The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus and, more particularly, to an electronically controlled lighting apparatus such as an LED light bulb where the light from the bulb can be directed, focused and/or the intensity of the light adjusted remotely, either from a control panel or a wireless device such as a dedicated remote control, a smartphone, PC, Smart Speaker, and other IoT devices.
Lighting units with individually movable lamps, motor means configured to adjust the position of said lamps, controlling means configured to transmit drive signals to the motor means in dependence upon received control signals are known in the art. However, such systems relate to regular lamps which are affixed to motion controlled platform.
Since the days of the first incandescent light bulb invented by Edison, there has been only one big revolution in the field which is the LED light bulb, currently taking the place of all other bulbs (incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent lamp, etc.) in the market. Advances in field of digital, electronic and wireless devices, as well as the development of the IoT market also enabled these bulbs to become ‘smart’ by allowing the user to remotely control and/or schedule the toggling of the ON/OFF state of the lighting apparatuses, as well as change the color and/or intensity thereof.
According to the present invention there is provided a remotely controlled lighting apparatus, the lighting apparatus including: a housing and an electrical contact, the housing comprising: a light source; a motion unit mechanically coupled to the light source; a control unit electrically coupled to the motion unit and the light source and configured to control the motion unit to direct illumination emanating from the light source; and a translucent envelope enclosing the control unit, the motion unit, the light source.
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention described below housing further comprises an electro optic unit operationally coupled to the control unit and the light source, the electro optic unit configured to focus the illumination emanating from the light source according to instructions received from the control unit.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments the electro optic unit includes a motor for moving a lens closer or further away from the light source.
According to still further features the motion unit includes at least one motor rotationally coupled to the light source, the at least one motor rotates the light source about a first axis.
According to still further features the motion unit includes a second motor, the second motor rotates the light source about a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis. Wherein the first axis is a longitudinal axis or a latitudinal axis.
According to still further features the motion unit is adapted to rotate approximately 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis and approximately 180 degrees about the latitudinal axis.
According to still further features the apparatus further includes a heat sink interposed between the translucent envelope and the electrical contact.
According to still further features the light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of LEDs.
According to still further features the control unit includes a processing unit and one of: a wireless receiver and a wireless transceiver.
According to still further features the motion unit includes reflective surfaces for directing the illumination emanating from the light source.
According to still further features the processing unit is adapted to receive instructions from a wireless device via the wireless receiver and accordingly control the motion unit, and the light source so as to direct illumination emanating from the light source.
According to another embodiment there is provided a lighting apparatus, including: a housing and an electrical contact, the housing including: a light source; a control unit electrically coupled to the light source; an electro optic unit operationally coupled to the control unit and the light source, the electro optic unit configured to focus illumination emanating from the light source according to instructions received from the control unit; and a translucent envelope enclosing the control unit, the light source and the electro optic unit.
According to still further features the housing further includes a motion unit mechanically coupled to the light source and electrically coupled to the control unit, the motion unit includes at least one motor rotationally coupled to the light source, the at least one motor rotates the light source about a first axis.
According to still further features the first axis is a longitudinal axis or a latitudinal axis.
According to still further features the motion unit includes a second motor, the second motor rotates the light source about a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis.
According to still further features the electro optic unit includes a motion actuator for reversibly moving a lens closer to the light source.
According to another embodiment there is provided a lighting apparatus, including: a housing and an electrical contact, the housing including: a plurality of light sources arranged to provide omni-directional illumination; a control unit electrically coupled to the plurality of light sources and configured to selectively control illumination of each of the plurality of light sources; and a translucent envelope enclosing the control unit and the plurality of light sources.
According to still further features the housing further includes a cylindrical central rod upon which the plurality of light sources are mounted.
The present invention discloses an innovative, remotely controlled lighting apparatus such as an LED light bulb where the direction of the illumination and/or the zoom or focus of the light beam can be effected and controlled remotely. One of the unique factors being that the innovative device has the form factor of a regular household light bulb. All the moving parts, mechanical parts and electronic parts are disposed inside the light housing, as opposed to moving a static lamp around.
Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Apart from the novelty uses of this light bulb, an even more important issue arises as a result of using such bulbs—energy saving. There are many cases in which a person does not need the entire room to be illuminated but rather just a small area or part of the room. Instead of wasting energy lighting the entire room, one can direct the light to the location it is really needed and reduce the amount of energy by 50% or more by reducing the light intensity accordingly.
