With Signal, Indicator, Or Alarm Patents (Class 315/129)
  • Publication number: 20130200804
    Abstract: An operating element for a medical light includes an operating element for setting the size of a light field generated by the light, a screen for displaying the currently set size of the light field and an electronic interface for outputting control signals for the size of the light field to a control device of the light. The operating unit is configured to display a representation of at least one light body of the light, including a light cone emanating from the light body, on the screen and to change the shape of the light cone in the representation correspondingly on an adjustment of the size of the light field by means of the operating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Alexander STOFFEL
  • Patent number: 8456090
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality PTE, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20130099673
    Abstract: A user interface of a configurable light timer is described. The user interface comprises an input portion for receiving timing characterization data, the input portion adapted to receive a portable memory device storing the timing characterization data; a control circuit coupled to detect the portable memory device inserted into the configurable light timer; and an internal memory; wherein the timing characterization data is automatically downloaded to the internal memory after the portable memory device is detected in the configurable light timer. A method of implementing a configurable light timer is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: John Joseph King
  • Publication number: 20130099672
    Abstract: The invention discloses an illumination system and a control method of illumination system. The illumination system includes a portable electronic apparatus, a lamp-controlling module and at least one lamp. The control method of an illumination system includes following steps: generating a wireless control signal according to a color distribution of a selected pattern; generating a lamp-controlling signal according to the wireless control signal; respectively adjusting a light-emitting state of the lamp according to the lamp-controlling signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Chih-Hua Lin, Wen-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 8425053
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source; a light modulating device; a projection optical device; a lighting control device configured to control lighting of the light source and include a lighting unit; a control unit includes a storage section, a determination section, an information setting section configured to store problem related information regarding the problem in the storage section, a signal transmission section configured to indicate that the problem has occurred, and a detection unit configured to detect a driving state of the lighting control device; a control device configured to connect with the light control device and includes a main body side storage section, and an information acquisition section configured to acquire the problem related information when the problem occurrence signal is received and stores the problem related information in the main body side storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Keishi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8421360
    Abstract: An illumination load determination device includes an illumination load; a voltage applying unit for applying a voltage to the illumination load; a connection unit for connecting the illumination load and the voltage applying unit; a detection unit for detecting at least one of a current flowing through the illumination load and a voltage across the illumination load when the voltage is applied to the illumination load from the voltage applying unit via the connection unit; and a determination unit for determining a type of the illumination load based on an output from the detection unit. The determination unit has a comparator for comparing a detection value detected by the detection unit to a predetermined threshold, and determines that the illumination load has a capacitance based on an output of the comparator. The voltage applying unit lights on the determined illumination load with a rated driving voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Mishima, Hiroshi Kido, Shohei Yamamoto, Masanao Okawa, Hirofumi Konishi, Katunobu Hamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130082605
    Abstract: A wireless intelligent lamp control method is to be implemented by a remote switch handset for wireless communication with a wall switch base, and includes: receiving an ON signal set including at least one ON signal sent from a user-selected command key unit, and determining at least one of a number and a duration of the at least one ON signal; transmitting a wireless signal indicating the user-selected command key unit to the wall switch base for establishing a matching relation when the ON signal set includes only one ON signal and the duration thereof is longer than an ON threshold time; and wirelessly receiving the matching relation from the wall switch base, and storing the matching relation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicants: LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORP., SILITEK ELECTRONIC (GUANGZHOU) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chih-Yen WU
  • Patent number: 8410896
    Abstract: Programmable occupancy sensors that control the on/off operation of a fluorescent lamp automatically determine loss of lamp life as the lamp is used. The programmable occupancy sensors can provide lamp life status and can automatically alert a user when a lamp is nearing its end of life and should be replaced. The occupancy sensors are also programmable to automatically improve lamp life and energy savings by selecting an optimal time delay from among a number of selectable time delays at which to operate the sensor. The selection is based on an occupancy pattern sensed by the sensor over a given period of time. The optimal time delay, which prevents the lamp from turning off immediately after last sensing occupancy, extends lamp life by limiting the number of lamp off/on transitions, which shortens lamp life, in view of overall energy usage and lamp usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Zaveruha, Brian P. Platner, Benjamin C. Hahn
  • Patent number: 8408711
