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US RE50,468 E1Granted
Intelligent illumination device
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorDavid J. Knapp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a Wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.
Claims17
An illumination device comprising:
- a light source configured to provide illumination when said illumination device is physically coupled to a power source and set in an on-state;
- and
- a light detector integrated circuit configured to:
- detectlight, during certain times when the light source is not providing illumination, an optically modulated data command received from an external device, wherein the data command includes configuration data;
- to automatically adjust the illumination device based on the detected received configuration data;
- and
- , receiving if the illumination device is physically decoupled from the power source, receive light from the external device to power an un-powered said illumination device that is separate from an AC mains socket before screwing the integrated circuit to store the received configuration data prior to physically coupling the Illumination illumination device into to the AC mains socket power source.
4 more elements
A method for operating an illumination device comprising:
- when said illumination device is set in an on-state,
- engaging causing a light source included in said illumination device to provide illumination illuminate;
- and using causing said light source to cease illumination for a period of time while detecting, via a light detector integrated circuit of the illumination device, incident light, wherein the incident light is one or more of ambient light, light from a second light source included in the illumination device, or an optically transmitted command;
- and
- to detect light during certain times when the light source is not providing illumination, to automatically adjust the adjusting, by the light detector integrated circuit, a level of illumination of said light source based on the incident light;
- and
- detected light, receiving light to power when said illumination device is set in an un-powered state in which said illumination device an unpowered said illumination device that is separate from an AC mains socket before screwing the Illumination a power source prior to coupling said illumination device into the AC mains socket to said power source,
- receiving light and an optically transmitted command comprising configuration data from an external device, the light to power the integrated circuit to store the configuration data.
5 more elements
An illumination device comprising:
- a light source configured to provide illumination when the illumination device is set in an on-state;
- and
- a light control circuit configured to:
- control the light source at first times to provide pulse-width-modulated (PWM) illumination at a modulation frequency;
- periodically turn the light source off at second times to produce periodic gaps in the PWM illumination at a frequency less than the modulation frequency of the PWM illumination;
- configure the light source during the periodic gaps to detect incident light originating from outside the illumination device, wherein the incident light comprises an optically modulated data command conveyed by an external device;
- control the illumination device responsive to the incident light detected by the light source, wherein to control the illumination device comprises to:
- demodulate the incident light to decode the optically modulated data command conveyed by the external device;
- and
- change an attribute of the illumination device in response to the data command decoded from the incident light;
- and
- control the light source during third times for transmitting a response to the external device after receiving the data command.
9 more elements
An illumination device comprising:
- a first LED configured to:
- provide illumination;
- and
- when not providing illumination, output a voltage signal related to light incident on the first LED;
- and
- an integrated circuit coupled to the first LED, the integrated circuit configured to:
- receive the voltage signal;
- responsive to a physical connection of the illumination device to a power source, adjust the illumination produced by the first LED based on the received voltage signal;
- and
- responsive to a physical separation of the illumination device from the power source, use the received voltage signal to power the integrated circuit to store configuration information received from an external device.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.