Radiant Energy Controlled Regulation Of The Current Supply For The Load Device Patents (Class 315/158)
  • Patent number: 9336447
    Abstract: In an ambient environment determination apparatus, an imager obtains a picture capturing an area ahead of a vehicle, and a street lamp is detected for each detection frame unit of the picture. Then, an urban area determination process is performed that determines whether or not the ambient environment of the vehicle is an urban area based on both of a street lamp detection result of a current detection frame unit and a street lamp detection result of a past detection frame unit of the picture. Further, in a period after the vehicle turns right or left, determination responsiveness with regard to determination whether or the ambient environment is a urban area or a non-urban area is enhanced than that in a period other than the period after the right or left turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Genya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9338863
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for controlling room lighting comprises a light sensor and a controller. The light sensor is arranged for both detecting an ambient light level and for detecting a remote signal to be emitted by a remote control unit. A detection signal is providing at a sensor terminal and is indicative of the ambient light level and indicative of the remote signal. The controller comprises an input terminal connected to the sensor terminal and comprises a controller means to generate a control signal depending on the detection signal to control a light source to be connected at an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: Sajol Christopher Ghoshal
  • Patent number: 9295137
    Abstract: An integrated room controller includes a lighting relay that operates a lighting load based on a lighting relay input signal. Further, the integrated room controller includes a motor control relay that operates a motor associated with an adjustable skylight fixture based on a motor control relay input signal. In addition, the integrated room controller includes a microcontroller that is coupled to the lighting relay and the motor control relay. The microcontroller generates and outputs the lighting relay input signal to the lighting relay and the motor control relay input signal to the motor control relay to control the operation of the lighting load and the adjustable skylight. The integrated room controller also includes a dimmer control circuit coupled to the lighting load and actuated by the microcontroller to control dimming operations associated with the lighting load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Lunn, Jonathon L. Germon, Kishore S. Aligeti
  • Patent number: 9295139
    Abstract: A plurality of lighting devices are respectively arranged, on a ceiling surface, at a plurality of grid points of the ceiling surface partitioned in a grid pattern. A detection unit detects occupancy statuses of a plurality of seats located correspondingly to positions of the plurality of grid points. A controller is capable of communicating with each of the plurality of lighting devices. The controller includes a light-control information generating unit that regards a block formed of a plurality of grid points centering around a grid point of an occupied location as one group to generate, for each of groups set correspondingly to occupied locations, light control information on a lighting device that becomes a dimming target in the group. The controller also includes a transmission unit that transmits the light control information. The lighting device being a dimming target among the plurality of lighting devices performs light control based on the received light control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonobu Asami
  • Patent number: 9287775
    Abstract: A power supply device is provided with the following: a rectifier circuit that rectifies an alternating voltage from an alternating current source; a booster circuit that boosts the voltage after rectification, and generates an input side voltage of a voltage conversion unit; the voltage conversion unit that outputs a voltage required for reducing the input side voltage and supplying the input side voltage to a light source; a voltage current detection unit that determines whether or not the light source is connected; and an output voltage control unit that, if it is determined that a first resistor and a second resistor, which are connected in parallel with respect to the light source, and the light source are not connected, controls the voltage of the first resistor so that the voltage is no more than a prescribed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryohhei Tada
  • Patent number: 9261866
    Abstract: A controlling and monitoring control application associated with one or more work operations of one or more utility devices is disclosed. The controller is programmed for controlling one or more external work operations associated with one or more utility devices. An I/O board is connected in communication with the primary controller having a module with a plurality of device-specific control applications associated with one or more device-specific work operations. The housing of the controller includes one or more cable access points for plugging a cable into the controller. The cable access points are sealed to prevent water from entering into the housing. A mounting bracket assembly provides flexibility for mounting the controller at various orientations and/or positions. The controller also includes a DC control circuit for controlling backlight luminance over the entire dimming ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Chris D. Diller, Louis M. Holzman, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Stephen X. Skaff, Quang Van Dao, Christopher A. Buck
  • Patent number: 9217555
