Controllable light source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9538619-B2
Application number	US-201313829834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Oct 26, 2012
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A controllable light source is provided that includes a load control circuit and an integrated lighting load. The controllable light source is configured to receive wirelessly communicated commands transmitted by a remote control device associated with the controllable light source, such as a rotary remote control device. The controllable light source may include an actuator for associating the controllable light source with the remote control device, such that the load control circuit is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to wireless signals received from the remote control device. The controllable light source may support the actuator such that the actuator may be actuated when the controllable light source is installed in a fixture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light source configured to be electrically connected to an alternating current power source and to be controlled using wirelessly communicated control signals generated by a remote control device, the light source comprising:
a wireless communication circuit that is configured to receive the control signals;
an integrated lighting load;
a base that is configured to electrically connect the light source to the power source;
a housing that includes an end portion that is spaced from the base, and an intermediate portion that extends between the end portion and the base;
a load control circuit that is configured to, in accordance with the control signals received by the wireless communication circuit, control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load to adjust an intensity of the lighting load between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity; and
an actuator that is manually operable at the end portion of the housing when the light source is installed in a fixture, wherein manual operation of the actuator causes the light source to create an association between the light source and the remote control device, such that the light source may be controlled by the remote control device,
wherein the lighting load is located inside the housing such that a light emitting portion of the lighting load is enclosed by the intermediate portion and the end portion, and
wherein the housing is configured to shine light that is emitted by the lighting load through the end portion of the housing.

2. The light source of claim 1 , wherein when the light source is associated with the remote control device, the light source is responsive to the control signals received from the remote control device.

3. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is translucent and extends into the end portion of the housing.

4. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate portion is reflective and the end portion is translucent.

5. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a screw-in base that is configured to be screwed into a standard Edison socket.

6. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is supported by the housing and configured to be actuated when the end portion of the housing is biased toward the base.

7. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the actuator protrudes through the end portion.

8. The light source of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is translucent.

9. The light source of claim 7 , wherein the light source is configured to be installed in a fixture that surrounds the housing such that the actuator may be actuated when the light source is installed in the fixture.

10. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the end portion of the housing defines an end surface and the actuator includes a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface.

11. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is communicatively coupled to the load control circuit such that rotation of actuator adjusts a power rating of the light source.

12. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive RF signals.

13. The light source of claim 1 , further comprising:
an occupancy sensing circuit configured to detect occupancy conditions in a space surrounding the light source,
wherein the load control circuit is further configured to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with a control signal received from the occupancy sensing circuit.

14. The light source of claim 1 , further comprising:
a daylight sensing circuit configured to measure a light intensity in a space around the light source,
wherein the load control circuit is configured to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with the light intensity measured by the daylight sensing circuit.

15. The light source of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power measurement circuit configured to measure a power consumption of the lighting load,
wherein the wireless communication circuit is further configured to transmit a signal pertaining to the power consumption measured by the power measurement circuit.

16. A light source that is configured to be controlled by a remote control device, the light source comprising:
an integrated lighting load;
a housing that includes an end portion that is exposed when the light source is installed in a recessed lighting fixture, wherein the lighting load is located inside the housing such that light emitted by the lighting load shines through the end portion of the housing; and
an actuator that is manually operable at the end portion of the housing to associate the light source with the remote control device,
wherein the light source is configured:
to be electrically connected to an alternating current power source;
to receive a control signal transmitted to the light source by the remote control device via wireless communication; and
to adjust an intensity of the lighting load in accordance with the control signal.

17. The light source of claim 16 , wherein the actuator includes a translucent button that protrudes through the end portion of the housing, and
wherein the actuator is operable by depressing the button.

18. The light source of claim 16 , wherein the end portion of the housing defines an end surface,
wherein the actuator includes a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface of the housing, and
wherein the actuator is operable by touching the capacitive touch surface.

19. The light source of claim 16 , further comprising:
a base that is operably coupled to the housing,
wherein the actuator is operable by biasing the end portion of the housing toward the base.

20. The light source of claim 16 , further comprising:
a screw-in base that is attached to the housing and that is configured to be screwed into a standard Edison socket.

21. A load control device comprising:
a wireless communication circuit that is configured to receive a control signal transmitted to the load control device via wireless communication;
a lighting load that is integrally connected to the load control device;
a load control circuit that is configured to control an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to the lighting load;
a screw-in base that is configured to be received in a standard Edison socket so as to electrically connect the load control device to the AC power source;
a housing that is attached to the screw-in base, the housing including an end portion and an intermediate portion that extends between the end portion and the base, wherein the lighting load is located inside the housing such that light emitted by the lighting load shines through the end portion of the housing; and
an actuator that is manually operable at the end portion of the housing to cause an association of the load control device with a remote control device that generates the control signal.

22. The load control device of claim 21 , wherein the housing includes a reflective portion and a translucent portion.

23. The load control device of claim 22 , wherein the reflective portion corresponds to the intermediate portion and the translucent portion corresponds to the end portion.

24. The load control device of claim 21 , wherein the actuator is manually operable when the load control device is installed in a fixture.

Assignees

• Lutron Electronics Co

Inventors

• Swatsky Matthew J
• Osle Daniel J
• Newman Jr Robert C
• Raneri Daniel Curtis

Classifications

• H01H3/02 Primary

  Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• H05B47/10

  Controlling the light source · CPC title

• Y04S20/14

  Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title