Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
MODULAR FUNCTIONALITY IN A LIGHTING ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[002] The present invention is related to lighting assemblies and, in
particular, is related to
modular lighting assemblies, especially those adapted for use in a
conventional light socket.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[003] The conventional incandescent light bulb and its corresponding socket
have remained
relatively unchanged since coming into popular use. One of the many reasons
for this is the
large installed user base of sockets implementing the so-called Edison screw.
Advances in
technology and processes have made possible new types of bulbs and sockets,
new types of
control, and new lighting applications, many of which have been difficult to
implement without
specialized equipment and/or complicated installation. For example,
centralized and/or remote
control (e.g., by computer) lighting systems are available, but generally
require the installation
of electrical hardware such as switches, transmitters, and receivers in order
to implement. As
another example, adding dimmable or sensor-responsive lighting also generally
(though not
universally) requires the installation of wired hardware. Meanwhile, new
lighting technologies
such as, for example, LED lighting, can provide highly customizable lighting
solutions (e.g.,
changing color, implementing multiple lighting circuits, etc.), but a standard
Edison-screw
socket hardwired to a typical two-position switch or dimmer switch does not
provide the
necessary infrastructure to adequately implement or control these functions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[004] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be
more readily
appreciated upon reference to the following disclosure when considered in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[005] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a planar illuminating material.
[006] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a second planar illuminating material.
[007] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
110081 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
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[009] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0010] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0011] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0012] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0013] Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0014] Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0015] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0016] Fig. 12 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0017] Fig. 13 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0018] Fig. 14 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0019] Fig. 15 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0020] Fig. 16A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0021] Fig. 16B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 16A.
[0022] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0023] Fig. 18 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0024] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0025] Fig. 20 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0026] Fig. 21 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0027] Fig. 22 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0028] Fig. 23 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0029] Fig. 24 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0030] Fig. 25A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0031] Fig. 25B is a side view of an alternate configuration of the embodiment
of Fig. 25A.
[0032] Fig. 26 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0033] Fig. 27A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
1100341 Fig. 27B is a side view of an alternate configuration of the
embodiment of Fig. 27A.
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[0035] Fig. 28A is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0036] Fig. 28B is a sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 27A taken along
section line 90B-
90B.
[0037] Fig. 28C is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0038] Fig. 29A is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0039] Fig. 29B is a sectional view of an alternate configuration of the
embodiment of Fig. 29A.
[0040] Fig. 29C is a sectional view of another alternate configuration of the
embodiment of Fig.
29A.
[0041] Fig. 30A is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0042] Fig. 30B is a sectional view of an alternate configuration of the
embodiment of Fig. 30A.
[0043] Fig. 30C is a sectional view of another alternate configuration of the
embodiment of Fig.
30A.
[0044] Fig. 31A is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0045] Fig. 31B is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0046] Fig. 31C is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0047] Fig. 31D is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0048] Fig. 32A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0049] Fig. 32B is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
lighting
assembly.
[0050] Fig. 32C is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
lighting
assembly.
[0051] Fig. 32D is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
lighting
assembly.
[0052] Fig. 32E is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0053] Fig. 33 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0054] Fig. 34 is a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
1100551 Fig. 35A is a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of a
lighting assembly.
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[0056] Fig. 35B is a partial side view of an exemplary embodiment of a
lighting assembly.
[0057] Fig. 35C is a bottom view of an embodiment of a bulb base.
[0058] Fig. 35D is cross-sectional side view of the bulb base of Fig. 35C and
a corresponding
base assembly.
[0059] Fig. 36 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0060] Fig. 37A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0061] Fig. 37B is a block diagram of the exemplary embodiment of the lighting
assembly in
Fig. 37A.
[0062] Fig. 38A is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a
lighting
assembly.
[0063] Fig. 38B is a block diagram of the exemplary embodiment of the lighting
assembly in
Fig. 38A.
[0064] Fig. 38C is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly
including an electronic key mechanism.
[0065] Fig. 38D is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of
selectively enabling
interoperability between a base and a bulb assembly.
[0066] Fig. 38E is a block diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of a
lighting assembly.
[0067] Fig. 39 is a block diagram of an exemplary home automation network
implementing a
lighting assembly in accordance with the presently described embodiments.
[0068] Fig. 40 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting system in which an
exemplary
lighting assembly receives commands from a remote control.
[0069] Fig. 41 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting system in which an
exemplary
lighting assembly cooperates with another lighting assembly.
[0070] Fig. 42 is a block diagram of two exemplary bulb assemblies.
[0071] Fig. 43 is a side view illustrating an exemplary bulb assembly.
[0072] Fig. 44 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting assembly including
a dimming
circuit.
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[0073] Fig. 45 is a block diagram of a second exemplary lighting assembly
including a dimming
circuit.
[0074] Fig. 46 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a
dimming circuit
that may be implemented in an exemplary lighting assembly.
[0075] Fig. 47 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting assembly including
a sensor.
[0076] Fig. 48 is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting assembly having a
secondary power
source.
[0077] Fig. 49 is a perspective view of an exemplary bulb assembly having two
illuminating
surfaces.
[0078] Fig. 50 is an illustration of an exemplary illuminating pattern from a
lighting assembly
having two illuminating surfaces.
[0079] Fig. 51A is a block diagram of an exemplary base assembly of a
presently described
lighting assembly.
[0080] Fig. 51B is a block diagram of an exemplary lighting assembly including
a module
according to a presently described embodiment.
[0081] Fig. 51C is a perspective view illustrating a base assembly and a
corresponding module
for connecting to the base assembly.
[0082] Fig. 51D is a side view illustrating the base assembly and
corresponding module
depicted in Fig. 51C.
[0083] Fig. 52 is a side view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a base
assembly.
[0084] Fig. 53 is a side view illustrating a second exemplary embodiment of a
base assembly.
[0085] Fig. 54 is a side view illustrating a third exemplary embodiment of a
base assembly.
[0086] Fig. 55 is a side view illustrating a fourth exemplary embodiment of a
base assembly.
[0087] Fig. 56 is a side view illustrating a fifth exemplary embodiment of a
base assembly.
[0088] Fig. 57 is a top view illustrating a sixth exemplary embodiment of a
base assembly.
[0089] Fig. 58 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of the base
assembly of Fig. 57.
[0090] Fig. 59 is a side view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a bulb
assembly for use
with the base assembly of Figs. 57 and 58.
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[0091] Fig. 60 is a bottom view illustrating the embodiment of the bulb
assembly of Fig. 59.
[0092] Fig. 61 is a perspective view of a still another exemplary embodiment
of a base
assembly.
[0093] Fig. 62A is a side view of an exemplary lighting assembly in a first
selected
configuration.
[0094] Fig. 62B is a side view of the exemplary lighting assembly of Fig. 62A
in a second
selected configuration.
[0095] Fig. 63A is a side view of a base assembly of a second exemplary
lighting assembly in a
first configuration.
[0096] Fig. 63B is a side view of the base assembly of Fig. 63A in a second
configuration.
[0097] Fig. 63C is a side view of the base assembly of Fig. 63A in a third
configuration.
[0098] Fig. 64A is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary lighting
assembly affixed to an
exemplary lighting fixture.
[0099] Fig. 64B is a perspective view illustrating the exemplary lighting
assembly of Fig. 64A
affixed to a second exemplary lighting fixture.
[0100] Fig. 65A is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary lighting
assembly in a first
configuration consistent with the configuration of Fig. 63A.
[0101] Fig. 65B is a perspective view illustrating the exemplary lighting
assembly of Fig. 65A
in a second configuration consistent with the configuration of Fig. 63B.
[0102] Fig. 65C is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary lighting
assembly of Fig. 65A in
a third configuration consistent with the configuration of Fig. 63C.
[0103] Fig. 66 is a side view of an exemplary lighting assembly having a
switch in a first
position.
[0104] Fig. 67 is a side view of the exemplary lighting assembly of Fig. 66
having the switch in
a second position.
[0105] Fig. 68 is a perspective view illustrating exemplary lighting
assemblies.
1101061 Fig. 69 is a side view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a
lighting assembly.
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[0107] Fig. 70 is a perspective view of still another exemplary embodiment of
a lighting
assembly.
[0108] Fig. 71 is a perspective view illustrating a scene implementing several
of the exemplary
lighting assembly embodiments.
[0109] Fig. 72A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0110] Fig. 72B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 72A.
[0111] Fig. 73A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0112] Fig. 73B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 73A.
[0113] Fig. 74 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0114] Fig. 75A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0115] Fig. 75B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 75A.
[0116] Fig. 76A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0117] Fig. 76B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 76A.
[0118] Fig. 77A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0119] Fig. 77B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 77A.
[0120] Fig. 78 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0121] Fig. 79 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
strip assembly.
[0122] Fig. 80 is a side view of the lighting strip assembly of Fig. 79
disposed in a slot of an
embodiment of a base assembly.
[0123] Fig. 81 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0124] Fig. 82A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0125] Fig. 82B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 82A.
[0126] Fig. 83A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0127] Fig. 83B is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 83A.
[0128] Fig. 84A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
1101291 Fig. 84B is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 84A.
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[0130] Fig. 85A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0131] Fig. 85B is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 85A.
[0132] Fig. 86A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0133] Fig. 86B is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 86A.
[0134] Fig. 87A is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting
assembly.
[0135] Fig. 87B is a top view of the embodiment of Fig. 87A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0136] While the present inventions are susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms,
there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail
specific exemplary
embodiments thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to
be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the inventions and is not intended to
limit the inventions to
the specific embodiments illustrated. In this respect, before explaining at
least one embodiment
consistent with the present inventions in detail, it is to be understood that
the inventions are not
limited in application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of components set
forth above and below, illustrated in the drawings, or as described in the
examples. Methods
and apparatuses consistent with the present inventions are capable of other
embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract included below, are
for the purposes of
description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0137] Lighting apparatus take many shapes, sizes, and forms and, since the
inception of electric
lighting, have matured to include many types of emission sources.