    Abstract: LED module with integrated thermal spreader. In an aspect, an LED module is provided that includes an LED light source, a driver connected to energize the LED light source, and a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader configured to provide a thermal conduction path to conduct heat energy away from the LED module. In another aspect, a lighting device includes a heat sink and an LED module mated with the heat sink. The LED module includes an LED light source, a driver connected to energize the LED light source, and a thermal spreader thermally coupled to at least one of the LED light source and the driver, the thermal spreader forming a thermal conduction path with the heat sink to conduct thermal energy away from the LED module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bridgelux Incorporated
    Inventor: Todd Farmer
  • Patent number: 9210761
    Abstract: A lighting system uses interior and exterior light sensors for detecting lighting level and color. A lighting unit has a controlled color and intensity so that a color match zone can be defined where the interior space lighting has color temperature based on the exterior lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Axel Nackaerts, Viet Hoang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9210778
    Abstract: A light control system includes a wired control device, a wireless control device, a communication module, and light devices. The wired control device includes a first user interface and a first wired communication protocol interface. The wireless control device includes a second user interface and a first wireless communication protocol interface. The communication module includes a second wired communication protocol interface and a second wireless communication protocol interface. Each of the light devices includes a third wired communication protocol interface, and each of the light devices performs data exchange with the third wired communication protocol interface of another one of the light devices by a network cable connected to the third wired communication protocol interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: LEXTAR ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuan-Ching Chen, Chun-Kuang Chen
  • Patent number: 9192034
    Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast includes a DC-DC converter circuit configured to convert a voltage of a DC power supply by a switching operation of a switching element based on a PWM signal and to output a DC power, an inverter circuit configured to invert the DC power into an AC power, and a PWM ON-width control circuit configured to control switching conditions of the switching element in the DC-DC converter circuit immediately before a polarity of the AC power is reversed such that an ON-width of the PWM signal is increased from a start of a polarity reversal so as to increase the DC power in a predetermined period. The polarity of the AC power of the inverter circuit is reversed in synchronism with a switching timing of the switching element immediately after the control by the PWM ON-width control circuit to increase the ON-width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9184497
    Abstract: A lighting device, such as a replacement lighting device, comprising a light source (LS), e.g. LEDs, for producing light along an optical axis (OA). A heat sink (HS) made of a material with an electrical resistivity being less than 0.01 ?m, e.g. a metallic heat sink being a part of the housing, transports heat away from the light source (LS). A Radio Frequency (RF) communication circuit (CC) connected to an antenna (A) serves to enable RF signal communication, e.g. to control the device via a remote control. Metallic components, including the heat sink (HS), having an extension larger than 1/10 of a wavelength of the RF signal are arranged below a virtual plane (VP) drawn orthogonal to the optical axis (OA) and going through the antenna (A). Hereby a compact device can be obtained, and still a satisfying RF radiation pattern can be obtained. The antenna can be a wire antenna or a PCB antenna, e.g. a PIFA or a IFA type antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Bingzhou Chen, Guoping Zhang, Martijn Henri Richard Lankhorst, Roger Henri Denker, Jeroen Snelten, Dennis Johannes Antonius Claessens, Ludo Haenen, Jacobus Hubertus Anna Selen, Patrick Van Kooten
  • Patent number: 9142157
    Abstract: An electronic device may contain components such as a processor, video circuitry, camera flash, communications circuitry, and other components that may generate heat during operation. The device may have a display with a backlight unit that contains light-emitting diodes. Control circuitry within the electronic device can apply drive powers to the light-emitting diodes in a way that is sensitive to the operating temperature of the light-emitting diodes. The control circuitry can determine whether the temperature of the light-emitting diodes is elevated by determining which components are active in the device. Activity levels can be ascertained by gathering status information on each component. Temperature sensors may be used to make real time temperature measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Wurzel, David A. Doyle
  • Patent number: 9127980
    Abstract: A method and a structure are provided to increase a receiving angle of an optical sensor. The structure includes touchscreen glass, an optical sensor, and a main board. An ambient light hole is provided on the touchscreen glass. The optical sensor is disposed between the touchscreen glass and the main board. A light uniformizing film is disposed between the touchscreen glass and the optical sensor, is in contact with the touchscreen glass, and completely covers the ambient light hole. A handheld terminal includes the foregoing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Device Co., LTD
    Inventors: Leilei Pang, Hui Shao
  • Patent number: 9109758