The principles and operation of a remotely controlled LED light bulb with direct-able light and focus-able light according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Referring now to the drawings,
The function of the screw thread contact 104 is for establishing an electrical connection with a source of electrical power via a complementary socket (not shown). Other configurations may be used in which the threaded screw contact 104 may be replaced by any other type of suitable connector for engaging the light bulb within a socket, e.g. a bayonet mount, GU-5.3 pins (see
There are a great deal of light bulb designs but they all generally follow the same basic form of a globe (or shaped sphere) made of clear, colored and/or semi-opaque glass (or a polymer with similar attributes) and a screw thread contact. While the simplified schematic illustration depicts a globe 102 and a screw thread contact 104, having the same form factor as a transparent incandescent light bulb, it is the express intent of the authors to include within the scope of the invention all shapes, designs and form factors of LED lights for household use. As such, while the word ‘bulb’ may denote a particular shape, it is made clear that the use of the word is to be interpreted widely to include all the different shapes and designed known in the art.
The housing 100 may include a transparent, translucent and/or partially opaque envelope 102 and may be made of glass or any other material suitable for such an envelope, including plastic, and may be of any suitable shape. For example, the transparent/translucent part may only be in the form of a dome while the section between the dome and the screw thread may be opaque (e.g. including a heat sink, see for example
With regards to the direction of illumination of light, there are, in general, two types of light fixtures, directed and omni-directional lighting. By referring to the device as a light bulb, the connotation is that the illumination is, at least, omni-directional. This is the case with a transparent envelope (e.g. of an incandescent light bulb). This is also the case when the light source is somewhat directional (as is the case with LED light sources), but the light is diffused by the rounded sphere or dome which is semi-transparent or translucent (e.g. frosted) and therefore reflectively diffuses the light which results in the even quality and the omni-directionality of the light.
Omni-directional light, as is generally understood and as is specifically intended herein, refers to illumination which extends outwards from the lamp in 360 degrees around the lamp/light bulb. For the sake of clarity the light bulb serves as a central axis from which the light emanates at least in a 360 degree radius around the light bulb. Light also emanates out of the top of the globe and also illuminates, to a much smaller degree, below the screw contact. Generally, light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling or mounted on a wall. Therefore, omni-directional illumination, at least for the purposes of the present invention, refers to 360 degree illumination about the longitudinal axis (Y) and an arc defining 180 degrees illumination about the latitudinal axis defined by the tilt motor.
The embodiments of
With regards to the configuration of the light bulb that includes an opaque segment 106 and only a dome of translucent material 102 (
The present innovation provides the added functionality of directionality and focus to the known functions of an LED light bulb by controlling the movement and/or focus of the light source or by partially shuttering the bulb so as to emit illumination only in the desired direction and/or focus.
Referring to both
Included within housing 100 is the aforementioned control unit 150, as well as a light source and a motion unit for moving the light source. The translucent envelope 102 encloses the control unit, light source and motion unit within the housing. In preferred embodiments, the housing 100 further includes an electro optic unit for narrowing and widening the illumination from the light source. The embodiments depicted in the figures include both a motion unit and an electro optic unit, however it is made clear that the either the motion unit or the electro optic unit may not be included within the housing 100.
Specifically, in another configuration, the housing includes a control unit, a light source and an electro optic unit. The focus of the beam may be broadened or narrowed by the electro optic unit, without being able to move the light source. However, as mentioned above and depicted in the figures, in preferred embodiments, the housing further includes a motion unit 120.
Within the lighting apparatus 10 are found connecting wires for providing electrical power to a microcontroller/microprocessor 152, receiver 154, motion actuators (e.g. three servo motors that rotate, tilt and zoom the lighting source) 120/130 and a lighting source 134.
In the depicted embodiment the lighting source is a single LED element 134. It is however made clear that a single lighting source is merely exemplary and the lighting source may alternatively be comprised of multiple LED light components. While the present document will describe embodiments in which the lighting source 134 is an LED light component, it is to be understood that other light types may also be used in alternate implementations.
While it is clear that the innovative circuitry and components can be implemented in a multitude of configurations, only a small number of preferred embodiments are discussed herein. It is made clear that the preferred embodiments are merely exemplary and not intended to be limiting in any way. The exemplary embodiments of the electronic components are discussed in greater detail below.