Incandescence,
electroluminescence, and gas discharge have each been used in various lighting
apparatus and,
among each, the primary emitting element (e.g., incandescent filaments, light-
emitting diodes,
gas, plasma, etc.) may be configured in any number of ways according to the
intended
application. Some embodiments of lighting assemblies described in the
remainder of this
application are susceptible to use with more than one type of emission source,
as will be
understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following
described
embodiments. Where particular embodiments are described as requiring a
specific type of
emission source or a specific configuration of a bulb assembly, it will be
likewise be apparent to
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the ordinarily skilled practitioner. For example, certain embodiments
described below refer to
light-emitting diodes (LEDs), LED lighting apparatus, lighted sheets, and the
like. In these
embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate the
nature of the
limitation (e.g., that the embodiment contemplates a planar illuminating
element) and the scope
of the described embodiment (e.g., that any type of planar illuminating
element may be
employed).
[0138] LED lighting arrays come in many forms including, for instance, arrays
of individually
packaged LEDs arranged to form generally planar shapes (i.e., shapes having a
thickness small
relative to their width and length). One such LED lighting array is described
by U.S. Patent No.
6,431,728, entitled "Multi-Array LED Warning Lights." Arrays of LEDs may also
be formed
on a single substrate or on multiple substrates, and may include one or more
circuits (i.e., to
illuminate different LEDs), various colors of LEDs, etc. Additionally, LED
arrays may be
formed by any suitable semiconductor technology including, by way of example
and not
limitation, metallic semiconductor material and organic semiconductor
material.
[0139] LED lighting arrays are also available as lighted, flexible sheets, in
which discrete LED
components are placed or fabricated on a flexible substrate. Fig. 1 depicts a
sectional view of an
exemplary embodiment of one such material 500. The material 500 includes a
bottom substrate
layer 504. A first conductive layer 506 is disposed on the bottom substrate
layer 504. A layer
508 of LEDs 514 is disposed on the first conductive layer 506 and, optionally,
the LEDs 514
may be separated, covered, or the like, with an insulating material. At an
interface 516 between
the LED 514 and the first conductive layer 506, a first electrode on the LED
514 is electrically
coupled to the first conductive layer 506. A second conductive layer 510 is
disposed over the
layer 508 of LEDs 514, such that, at an interface 518 between the LED 514 and
the second
conductive layer 510, a second electrode on the LED 514 is electrically
coupled to the second
conductive layer 510. A top substrate layer 512 covers the second conductive
layer 510.
[0140] Of course, while Fig. 1 depicts the layers 504-512, in some
embodiments, the material
500 may comprise more or fewer layers. For example, the material 500 may
include one or
more reflective layers, in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the
material 500 may
include one or more sealing layers. In still other embodiments, the material
500 may include a
conductive substrate, thus eliminating the need for a bottom substrate
separate from the first
conductive layer.
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[0141] Fig. 2 depicts a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a
planar, flexible
material 520. The material 520 generally comprises two layers of the material
500, disposed
bottom layer to bottom layer, and joined together by a reflective layer 502.
In this manner, the
material 520 has two illuminating surfaces. That is, a bottom substrate 504A
is disposed on one
side of the reflective layer 502, a first conductive layer 506A is disposed on
the bottom substrate
504A, a layer 508A of LEDs 514A is disposed on the first conductive layer
506A, a second
conductive layer 510A is disposed on the layer 508A of LEDs 514A, and a top
substrate 512A is
disposed on the second conductive layer 510A. Likewise, a bottom substrate
504B is disposed
on the other side of the reflective layer 502, a first conductive layer 506B
is disposed on the
bottom substrate 504B, a layer 508B of LEDs 514B is disposed on the first
conductive layer
506B, a second conductive layer 510B is disposed on the layer 508B of LEDs
514B, and a top
substrate 512B is disposed on the second conductive layer 510B.
[0142] Exemplary planar, flexible, illuminating materials are described in:
U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2011/0058372, entitled "Solid State Bidirectional
Light Sheet for
General Illumination;" U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0063838,
entitled "Solid
State Bidirectional Light Sheet Having Vertical Orientation;" U.S. Patent No.
7,259,030, entitled
"Roll-to-Roll Fabricated Light Sheet and Encapsulated Semiconductor Circuit
Devices;" U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2010/00167441, entitled "Method of
Manufacturing a Light
Emitting, Photovoltaic or Other Electronic Apparatus and System;" U.S. Patent
Application
Publication No. 2010/0068839, entitled "Method of Manufacturing a Light
Emitting,
Photovoltaic or Other Electronic Apparatus and System;" U.S. Patent
Application Publication
No. 2010/0068838, entitled "Method of Manufacturing a Light Emitting,
Photovoltaic or Other
Electronic Apparatus and System;" U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2010/0065863,
entitled "Light Emitting, Photovoltaic Or Other Electronic Apparatus and
System;" U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2010/0065862, entitled "Light Emitting,
Photovoltaic Or Other
Electronic Apparatus and System;" U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2009/0284179,
entitled "Apparatuses for Providing Power for Illumination of a Display
Object;" U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2009/0284165, entitled, "Apparatuses for
Illumination of a Display
Object;" and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0284164, entitled
"Illuminating
Display Systems."
[0143] In various embodiments described below, in which a flexible, planar
illuminated sheet is
implemented, the illuminated sheet may have one or more of the following
properties: it may be
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foldable or bendable; it may have a minimum bend radius of between 1 cm and 20
cm; it may
have a minimum bend radius of between 1 cm and 5 cm; it may have a minimum
bend radius of
between 1 cm and 20 cm; it may have a minimum bend radius of between 1 cm and
2 cm; it may
have a minimum bend radius of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm; it may have a minimum
bend radius
of between 0.1 cm and 2cm; it may comprise a material having a shape memory;
and/or it may
output approximately 0.5 lumens/cm2 or greater.
[0144] In at least some embodiments utilizing a planar illuminating material,
the material may
be manufactured using conventional printing techniques to transfer inorganic
semiconductor
devices the size of ink particles onto a substrate. The substrate may be a
flexible planar material
and, in particular, may be paper in some embodiments. The semiconductors, in
some
embodiments, may be diodes, such as LEDs, deposited onto a substrate as an
inorganic
semiconductor ink using a commercial printing press. Specifically, the
material may be "Printed
Illuminated Paper," sold by NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc., of Tempe,
Arizona, USA.
[0145] In any event, where this specification describes embodiments requiring
the use of an
LED material (e.g., comprising organic/inorganic LED, light extracting
elements, etc.), or the
use of a planar and/or flexible illuminated sheet, any suitable technology
known presently or
later invented may be employed in cooperation with the remaining described
elements without
departing from the spirit of the disclosure.
[0146] Due to the high efficiencies and superior life span of the LED
technology, in aspects of
the presently described embodiments, LED lighting systems could offer long-
term savings to
general consumers and businesses if the systems were modular, allowing for the
creation of LED
"bulbs" that could be easily and relatively inexpensively replaced, rather
than having to replace
an entire fixture or LED unit. The LED unit may also have a control component
to allow a
consumer directly or remotely (i.e., by remote control) to control the
lighting of the bulb. The
bulb can be set to turn on or off, or light output modified, at certain time
points throughout the
day or simply at the consumer's whim. LED systems can be sold as starter kits
(e.g., lighting
base and bulb) with replacement bulbs sold separately. The replacement bulbs
could be
functionally coupled to the respective base (for example, by an Edison screw,
or the like),
wherein the lighting base is left, for example, functionally coupled to the
fixture. Given the
relatively low temperature of LEDs, the bulb could be made with plastics that
are highly
malleable/flexible and inexpensive to provide a wide range of shapes and sizes
including "lamp
shades" and the like. Replacement bulbs may provide different aesthetics
and/or functionality.
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Lighting bases could be sold with microprocessors and the like to provide
intelligent lighting
systems. Costs for the consumer could be lowered by the consumer keeping the
lighting base
and simply purchasing a bulb for the base when the bulb expires or there is
some other need by
the consumer to replace the bulb (e.g., to alter lighting functionality,
characteristics, etc., or for
aesthetic reasons). Alternatively, microprocessors could be included in the
bulbs, allowing
different bulbs to support varying functionality, without requiring the
consumer to replace the
base.
[0147] Utilizing the technologies and concepts presented herein, a modular
solid state luminary
lighting solution, such as a LED lighting system, provides a lighting base
power/data supply
fixture to which a LED apparatus or system may be functionally attached.
Electrical and/or data
signals are transferred directly from the power supply component (e.g.,
"lighting base") through
a coupling system to the attached light emitting component (e.g., "bulb"). In
one embodiment,
the coupling system is a conductive magnetic system that allows for the
transfer of data, pulse
width modulation operations, and other communication features to be utilized
to control the
operations and characteristics of the lighting components. For the safety of
the consumer,
among other reasons, the system may be designed with a "lock and key" feature
(electronic
and/or mechanical) such that only a proper key in the bulb will unlock the
power supply
component to render the power supply component operational.
[0148] One aspect provides for a light emitting apparatus or system comprising
a power supply
component. The power supply component supplies an electrical signal and/or a
data signal to a
light emitting component. The power supply component is configured to receive
an electrical or
data signal (e.g., from a primary power source ¨ AC and/or DC) and transmit
the electrical or
data signal to the light emitting component. The power supply component may be
functionally
linked to a temporary energy storage device (e.g. battery or capacitor) which
would enable the
transmission of the electrical signal to the light emitting power consumption
component when
the primary electrical source is not available or being used. The power supply
component may
comprise an Edison screw fitting or a plug that can be plugged into a socket
(e.g., wall socket) or
even hard wired into the electrical system. The light emitting component is
configured to
illuminate upon receiving the electrical and/or data signal from the power
supply component,
which power supply component may be coupled to an electrical source by a
conventional
lighting socket (e.g., an Edison screw, a bayonet mount, a wedge base, a
bipin, etc.), may be
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coupled to the electrical source by a novel lighting socket, or may be
hardwired into an electrical
circuit.
[0149] According to an embodiment, the light emitting component further
comprises a power
receiving coupling mechanism. The power receiving coupling mechanism operates
to attach the
light emitting component to the power supply component and to transfer
electrical and/or data
signals between the power supply component and the light emitting component.