    Abstract: An emitting apparatus emitting infrared ray including control information with respect to a light emitting device which is held by a spectator in a concert venue, and the like. The emitting apparatus includes a light source arranged with a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a front side of the light source is provided with a nozzle having an opening formed in a narrow shape in which a horizontal width is substantially greater than a vertical width. The emitting apparatus is formed such that infrared light is passed through the nozzle to be emitted. This configuration can perform a stage effect having an illumination effect in which, by using the emitting apparatus existing in the concert venue, a band-shaped light emitting area is formed to be moved like a wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KUWAGATA
    Inventor: Noriaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9084308
    Abstract: A method and means for creating a daylight harvesting controller with a self calibrating light sensor and an adaptive setpoint that maintains a user determined light level is disclosed herein. The system includes a light sensor for monitoring the ambient light level of a designated control zone and a means to receive and interpret light level adjustment commands created by a user or user surrogate. The system includes means to limit the setpoint to a maximum value, suspend daylighting activity when lights are being adjusted or are turned off, and to delay setpoint capture and the start or resumption of daylighting until an adjustment cycle is completed and the zone light sources have reached a nominally steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Starfield Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Logan Morrow
  • Patent number: 9078321
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes: a voltage detecting unit connected across a solid-state light emitting component for detecting a forward voltage thereof and generating a detection voltage having a magnitude dependent on the forward voltage; a current control unit connected to the light emitting component for controlling, according to a compensation voltage, flow of an operating current, which has a magnitude dependent on the compensation voltage, therethrough; and a compensation voltage module connected to the voltage detecting unit and the current control unit, disposed to receive a reference voltage, and configured to generate the compensation voltage, which varies according to the forward voltage, for provision to the current control unit according to the detection voltage, an operating voltage having a magnitude dependent on the operating current, and the reference voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Naitonal Chi Nan University
    Inventors: Tai-Ping Sun, Chia-Hung Wang, Jia-Hao Li
  • Publication number: 20150145421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting control system with a security function based on a CPTED, which is capable of acquiring detailed video information on a desired object in interlocking with a video device such as a DVR based on sensing information collected through sensors included a local lighting device and controlling a lighting adjacent to the object to strengthen a security function. Since lightings and cameras can be simultaneously controlled to direct a suspicious object in response to motion of the suspicious object without any separate video analysis module, the object's crime intention can be prevented and the object's video can be acquired without any shadow zone or deteriorated video quality, which can result in increased security in interlocking of the security function including CPTED-based crime prevention with the lighting control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Best Digital Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Ho CHUNG, Jae Yong PARK, Young Suk PARK
  • Publication number: 20150146751
    Abstract: A light source system that generates stable optical power over time and temperature in which a feedback control circuit is operative to receive a temperature signal and a sample signal and in response thereto generate a control signal to a driver circuit to maintain a power level of the light output substantially constant over an operative temperature range defined by Tmin and Tmax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: John P. Downing
  • Publication number: 20150146753
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a light emitting element; and a light variable resistive element which is connected to the light emitting element in parallel and is provided at a position which is irradiated with light emitted from the light emitting element, wherein the light variable resistive element has a characteristic in which a resistance value decreases as an amount of irradiation light increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tomio IKEGAMI
  • Publication number: 20150137687
    Abstract: An LED power supply device disclosed in the present specification includes a DC dimmer circuit that performs dimming control of an LED such that the higher a reference voltage variably controlled according to a dimmer signal is, the smaller a current flowing in the LED is. This configuration makes it possible to achieve fine dimming control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Kotaro Shibata, Akinobu Sawada
  • Patent number: 9035228
    Abstract: A light sensor including a photo transistor is provided. A gate of the photo transistor receives a gate driving signal. The photo transistor senses a light source based on the gate driving signal to generate a light current signal. The photo transistor includes a metal-oxide active layer. The gate driving signal has a first voltage level during a trap period and has a second voltage level during a read period. The first voltage level is higher than the second voltage level. The gate driving signal of the photo transistor introduces a mechanism to rapidly eliminate excess carriers. Accordingly, the photo transistor has a rapid response while maintaining good light responsibility. Furthermore, a method for driving the foregoing photo transistor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Tsung Chen, Ted-Hong Shinn, Chuang-Chuang Tsai, Wen-Chung Tang, Chih-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 9035558
