Patent Application
20170127490
The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus, and more particularly to an intelligent light apparatus that can be used and operated by wall switches even during power outages.
A conventional light source such as lamps cannot function normally when the power supply of the house is gone. During loss of electrical power, backup lighting systems may engage to provide people with enough light to evacuate or continued activity until normal power is restored. Namely, the backup lighting systems should provide adequate lighting for a sufficient time period to facilitate these purposes.
With the developments in lighting and semiconductor technologies, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are now available in every color in the visible light spectrum as well as infrared and ultra-violet. LED's low energy consumption, long lamp life, and diminutive size make them an attractive option as an emergency lighting source. Step lighting, emergency signs, and pathway lighting are examples of emergency lighting uses where LEDs are now standard. In practice, LEDs are commonly used for emergency and safety lighting purposes.
For most emergency lighting systems, the lighting system is powered its own power sources, such as batteries, U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,744 to Bavaro et al., discloses a backup lighting system comprising a fluorescent bulb, a primary energy source, a sensing means for detecting interruption to power, and a rechargeable secondary energy source for powering the light bulb in the event that the primary energy source fails. However, during power outage, the backup lighting system can still provide light, but it cannot be operated by wall switches.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,586 to Izardel discloses an LED lighting device comprising an LED light bulb having a plurality of LEDs mounted along the rim of said light bulb's base. This assembly is surrounded by a reflective shell adapted to redirect light from the LEDs upward thus enhancing the effectiveness of the lighting device. However, the LED light bulb in izardel probably cannot be used as an emergency light, nor operated by wall switches during power outage.
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2014/0268697 to Smith et al., discloses a lighting device including two different types of light emitting elements and two different types of power sources for selective illumination. In particular, the lighting device has AC-LEDs and DC-LEDs that are illuminated by an AC power source and a DC power source, respectively, without the need for current conversion. The AC-LEDs and DC-LEDs may be disposed within a LED lamp which is installable in any preexisting light fixture. However, like Izardel, the lighting device disclosed by Smith cannot be operated by wall switches during power outage.
Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved lighting apparatus or system during power outage not only to provide light, but also to be operated by wall switches.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an intelligent lighting apparatus that can be operated by wall switches even during power outage.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an intelligent lighting apparatus having a detecting module to generate a pulse to determine the status of the circuit.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an intelligent lighting apparatus that can replace existing light bulbs without rewiring.
In one aspect, an intelligent lighting apparatus may have a rechargeable battery, a power processing unit, a micro control unit (MCU), a detecting module and a light source. In one embodiment, the MCU is configured to detect a power outage, and when the power outage occurs, the MCU can switch the power source to the rechargeable battery to continue providing electrical power to the light source. The endurance depends on the capacity of the battery and the power consumption of the light source. In another embodiment, the light source is a regular light bulb. In a further embodiment, the light source is an LED light bulb. In still a further embodiment, the rechargeable battery is a lithium battery.
During the power outage, the MCU is configured to monitor the AC power status and once the power is restored, the MCU can switch the power supply from battery to the AC power and meanwhile charge the battery. It is important to note that during power outage, the detecting module is configured to detect whether the circuit is open or closed, and the MCU is configured to enable the light source to be controlled by wall switches based on the detected status of the circuit. Namely, the intelligent lighting apparatus in the present invention can be used as a regular lighting apparatus (e.g. light bulb) even during power outage.
More specifically, the detecting module may have a pulse generating unit and a pulse receiving unit. When power outage occurs, the detecting module will be activated, and a pulse is generated by the pulse generating unit toward a contact wire L of the light bulb. If the wall switch is turned on, the pulse can travel through the circuit and go back to a contact wire N of the light bulb, and the pulse receiving unit can then receive the pulse, the MCU determines that the circuit where the light bulb is located is closed, and the MCU is configured to turned on the light source.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
In one aspect, as shown in
In one embodiment, the power processing unit 120 is configured to convert the electrical power from the external power source (usually alternating current “AC”) to a power that can be used for the light source 150 (usually direct current “DC”). In a further embodiment, the MCU 130 is configured to control the output of the processed power from the external power source, and to prevent the rechargeable battery 110 from being overcharged or over-discharged.
During the power outage, the MCU 130 is configured to monitor the AC power status and once the power is restored, the MCU 130 can switch the power supply from battery 110 to the AC power and meanwhile charge the battery 110. It is important to note that during power outage, the detecting module 140 is configured to detect whether the circuit is open or closed, and the MCU 130 is configured to enable the light source 150 to be controlled by wall switches based on the detected status of the circuit. Namely, the intelligent lighting apparatus 100 in the present invention can be used as a regular lighting apparatus (e.g. light bulb) even during power outage.
More specifically, as shown in
On the other hand, if the wall switch is turned off, namely there is an open circuit as shown in
In another aspect, the intelligent lighting apparatus 100 further includes a boost circuit 160 electrically connected to the MCU 130 and light source 150, as shown in
Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.