    Abstract: A reflector applied in a projector including a projection control circuit, a light source unit, a beam combiner, and a lens is disclosed. The reflector includes a transparent electrode layer, an electrophoresis layer and a pixel electrode layer. The electrophoresis layer includes a plurality of micro cups, each micro cup contains suspension therein and a plurality of charged particles. The pixel electrode layer includes a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to the micro cups. The projection control circuit provides voltages between each pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer to drive the charged particles to migrate. When the charged particles arrive at the transparent electrode layer, the lights from the light source unit are reflected by the charged particles to the beam combiner to be combined into an image to be transmitted to the lens to project an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Presicion Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Song-Ling Yang
  • Publication number: 20130049601
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a HF ignition system, wherein electrical energy for generating a corona discharge is fed with a voltage pulse into the HF ignition system and a series of measured values of an electrical variable is measured during the voltage pulse, and the measured values are evaluated in order to detect malfunctions. It is provided according to the invention that the measured values are evaluated by determining a characteristic variable for the fluctuation range of the same and comparing the determined characteristic variable with a threshold, or in that by means of a transformation of said series, the frequency spectrum of said series is calculated, and it is checked for at least one frequency range if a threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Steffen BOHNE, Martin Trump
  • Publication number: 20130026927
    Abstract: An illumination device (100) is capable of preventing waste of standby power consumption over a long period of time after it is turned off by operation of a remote control (a remote control device). The illumination device (100) includes: a control section (30) which controls LED modules (42, 43); and a remote control light receiving section (45) which receives a turn-off instruction signal from the remote control device. The control section (30) includes a control microcomputer (35), which turns off the LED modules (42, 43) in response to the turn-off instruction signal received by the remote control light receiving section (45) and, after a certain period of time has passed, causes the LED modules (42, 43) to light up or blink according to a predetermined pattern in order to notify a user that a power supply is in a standby state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroto Uhara
  • Patent number: 8358086
    Abstract: An electronic ballast for a lamp has at least one dimming value control input and a control unit configured to set the dimming value of the lamp, wherein arranged downstream of the dimming value control input are: a signal output state detecting unit configured to acquire at least one of a signal output state in which the signal level of a signal fed to the dimming value control input overshoots a predetermined limit value, and a signal output state in which it undershoots a predetermined limit value, and a measuring unit configured to measure the duration of a signal output state, the control unit configured to set a dimming value of the lamp being configured to set the dimming value on the basis of the measured duration of the signal output state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Michael Hani
  • Publication number: 20120319589
    Abstract: A lamp drive device L is provided that can both light a lamp 1 and sustain a discharge by applying a trigger voltage while a direct current voltage is supplied from a power supply circuit 7a to the electrodes of lamp 1 before the start of discharge. The device includes a reference amount-of-change storage unit 21 for storing a threshold value T for the amount of change in the electrode voltage before and after start of discharge, a difference calculation unit 11 for calculating the difference (A?B) between the voltage monitor value B after the start of discharge and the voltage monitor value A before the start of discharge, and a lighting status determination unit 12 for determining the lighting status by comparing the difference (A?B) and the threshold value T and making the determination based on the change in voltage before and after the discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiro KIMURA, Hideki SOYA, Daijiro KATO
  • Publication number: 20120319588
    Abstract: An assembly, system and method for adaptively monitoring and operating a lamp fixture include a power input interface, a ballast, and a lamp interface. The ballast is coupled to the power input interface for receiving the received input power and creating lamp power between a first lamp terminal and a second lamp terminal. The ballast includes a transformer having a primary winding, a first lamp powering secondary winding, and a second lamp powering secondary winding. The transformer further includes a non-lamp powering secondary or third secondary winding for detecting a ballast operating parameter and transmitting a sensed ballast operating parameter value corresponding to the detected ballast operating parameter. A sensor detects an arc current circulating through a lamp received in the lamp interface and transmits a sensed arc current value corresponding to the detected arc current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: MAF TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alberto Sid
  • Publication number: 20120313530
    Abstract: A ballast circuit adapted for converting an input alternating current (AC) mains power received at input terminals to an output alternating current (AC) to supply a load, e.g. a gas discharge lamp. The output terminals of the ballast connect to the load in parallel with another ballast circuit. The ballast circuit is configured to supply the output AC current to the load in parallel with an AC current output of the other ballast circuit. A synchronization module attached at the output is adapted for synchronizing the output alternating current (AC) of the ballast circuit with the AC current output of the other ballast circuit. The synchronization module is configured to synchronize phase of the output alternating current with phase of the AC current output of the other ballast circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: METROLIGHT LTD.