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for mimicking a bioluminescent signal from an animal or an insect, such as a firefly. A first version includes a controller, an electrical energy battery, a solar energy collector and a light emitting device. The solar energy collector receives sunlight and converts the sunlight to electrical energy that is stored in the battery. The electrical energy battery provides electrical energy to the light emitting device under management by the controller, and may comprise two or more battery cells or circuits. A time sequence for energizing the light emitting device may be applied to cause the light emitting device to mimic a bioluminescent lighting pattern generally exhibited by a selected species of insect or animal. A light emitting diode may be used with a voltage source and a voltmeter to detect the approximate intensity of light of an ambient environment surrounding the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas John Padula, Autumn Collett Cardone
  • Patent number: 9035555
    Abstract: A medical lighting device has an operating area light (100), a central control station (11), a lighting control unit (7), a control unit (39), an image detection element (27), an image processing unit (29), reference elements (67, 69), an operating unit (200), a position sensor (25), an operating element (33) arranged at a handle (31), a marking and distance detection element (35) and a device for data transmission (13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 28). A horizontal-vertical position (58) of the operating unit (200) in the room and a light marking position (38) on a reclining surface (99) are determined by the position sensor (25), the marking and distance detection element (35), the image detection element (27) combined with reference elements (67, 69) and image processing unit (29). The operating area light (100) is actuated such that an illuminated area (71) is illuminated on the reclining surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Livio Fornasiero, Maral Haar
  • Publication number: 20150130357
    Abstract: A load regulation device may be adapted to control an electrical load. The load regulation device may be in a low power state, a ready state, and/or an on state. The low power state may be characterized by the electrical load being unenergized. The ready state may be characterized by a load control device and/or the load regulation device using more power than the low power state and the electrical load being unenergized. The on state may be characterized by the electrical load being energized. The load regulation device may receive an indication of a user's presence when the load regulation device is in the low power state. The load regulation device may change from the low power state to the ready state in response to receiving the indication. The load regulation device may wait in the ready state for a change state instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Knauss
  • Patent number: 9030103
    Abstract: Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components separately arranged to generate spectral output having different ratios of scotopic to photopic light (S/P ratios) but similar chromaticities preferably within seven MacAdam ellipses. A light emitting device may be controlled to permit transitioning between different modes of operation of multiple LED components, with aggregated output of different modes having different S/P ratios but similar chromaticities. Multiple LED components of a light emitting device may be simultaneously controlled with different dimming profiles to effect increased color rendering at maximum emissive output of the apparatus, and to effect increased aggregated S/P ratio at minimum emissive output of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Kenneth Pickard
  • Patent number: 9030104
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting power supply and display screen brightness of an electronic device with a thin-film solar panel are introduced. The method includes configuring the electronic device with a first threshold level and a second threshold level, wherein the first threshold level and the second threshold level are voltage levels or current levels; attaching the thin-film solar panel to a casing of the electronic device for enabling the electronic device to convert an external light into a transformed voltage or current; and determining whether the transformed voltage or current lies between the first threshold level and the second threshold level to decide whether to allow the display screen to operate at an existing brightness level thereof continuously. The method and system enable the electronic device to receive the external light for supplementing power supple and sense the external light for adjusting power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan
    Inventors: Charn-Ying Chen, Chi-Yuan Chang, Cheng-Si Tsao, Chih-Min Chuang, Hou-Chin Cha, Yu-Ching Huang, Yeong-Der Lin, Fan-Hsuan Hsu, Chia-Hsin Lee
  • Patent number: 9030129
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment relates to controlling the amount of backlight power in an electronic display to account for the temperature in the backlight cavity. Another embodiment relates to a system for controlling the amount of backlight based on both the temperature of the backlight and the amount of ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Dunn, John Schuch, David Williams
  • Patent number: 9030108