[0150] Similarly, the power supply component includes a power distribution
coupling
mechanism that attaches to the power receiving coupling mechanism to supply
power and/or
data to the light emitting component. In one embodiment, the power
distribution coupling
mechanism and the power receiving coupling mechanism may both be conductive
magnets, or
one may include conductive magnets while the other includes a metal or other
material that is
attracted to a magnet and has conductive properties that allows for the
transfer of an electrical
and/or data signal. Alternatively, the power distribution coupling mechanism
may include
magnetic coupling mechanisms and separate power leads, while the power
receiving coupling
mechanism includes magnetic coupling mechanisms and separate power leads such
that the
magnetic coupling mechanisms of the two components bond them together while
the power
leads transfer electronic and data signals. An example of power leads may
include conductive
pins.
[0151] In another embodiment the power distribution coupling mechanism and
power receiving
mechanism are detachably connected by a mechanical means (e.g., screw or twist
fastening
means, male/female fastener means, or the like), a conductive fastener, a
magnetic fastener, or
combinations thereof. The device may further comprise a lock and key feature
to provide safety
to the consumer. In other words, the power supply component may comprise a
lock that can
only be unlocked by a key provided by the light emitting component. There are
a number of
ways of providing such a lock and key feature including mechanical, magnetic,
electronic
signatures, and the like.
[0152] In yet another embodiment, the power distribution coupling mechanism
and power
receiving mechanism are detachably connected by a magnet, preferably an
electrically
conductive magnet. In yet another embodiment, at least the power distribution
coupling
mechanism or the power receiving mechanism comprises the magnet. Preferably
the magnet is
configured for detachably connecting the power distribution coupling mechanism
and the power
receiving coupling mechanism and wherein the magnet is configured to transfer
the electrical
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signal between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the power
receiving coupling
mechanism.
[0153] It should be appreciated that any number of conductive magnets may be
used without
departing from the scope of this disclosure. A conductive magnet may include a
magnet and a
conductive coating. The magnet may be a rare earth magnet, a permanent magnet,
a ceramic
magnet, an electromagnet, or any other type of magnetic material. The strength
of the magnets
should be sufficient to ensure connection of the power supply component and
the light emitting
power consumption component that will support the weight of the power
consumption
component if the conductive magnetic coupling system is mounted on a wall or
ceiling, while
allowing for removal of the power consumption components without requiring a
person to use
excessive force to break the magnetic connection. According to one embodiment,
the magnet is
a neodymium magnet.
[0154] The conductive coating encompassing the magnet can be any conductive
material of
sufficient thickness that will not interfere with the magnetic connection of
the magnet and that
will properly provide a conductive path for routing an electrical signal
and/or a data signal
between the power distribution coupling mechanism and the light emitting
component.
According to an embodiment, the conductive coating is a nickel coating. It
should be
appreciated that the conductive coating may completely encompass the magnet so
that none of
the magnet is exposed, or it may only partially encompass the magnet while
providing a
conductive path around and/or through the magnet. The conductive coating is
electrically
connected to the circuitry within the light emitting device for operating the
LED device, in an
embodiment.
[0155] The power supply component may further comprise a power and control
module. The
power and control module may comprise a mechanical switch that the consumer
adjusts to
control a power setting (e.g., by pulse width modulation) and, consequently,
the light output of
the device. Alternatively and/or additionally, the power and control module
may control the
timing of the device such that the light is only turned on during certain
points throughout the day
(e.g., when the sun sets) and may even vary the output of light during certain
points of the day
(e.g., lights dimmed during dinner time). And/or the power and control module
may comprise a
motion detector such that the light is turned on only upon detecting motion
(and thereafter the
light stays on for defined periods of time). The power and control module may
be operated by
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remote control (e.g., a hand held remote control or computing device, such as
a mobile phone, a
personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a tablet, computer,
etc.).
[0156] Data may be transmitted between the power and control module and the
bulb assemblies
to create an intelligent lighting system that optimizes light output according
to any number of
lighting element and/or environmental parameters. Where the bulb includes a
plurality of LEDs,
the parameters may include LED parameters. The power and control module may
include all the
microprocessors and other components that drive the intelligent lighting
systems. By
modularizing this controller in a similar manner as the power consumption
component, the
power and control module may be easily replaced to fix a damaged module or to
modify the
capabilities of the power and control module. The pulse width modulation
operations and
intelligent lighting system are described, for example, in US 2009/0238258; US
2009/0240380;
US 2009/0237011, each of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
Alternatively, the control module may be disposed within the bulb, allowing
device
functionality to correspond to the bulb (e.g., providing a controller
programmed to control a
multi-circuit bulb), while not requiring the consumer to replace the base.
[0157] In some embodiments, the LEDs may have low heat output or high heat
dissipation, and
the apparatus may be free of heat sinks and/or cooling fins and the like.
[0158] Given that LEDs may be attached to a variety of materials, the shapes
and sizes of the
"bulb" portion of the device are nearly endless. In one embodiment, the light
emitting
component comprises a substrate formed in the shape of a cone where LEDs are
disposed on the
inside of the cone and the outside of the cone. In one iteration, LEDs on the
inside of the cone
are activated to produce a "spot light" lightening effect. In a second
iteration, LEDs on the
outside of the cone are activated to produce a "shading" or "diffuse" effect.
In a third iteration,
LEDs on both the inside and outside of the cone are activated to produce the
greatest amount of
light.
[0159] Various configurations of power supply components and light emitting
components are
contemplated. The power supply component may include a track system and the
power
consumption component may include a LED light strip. The LED light strip may
be detachably
connected to the track system for receiving power and/or data. Alternatively,
the power supply
component may comprise a plug suitable for plugging into a wall socket and the
light emitting
power consumption component is a LED sheet, preferably a flexible sheet.
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[0160] As previously discussed, the shapes and sizes of the "bulb" portion
(i.e., the light
emitting component, or bulb assembly 702) of the device are nearly endless.
For example, as
illustrated in Fig. 3, a lighting device 700 may have a bulb assembly 702 that
may include an
illuminating element, such as a side wall 703, that is coupled to a bulb base
710 in a manner that
will be described in more detail below. The side wall 703 comprises the
compositions(s)
previously described. As used herein, when a surface is described as
illuminated or capable of
illumination, the indicated surface comprises an LED array. As will be
described in more detail
below, the front side, the back side, or both sides (as well as portions of
the front and/or back
sides) of the material comprising the side wall 703 may illuminate. The side
wall 703 of the
bulb assembly 702 may be formed from a single sheet of material or may be
formed by two or
more sheets of material that are electrically coupled in a manner that allows
each of the
individual sheets to collectively function as a single sheet of material. The
two or more sheets
of material may be secured or unsecured to form the side wall 703. In the
embodiment when the
sheets are secured to form the side wall 703, the sheets may be secured to
collectively form the
side wall 703 by any method known in the art, including sonic welding,
adhesives, by
thermoforming, by thermo setting, or by mechanical coupling, for example.
Alternatively, the
sheets may be thermoformed and/or thermo set and no bonding may be needed. The
side wall
703, or any of the illuminating sheets or elements in the embodiments
described below, may
have a textured surface (not shown). The texturing process may be performed
during the
manufacturing of the illuminated sheet, or may be performed as a secondary
operation on the
manufactured sheet. The surface texture may have any appropriate surface
roughness and or
waviness. For example, the roughness of the surface texture may give the
illuminating sheet the
appearance of frosted glass when the sheet is not illuminated. Additionally, a
transparent layer
may be disposed on the surface of the illuminating sheets, and the thickness
of the transparent
layer may vary to provide a surface texture and/or an even, diffused light
output. In some
instances, a surface texture added for aesthetic reasons may provide the added
benefit of
diffusing emitted light.
[0161] Still referring to Fig. 3, the side wall 703 of the bulb assembly 702
may include a top
edge portion 704 having a diameter that is substantially equal to a diameter
of a bottom edge
portion 706 such that the side wall 703 forms a cylinder. The top edge portion
704 may be
confined to a plane, and the plane may be substantially horizontal. So
configured, the bulb
assembly 702 may have external dimensions similar to conventional light bulbs
to allow the
bulb assembly 702 to be inserted into lighting devices that are designed to
use conventional light
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bulbs. For example, the side wall 703 of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in
Fig. 3 may have a
height H and an outer diameter D that are each substantially equal to the bulb
height (excluding
the screw base) and the maximum outer diameter of a conventional light bulb.
More
specifically, the side wall 703 of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3
may have a height H
and an outer diameter D that are each substantially equal to the bulb height
(excluding the screw
base) and the maximum outer diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨namely,
approximately 31/2 inches (88.9 mm) and approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm)
respectively.
However, the height H and the outer diameter D may each have any suitable
value, including
values that do not correspond to the height H and/or the outer diameter D (or
the maximum outer
diameter) of a conventional light bulb.
[0162] Any number of variations of the shape and size of the side wall 703 of
the bulb assembly
702 described above are contemplated. For example, the plane of the top edge
portion 704 of
the side wall 703 may be disposed at an angle relative to a horizontal
reference plane, as
illustrated in Fig. 4. Further still, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the top edge
portion 704 may be
comprised of two or more edge segments 712, and each of the two or more edge
segments 712
may be disposed at a different angle than adjacent edge segments 712 to form,
for example, a
saw-tooth pattern. However, each of the two or more edge segments 712 may be
identical such
that a pattern is repeated. For example, each of the two or more edge segments
712 may have a
semicircular shape or may have a sinusoidal shape, as illustrated in Fig. 6.
Further embodiments
may have a top edge portion 704 that may have any combination of repeating or
non-repeating
edge segments 712 that may form any shape or combination of shapes. The
maximum height
and outer diameter of any of the side walls 703 of the embodiments illustrated
in Figs. 4, 5, 6, or
any of the embodiments described below may be substantially equal to the bulb
height
(excluding the screw base) and the maximum outer diameter of a conventional
light bulb, such
as the A19 light bulb, for example. However, the maximum height H and the
maximum outer
diameter D may each have any suitable value, including values that do not
correspond to the
height H and/or the outer diameter D (or the maximum outer diameter) of a
conventional light
bulb. The bulb assembly 702 may also include a covering element (not shown)
that may be at
least partially disposed over the side wall 703, and the covering element may
be rigidly secured
to the bulb base 710 to provide protection to the side wall 703. The covering
element may be
made from a clear plastic material, for example. Alternatively, the covering
element may be
made of any material, or have any shape, suitable for a particular
application.
