Off-Grid LED Power Failure Lights

• US 20120043889A1
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Environment LLC (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Recker, Michael V., Levine, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,338,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• 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

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for systems and methods that employ a control component and/or power source integrated in an LED based light source to control and/or power the LED light source wirelessly. In embodiments, the LED based light source may take the form of a standard light bulb that plugs into a standard lighting socket or fixture.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a receiver configured to receive a first command to control light produced via the light source, the first command directing the lighting apparatus to respond to at least one power modifying event;

a power source configured to provide power to the light source;

a controller configured to control the power source according to the first command; and

a housing including the light source, the receiver, and the power source.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an on signal, an off signal, a dim signal, a timing delay signal, a decrease power consumption signal, an increase power consumption signal or a test signal.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first command comprises a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication signal.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one power modifying event comprises at least one of a loss of power at a remote location, a remotely detected power source problem, an operation reducing power consumption of the lighting apparatus, a peak shedding operation, or an absence of periodic keep alive messages.

25. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the power source comprises at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor.

26. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein:

the power source comprises a battery power source comprising at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor; and

the first command is configured to cause the controller to switch to the battery power source.

27. The lighting apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first command is configured to cause the controller to switch from the battery power source to an external power source.

28. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first command is configured to at least one of cause the controller to reduce power consumption of the lighting apparatus and cause the controller to reduce power consumed by the lighting apparatus from an external power source.

29. The lighting apparatus of claim 28, wherein a second command is configured to cause the controller to at least one of increase power consumption of the lighting apparatus and cause the controller to increase power consumed by the lighting apparatus from an external power source.

30. The lighting apparatus of claim 25, wherein the power source comprises a load control switch configured to transfer power from at least one of the battery power source or an AC power source to the light source, and wherein the first command instructs the controller to transfer power from the battery power source and the AC power source to the light source via the load switch.

31. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one power modifying event occurs on a system that is electrically isolated from the lighting apparatus.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising at least one of:

lowering power consumption of a part of the lighting apparatus in response to the first command;

lowering power consumed from an external power source of a part of the lighting apparatus from in response to the first command;

increasing power consumed from an external power source of a part of the lighting apparatus in response to the second command.

or

increasing power consumption of a part of the lighting apparatus in response to the second command.

32. A method comprising:

receiving, at a lighting apparatus, a first command directing the lighting apparatus to respond at least one power modifying event occurring at a remote location; and

providing power to the light source, via the lighting apparatus, responsive to the first command.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first command comprises at least one of an on signal, an off signal, a dim signal, a timing delay signal, a decrease power consumption signal, an increase power consumption signal or a test signal.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the first command comprises a radio frequency (RF) wireless communication signal.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one power modifying event comprises at least one of a loss of power at the remote location, an operation reducing power consumption of the lighting apparatus, a peak shedding operation, a remotely detected power source problem, or an absence of periodic keep alive messages.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the power source comprises at least one of an external power source and a battery power source, the battery power source comprising at least one of a rechargeable battery, a non-rechargeable battery, a photovoltaic cell, a fuel cell or a capacitor.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising switching, via the lighting apparatus, to the battery power source in response to the first command.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving, at the lighting apparatus, a second command; and

in response to the second command, switching from the battery power source to the external power source.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising, in response to the first command, transferring power to the light source from at least one of the battery power source or the AC power source via a load control switch.