    Abstract: This invention is a photon-interactive Gaussian surface lens method means that converts incident photons from a single or a plurality of wide band gap semiconductor class light emitting diode dies, into a secondary emission of photons emanating from a composite photon transparent colloidal stationary suspension of quantum dots, high efficiency phosphors, a combination of quantum dots and high efficiency phosphors and nano-particles of metal, silicon or similar semiconductors from the IIIB and IVB Group of the Periodic Table and any nano-material and/or micro/nano spheres that responds to Rayleigh Scattering and/or Mie Scattering; and a plurality of quantum dots in communication with said nano-particles in said suspension. The apparatus and methods according to the present invention provides in improved narrow pass-band of red, green, and blue photon efficiency over phosphor based conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventors: David Deak, Sr., David Deak, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150123548
    Abstract: In order to regulate an illuminance, an actual value of a sensor (3) is queried, said value being dependent on the illuminance to be regulated and being regulated to a setpoint value. In a control step, an electronic computing device (11) determines an actuating step for an illuminant (2) on the basis of said actual value and a parameter value of a control parameter. The electronic computing device (11) determines a new parameter value of the control parameter for a subsequent control step on the basis of a first actual value which is received before the corresponding control step, and a second actual value which is determined after the corresponding control step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Dominik Vogt, Gunther Sejkora
  • Publication number: 20150123547
    Abstract: A lighting system includes: a light source for lighting display and passage spaces; a first detector for detecting presence or absence of part of a human body in a first detection area; and a second detector for detecting human presence or absence in a second detection area. The second detection area contains a whole or part of the passage space. The first detection area is nearer to the article than the second detection area. A controller controls the light source so that: in a case of detecting human absence in which both of the first and second detectors detect human absence, the light source is operated at a reduced light output level; if the second detector detects human presence, illuminance in the display space is increased; and if the first detector detects human presence, illuminance in each of the passage space and the display space is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Shigemi FUSHIMI
  • Publication number: 20150115807
    Abstract: Described herein is a luminaire controller for a luminaire in which dimming signals can be provided to control the operation of the luminaire. The controller also includes an energy measurement module connected to a mains supply, a sensor module, a power switch, a central processing module and a ZigBee transceiver module. The controller, in addition to providing dimming signals in accordance with ambient lighting conditions sensed by a photocell in the sensor module provides efficient energy metering. In one embodiment, the luminaire controller is directly mountable on a luminaire which is to for control thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: SCHREDER
    Inventors: Helmut Schroder, Daniel Brand
  • Patent number: 9018841
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes at least one circuit configured to provide an output signal in response to at least one external input signal. The device further comprises a light emission and detection assembly that includes: a lamp sub-assembly coupled to the at least one circuit, the lamp subassembly including at least one light emitting element configured to emit light in response to the output signal; and an ambient light sensor sub-assembly coupled to the at least one circuit and including an ambient light sensor and a sensor housing assembly, the ambient light sensor being configured to generate the at least one external input signal in response to sensing an ambient light level in the space, the sensor housing assembly being configured to substantially isolate the ambient light sensor from the light emitted by the lamp sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Richards, Gary O. Wilson, David A. Finlay, Sr., Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150097490
    Abstract: An illumination control system includes a signal detection unit for detecting a signal changed depending on an eye state of a person, an opening/closing determination unit for determining an opening/closing state of an eye of the person based on the detected signal, and a sight line detection unit for detecting a person's sight line direction with respect to an illumination device based on the detected signal. The illumination control system further includes a control unit for controlling the illumination device to reduce an illuminance when the opening/closing determination unit determines that the eye of the person is in a closed eye state, and to change an illuminance and a light color based on the sight line direction detected by the sight line detection unit when the opening/closing determination unit determines that the eye of the person is in an open eye state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Teruhisa OKUYA, Yuriko UEGAKI, Toru NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 9000934
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus, methods, and systems for assessing the life span of a product and/or system—particularly with respect to end-of-life conditions which are defined by a customer, owner, operator, or other person(s) associated with the product and/or system—and communicating the assessment to said customer, owner, operator, or other person(s). According to one aspect, end-of-life conditions are defined in terms of product life (e.g., anything that relates to how well and how long the product/system operates) and/or economic life (e.g., anything that relates to the cost of deriving a benefit from the product/system). In one particular example, the products or systems relate to lighting systems, particularly those utilizing LED (or other solid-state) light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Musco Corporation
