Light Bulb with IR Transmitter

A lighting module comprising:

• an LED outputting both visible light and infrared light, wherein the LED provides 25 lumens or more of luminous flux in the visible spectrum;
• a controller comprising a data receiver and a drive circuit;
• structure to join the at LED and the controller into an integrated unit;
• wherein
• the data receiver receives a first data stream from a source outside the lighting module;
• and
• the drive circuit controls the LED to transmit a second data stream modulated to control a consumer electronics component, the consumer electronics component separate from the source outside the lighting module that generates the first data stream.

An integrated lighting unit comprising:

• means for emitting visible light, the visible light outputting 25 lumens or more of luminous flux;
• means for emitting infrared light;
• means for receiving a first data stream from a source outside the integrated lighting unit;
• means to convert the first data stream to a second data stream;
• and
• means for modulating the infrared light to transmit the second data stream to control a consumer electronics component.

A light bulb comprising:

• a plurality of visible light LEDs with a total combined light output of at least 25 lumens;
• an infrared LED;
• a microcontroller and additional circuitry providing at least:
• (a) a radio frequency transceiver capable of connecting to a radio frequency network;
• (b) a lighting controller utilizing data received from the radio frequency network to control an on-off state of the plurality of visible light LEDs;
• (c) a data converter converting data received from the radio frequency network to a data stream with a proper protocol to control a consumer electronics component;
• (d) a drive circuit driving the LED with a signal comprising a carrier waveform modulated with the data stream with the proper protocol to control the consumer electronics component;
• a base with an electrical power connection;
• and
• a shell connected to the base, the shell at least partially transparent to visible and infrared light and containing the plurality of visible light LEDs, the infrared LED and the microcontroller and additional circuitry.

A lighting fixture comprising:

• A socket with electrical contacts for accepting a separate visible light source;
• an infrared LED;
• a controller comprising a data receiver and a drive circuit;
• structure to join the socket, the infrared LED and the controller into an integrated unit;
• wherein
• the data receiver receives a first data stream from a source outside the lighting fixture;
• and
• the drive circuit controls the infrared LED to transmit a second data stream modulated to control a consumer electronics component, the consumer electronics component separate from the source outside the lighting fixture that generates the first data stream.