In one preferred embodiment, the motion unit includes a tilt motor 114, mechanically connected to the light source 134. The center of the tilt motor defines a latitudinal axis X. The tilt motor 114 moves the light source in an arc about the latitudinal axis X.
In preferred embodiments, the motion unit 120 alternatively or additionally includes a rotational motor 110. The center of the rotational motor defines a longitudinal axis Y. In one preferred embodiment, the rotational motor 100 is directly coupled to, and rotates, the light source 134 about the Y axis.
In another preferred embodiment, the motion unit includes a rotational motor 110 that is coupled to a tilt motor 114 which is coupled to the light source. The motion unit can move the light source about both axes X and Y.
The motion unit includes at least one motion actuator rotationally coupled to the light source, the at least one motor rotates the light source about a first axis. The motion unit includes a second motion actuator, that rotates the light source about a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis is a longitudinal axis or a latitudinal axis.
On command from the control unit 150, a rotation servo 110 rotates the light source about the Y-axis, in either a left or right direction. In preferred embodiments the light source is rotated approximately 360 degrees about the Y axis. The rotation servo 110 is mechanically coupled to a mechanical base 112. Base 112 supports the remaining electro-mechanical components that rotate the light source about the Y-axis (longitudinal axis) when base 112 is rotated by rotation servo 110.
A tilt motor 114 is mechanically coupled to base 112. The tilt motor 114 is responsible for a tilt motion of a light mechanical base 116 about an X-axis (latitudinal axis). The arc of the tilt may be about 180 degrees. In some embodiments the arc is greater than 180. In some embodiments the arc is precisely 180 degrees. In some embodiments the arc is smaller than 180 degrees. Any and/or all of the motors mentioned herein may be electric motors, e.g. stepping motors, servo motors or any other type of motion device such as, but not limited to, linear actuators, pneumatic or hydraulic drives, magnets or any other controlled device that causes the required movement of the light source.
In preferred embodiments, the housing further includes an electro optic system 130. The electro optic system 130 is preferably installed on the light mechanical base. In preferred embodiments the electro-optic system includes a motor 132, an LED light source/sources 134 and an optical lens/lenses 136. The optical lens/lenses are held by a lens mechanical holder 138 and moved closer or farther away from the light source by a linear mechanical motion driven by the motion actuator/motor 132. Moving the lens (or lenses) closer or further away from the light source (and/or from each when more than one lens is used) either narrows or widens the beam of illumination emanating from the light source, depending on the type (or types) of lens (or lenses) used.
The microcontroller 152 comprises hardware and/or firmware storing instructions (computer-readable, machine-readable instructions, software) for controlling operations of the motion system 120, the electro optic system 130 and the lighting source 134. In a non-limiting implementation, the instructions stored on the hardware and/or firmware may control the color and/or intensity of the light that is generated by the lighting apparatus 10. Additionally or alternatively, the instructions stored on the hardware and/or firmware may control the manner in which the lighting apparatus 10 operates, for example by providing features such as dimming functionality and special lighting effects and/or lighting patterns for example.
In a non-limiting implementation, the instructions stored on the hardware and/or firmware may control the rotation and tilt of the light source and/or reflective members as actuated to the motion system 120 of the lighting apparatus 10. In a non-limiting implementation, the instructions stored on the hardware and/or firmware may control the focus or spread of the illumination radiating from the light source as affected by the electro optic system 130 of the lighting apparatus 10.
The control unit 150 includes components responsive to a signal received over a wireless communication link from an auxiliary device (e.g. smartphone, dedicated remote controller) external to the innovative lighting apparatus 10. Namely, control unit 150, includes a wireless receiver 154. Alternatively, the innovative lighting apparatus 10 may receive the signal over a wired connection from a fixed control panel mounted nearby. The wired or wireless signal may contain instructions which are encoded into the signal and instruct the control unit as to what changes in the lighting apparatus must be effected.
Wireless receivers are known in the art. The wireless receiver may be a transceiver that is able to transmit signals as well as receive signals. The wireless receiver/transceiver may be a Wi-Fi transceiver which is technology for wireless local area networking with devices based on the IEEE 802.11 standards. Alternatively or additionally the receiver/transceiver may be a Bluetooth™ (BLUETOOTH is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group) transceiver. Additionally or alternatively, the transceiver may be a cellular transceiver capable of receiving signals over the mobile cellular network.