    Inventors: Myron Gordin, Timothy D. McGill
  • Publication number: 20150091449
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to an illumination system including a power source, a light source electrically coupled to the power source, and a light sensor electrically coupled to the power source and the light source. The light sensor activates the light source responsive to a pre-determined minimum-lumen threshold being reached. The illumination system is placed inside an interior of a dark area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Deborah Lemon
  • Publication number: 20150091448
    Abstract: A power supply circuit includes a bridge circuit, a transformer, and a rectifying and smoothing circuit. The bridge circuit includes at least one switching element and converts a direct-current voltage into an alternating-current voltage according to ON and OFF of the switching element. The transformer includes a primary winding wire and a secondary winding wire. The rectifying and smoothing circuit converts the alternating-current voltage into a direct-current output voltage and supplies the direct-current output voltage to a direct-current load. When the number of turns of the primary winding wire is represented as N1, the number of turns of the secondary winding wire is represented as N2, a voltage value of the direct-current voltage is represented as VDC, and a lower limit value of the output voltage is represented as Vmin, a turn ratio of the primary winding wire and the secondary winding wire is about N1:N2=(VDC/2):Vmin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Go Kato, Shinichiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20150084525
    Abstract: An adjustable bi-level lighting control is for use in connection with LED luminaires having an LED, a current control circuit, a driver circuit and an AC source. The LED luminaire is directed to illuminate an area having intermittent occupancy. The adjustable bi-level lighting control comprises a dimmer supplying a first control signal to the current control circuit, to control current flow to the LED. An occupancy sensor, responsive to an occupant entering the area, supplies a second electrical control signal to the dimmer. An adjustable control connected to the dimmer allows for selective adjustment of the first electrical control signal. Low and high level potentiometers selectively adjust the first electrical control signal to low and high levels, thereby selectively adjusting the LED to low and high levels of intensity, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: James Steedly
  • Publication number: 20150084524
    Abstract: A lighting system comprising a light source, a controller operably coupled to the light source, and a timekeeping device operably coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to receive a selected action time associated with an agricultural product. The agricultural product includes an associated circadian rhythm defining an optimal action time range. The controller is configured to determine a lighting schedule responsive to the selected action time, the optimal action time range, and a time of day indicated by the timekeeping device, the lighting schedule being configured to impose a circadian rhythm on the agricultural product to shift the optimal action time range such that the selected action time coincides with the optimal action time range. The controller is configured to operate the light source according to the lighting schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: BIOLOGICAL ILLUMINATION, LLC
    Inventors: Fredric S. Maxik, Robert R. Soler, David E. Bartine, Eliza Katar Grove, Neil Yorio, Anthony Crawford
  • Publication number: 20150076996
    Abstract: A lighting system has at least one control unit which is designed to transmit control instructions, in particular control instructions corresponding to the DALI and/or DSI standard, to a plurality of operating devices assigned thereto, wherein the control instructions are generated on the basis of control information fed to the control unit. The control unit receives the control information in wireless fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel Flatz
  • Publication number: 20150076995
    Abstract: A LED flashing lamp contains: a transparent housing, a cell disposed in the transparent housing, a trigger switch, a photoresistor, a controller, and at least one LED light element. The cell is connected with a power supply end of the controller, the trigger switch has a first end for connecting with a negative electrode of the cell and a second end for coupling with a signal input end of the controller via the photoresistor, the at least one LED light element is in connection with an output end of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Sun-Hsien Chang
  • Publication number: 20150076993
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for a light fixture are disclosed. One apparatus of the light fixture includes a sensor unit and a light intensity controller. The sensor unit includes a sensor operative to generate a sense signal base on at least one of sensed motion or light, wireless communication circuitry operative to maintain a link with a network, and a controller. The controller is operative to manage communication with the network, manage transmission of beacons through the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the beacons include information associated with the fixture, and generate dimming control base on at least one of the sensed signal and communication from the network. The light intensity controller is configured to receive the dimming control and operative to adjust an emitted light intensity of a luminaire of the light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: enLighted, Inc.
