Light with integrated inductive charger base station

• US 8,947,043 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teknion Corporation (A-Tean Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Teknion Corporation (A-Tean Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jones, Neil, Fung, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US13/115,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light comprises a lamp and an integrated inductive charger for coupling to a device having an inductive charger receiver connected thereto. The inductive charger receiver receives an electrical charge to charge a battery in the device. The lamp of the light provides illumination. The integrated inductive charger and the lamp are both electrically connected to a power supply. The integrated inductive charger can charge the battery in the device when the lamp is turned off. The lamp can be turned on without the integrated inductive charger providing an electrical charge. Alternatively, the integrated inductive charger can charge the battery in the device while the lamp is also turned on.

Claims

1. A light with an integrated inductive charger for coupling to a device having an inductive charging receiver connected thereto for receiving an electrical charge to at least one battery in the device, the light comprising:

a. an inductive charger base station comprising a charging coil;

b. a housing for securing the charger base station therein, the housing comprising;

i. a container for receiving the charger base station; and

ii. a housing cover comprising a planar contact surface adapted for placement of the charging receiver thereon, wherein the charging coil is located beneath the contact surface;

c. a light base comprising a bottom portion and a base cover, the base cover having a substantially planar outer surface, wherein the planar outer surface defines an opening therein, wherein the bottom portion and the base cover define an interior volume, wherein the housing is located in the interior volume, wherein the contact surface is located in the opening, wherein the contact surface is flush with the outer surface of the base cover of the light base;

d. a lamp;

e. a power supply;

wherein the lamp and the inductive charger base station are electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the power supply powers the lamp and the inductive charger base station; and

f. a step-down voltage converter, wherein the step-down voltage converter connects the power supply to the inductive charger base station to power the inductive charger base station at a predetermined rated voltage.

2. The light of claim 1, wherein the planar outer surface defines a second opening therein, wherein an indicator light is located in the second opening to indicate charging of the device.

3. The light of claim 1, wherein the light base further comprises an arm base extending from the planar outer surface of the cover;

and the light further comprises a hollow light arm and a lamp head receiving the lamp, wherein a proximate end of the light arm is connected to the arm base and a distal end of the light arm is connected to the lamp head.

4. The light of claim 1 wherein the light further comprises a lamp head adapted to be secured to a wall or ceiling, wherein the lamp head is adapted for receiving the lamp.

5. The light of claim 1, wherein the power supply is a rectifier.

6. The light of claim 1, wherein the lamp comprises one or more light emitting diodes;

and wherein an LED driver connects the power supply to the lamp in parallel with the inductive charger base station to supply current to the one or more light-emitting diodes at a predetermined duty cycle and a predetermined current level.

7. The light of claim 6, wherein the power supply is a rectifier.

8. The light of claim 6, further comprising a dimmer connected to the LED driver for controlling the duty cycle and the current level of the current supplied to the lamp.

9. The light of claim 8, wherein the dimmer is connected to the feedback input of the LED driver.

10. The light of claim 8, wherein the dimmer further comprises a first on-off switch operable to selectively control the LED driver to turn on and turn off the supply of current to the lamp.

11. The light of claim 6, wherein a passive infrared sensor is connected to the LED driver, the sensor adapted for detecting a presence of a user in the vicinity of the light to selectively control the LED driver to turn on and turn off the supply of current to the lamp.

12. The light of claim 11, wherein the passive infrared sensor is a pyroelectric infrared sensor.

13. The light of claim 11, wherein the passive infrared sensor further comprises a second on-off switch, wherein the passive infrared sensor operates to selectively turn on the lamp only if the second on-off switch is switched on.

14. The light of claim 11, wherein the passive infrared sensor is located on an underside of the lamp head.

15. The light of claim 1, wherein the light further comprises:

a. a universal serial bus terminal for charging the device through the terminal; and

b. a second step-down voltage converter connecting the power supply to the terminal in parallel with the charger base station and the lamp to power the terminal at a predetermined rated voltage.

16. A light base assembly with an integrated inductive charger for coupling to a device having an inductive charging receiver connected thereto for receiving an electrical charge to at least one battery in the device, the light base comprising:

a. an inductive charger base station comprising a charging coil;

b. a housing for securing the charger base station therein, the housing comprising;

i. a container for receiving the charger base station; and

ii. a housing cover comprising a planar contact surface adapted for placement of the charging receiver thereon, wherein the charging coil is located beneath the contact surface;

c. a bottom portion and a base cover, the base cover having a substantially planar outer surface, the planar outer surface defines an opening therein, wherein the bottom portion and the base cover define an interior volume, wherein the housing is located within the interior volume, wherein the contact surface is located in the opening, wherein the contact surface is flush with the outer surface of the base cover;

d. a power supply, wherein the inductive charger base station is electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the power supply powers the inductive charger base station; and

e. a step-down voltage converter, wherein the step-down voltage converter connects the power supply to the inductive charier base station to power the inductive charger base station at a predetermined rated voltage.

17. The light base assembly of claim 16, wherein the planar outer surface defines a second opening therein, wherein an indicator light is located in the second opening to indicate charging of the device.