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[0163] As illustrated in Fig. 72A, an embodiment of the side wall 703 may have
a plurality of
longitudinal slots 870 that may extend to a point adjacent to the top edge
portion 704 and to a
point adjacent to the bottom edge portion 706. As such, when the top edge
portion 704 of the
side wall 703 is displaced in a longitudinal direction towards the bottom edge
portion 706, the
portions of the side wall 703 disposed between the slots 870 outwardly flare
in a radial direction,
as illustrated in Fig. 72B. The side wall 703 may comprise a memory material
that allows the
outwardly flared portions of the side wall 703 to remain in a desired
position. Alternatively, a
support structure, such as a hub (not shown) that is slidably disposed about a
central stem, may
be used to maintain the side wall 703 in a desired position.
[0164] In a further embodiment, illustrated in Figs. 73A and 73B, the side
wall 703 may be
formed into a fan-like shape by a plurality of alternating folds 872, and a
first end of the side
wall 703 may be fixed to the bulb base 710 (or the base assembly 735).
Accordingly, in a first
position illustrated in Fig. 73A, the side wall 703 may extend in a relatively
flat configuration
along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bulb base 710. In a second
position illustrated in
Fig. 73B, the second end of the side wall 703 may be outwardly displaced
relative to the first
end, thereby giving the side wall 703 a fan-like shape. The side wall 703 may
comprise a
memory material that allows the side wall 703 to remain in a desired position.
Alternatively, the
outermost portions of the side wall 703 may be weighted to allow gravity to
maintain the side
wall 703 the fan-like shape. Any portion of the first and/or second side of
the side wall 703 may
be capable of illumination.
[0165] In an additional embodiment, the top edge portion 704 of the side wall
703 may define
an opening 708 that may, for example, allow illumination generated on an
interior surface 714 of
the side wall 703 to be upwardly projected. However, as illustrated in Fig. 7,
a substantially
horizontal top surface 716 may intersect the top edge portion 704 of the side
wall 703 such that
the bulb assembly 702 does not have an opening 708. Alternatively, the top
surface 716 may be
inwardly offset from the top edge portion 704 such that a lip (not shown)
extends in the axial
direction beyond the top surface 716. In another embodiment of the bulb
assembly 702, the top
surface 716 may not be horizontal, but may instead be disposed at an angle
relative to a
horizontal reference plane. Alternatively, the top surface 716 may be
contoured or have any
other non-planar shape or combination of planar and/or non-planar shapes, for
example. More
specifically, the top surface may have a conical shape or a semi-spherical
shape, for example.
The top surface 716 may be coupled to the side wall 703 by an adhesive or by
mechanical
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coupling, such as a tab/slot arrangement or by the use of a collar that
attaches to one or more of
the side wall 703 or the top surface 716, for example. Alternatively, the side
wall 703 and the
top surface 716 may be formed from a single piece of material such that the
single piece of
material can be folded to form both the side wall 703 and the top surface 716.
[0166] As shown in Fig. 8, the bulb assembly 702 may include a circumferential
wall 718 that
extends in an axial direction beyond the top edge portion 704 of the side wall
703 to intersect the
top surface 716. The circumferential wall 718 may have any suitable shape,
such a frustoconical
shape or a rounded shape, for example. Moreover, instead of intersecting the
top surface 716,
the top edge of the circumferential wall 718 may define an opening 708, or the
circumferential
wall 718 may include an inwardly extending lip that defines an opening 708.
The
circumferential wall 718 may include a plurality of wall segments (not shown)
that collectively
comprise the circumferential wall 718, and the wall segments may be planar
and/or contoured.
[0167] As will be described in more detail below, any portion of the side wall
703 of the bulb
assembly 702 may illuminate. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
Fig. 3, an exterior
surface 720 of side wall 703 may illuminate in a first color, and the interior
surface 714 of the
side wall 703 may illuminate in a second color. Alternatively, both the
exterior surface 720 and
the interior surface 714 may illuminate in the same color. In another
embodiment, only the
interior surface 714 illuminates. In this configuration, illustrated in Fig.
9, a reflective surface
722 may be disposed in the interior of the cylinder formed by the side wall
703 adjacent to the
bulb base 710, and the reflective surface 722 may have a substantially
parabolic shape to reflect
inwardly directed light from the interior surface 714 of the side wall 703 out
of the opening 708.
Instead of the parabolic shape shown above, the reflective surface 422 may
have any suitable
shape or combination of shapes, such as planar, ellipsoidal, hyperbolic, or
faceted, for example.
Instead of a reflective surface 722, the bulb assembly 702 may include an
interior insert 724 that
may illuminate to project directed light through the opening 708, as
illustrated in Fig. 10. The
interior insert 724 may be planar and may be disposed adjacent to, or
contacting, the bottom
edge portion 706 of the side wall 703. However, the interior insert 724 may be
disposed at any
axial location in the interior of the side wall 703, and the interior insert
724 may have any shape
or combination of shapes suitable to direct light through the opening 708. The
interior insert
724, or the reflective surface 722, may have an outer diameter that is
slightly smaller than the
diameter of the interior surface 714 of the side wall 703. For example, if the
outer diameter D of
the side wall 703 corresponds to the maximum outer diameter of an A19
incandescent light
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bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm)¨the outer diameter of the interior
insert 724 or the
reflective surface 722 may be approximately 2 1/4 inches (57.2 mm). However,
the interior insert
724, or the reflective surface 722, may have any diameter. In further a
embodiment of the bulb
assembly 702, two of more interior inserts 724 may be disposed within the side
wall 703, and
the interior inserts 724 may have any shape or size suitable for a particular
application.
Similarly, two of more reflective surfaces 722 may be disposed within the side
wall 703, and the
reflective surfaces 722 may have any shape or size suitable for a particular
application.
Additionally, a combination of reflective surfaces 722 and interior inserts
724 may be disposed
in the interior of the side wall 703.
[0168] As illustrated in Figs. 29A, 29B, and 29C, the reflective surface 722
may be secured to
an axially displaceable stem 780. However, the reflective surface 722 may be
integrally formed
with the stem 780. The reflective surface 722 may have an outer diameter that
is slightly less
than the inner diameter of the side wall 703. However, the reflective surface
722 may have an
outer diameter of any suitable size. An axial movement of the stem 780 away
from the bulb
base 710 may cause light from the illuminated interior surface 714 of the side
wall 703 to exit
the opening 708 the side wall 703 at an angle relative to a vertical reference
axis 782. More
specifically, as shown in Fig. 29A, when the stem 780 is in a first position
such that a bottom
portion of the reflective surface 722 is adjacent to the bulb base 710, light
emanating from the
opening 708 may be substantially parallel to the vertical reference axis 782.
As illustrated in
Fig. 29B, when the stem 780 is in a second position such that a bottom portion
of the reflective
surface 722 is disposed a second distance from the bulb base 710, light
emanating from the
opening 708 may form a first angle 01 with the vertical reference axis 782
such that the light
emanating from the opening 708 may have a conical shape. The first angle 01
may be between
approximately 1 and 45 , for example. More particularly, the first angle 01
may be 10 . As
illustrated in Fig. 29C, when the stem 780 is in a third position such that a
bottom portion of the
reflective surface 722 is disposed a third distance from the bulb base 710
that is greater than the
second distance, light emanating from the opening 708 may form a second angle
02 with the
vertical reference axis 782 that is greater than the first angle 01, and the
conical shape resulting
from the third position has a wider diameter than the conical shape of the
second position. The
second angle 02 may be between approximately 5 and 85 , for example. More
particularly, the
second angle 02 may be 30 .
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[0169] The stem 780 of the embodiment of Figs. 29A, 29B, and 29C may be
displaced by any
method known in the art. For example, the stem 780 may be threadedly connected
to a
stationary axial column 784 and a manual rotation of the stem 780 relative to
the stationary
column 784 may result in axial displacement of the stem 780. However, the stem
780 may be
prevented from rotating relative to the side wall 703, and a motor may rotate
the column 784 to
axially displace the stem 780. A top portion of the stem may be rotatable to
control any function
of the lighting device, such as the intensity or color of the illuminated
light, for example. The
embodiment of Figs. 29A, 29B, and 29C may have any of the functionality
described above.
For example, any or all of the surfaces of the side wall may illuminate, such
as the interior
surface 714 only or the exterior surface 720 only.
[0170] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 30A, 30B, and 30C, the
reflective surface 722 may
be disposed on an axially displaceable element 786. The displaceable element
786 may have a
conical shape, a parabolic shape, or any other suitable shape. The
displaceable element 786 may
have an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the
interior surface 714 of the
side wall 703. For example, if the outer diameter of the side wall 703
corresponds to the
maximum outer diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 %
inches (60.3
mm)¨the outer diameter of the displaceable element 786 may be approximately 2
1/4 inches (57.2
mm). However, the displaceable element 786 may have an outer diameter of any
suitable size.
The axial movement of the displaceable element 786 away from the bulb base 710
may cause
light from the illuminated interior surface 714 of the side wall 703 to exit
the opening 708 the
side wall 703 at an angle relative to a vertical reference axis in the manner
described above.
More specifically, as shown in Fig. 30A, when the displaceable element 786 is
in a first position
such that a bottom portion of the displaceable element 786 is adjacent to the
bulb base 710, light
emanating from the opening 708 may be substantially parallel to a vertical
reference axis 782.
As illustrated in Fig. 30B, when the displaceable element 786 is in a second
position such that a
bottom portion of the displaceable element 786 is disposed a second distance
from the bulb base
710, light emanating from the opening 708 may form a first angle 01 with the
vertical reference
axis 782 such that the light emanating from the opening 708 may have a conical
shape. The first
angle 01 may be between approximately 1 and 45 , for example. More
particularly, the first
angle 01 may be 10 . As illustrated in Fig. 30C, when the displaceable element
786 is in a third
position such that a bottom portion of the displaceable element 786 is
disposed a third distance
from the bulb base 710 that is greater than the second distance, light
emanating from the opening
708 may form a second angle 02 with the vertical reference axis 782 that is
greater than the
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second angle 02, and the conical shape resulting from the third position has a
wider diameter
than the conical shape of the second position. The second angle 02 may be
between
approximately 5 and 85 , for example. More particularly, the second angle 02
may be 300. The
displaceable element 786 may be displaced by any method known in the art. For
example, the
displaceable element 786 may be threadedly connected to a stationary axial
column 784. The
displaceable element 786 may be prevented from rotating relative to the side
wall 703, and a
motor may rotate the column 784 to axially displace the stem 780. The
embodiment of Figs.