    Inventor: Jonathan Hollander
  • Publication number: 20120306376
    Abstract: A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The dimmer switch comprises an intensity adjustment actuator, such as a slider knob or a rotary knob, which may be coupled to a potentiometer for adjusting the amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The potentiometer may comprise a dual potentiometer including a resistive element and a conductive element having a cut. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator, which may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Joel S. Spira
  • Patent number: 8319438
    Abstract: A circuit that can detect computer states. When the computer in a S3 state, a S3 state pin of the computer is at low level, and a S4 state pin of the computer is at high level. A first light emitting diode is turned on and emits light, indicating that the computer is in the S3 state. The circuit also detects an S4 state, a network state, a hard disk state, a network awakening state, a network booting state, a low power state, and a management engine state of the computer according to seven other light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun-Fang Xi
  • Publication number: 20120293074
    Abstract: There is provided a method of determining the state of a signal lamp. The method includes receiving time series data corresponding to an electrical signal used to power a signal lamp. The state of the signal lamp can switch from one of the following states to another of the following states: an on state, an off state, and a flashing state. The method also includes determining the state of the signal lamp, based at least in part on both the time series data and an amplitude value of the electrical signal relative to an amplitude-change threshold value over a determined number of amplitude changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company, a New York Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael Fries, Jeffery Armstrong, Robert N. Bettis, Gregory Keith Hann, Hsien-Kuo Lin, Steve R. Murphy, Daniel G. Penny, III, Eric Vorndran
  • Publication number: 20120293073
    Abstract: A method of generating a measuring signal indicating arc straightness in a gas discharge lamp (L) comprises the following steps: in a first step, applying a first lamp current (IN) to the lamp; in a second step, adding a brief pulse current (Ip) to the first lamp current (IN), allowing the lamp voltage to regain a steady state, and measuring the resulting average value of the lamp voltage (V2) in this steady state; generating a measuring signal indicating arc straightness on the basis of said average lamp voltage (V2) measured in the second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Edwin Theodorus Maria De Koning, Bennie Simpelaar, Joris Hubertus Antonius Hagelaar, Lars Dabringhausen
  • Patent number: 8314562
    Abstract: A lamp includes a lighting module providing illumination, a control unit, and a detecting unit. The control unit is connected or not connected to the lighting module. The detecting unit is coupled to the control unit. The detecting unit detects operational statuses of the lighting module and sends a detection result to the control unit. The control unit controls the lighting module or an alarm unit to enter an alarm mode based on the detection result. A user can immediately know the operational statuses by the alarm unit and take necessary actions to assure normal operation of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Alex Horng, Ching-Shen Hong
  • Patent number: 8310161
    Abstract: End-of-life indicators for lamps, and methods for indicating the end-of-life for lamps, are provided. A solid state light source end-of-life indicator is located on the exterior of a housing of a lamp, and includes at least one light emitting diode. The solid state light source end-of-life indicator emits light at the end of the life of the lamp. The solid state light source end-of-life indicator may emit light upon receiving an end-of-life signal from an end-of-life detection circuit, which detects when the lamp is at an end of its life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
    Inventors: Heinz W. Ito, Dan Bodocan, Shaun P. Montana
  • Patent number: 8294371
    Abstract: An improved LED traffic signal is provided. The LED traffic signal suitably includes a housing with an opening, a printed circuit board coupled to the housing, and a power supply system coupled to the printed circuit board. The power supply system includes a power supply module that receives an AC input voltage from an AC input line and transforms the AC input voltage into a DC voltage with a regulated current to power the LED load, and a synchronized power pulse circuit connected to the power supply that generates a synchronized power pulse representing a power consumption substantially equivalent to that of a halogen or incandescent traffic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Cherif Ghanem, Sebastien Magnan, Christian Poirier
  • Patent number: 8288952
    Abstract: The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Bruwer
  • Publication number: 20120248987
    Abstract: Programmable occupancy sensors that control the on/off operation of a fluorescent lamp automatically determine loss of lamp life as the lamp is used. The programmable occupancy sensors can provide lamp life status and can automatically alert a user when a lamp is nearing its end of life and should be replaced. The occupancy sensors are also programmable to automatically improve lamp life and energy savings by selecting an optimal time delay from among a number of selectable time delays at which to operate the sensor. The selection is based on an occupancy pattern sensed by the sensor over a given period of time. The optimal time delay, which prevents the lamp from turning off immediately after last sensing occupancy, extends lamp life by limiting the number of lamp off/on transitions, which shortens lamp life, in view of overall energy usage and lamp usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Ryan A. Zaveruha, Brian P. Platner, Benjamin C. Hahn
  • Patent number: 8264155
    Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of at least one operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus, and a control circuit coupled to the sensor. The control circuit is configured to temporarily interrupt electrical current to ones of the plurality of light emitting diodes at respective intervals responsive to the sensor signal indicating that the operating condition does not meet a desired operating threshold to provide a visible indicator thereof in light emitted by the apparatus. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald H. Negley, Antony P. van de Ven
