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 lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting device, such as one or more LEDs, detection circuitry coupled to a power input of the lighting apparatus and arranged to detect a characteristic of a modulation of the power input, supervisory circuitry, such as a processor, coupled to the detection circuitry, and a network interface, coupled to the supervisory circuitry, to communicate over a network. The supervisory circuitry is adapted to receive a message that includes brightness information over the network, receive information regarding the characteristic of the modulation of the power input from the detection circuitry, and control a brightness of the at least one light emitting device based on the brightness information and the information regarding the characteristic modulation of the power input.

Abstract: Various gestures, or aspects of the situation, such as location, attitude and/or movement, of a handheld controller are used to control various parameters of lighting, such as brightness or color.

Abstract: A request for energy usage status is received by a networked device over a network. A set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device. The set of power usage data, which includes information related to power usage of the networked device, was previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. A best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device is calculated based, at least in part, on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status is then sent by the networked device over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request.

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: An apparatus to monitor one or more utility meters includes a communication unit with a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, and a probe interface coupled to the processor. A meter monitoring probe that includes a probe head is coupled by a cable to a probe connector capable to mate with the probe interface. The probe head includes an image sensor, an indicator, and a button. The probe head is capable to detect a characteristic of a utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a utility metered, and send information related to the characteristic to the processor. The processor is capable to receive the information from the probe head and send a message related to the usage of the utility over the communication interface, and the image sensor is capable to capture an image in response to a press of the button.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus include controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value, receiving a message over a network, and detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus. The brightness value is changed based on both the message and the modulation.

Abstract: A characteristic of a first utility meter is detected with a first probe head, and a characteristic of a second utility meter is detected with a second probe head. The characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter, and the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter. Information related to the characteristic of the first utility meter is communicated from the first probe head to a communication unit, and information related to the characteristic of the second utility meter is communicated from the second probe head to the communication unit. A message is also sent from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility.

Abstract: A computer-based method to schedule utility consumers includes creating a first generation of vectors using a processor. A vector is made up of a set of operation periods within a time period for consumers of a utility. The method also includes producing, using a processor, one or more successive generations of vectors from the first generation of vectors to create a descendant generation of vectors, and selecting a vector of the descendant generation of vectors based on a fitness function. Then operation periods from the vector of the descendant generation of vectors are provided over a computer communication medium to control operation of the consumers of the utility.

Abstract: A modular light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, a connector to couple to an AC power source, circuitry on a first electronics module to drive the light emitting device, and a support structure arranged to position and hold a second electronics module that conforms to a predetermined form factor.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus include controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value, receiving a message over a network, and detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus. The brightness value is changed based on both the message and the modulation.

Abstract: A request for a server identifier is responded to with one of two different server identifiers. A remote server identifier is provided if the remote server is available and a local server identifier is provided if the remote server is not available. A networked device may provide the server identifier in a networked system.

Abstract: A modular light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting device, a connector to couple to an AC power source, circuitry on a first electronics module to drive the light emitting device, and a support structure arranged to position and hold a second electronics module that conforms to a predetermined form factor.

Abstract: Pulses, including electrical waveforms, emitted light, and light reflected by a moving mechanical device, that are emitted by a standard utility meter may be received. A device may be controlled to vary its usage of the utility and that may be used to determine a usage per pulse. The usage per pulse information may be used to convert a pulse rate from a meter to emulate the pulse rate from another meter. Information about the other meter and/or services offered by the other meter may be provided to allow for emulation of the other meter.

Abstract: Power is stored in a networked light allowing the networked light to send a message over the network providing information that the networked light is turning off if external power is no longer available.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus report energy usage status by a networked device. In response to a request, a set of power usage data is retrieved from a non-volatile memory located within the networked device, the power usage data having been previously stored in the non-volatile memory in advance of positioning the networked device for normal use. The set of power usage data includes information related to energy usage of the networked device. The networked device calculates a best estimate of the energy usage status of the networked device based on the set of power usage data retrieved from the non-volatile memory, without measuring electrical parameters of a power source of the networked device during normal use. The best estimate of the energy usage status by the networked device is then sent over the network as a reply to the energy usage status request.