30A, 30B, and 30C may have any of the functionality described above. For
example, any or all
of the surfaces of the side wall may illuminate, such as the interior surface
714 only or the
exterior surface 720 only.
[0171] As illustrated in Fig. 11, one or more windows 726 may be disposed any
or both of the
side wall 703 and the top surface 716. Each of the one or more windows 726 may
have any
shape or combination of shapes, such as that shape of a star, an oval, a
circle, or a polygon.
Additionally, one of more of the windows 726 may take the shape of letters,
symbols, logos,
words, or numbers. In an embodiment of the bulb assembly 702, one or more
windows 726 may
be disposed on the side wall 703, and the side wall 703 may be illuminated on
the interior
surface 714 only. The total surface area of the one or more windows 726 may
comprise a
percentage of the overall available surface area of the side wall 703 (i.e.,
the total surface area of
the side wall 703 if no windows 726 were present), and this percentage may be
any suitable
value. For example, the total surface area of the windows 726 illustrated in
Fig. 11 may
comprise 25% the overall available surface area of the side wall 703.
[0172] As briefly discussed above, the bottom edge portion 706 of the side
wall 703 may be
coupled to a bulb base 710, which will be described in more detail below, by
any manner known
in the art, such as by an adhesive or a mechanical coupling, for example. More
specifically, as
illustrated in Fig. 12, a portion of the side wall 703 adjacent to the bottom
edge portion 706 may
be adhesively secured to an upwardly-projecting circumferential ridge 730 of
the bulb base 710.
As shown, an interior surface of the ridge 730 may be adhesively coupled to
the exterior surface
720 of the side wall 703, but an exterior surface of the ridge 730 may be
adhesively coupled to
the interior surface 714 of the side wall 703. Alternatively, tabs (not shown)
extending from the
bottom edge portion 706 of the side wall 703 may be received into elongated
slots (not shown)
formed on a surface of the bulb base 710. In addition, one or more inwardly-
directed features,
such as a post or a stub, may project from an interior surface of the bulb
base 710, and each
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inwardly-directed feature of the bulb base 710 may be received into an
aperture disposed
adjacent to the bottom edge portion 706 of the side wall 703. In an alternate
embodiment, one
or more plastic tabs (not shown) may be secured to side wall 703 adjacent the
bottom edge
portion 706 by any means known in the art, such as by adhesives or by
mechanical fastening,
and the plastic tabs may be received into tab slots (not shown) formed in the
bulb base 710. In a
further embodiment of the bulb assembly 702, a collar (not shown) may be
coupled to the bulb
base 710 in a manner that secures a portion of the side wall 703, such as, for
example, an
outwardly-extending tab disposed adjacent to the bottom edge portion 706 of
the side wall 703.
The collar may be coupled to the bulb base 710 by a tab/slot connection or by
a threaded
connection, for example.
[0173] As will be described in more detail below, the side wall 703 (and the
top surface 716 and
circumferential wall 718) may be electrically coupled to the bulb base 710 by
any means known
in the art. For example, one or more male pins or blades may downwardly
project from the
bottom edge portion 706 of the side wall 703, and the male pins or blades may
be received into
receptacles or slots formed in the bulb base.
[0174] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 22, the side wall 703 may be
removably placed on
the bulb base 710, which may be integrally formed with a base assembly 735. As
will be
described in more detail below, the base assembly 735 is adapted to couple to
any source of
power to allow the side wall 703 to illuminate. For example, as illustrated in
Fig. 22, the base
assembly 735 includes a lower portion having an Edison screw for coupling to a
power source.
The side wall 703 of the bulb assembly 702 may have a truncated converging
frustoconical
shape, and a circumferential conducting strip 738 may be disposed adjacent to
the bottom edge
portion 706 of the side wall 703. The diameter of the bottom edge portion 706
and the top edge
portion 704 of the side wall 703 may have any value, with the diameter of the
bottom edge
portion 706 being greater than the diameter of the top edge portion 704. For
example, the
diameter of the bottom edge portion 706 may be approximately equal to the
maximum outer
diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm),
and the
diameter of the top edge portion 704 may be approximately 1 34 inches (44.5
mm). The bulb
base 710 may have a truncated converging frustoconical shape that generally
corresponds to the
shape of the side wall 703 such that the interior surface 714 of the side wall
703 adjacent to the
bottom edge portion 706 may snugly fit over a circumferential exterior surface
740, thereby
coupling the side wall 703 to the bulb base 710. The bulb base 710 may have a
maximum outer
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diameter that is any suitable value. For example, the maximum outer diameter
may be
approximately equal to or slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom edge
portion 706. In
addition, one or more magnets may be disposed on the bulb base 710 and the
side wall 703 to
mutually secure the side wall 703 to the bulb base 710. Alternatively, one or
more ridges (or
detents) may be formed on one of the side wall 703, and the one or more ridges
may engage
corresponding ridges (or detents) formed on the bulb base 710. So assembled, a
conducting strip
742 disposed around the circumference of the bulb base 710 may contact the
conducting strip
738 disposed on the side wall 703 such that the side wall 703 is electrically
coupled to the bulb
base 710.
1101751 In a further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 13, the side wall 703 of
the bulb assembly 702
may have a substantially diverging frustoconical shape instead of the
cylindrical shape
illustrated in Fig. 3. More specifically, the side wall 703 may include a top
edge portion 704
having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of a bottom edge portion
706. For example,
the diameter of the top edge portion 704 may be approximately equal to the
maximum outer
diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm),
and the
diameter of the bottom edge portion 706 may be approximately 1 3/4 inches
(44.5 mm).
However, other than the difference in the shape of the side wall 703, the bulb
assembly 702 of
Fig. 13 may be substantially identical to the embodiment of the bulb assembly
702 illustrated in
Fig. 3, and the bulb assembly 702 of Fig. 13 may include any or all of the
features of the
embodiment of Fig. 3 that are discussed above. For example, as illustrated in
Fig. 13, the top
edge portion 704 of the frustoconically-shaped side wall 703 may be confined
to a plane, and the
plane may be substantially horizontal. Alternatively, the plane may be
disposed at an angle
relative to a horizontal reference plane, similar to the embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 4. In
addition, the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 having a frustoconically-
shaped side wall
703 may also include, for example, edge segments 712 along the top edge
portion 704, a
circumferential wall 718, a reflective surface 722, and interior insert 724,
and/or one or more
windows 726. Moreover, the functionality of the embodiment of the bulb
assembly 702 having
a frustoconically-shaped side wall 703 may be identical to the functionality
of the embodiment
of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3 that is discussed above. For
example, any or both
of the interior surface 714 or the exterior surface 720 of the side wall may
illuminate in the
manner discussed above.
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[0176] In a further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 14, the side wall 703 of
the bulb assembly 702
may have a substantially converging frustoconical shape instead of the
cylindrical shape
illustrated in Fig. 3. More specifically, the side wall 703 may include a top
edge portion 704
having a diameter that is less than the diameter of a bottom edge portion 706.
For example, the
diameter of the bottom edge portion 706 may be approximately equal to the
maximum outer
diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm),
and the
diameter of the top edge portion 704 may be approximately 1 34 inches (44.5
mm). However,
other than the difference in the shape of the side wall 703, the bulb assembly
702 of Fig. 14 may
be substantially identical to the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702
illustrated in Fig. 3, and
the bulb assembly 702 of Fig. 14 may include any or all of the features of the
embodiment of
Fig. 3 that are discussed above. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 14, the
top edge portion 704
of the frustoconically-shaped side wall 703 may be confined to a plane, and
the plane may be
substantially horizontal. Alternatively, the plane may be disposed at an angle
relative to a
horizontal reference plane, similar to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4.
In addition, the
embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 having a frustoconically-shaped side wall
703 may also
include, for example, edge segments 712 along the top edge portion 704, a
circumferential wall
718, a reflective surface 722, and interior insert 724, and/or one or more
windows 726.
Moreover, the functionality of the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 having
a
frustoconically-shaped side wall 703 may be identical to the functionality of
the embodiment of
the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3 that is discussed above. For
example, any or both of
the interior surface 714 or the exterior surface 720 of the side wall may
illuminate in the manner
discussed above.
[0177] In a still further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 15, the side wall 703
of the bulb assembly
702 may have a substantially conical shape instead of the converging
frustoconical shape
described above. More specifically, the cross-sectional diameter of the side
wall 703 may
constantly reduce in an axial direction from the bottom edge portion 706 to a
tip 732 disposed at
the topmost portion of the side wall 703. The height and diameter of the cone
may have any
suitable values. For example, the diameter of the bottom edge portion 706 may
be
approximately equal to the maximum outer diameter of an A19 incandescent light
bulb¨
approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm), and the height of the cone may be
approximately equal to
the height of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 31/2 inches (88.9
mm). Other than
the difference in the shape of the side wall 703, the bulb assembly 702 of
Fig. 15 may be
substantially identical to the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated
in Figs. 3 and 14.
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For example, the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 having a conically-shaped
side wall 703
may also include one or more windows 726. Moreover, the functionality of the
embodiment of
the bulb assembly 702 having a conically-shaped side wall 703 may be identical
to the
functionality of the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3
that is discussed
above. For example, any or both of the interior surface 714 or the exterior
surface 720 of the
side wall may illuminate in the manner discussed above.