  • Patent number: 8253347
    Abstract: An egress lighting system which utilizes an efficient primary and emergency light source and complies with the NEC standards for emergency egress lighting. This invention combines two sets of LEDs onto a single circuit board to provide primary lighting and secondary emergency egress lighting while keeping the circuits of the primary and secondary lighting electrically separate or isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Value Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Fiermuga
  • Patent number: 8247998
    Abstract: A light-emitting device capable of being powered by an AC power supply or an unregulated DC power supply is disclosed. The light-emitting device, in an aspect, is coupled to a controller, a light-emitting diode (“LED”) array, and a power supply, wherein the power supply can be an AC power source or an unregulated DC power source. While the power supply provides electrical power, the controller generates various LED control signals in response to power fluctuation of the electrical power. The LED array allows at least a portion of LEDs to be activated in accordance with the logic states of the LED control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgelux, Inc.
    Inventors: David Hum, Steve Lester
  • Publication number: 20120194080
    Abstract: An illumination device including a lighting device, a detecting module and a display is disclosed. The detecting module is configured for detecting information of the lighting device. The display is configured for receiving the information and displaying the information thereon. Therefore, the user could know the information of the lighting device timely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Chi Lin Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: ALFRED PENG
  • Publication number: 20120176039
    Abstract: An apparatus to detect faulty connection of LED (open/short conditions) which may affect the function of LED display panel is presented. The apparatus basically controls the switches through control algorithm circuit to get the information of LED driver output pins voltage and compare them with two reference voltages to determine the open/short condition of individual LED.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicants: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR ASIA PTE., LTD., PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Etsuji SATO, Chun Kiong Leslie KHOO, Jiong FU, Maung Zabu KO, Shuang ZHANG, Muhammad S/O ABUTURAB
  • Patent number: 8217580
    Abstract: A flashlight for alarm systems includes a light source containing at least one light emitting diode and a circuit which controls said light source. The circuit has a feed supply, a current converter, and flash control device. The current converter, the light source, and the flash control device are connected in series. The current converter includes a control unit, an inductor, an induction stop, and a resistor which are connected in series. The flash control device includes at least one switch for actuating the light source and a microprocessor for controlling the at least one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Max Grimm, Kurt Müller, Antonio Pedrosa, Hansjürg Wälti
  • Publication number: 20120169237
    Abstract: A hollow cathode lamp is described with an end cap, an anode, and a cathode. A data storage device is part of the end cap and communicates data to and from a computing device. The data communicated with the computing device may include identification information and usage information corresponding to the hollow cathode lamp. Additionally, a method is described that includes activating a power supply to a hollow cathode lamp and communicating data with a memory device located in the hollow cathode lamp. The data communicated with the memory device includes usage information about an amount of time the hollow cathode lamp has been in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicants: PERKINELMER SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PERKINELMER HEALTH SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Sunita Carrasco, David Hager, Tack-Boon Yee
  • Publication number: 20120146515
    Abstract: A driving device for a LED module is provided. The driving device for the LED module includes a voltage converting unit, a LED module voltage detecting unit, and a switching signal generation unit. The voltage converting unit produces a driving voltage to drive the LED module according to a switching signal. The LED module voltage detecting unit divides the driving voltage to produce a comparison voltage. The switching signal generation unit receives the comparison voltage by a fault detection pin and compares a reference voltage and the comparison voltage to enable or disable the switching signal. After the switching signal is disabled, the switching signal generation unit further pulls up a voltage level of the fault detection pin to a logic high level voltage, so as to produce a fault notification signal to let the fault detection pin also have a function for fault notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: EXCELLIANCE MOS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chao-Hsuan Chuang, Hung-Che Chou, Sheng-Chieh Wu, Pao-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 8198822
    Abstract: A light source driving apparatus includes; a boosting part which boosts an input voltage received from an input part and generates a driving voltage, a boosting transistor which controls an operation of the boosting part, a rectification part connected between the boosting part and an output part and which transmits the driving voltage to the output part, an integrated circuit which generates a gate signal which controls the boosting transistor, and a protection circuit which generates a protection signal which controls a voltage level of the gate signal according to an output current of the boosting transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Chul Byun, Gi-Cherl Kim, Byung-Choon Yang, Byoung-Dae Ye
  • Publication number: 20120136961