In preferred embodiments, the innovative lighting apparatus 10 has network connectivity via the (wired or) wireless transceiver 154. Further, the apparatus has a MAC identifier and a network address. As such, the device can be accessed remotely, e.g. via the Internet. As such, the functionality of the lighting apparatus can be controlled, even when not in the immediate area of the device. In some embodiments, this functionality is in addition to the functionality that is based on immediate area wireless communication such as Bluetooth. It is made clear that Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are merely exemplary types of wireless communication, and that are types of wireless communication known in the art are included within the scope of the invention.
Rotation of the light source is achieved by the rotation servo 110 which rotates the light source approximately 360 degrees about the longitudinal or Y axis. The tilt motor servo 114 tilts the light source in an arc defining about 180 degrees. The zoom servo 132 narrows and broadens the beam of light radiating from the light source 134, e.g. by moving the lens closed or further away from the light source.
The embodiments depicted in the figures include a light source, lens and motors for rotating the light source and focusing the beam of illumination. However, in some configurations it may be easier to direct the beam onto a reflector and move the reflector to change the direction of the beam. This type of reflector is well known in the field of theatre and dance lighting as well as laser direction in the field of military devices. Any other means that effects the required alteration in the direction of the beam may also be used.
The mirror can be moved by electric motors, e.g. stepping motors, or by linear actuators, pneumatic or hydraulic drives or by magnets or by any other controlled device that causes the required movement of the mirrors. Furthermore, if cost effective, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) can be employed to control movement of the mirrors (and/or the light source discussed above). MEMS refers to the technology of microscopic devices, particularly those with moving parts.
It is made clear that other arrangements of mechanical and/or electro-optical mechanisms can be employed to provide either the movement of the light source or the widening and narrowing of the illumination beam or both. It is further made clear that the use of mechanically driven shutters can be arranged to provide all or much of the aforementioned functionality. It is still further made clear that the use of mirrors and optoelectronic mechanisms can be employed to provide the aforementioned control over movement and or illumination.
Another possible configuration is shown in
As above, the functioning of the apparatus is controlled remotely, either by wired or wireless means. The discussions relating to the control means, mechanical means, electro optical means and other parts relevant here are understood to be included within the scope of the innovation as relates, mutatis mutandis to the instant configuration.
It is however clear that the potential field of illumination is more limited with the instant configuration, due to the lack of dome or globe within which to rotate the light source about a latitudinal axis. As such, The illumination beam of
Furthermore, while LED devices are commonly regarded as directional light sources (that is the premise elsewhere in this document), LEDs are not inherently directional light sources. Since early LEDs were developed for indicator applications, the most efficient optical design for this purpose was to use the familiar epoxy capsule, which focuses light forward. However, there is nothing inherent in this degree of directionality for LED devices. An LED semiconducting element can potentially emit light in many directions, and many illumination-grade LEDs have fairly broad distribution. Note that the opacity of heat sinking materials in some LED systems can limit the resulting distribution of light, as in the instant configuration as well as the configuration depicted in
Yet another configuration is envisioned whereby a lighting apparatus has the form factor of an incandescent bulb or that of an LED bulb or thereabouts (e.g. similar to
In other embodiments, the light emitting elements may be mounted on the inside of the translucent envelope. Preferably the elements are arranged about 360 degrees about a longitudinal axis X as discussed above. In further preferred embodiments the light emitting elements are mounted in the arc of the dome of the lighting apparatus, spanning about 180 degrees.
In the aforementioned embodiments, the light emitting elements are electrically coupled to a control unit, housed within the housing of the lighting element. The control unit is the same or similar to the control unit discussed above. The housing and electrical contact are the same or similar to those discussed above. The control unit receives instructions from a remote device. The remote device is either wired or wirelessly in communication with the lighting apparatus.
The array of light sources (mounted on the central rod or the inside of the translucent envelop) are controlled by the microprocessor in the control unit. A user is able to individually control each of the lighting elements (or groups of lighting elements) so that only a particular angle of the light bulb will emit light while the other angles remain dark and achieve the same purpose as the other apparatuses and methods described elsewhere in this document.
It is made clear that any element, component, configuration, function or structure that is discussed with relation to a particular embodiment is intended, where relevant, to apply to all the other embodiments disclosed herein.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.