Abstract: Noise may be received through a microphone included in a lighting apparatus. The noise may then be analyzed to determine if a human being may have been the source of the noise, and a message sent over a network alerting other devices that a human-caused noise was detected.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating light may be comprised of a light source with a lens interposed in a light path from the light source. The lens may be comprised of two or more sections wherein at least one section may be comprised of smart glass. Electrical circuitry may be configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass lens sections. Another embodiment may have two reflectors wherein one of the reflectors may be interposed between the light source and the other reflector and may be comprised of smart glass with a transparent state and a reflective state so that two different reflection patterns may be created. A method for illumination wherein at least one area's illumination is controlled by a section of smart glass is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating different spectral compositions of light is disclosed. The method comprises generating light at a wavelength, using an LED in some embodiments, and optically coupling the generated light to a first phosphor in a first operating mode and optically coupling the generated light to a second phosphor in a second operating mode. Several different embodiments of optically coupling the phosphors to the light source are disclosed. The first phosphor emits light with a first spectral characteristic when irradiated by the light at the wavelength and the second phosphor emits light with a second spectral characteristic when irradiated by the light at the wavelength.

Abstract: A lighting module is disclosed that integrates a controller capable of receiving data from a source outside of the module, and then sending out an IR command to control a consumer electronics component based on the data received. The lighting module could be light bulb, a lighting fixture, a subcomponent of a lighting apparatus, or any other apparatus that incorporates both an illumination source and the controller for receiving data and sending out the IR command for controlling consumer electronics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a networked device to estimate its own power or energy usage, and report it over a network is disclosed. The method of reporting energy usage status by the networked device comprises receiving a power usage status request from a network, retrieving a set of power usage data from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory, calculating a best estimate of the energy usage status on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory, and sending the best estimate of the energy usage status over the network as a reply to the power usage status request. A log of time spent in the different operating conditions by the networked device may be maintained, and the best estimate of the energy usage status calculated based on both the set of power usage data and the log of time spent in the different operating conditions.

Abstract: Various methods of manufacturing a lighting apparatus and embodiments of a modular networked lighting apparatus are disclosed. One method defines a mechanical form factor with a minimum set of electrical connections for a networking module, builds a subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the subassembly comprising attachment points compatible with the mechanical form factor for the networking module and contacts for the minimum set of electrical connections for the networking module, installs a networking module into the subassembly of the networked lighting apparatus, the networking module compatible with a selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus, completes the final assembly of the networked lighting module, and marks the networked lighting apparatus to indicate the selected networking protocol for the networked lighting apparatus. In some embodiments, the lighting apparatus may function without the networking module installed.

Abstract: A networked light bulb is disclosed comprising means for controlling a state of the networked light bulb, means for connecting to a network, means for allowing a user to select a color from a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors having at least one locking color and one or more non-locking colors, and means for generating a selected color code corresponding to the color selected by the user, each color of the plurality of colors having a corresponding color code. If the user selects the locking color, the networked light bulb disconnects from the network and turns the light bulb on. If the user selects a non-locking color, the networked light bulb submits the selected color code over the network for use by the network controller in configuring the device and changes the state of the networked light bulb in response to a command from the network. In some embodiments the networked light bulb also responds to requests for status information from the network independent of the color selected by the user.

Abstract: A networked device is disclosed comprising means for controlling a state of the networked device, means for connecting to a network, means for allowing a user to select a color from a plurality of colors, the plurality of colors having at least one locking color and one or more non-locking colors, and means for generating a selected color code corresponding to the color selected by the user, each color of the plurality of colors having a corresponding color code. The networked device submits the selected color code over the network for use by the network controller in configuring the device and changes the state of the networked device in response to a command from the network only if the color selected by the user is one of the one or more non-locking colors. In some embodiments the networked device also responds to requests for status information from the network independent of the color selected by the user.