[0178] In a further embodiment illustrated in Figs. 16A and 16B, the side wall
703 of the bulb
assembly 702 may be comprised of a plurality of faceted surfaces 734. The side
wall 703 may
include any number of faceted surfaces 734, and the side wall 703 may take on
any overall
shape. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 16A and 16B, a top portion of the
side wall 703 may
take the shape of a truncated converging pyramid, an intermediate portion of
the side wall 703
may take the shape of a cube, and a lower portion of the side wall 703 may
take the shape of a
truncated diverging pyramid. However, other than the difference in the shape
of the side wall
703, the bulb assembly 702 of Figs. 16A and 16B may be substantially identical
to the
embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3, and the bulb
assembly 702 of Figs.
16A and 16B may include any or all of the features of the embodiment of Fig. 3
that are
discussed above. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 16A and 16B, the top
edge portion 704 of
the frustoconically-shaped side wall 703 may be confined to a plane, and the
plane may be
substantially horizontal. In addition, the embodiment of Figs. 16A and 16B may
also include,
for example, edge segments 712 along the top edge portion 704, a
circumferential wall 718, a
reflective surface 722, and interior insert 724, and/or one or more windows
726. Moreover, the
functionality of the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 of Figs. 16A and 16B
may be
identical to the functionality of the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702
illustrated in Fig. 3
that is discussed above. For example, any or both of the interior surface 714
or the exterior
surface 720 of the side wall may illuminate in the manner discussed above.
[0179] In a further embodiment of a bulb assembly 702 having faceted surfaces
734, the faceted
surfaces 734 illustrated in Fig. 17 of the side wall 703 may form a
converging, truncated conical
shape that may be substantially identical to the embodiment of Fig. 13 having
a diverging
frustoconically-shaped side wall 703. Alternatively, the faceted surfaces
illustrated in Fig. 17
may be substantially horizontal such that the cross-section shape of the side
wall 703 is constant
along the longitudinal axis of the side wall 703. Further, as illustrated in
Fig. 18, the side wall
703 may include longitudinally disposed faceted surfaces 734 that are disposed
at an angle
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relative to adjacent faceted surfaces 734, and the longitudinally disposed
faceted surfaces 734
may be vertical or may be disposed at an angle relative to a vertical
reference axis so as to
converge or diverge as the side wall 703 axially extends away from the bulb
base 710. Although
the faceted surfaces above are substantially planar, one or more of the
faceted surfaces 734 may
be contoured, curved, or otherwise non-planar. In any of embodiments discussed
above, the
maximum outer diameter and the overall height of the side wall 703 may have
any value. For
example, the maximum outer diameter of the side wall 703 may be approximately
equal to the
maximum outer diameter of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 %
inches (60.3
mm), and the overall height of the side wall 703 may be approximately equal to
the maximum
height of an A19 incandescent light bulb¨approximately 31/2 inches (88.9 mm).
[0180] In a still further embodiment of the bulb assembly 702, the side wall
703 may have the
shape of an oval, as shown in Fig. 19, or any other non-circular shape. Such a
non-circular
shape may be substantially cylindrical or may converge towards the bulb base
710 or diverge
away from the bulb base 710. In addition, the side wall 703 may have a cross-
sectional shape
that may include both planar and curved surfaces. Moreover, the side wall 703
may have a non-
uniform cross-sectional shape such that the cross-sectional shape changes
along the longitudinal
axis of the side wall 703. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 21, the side
wall may have a
substantially spiral shape, and the interior surface 714 of the side wall 703
may illuminate in a
first color and the exterior surface 720 may illuminate in a second color. In
an alternative
embodiment, the spiral-shaped side wall 703 may be formed from a sheet having
a circular,
ovular, or other rounded shape, as illustrated in Fig. 74. Other than the
difference in the shape
of the side wall 703, the bulb assembly 702 of Fig. 19 and 83 may be
substantially identical to
the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 3, and the bulb
assembly 702 of Fig.
19 and 21 may include any or all of the features of the embodiments that are
discussed above.
In any of embodiments discussed above, the maximum outer diameter and the
overall height of
the side wall 703 may have any value. For example, the maximum outer diameter
of the side
wall 703 may be approximately equal to the maximum outer diameter of an A19
incandescent
light bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm), and the overall height of the
side wall 703 may
be approximately equal to the maximum height of an A19 incandescent light
bulb¨
approximately 3 1/2 inches (88.9 mm).
[0181] In a still further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 20, more than one
side wall 703 may be
included in the bulb assembly 702. For example, a cylindrical first side wall
703a having a first
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diameter may be secured to the bulb base 710 in a manner previously described.
A cylindrical
second side wall 703b having a second diameter that is smaller than the first
diameter may also
be coupled to the bulb base 710 in any known manner such that the axes of the
first side wall
703 and the second side wall 703 are co-axially aligned. However, the first
side wall 703a and
the second side wall 703b may each have any suitable cross-sectional shape and
may be axially
offset. In addition, the second side wall 703b may extend beyond the first
side wall 703a in the
axial direction, as illustrated in Fig. 20. Alternatively, the first side wall
703a and the second
side wall 703b may have any suitable height. For example, the maximum outer
diameter of the
first side wall 703a may be approximately equal to the maximum outer diameter
of an A19
incandescent light bulb¨approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm), and the overall
height of the
second side wall 703b may be approximately equal to the maximum height of an
A19
incandescent light bulb¨approximately 3 1/2 inches (88.9 mm). In addition, one
or more
additional side walls (not shown) may also be secured to the bulb is 710, and
the one or more
additional side walls may have any suitable size, shape, or relative
orientation.
[0182] Other than the difference in the shape of the side wall 703, the bulb
assembly 702 of Fig.
20 may be substantially identical to the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702
illustrated in Fig.
3, and the bulb assembly 702 of Fig. 20 may include any or all suitable
features or functions of
the embodiments that are discussed above. For example, the exterior surface
720a of the first
side wall 703a may illuminate in a first color, and the exterior surface 720b
of the second side
wall 703b may illuminate in a second color. In addition, any or all of the
side walls 703a, 703b
may have one or more windows 726 having any suitable shape. As an additional
example, a
reflective surface 720 may be disposed within the interior of the second side
wall 703b, and the
interior surface 714b of the second side wall 703b may illuminate to provide
focused lighting at
a point above the device 700. While the interior surface 714b of the second
side wall 703b is
illuminated, the exterior surface 720a of the first side wall 703a may be
illuminated and
dimmed.
[0183] In a still further embodiment illustrated in Fig. 23, a stem 744 may
upwardly extend from
the bulb base 710, and the stem 744 may be formed as a unitary part with at
least a portion of the
bulb base 710 or may be secured to the bulb base 710. A plurality of rods 746
may radially
extend from the stem 744 to support a cylindrical side wall 503, and the
electrical connections
coupling the bulb base 710 to the side wall 703 may be extend within the
interior of the stem
744 and at least one of the rods. Instead of a single cylindrical side wall
703, the side wall 503
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may have any shape and two or more side walls 503 may be used as illustrated
in Fig. 20. Any
of the functionality and features described above may also be incorporated
into the bulb
assembly 702 illustrated in Fig. 23. In addition, as shown in Fig. 24, a hinge
748 may be
disposed along the length of the stem 744 adjacent to the bulb base 710 such
that a lower portion
of the stem 744 may be pivoted relative to an upper portion of the stem 744.
[0184] In a further embodiment, the side wall 703 may convert from a
substantially cylindrical
shape to a substantially frustoconical shape, and vice versa. For example, in
the embodiment
illustrated in Figs. 25A and 25B, a semi-cylindrical first side wall 703a may
be coupled to a
semi-cylindrical second side wall 703b about a pair of oppositely-disposed
hinges 750 such that
the first and second side walls 703a, 703b have a substantially cylindrical
shape. The hinges
750 may secure the first and second side walls 703a, 703b to a cylindrical
side wall portion
703c, and the inner diameter of the first and second side walls 703a, 703b may
be slightly
greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical side wall portion 703c. So
configured, each of
the first and second side walls 703a, 703b may pivot about the hinges 750 such
that the first and
second side walls 703a, 703b have a substantially frustoconical shape. The
hinges 750 may be
tightly secured around the first and second side walls 703a, 703b and the
cylindrical portion
703c such that friction maintains the first and second side walls 703a, 703b
in a desired position.
The hinges may also form one or more electrical connections between the first
and second side
walls 703a, 703b.
[0185] Still referring to Figs. 25A and 25B, the first and second side walls
703a, 703b may be
pivoted to a desired position in any manner known in the art. For example, the
first and second
side walls 703a, 703b may be manually pivoted to a desired position.
Alternatively, a
mechanical coupling between the bulb base 710 (or the base assembly 735 if the
bulb base 710
and the base assembly 735 are formed as a single unit) and the first and
second side walls 703a,
703b may pivot the first and second side walls 703a, 703b into a desired
position. For example,
a rotating collar (not shown) may be threadedly coupled to the bulb base 710
such that rotation
of the collar relative to the bulb base 710 results in an axial displacement
of the collar.
Specifically, each of the first and second side walls 703a, 703b may be fixed
to the collar at a
location between the hinges 750, and a rotation of the collar relative to the
bulb base 710 causes
the points of the first and second side walls 703a, 703b fixed to the collar
to upwardly or
downwardly displace, thereby pivoting the first and second side walls 703a,
703b into a desired
position. The collar may be manually rotated, or may be rotated by a motor
disposed within or
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external to the bulb base 710. The motor may be triggered by a switch, a
timer, a light sensor,
voice command, or by any method known in the art.
[0186] Although first and second side walls 703a, 703b were discussed above,
any number or
shape of side walls may be used. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
Fig. 26, first,
second, and third side walls 703a, 703b, 703c may be used. Moreover, any means
to move the
first and second side walls 703a, 703b (or any additional side walls) from a
substantially
cylindrical shape to a substantially frustoconical shape may be incorporated
in the device 500.
For example, an elongated handle (not shown) may extend through the interior
of the side walls
703, and a rigid rod (not shown) may be pivotaby secured to the handle and
each side wall such
that when the handle is axially displaced (either manually or by other means),
the rod may push
or pull the side walls into a desired position. Telescoping actuators that
radially extend from a
central axial stem to pivot the side walls 703 are also contemplated, as are
levers that pivot the
side walls 703 relative to the bulb base 710, for example.