    Abstract: A system, a server, and a method for administrating a remote device are provided. The system includes a target device and a server. The server is coupled to the target device. The server includes a database and an event notice interface. A command content of a remote device administration command to be transmitted to the target device is recorded into the database, and a command number of the remote device administration command is recorded into the event notice interface. The server checks the event notice interface and sends the command content from the database to the target device according to the event notice interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yuan-Ching Chen, Hung-Lieh Hu, Hsueh-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 8183783
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality Pte, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20120119655
    Abstract: Programmable occupancy sensors that control the on/off operation of a fluorescent lamp automatically determine loss of lamp life as the lamp is used. The programmable occupancy sensors can provide lamp life status and can automatically alert a user when a lamp is nearing its end of life and should be replaced. The occupancy sensors are also programmable to automatically improve lamp life and energy savings by selecting an optimal time delay from among a number of selectable time delays at which to operate the sensor. The selection is based on an occupancy pattern sensed by the sensor over a given period of time. The optimal time delay, which prevents the lamp from turning off immediately after last sensing occupancy, extends lamp life by limiting the number of lamp off/on transitions, which shortens lamp life, in view of overall energy usage and lamp usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Ryan A. Zaveruha, Brian P. Platner, Benjamin C. Hahn
  • Patent number: 8174197
    Abstract: A light source with substantially constant intensity and power consumption is provided. The light source includes a controllable dc voltage and current source; a non-linear light-emitting load supplied with dc voltage and current from the controllable dc voltage and current source; a current sense circuit connected in series with the non-linear light-emitting load; a variable LED forward voltage (varying with temperature, binning batch, aging) sensor circuit; a multiplier operative to measure a power-representative signal; and a power consumption control feedback circuit through which the dc voltage and current source is controlled in relation to the variable forward voltage representative signal to adjust the dc voltage and then a current to amplitudes that keep the light intensity and power consumption produced by the light source substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Cherif Ghanem, Eden Dubuc
  • Publication number: 20120086342
    Abstract: A high-voltage transformer drive circuit and a high-voltage transformer drive discharge tubes. In at least one example embodiment, a tube current synthesis/high pass filter circuit synthesizes tube currents in the discharge tubes, and extracts a pulse component resulting from arc discharge from the synthesis tube current. A pulse hold circuit holds the extracted pulse component for a predetermined time. A comparator compares an output from the pulse hold circuit with a threshold value, and outputs a signal indicating the presence or absence of the arc discharge. Upon detection of the arc discharge, a logic circuit stops the operation of the high-voltage transformer drive circuit. Thus, arc discharge is detected with high accuracy at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadashi Iwabuchi
  • Publication number: 20120072138
    Abstract: One or more example diagnostics may be implemented as part of an intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency (RF) device that is in communication with an equipment or fixture such as a luminaire. Example diagnostics can determine a status such as a fixture malfunction, a cycling condition, a miswiring configuration, or another condition. The determined status can be wirelessly transmitted from the intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency device to a network server via a network. The network may be a network of intelligent luminaire managers and/or RF devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Walters, Michael Dorogi, Szabolcs Zigovski, Voicu Cristian, Ion Ticus
  • Patent number: 8140276
    Abstract: One or more example diagnostics may be implemented as part of an intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency (RF) device that is in communication with an equipment or fixture such as a luminaire. Example diagnostics can determine a status such as a fixture malfunction, a cycling condition, a miswiring configuration, or another condition. The determined status can be wirelessly transmitted from the intelligent luminaire manager or other radio frequency device to a network server via a network. The network may be a network of intelligent luminaire managers and/or RF devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Walters, Michael Dorogi, Szabolcs Zigovszki, Voicu Cristian, Ion Ticus
  • Patent number: 8134306
    Abstract: A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, color selection, and color sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: Marc Drader, James Robinson, Robert Lowles
  • Patent number: 8115397
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Greenwave Reality PTE, Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Jonsson
  • Patent number: 8111018
    Abstract: An application infrastructure for constructing illumination equipments with a transmission function includes at least one lamp reporting device for reporting a lamp condition, at least one lamp detection and transmission module with a two-way communication function, at least one message transmission and receiving module coupled to a control system, and a main system. Through a built-in wireless network or a power line network function of the illumination equipments, data can be transmitted among nodes of a mixed routing by indoor lighting having a transmission function and outdoor road lamps having a transmission function, without the need of building a basic network structure. A special network structure connecting the nodes to form lines and planes constitutes the application platform for constructing the illumination equipments with a two-way transmission function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Evercomm Opto Ltd.
