Lighting device with multiple power sources and multiple modes of operation

• US 7,218,056 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ronald Paul Harwood
• Inventors: Harwood, Ronald Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US11/374,545
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 315/86, 315/312, 315/291, 315/307, 307/18, 307 23- 29, 307/31, 307 64- 66, 3406931-6933, 340/333, 340/286.13, 362/20, 362/227, 362/249
• US Class Current: 315/86
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3574 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of incandescent lamps
• 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]

Abstract

Lighting device having a number of light sources for illumination an area around the lighting device. The lighting device including capabilities for generating illumination when a primary power source is unavailable. The light device may include a secondary power source for use in powering the lighting device when the primary power source is unavailable. The lighting device may include multiple operating modes, optionally depending on the active power source.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

at least two light sources mounted on a single printed circuit board (PCB), the light sources configured to emit light as a function of current received through the PCB;

a battery configured to store power;

a controller configured to receive power from a power source and the battery and to control power distribution therefrom;

wherein the controller is configured to distribute power from the power source to the at least two light sources during normal operation and to distribute power from the battery to a limited number of the at least two light sources during backup operation, the limited number of the at least two light sources being less than the number of the at least two light sources powered during normal operation.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller reduces the limited number of the at least two light sources powered during backup operation as a function of power available from the battery.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller controls power consumption of the at least two light sources powered during backup operation as a function of power available from the battery.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller limits power consumption in a step-wise manner such that power is consumed more slowly as battery power decreases.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller controls power consumption as a function of ambient light such that more power is consumed when less ambient light is available and less power is consumed when more ambient light is available.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller controls power consumption as a function of time of day such that less power is consumed during daylight hours than non-daylight hours.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller rapidly turns the limited number of the at least two light sources on and off to control power consumption such that the limited number of the at least two light sources appear to continuously emit light.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller switches from normal operation to backup operation if power from the power source is lost such that light is emitted from the limited number of the at least two light sources as long as power is available from the battery.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the controller is responsive to an override signal to turn off the at least two light sources powered during backup operation so as to prevent emitting light even if power is still available from the battery.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising a light switch in communication therewith, the light switch communicates the override signal to the controller so as to permit the at least two light switch to turn off power to the light sources and prevent consumption of battery power.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transceiver in communication with the controller and configured to support wireless communications with the controller.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller switches from normal operation to backup operation if an emergency alert message is wirelessly received.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller controls powering of the at least two light sources during normal operation as a function of wirelessly received lighting control signals.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the lighting control signals specify power consumption of the at least two light sources.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller directs the transceiver to wirelessly relay the lighting control signals to adjoining the at least two light sources so as to coordinate the operation thereof.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing for enclosing the PCB, the at least two light sources, the controller, and the battery.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the housing is configured to mimic an incandescent light bulb.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the housing is configured to mimic a fluorescent light bulb.