[0187] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 27A and 27B, an illuminating
element 752 is
disposed at a distal end of an elongated stem 754. The illuminating element
752 may be
substantially planar, and may have the overall shape of a disk. For example,
the disk may have a
diameter greater than the standard diameter of a conventional recessed
lighting canister. That is,
if the recessed lighting canister has a diameter of 5 inches (127 mm), the
illuminating element
752 may have a diameter of 7 inches (177.8 mm). In some embodiments, the
illuminating
element may have a diameter (or maximum dimension) of about 3 cm to about 50
cm;
alternately from about 5 cm to about 40 cm; alternately from about 10 cm to
about 30 cm;
alternately from about 15 cm to about 30 cm; alternately from about 15 cm to
50 cm; alternately
from about 15 cm to 25 cm, alternately from about 20 cm to 40 cm, alternately
from about 20
cm to 50 cm; alternately from about 25 cm to 50 cm. The illuminating element
may have two
illuminating surfaces. The illuminating surfaces may be generally planar, may
be convex,
concave, or some combination of planar, convex, and concave. Each of the
illuminating
surfaces may have a similar or same surface area as another. In particular,
each illuminating
surface may have a surface area of about 7 cm2 to about 2000 cm2; alternately
from about 20
cm2 to about 1300 cm2; alternately from about 75 cm2 to about 700 cm2;
alternately from about
175 cm2 to about 700 cm2; alternately from about 175 cm2 to about 2000 cm2;
alternately from
about 175 cm2 to about 500 cm2; alternately from about 300 cm2 to about 1300
cm2; alternately
from about 300 cm2 to about 2000 cm2; alternately from about 500 cm2 to 2000
cm2. However,
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the illuminating element 752 may have any size, shape, or combination of
shapes suitable for a
desired application. For example, instead of a disk, the illuminating element
752 may have a
square shape. The illuminating element 752 may have a top portion 756, a
bottom portion 758,
and a circumferential side portion 760, and any of these surfaces may be
capable of illuminating.
[0188] Still referring to Figs. 27A and 27B, the stem 754 may extend from the
bulb base 710,
and the bulb base 710 may be integrally formed with the base assembly 735. The
stem 754 may
include a first stem portion 762a that extends from the bulb base 710 and a
second stem portion
762b extends from the first stem portion 762a. More particularly, the second
stem portion 762b
may telescopically extend from the first stem portion 762a such that the
overall axial length of
the stem 754 may be adjustable. For example, the maximum overall axial length
of the stem 754
may be greater than the depth of a conventional recessed-lighting canister.
For example, a
recessed lighting canister may have a depth of about 7 cm to about 8 cm, and
the stem may have
an axial length of about 7 cm to about 30 cm; alternately, the recessed
lighting canister may have
a depth of about 10 cm and the stem may have an axial length of about 10 cm to
about 35 cm;
alternately, the recessed lighting canister may have a depth of about 12 cm to
about 13 cm and
the stem may have an axial length of about 12 cm to about 40 cm; alternately,
the recessed
lighting canister may have a depth of about 15 cm and the stem may have an
axial length of
about 15 cm to about 45 cm. In any event, the stem, whether fixed or
extendable, may have an
overall length from about 5 cm to about 100 cm; alternately from about 5 cm to
about 50 cm;
alternately from about 5 cm to about 40 cm; alternately from about 5 cm to
about 75 cm;
alternately from about 15 cm to about 100 cm; alternately from about 15 cm to
about 75 cm;
alternately from about 15 cm to about 50 cm; alternately from about 15 cm to
about 35 cm;
alternately from about 25 cm to about 100 cm; alternately from about 25 cm to
50 cm;
alternately from about 25 cm to about 40 cm. Moreover, the second stem portion
762b may
rotate relative to the first stem portion 762a. This relative rotation (or
length adjustment) may
trigger or adjust a function of the device, such as dimming or brightening the
illumination of the
top portion 756, the bottom portion 758, or the side portion 760 of the
illuminating element 752,
as well as illuminating or de-illuminating any of the portions 756, 758, 760.
In some
embodiments, the first stem portion may rotate as much as 360 degrees with
relative to the
second stem portion; alternately as much as 330 degrees; alternately as much
as 300 degrees;
alternately as much as 270 degrees; alternately as much as 240 degrees;
alternately as much as
210 degrees; alternately as much as 180 degrees; alternately as much as 150
degrees; alternately
as much as 120 degrees; alternately as much as 90 degrees; alternately as much
60 degrees;
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alternately as much as 30 degreees. However, the stem 754 may be rigid with no
functional
capabilities. A hinge 764 may couple the illuminating element 752 to the
second stem portion
762b, thereby allowing the illuminating element 752 to pivot relative to the
stem 754. However,
the illuminating element 752 may be rigidly fixed to the second stem portion
762b, and the
hinge may be disposed at any desirable location along the stem 754.
Alternatively, no hinge
may be included, and the illuminating element 752 may be non-pivotable
relative to the stem
754. In operation, the base assembly 735 may be inserted into a socket in a
recessed lighting
cavity, and the illuminating element 752 may be rotated such that the
illuminated bottom portion
758 provides directed lighting to a desired area, for example.
[0189] In an embodiment illustrated in Figs. 75A and 75B, the illuminating
element 752 may
have a plurality of slots 874 that extend from the top portion 756 of the
illuminating element 752
to the bottom portion 758. The slots 874 may be disposed at any desired
location. For example,
as illustrated in Figs. 75A and 75B, the slots may be concentrically disposed
about the center of
the disk-shaped illuminating element 752. The ends of the concentric slots may
extend up to a
central transverse portion 876 of the disk, and the transverse portion 876 of
the disk may extend
along an axis 878 that passes through the center of the disk. The plurality of
concentric slots
876 may define a plurality of arc-shaped displaceable portions 880, and the
displaceable portions
880 may be pivoted at the junction of the ends of the displaceable portions
880 and the
transverse portion 876. As such, in a first configuration illustrated in Fig.
75A, the displaceable
portions 880 may be substantially coplanar. However, one or more of the
displaceable portions
80 may be pivoted relative to the transverse portion 876. More specifically,
as illustrated in Fig.
75B, a plane passing through a top surface of a first displaceable portion 880
may be disposed at
a first angle (e.g., between 0 degrees and 90 degrees) relative to a plane
passing through the
transverse portion 876, and a plane passing through a top surface of a second
displaceable
portion 880 may be disposed at a second angle (e.g., between 0 degrees and 90
degrees) relative
to the plane passing through the transverse portion 876. The illuminating
element 752 may
comprise a memory material that allows a displaceable portion to remain in a
desired position
upon being displaced relative to the central transverse portion.
[0190] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figs. 76A and 76B, the disk-
shaped
illuminating element 752 may have a single slot 874 that forms a spiral
pattern disposed about
the center of the illuminating element 752. So configured, when bulb assembly
702 is oriented
such that the stem 754 extends upward as illustrated in Fig. 76B, the weight
of the material
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comprising the illuminating element 752 causes the illuminating element 752 to
downwardly
displace around the stem 754 such that the illuminating element 752 wraps
around the stem 754.
Alternatively, when bulb assembly 702 is oriented such that the stem 754
extends downward
(such as when the base assembly 735 is disposed in a recessed lighting power
receptacle) as
illustrated in Fig. 76A, the weight of the material comprising the
illuminating element 752
causes the illuminating element 752 to downwardly displace from the stem 754.
[0191] In a still further alternative embodiment illustrated in Figs. 77A and
77B, a horizontal
rod 882 may be coupled to a distal end of the stem 754 of the bulb assembly
702. A plurality of
arc-shaped illuminating elements 752 may be rotatably coupled to the rod 882.
More
particularly, a first end portion of each illuminating element 752 may be
rotatably connected to a
first end portion of the rod 882 and a second end portion of the illuminating
element 752 may be
rotatably connected to a second end portion of the rod 882. So configured, any
or all of the arc-
shaped illuminating elements 752 may be rotated about the rod 882 to a desired
position.
Moreover, each of the arc-shaped illuminating elements 752 may be positioned
and
dimensioned to allow the illuminating elements 752 to be maintained in a
nested position, as
illustrated in Fig. 77B.
[0192] In further embodiments, a lighting device 700 includes a bulb assembly
702, and the
illuminating element or elements of the bulb assembly 702 may be one or more
flexible lighting
strip assemblies 884. For example, in the embodiment of the bulb assembly 702
illustrated in
Fig. 78, the bulb assembly 702 may include a first lighting strip assembly
884a and a second
lighting strip assembly 884b. Each lighting strip assembly 884a, 884b may
include a lighting
strip 886 comprising the previously-described flexible illuminating material.
[0193] The lighting strips 886 of each lighting strip assembly 884a, 884b may
have any shape
suitable for a desired application. For example, as illustrated in Figs. 78
and 79, the first lighting
strip 886a and the second lighting strip 886b may each have an elongated,
ribbon-like shape.
More specifically, each of the first and second lighting strips 886a, 886b may
be partially
defined by a linear first longitudinal edge 888 and a linear second
longitudinal edge 890 that is
parallel to and offset from the first longitudinal edge 888. The transverse
distance (i.e., the
distance normal to the longitudinal axis of each lighting strip 886, or the
width) may have any
suitable value. For example, the transverse distance may be within a first
width range of
approximately from about 50 mm to about 5 mm, alternatively from 40 mm to
about lOmm,
alternatively from 30 mm to about 10 mm, alternatively from 25mm to about 5
mm,
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alternatively from about 20 mm to about 10 mm, or alternatively combinations
thereof. More
specifically, the distance may be about 20 mm. Alternatively, the transverse
distance may
within a second width range of about 10 mm to approximately 3 mm. As an
additional
alternative, the transverse distance may within a third width range of
approximately 50 mm to
approximately 25 mm. In additional embodiments, the first longitudinal edge
888 and the
second longitudinal edge 890 may be non-liner (or linear, but non-parallel),
and the edges 888,
890 may converge or diverge or may be curved, partially curved, or angled
relative to one or
more portions of the edge. One having ordinary skill in the art would
recognize that the
transverse distance of embodiments having curved edges, or, for example,
serrated edges, would
be the distance between reference lines bisecting (or substantially bisecting)
the curved or
serrated edges 888, 890. In further embodiments, the transverse distance of
each lighting strip
884 may be pre-established, or may be determined by the user. More
specifically, individual
lighting strips 884 may be removed from a master sheet, and the master sheet
may be
longitudinally perforated to allow the user to choose a desired width of each
lighting strip 884.