    Inventor: Tung-Hsin You
  • Publication number: 20120013256
    Abstract: A lighting device having a housing incorporating an electrical circuit, a light source and a source of power with a gravity controller. The gravity controller regulates the power applied to the light source in response to the relationship between the position angle and the tilt angle of the lighting device with respect to the vertical. The lighting device has a storage orientation wherein the light source is non-energized and a transporting or use orientation wherein the light source is energized. A plurality of lighting devices are mounted on a storage bracket in a non-energized orientation. A plurality of lighting devices are mounted on a carrier having a changeable orientation, wherein the lighting devices are energized during transporting and non-energized during storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kevin F. McDermott
  • Publication number: 20120001552
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an LED lighting equipment failure detecting system for detecting if an LED lighting equipment is failure. The LED lighting equipment failure detecting system includes a current measuring unit, a parameter measuring unit, a storage unit and a control unit. The current measuring unit and the parameter measuring unit measure a present current value and a present operating parameter of at least one LED of the LED lighting equipment respectively. The control unit calculates a present condition parameter of the LED according to the present current value and the present operating parameter. The control unit calculates a condition parameter difference between the present condition parameter and the initial condition parameter stored in the storage unit. If the condition parameter difference is more than the abnormal condition threshold, the control unit determines that the LED of the LED lighting equipment is abnormal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION INDUSTRY
    Inventors: Kun-Cheng Tsai, Yung-Chuan Wen
  • Patent number: 8076859
    Abstract: An emergency sign power supply with battery charger is provided. In some embodiments the battery charging circuit is formed by a single diode and a single resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: David W. Knoble, Khosrow Jamasbi
  • Patent number: 8072223
    Abstract: A circuit for monitoring the functionality of an electrical element. A primary power supply provides direct current to the electrical element at a current sufficient for the electrical element to operate. A Schottky diode is disposed between the primary power supply and the electrical element, wherein the electrical element draws its operational current through the Schottky diode when in operation. A reverse bias power supply is provided. An opto-isolator is disposed between the reverse bias power supply and the electrical element. The electrical element draws a secondary current from the reverse bias power supply through the opto-isolator. The opto-isolator creates an output signal that is indicative of the secondary current. The output signal is used to control a remote failure indicator. When the electrical element fails, the current flowing through the opto-isolator stops. This triggers the failure indicator and informs a user as to the failed status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventor: Edward M. Sioma
  • Publication number: 20110285526
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus of the present invention includes: a light source; a power source unit arranged to power the light source; a detector unit arranged to detect the deterioration of ability of the power source unit to power the light source; and a determination unit arranged to determine the life of the power source unit in response to the detector unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahide Tanaka, Mitsunori Nagashima, Akinobu Sawada
  • Publication number: 20110279040
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for changing a DC supply voltage applied to a lighting circuit are disclosed. In specific cases, a constant voltage power supply is used to power an LED lighting circuit in which there are uncertainties within the forward voltages of the LEDs, which in turn creates uncertainty with respect to the current level flowing through the LEDs. To manage these uncertainties, the current flowing through the LEDs is measured and an indication of the current level is communicated to a person who can manually adjust the DC voltage supply applied to the LED lighting apparatus by the constant voltage power supply. Alternatively, an automatic adjustment of the DC voltage supply applied to the LED lighting apparatus by the constant voltage power supply can be performed based upon the measured current level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ARKALUMEN INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Edward BRIGGS, Sean MacLean Murray
  • Patent number: 8049427
    Abstract: A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator or a linear array of visual indicators. The visual display is illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and is illuminated in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. For example, the single visual indicator may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Christopher James Salvestrini, Joel S. Spira