    Inventor: Tanuj Mohan
  • Patent number: 8981677
    Abstract: A lighting device comprises groups of solid state light emitters, a sensor and circuitry. If the emitters are illuminated, the sensor is exposed to combined light from the groups, and senses only a portion of the combined light. The circuitry adjusts current applied to at least one of the emitters based on an intensity of the light sensed. Also, a device comprising emitters, a circuit board and a sensor, at least one of the emitters being positioned on the first circuit board and the sensor being spaced from the circuit board. Also, a lighting device comprising emitters, a sensor, and circuitry which adjusts current applied an emitters based on detection by the first sensor, the circuitry comprising a differential amplifier circuit. Also, a lighting device, comprising light emitters and circuitry which adjusts current applied to only some of the emitters based on ambient temperature. Also, methods of lighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Jay Myers, Michael Harris, Gerald H. Negley
  • Patent number: 8981656
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a lighting system is provided. Lamp insertion detectors are coupled to a ballast and detect when relamping occurs. The outputs of the lamp insertion detectors are coupled together to provide a single input of a timing circuit. The timing circuit generates an output having a predetermined duration. This timing circuit output is received by a ballast driver circuit, which causes the ballast to provide a high voltage to a lamp socket for a predetermined duration of the timing circuit output to ignite the new lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Dominic Mieskoski
  • Patent number: 8975830
    Abstract: A light emitting system includes a light emitting device having a forward voltage, and an optical power control device. The optical power control device includes a control signal module and a current controller. The control signal module generates a control signal according to the forward voltage, and the current controller permits flow of a driving current through the light emitting device according to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: National Chi Nan University
    Inventors: Tai-Ping Sun, Hsiu-Li Shieh, Yung-Hsin Lu
  • Patent number: 8970372
    Abstract: System and method are provided where an occupancy sensor with a time delay function designed to dim the lights, for example as a warning, after a first period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. The lights remain dimmed for a second period of time, and then are turned off after a third period of time has expired without detecting room occupancy. If occupancy is detected during the first period of time, the lights will remain on. If occupancy is detected during the second or third period of time, the lights will be turned on to, for example, previous brightness. A night light can be added to, and/or incorporated in, an occupancy sensor which includes the dimmer feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher C. Primous, Thomas J. Batko
  • Publication number: 20150054414
    Abstract: When an operator operates an operation tool of a dimming operation terminal device in order to set the brightness of a lighting load to desired brightness, an energization electric signal, for example, a voltage level detected by a dimming control section changes. The dimming control section generates a dimming signal modulated according to the voltage level. Power supply to the dimming control section is performed by an insulated auxiliary power supply. Transmission of the dimming signal is performed via an insulating section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiko KAMATA, Kenji TAKANASHI
  • Patent number: 8963434
    Abstract: The electrical switch device can includes a method and dimmer determination device that automatically determining a dimmer level for an electronic device. A signal is received and, when coupled with the time of day and the ambient light level, an appropriate algorithm can be selected. The output of the algorithm provides the dimmer level, which is sent to a controller for output to the electrical device. Based on user feedback, the algorithms and thresholds used to determine the dimmer level can be adjusted, created, and deleted to provide a more accurate dimming level in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Carlos Eduardo Restrepo
  • Patent number: 8963435
    Abstract: An apparatus and a system using an infrared ray for performing a variety of stage effect operations. In a light emitting system including a light emitting instruction apparatus and a light emitting device, the light emitting instruction apparatus includes an infrared output which outputs an infrared signal modulated by a control code, and the light emitting device includes a receiver which receives the infrared signal, an extractor which extracts the control code from the infrared signal acquired by the receiver, a light emitter which emits visible light in a plurality of colors, and a controller which executes drive control of the light emitter. The control code transmitted by the light emitting instruction apparatus includes a plurality of verification codes which verify whether to match with ID codes preliminarily stored in the light emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kuwagata
    Inventor: Noriaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8957603
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an LED lighting control apparatus and method based on visible light communication. The LED lighting control apparatus includes lighting information collection means for collecting status information about lighting means and environmental information about surroundings of the lighting means, and transmitting the collected information to lighting control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: You-Jin Kim, Tae-Gyu Kang, Hyun-Jong Kim, In-Su Kim, Dae-Ho Kim, Il-Soon Jang, Jin-Doo Jeong, Sang-Kyu Lim, Seong-Hee Park
  • Patent number: 8952626
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lighting control are disclosed. The system may include at least one lighting device providing illumination and a handheld unit coupled with the lighting device to control at least one of a controllable lighting state, a controllable lighting intensity, and a controllable lighting effect of the lighting device. The handheld unit may include an image-capturing device and a processor coupled with the image-capturing device. The processor may be configured to control the image-capturing device to capture an image of a space affected by the lighting device; analyze an luminance level of the space; receive a lighting parameter; and provide a command to the lighting device for controlling at least one of the controllable lighting state, the controllable lighting intensity, and the controllable lighting effect of the lighting device based on at least one of the image, the luminance level, and the lighting parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yao-Te Huang, Yung-Chuan Chen, Hung-Chun Li, Yeu-Torng Yau, Ming-Shan Jeng, Ching-Ran Lee