated actuator.

5. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the integrated actuator comprises a capacitive sensor switch that energizes an electrically conductive surface on the bulb and detects the user touching the electrically conductive surface.

6. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the integrated actuator comprises one of a rotary collar actuator, a rotary actuator, a push button actuator, a toggle actuator, a rocker actuator, a pull chain actuator, a slide actuator, a tactile actuator, a paddle actuator, and a capacitive sensor actuator.

7. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the bulb further comprises a bulb shell that covers the light source, wherein the integrated actuator is operably connected to the bulb shell, and wherein the bulb shell is adapted to actuate the integrated actuator by being pressed.

8. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the bulb further comprises a bulb base, wherein the switch comprises a rotary collar surrounding the bulb base and adapted to be rotated about the bulb base by the user.

9. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the integrated actuator comprises one or more of an on and off actuator, a high-medium-low actuator, a dimming actuator, and any combination thereof.

10. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface receives the wireless control signals from a remote electronic device.

11. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 10, wherein the remote electronic device comprises one of a remote control, a wireless wall switch, a smartphone, a tablet, a portable computer, intermediary network device, a wireless gateway, a router, a dedicated touch screen, a central control processor, a wireless hub, and any combination thereof.

12. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical means for deterring the user from using a lamp switch of a lamp on which the bulb is installed.

13. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 12, wherein the mechanical means comprises a cover over the lamp switch.

14. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises an actuator knob connected to a longitudinal actuator portion, which is adapted to connect to the rotary lamp switch, wherein the second portion comprises a longitudinal rotating shaft having a bore sized to rotationally receive the longitudinal actuator portion therein.

15. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the bulb further comprises:

a battery electrically connected to the controller;

wherein the controller, upon detecting lack of power supply, transmits a warning control signal configured for indicating to the user that the power supply has been removed from the bulb.

16. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 15, wherein the controller transmits the warning control signal to one of the light source of the bulb, a light indicator electrically connected to the battery and the controller, an audible indicator electrically connected to the battery and the controller, a remote electronic device, a smartphone, and any combination thereof.

17. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 16, wherein the indication comprises one of a blinking light, a red light color, a graphical or alphanumeric message, an audible noise, and any combination thereof.

18. The bulb and rotary actuator combination of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for controlling an intensity of the light source in response to (i) receiving a wireless control signal via the wireless interface, or (ii) actuation of the integrated actuator.