Light and light sensor

• US 10,932,339 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2020
• Issued: 02/23/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scapa, James R., Simon, David L., Ivey, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Luong, Henry
• Application Number:
  US16/786,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20200253013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/031 the device consisting essentially only of a light source holder with an exposed light source, e.g. a fluorescent tube
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4252 for testing LED's
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• 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

Abstract

An LED-based light includes one or more LEDs, a sensor arranged to detect a brightness level in an area resulting from the combination of light emitted by the LEDs with light from at least one ambient light source other than the LEDs, and operable to output a signal corresponding to the detected brightness level, a controller operable to regulate an amount of power provided to the LEDs in response to the signal, a light transmitting housing for the LEDs, the sensor and the controller and a connector shaped for connection with a light socket disposed at an end of the housing.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a controller configured to be communicatively coupled to a sensor and a light emitting diode (LED)-based lighting device having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the controller is operable to;

receive, from the sensor, a first sensor signal indicating a brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device at a first time period;

determine, based on the first sensor signal, that the LED-based light device should be replaced;

responsive to determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced, transmitting a first command signal to the LED-based light device, wherein the first command signal comprises a command to illuminate a first LED of the plurality of LEDs according to a first color and illuminate a second LED of the plurality of LEDs adjacent to the first LED according to a second color, wherein the first color is different from the second color.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed within the LED-based lighting device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a receiver operable to receive the first sensor signal from the sensor; and

a transmitter operable to transmit the first command signal to the LED-based light device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced comprises:

transmitting a second command signal to the LED-based device, wherein the second command signal comprises a command to turn off the LED-based device;

receiving, from the sensor, a second sensor signal indicating a brightness level of light while the LED-based device is turned off;

comparing (i) the brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device at the first time period and (ii) the brightness level of light while the LED-based device is turned off; and

determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced based on the comparison.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced comprises:

receiving, from the sensor, a second sensor signal indicating a brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device at a second time period, wherein the second time period is prior to the first time period;

comparing (i) the brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device at the first time period and (ii) the brightness level of light during operation of the LED-based lighting device at the second time period; and

determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced based on the comparison.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first time period and the second time period correspond to a same time of day.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced comprises:

determining, based on the first sensor signal, an efficiency of the plurality of LEDs; and

determining that the LED-based light device should be replaced based on the efficiency of the plurality of LEDs.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising the sensor and the LED-based light.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is remote from the LED-based lighting device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is integral with the LED-based lighting device.