[0194] The elongated lighting strip 886 of the lighting strip assembly 884 may
have a first end
portion 892 and a second end portion 894 opposite the first end portion 892.
In some
embodiments, the lighting strip assembly may have exposed conductive layers at
each of the
first end portion 892 and the second end portion 894. In other embodiments,
the lighting strip
assembly 884 may further include a connector assembly 896 that may be disposed
at or adjacent
to one or both of the first end portion 892 and the second end portion 894.
The first longitudinal
edge 888 and the second longitudinal edge 890 may each extend from the first
end portion 892
to the second end portion 894 of the lighting strip 884. The connector
assembly 896 may
include an base portion 898, and the base portion 898 may be elongated and
disposed
substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the lighting strip. The base
portion 898 may be
secured to the first end portion 892 and/or the second end portion 894 of the
lighting strip 886
by any method known in the art, such as by mechanical coupling, by an
interference fit, by
ultrasonic welding, or by snap-fitting a multiple part base portion assembly
around the first end
portion 892 and/or second end portion 894 of the lighting strip 886, for
example. The connector
assembly 896 may be connected to a lighting strip 884 at the time of
manufacturing, or may be
secured to the end portions 892, 894 by the user if the width of each lighting
strip 884 can be
deteimined by a user.
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1101951 The connector assembly 896 may also include one or more contact
elements 900 adapted
to electrically couple the lighting strip 886 to a source of power, and the
contact element 900
may comprise any part or any assembly of parts capable of electrically
coupling the lighting
strip 886 to the source of power. Each contact element 900 may be coupled to
the lighting strip
886 by the base portion 898. For example, the base portion 898 may be secured
to the first end
portion 892 and/or the second end portion 894 of the lighting strip 886, and
one or more contact
elements 900 may be coupled to (or retained by) the base portion 898 such that
the one or more
contact elements 900 are electrically coupled to the lighting strip 886. In
alternative
embodiments, the one or more contact elements 900 may be directly coupled to
the first end
portion 892 and/or the second end portion 894 of the lighting strip 886. As
illustrated in Figs.
79 and 80, the connector assembly 896 may include a single contact element
900, and the
contact element 900 may take the shape of an elongated plate 901. In an
alternative
embodiment, each contact element 900 may include one or more cylindrical
plugs. The
elongated plate 901 (or any embodiment of the contact element 900) may be
dimensioned to be
received into a corresponding slot 902 formed in the base assembly 735, such
as a top portion
735a of the base assembly 735. The one or more contact elements 900 may be
removably
coupled to the top portion 735a of the base assembly 735. For example, one or
more slots 902
may be formed in the top portion 735a of the base assembly 735, and, more
particularly, the one
or more slots 902 may be formed in or on a top surface 905 of the top portion
735a of the base
assembly 735. However, the one or more slots may be formed on any desired
location of the
base assembly 735, such as an outer cylindrical surface of the top portion
735a of the base
assembly 735. The one or more contact elements 900 may be adapted to be
removably received
into the one or more slots 902. One or more contacts 904, such as spring
contacts, may be
disposed within the slot 902, and the one or more contacts 904 may be adapted
to maintain
physical contact with the elongated plate 901 when the elongated plate 901 is
disposed in the
slot 902. The one or more contacts 904 disposed in the slot 902 are
electrically coupled to a
power source to provide power to the lighting strip 886. The elongated plate
901 may have a
detent feature (not shown) that may be positioned on the elongated plate such
that the contacts
904 in the slot 902 engage the detent feature when the connector assembly 896
is properly
inserted into the slot 902. The connector assembly 896 and/or the base
assembly 735 may
include one or more features (not shown) that ensure that the contact element
is inserted into the
slot 902 in a proper orientation relative to the contacts 904 in the slot 902
(to, for example,
maintain correct polarity between the contacts in the slot and the elongated
plate). Moreover,
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the connector assembly 896 and/or the base assembly 735 may include one or
more features (not
shown) that provide a releasable engagement feature that prevents the
connector assembly from
inadvertently being removed from the slot 902 of the base assembly 735.
[0196] As previously discussed, each of the lighting strips 886 of the one or
more lighting strip
assemblies 884 may be flexible, and the connector assembly 896 disposed at one
or both ends of
each of the lighting strip assemblies 884 may be removably coupled to the base
assembly 735.
Consequently, a user may customize the configuration of the bulb assembly 702.
For example, a
plurality of slots 902 may be provided in the base assembly 735, and the user
may insert a first
contact element 900 of a first lighting strip assembly 884a into a desired
first slot 902 and the
second contact element 900 of the first lighting strip assembly 884a into a
desired second slot
902. The user may also insert a first contact element 900 of a second lighting
strip assembly
884b into a third desired slot 902 and the second contact element 900 of the
second lighting strip
assembly 884b into a fourth desired slot 902. If desired, the user may then
remove the first
contact element 900 of the first lighting strip assembly 884a from the first
slot 902 and insert the
first contact element 900 of the first lighting strip assembly 884a into a
fifth slot 902, for
example. By being provided with a plurality of slots 902, the user is able to
customize the
configuration or position of the one or more lighting strip assemblies 884
relative to the base
assembly 735, thereby allowing the user to create an esthetically pleasing and
personalized
illuminating arrangement. One having ordinary skill in the art would recognize
that a lighting
strip assembly 884 may be formed into any of a number of shapes, such as a
round shape or a
shape having one or more sharp edges.
[0197] The lighting strip or strips 886 may have any suitable length. For
example, as illustrated
in Fig. 78, a first lighting strip 886a may have a first length and a second
lighting strip 886b may
have a second length that is less than the first length. In some embodiments,
the lighting strip or
strips 886 may have a length of about 20 cm; alternately of about 15 cm;
alternately of about 10
cm; alternately of about 25 cm; alternately of about 30 cm. Likewise, in
embodiments
employing two or more lighting strips 886, the lighting strips 886 may vary in
length by about 1
cm; alternately by about 2 cm; alternately by about 3 cm; alternately by about
4 cm; alternately
by about 5 cm; alternately by about 6 cm; alternately by about 7 cm. In some
embodiments, a
ratio of lengths of any two strips will be between about 1:1 and about 1:2;
alternately between
about 1:1 and 1:1.5; alternately between about 1:1 and 1:3; alternately
between about 1:1 and
1:4; alternately between about 1:1 and 1:5. Although not shown, there may be
three, four, five,
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or more strips of varying dimensions. The first and second contact elements
900 of the second
lighting strip assembly 884b may be inserted into a first pair of slots 902
formed in the base
assembly 735 such that the lighting strip 886b has the shape of a rounded arch
(or loop) when
viewed from the front. More particularly, the lighting strip 886b may have the
general shape of
a cross-section of a conventional light bulb (such as, for example, an A19
incandescent light
bulb). In addition, the first and second contact elements 900 of the first
lighting strip assembly
886a may be inserted into a second pair of slots 902 disposed orthogonal to
the first pair of slots
902, and the lighting strip 886a of the first lighting strip assembly 884a may
take the shape of a
rounded arch (or loop) when viewed from the front. Similar to the second
lighting strip 886b,
the first lighting strip 886a may have the general shape of a cross-section of
a conventional light
bulb (such as, for example, an A19 incandescent light bulb). Because the first
lighting strip
assembly 884a has a greater length than the second lighting strip assembly
884b, a top rounded
portion of the second lighting strip 886b is disposed below a top rounded
portion of the first
lighting strip 886b. Because the first lighting strip assembly 884a is
disposed orthogonally to
the second lighting strip assembly 884b, the overall shape of the first
lighting strip assembly
884a and the second lighting strip assembly 884b resembles that of a stylized
conventional light
bulb.
[0198] Instead of a first lighting strip 886a having a first length and a
second lighting strip 886b
having a second length, a single lighting strip assembly 884 may be coupled to
the base
assembly 735, as illustrated in Figs. 84A and 84B. The single lighting strip
assembly 884 may
have a connector assembly 896 disposed adjacent to the first end portion 892
and the second end
portion 894 of the lighting strip 886, and the connector assemblies 896 may
each be received
into appropriate slots 902 formed in the base assembly 735 in the manner
discussed above. The
lighting strip 886 of the lighting strip assembly 884 may take the shape of a
rounded arch (or
loop) when viewed from the front, and the lighting strip 886 may have the
general shape of a
cross-section of a conventional light bulb (such as, for example, an A19
incandescent light
bulb). As such, dimensions of the lighting strip assembly 884 may correspond
to the cross-
sectional dimensions of a conventional light bulb, such as the A19
incandescent light bulb. As a
specific example, the height of the rounded arch (or loop) may correspond to
the height of the
A19 incandescent light bulb, and such a height may be approximately 3 1/2
inches (88.9 mm).
The height may be defined, for example, as the vertical distance between an
uppermost portion
of the arch (or loop) and a horizontal or substantially horizontal top surface
of the base assembly
735. However, the height may the distance between the uppermost portion of the
arch (or loop)
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and any suitable portion of the top surface of the base assembly 735, such as
an edge that
partially defines one of more of the slots 902 formed in the top surface of
the base assembly 735.
As a further example, the maximum outer diameter of the rounded arch (or loop)
may
correspond to the maximum outer diameter of the A19 incandescent light bulb,
and such a
diameter may be approximately 2 % inches (60.3 mm).
[0199] Instead of a height and maximum outer diameter values that correspond
to those of a
conventional light bulb, such as the A19 incandescent light bulb, the height
and maximum outer
diameter values of the rounded arch (or loop) may have any suitable values.
For example, the
height of the rounded arch (or loop) may be less than (or significantly less
than) the height of the
A19 incandescent light bulb, as illustrated in Figs. 85A and 85B. More
specifically, the height
may be from about 1 cm to about 20 cm; alternately, from about 1 cm to about
15 cm;
alternately from about 1 cm to about 10 cm; alternately from about 3 cm to
about 20 cm;
alternately from about 3cm to about 15 cm; alternately from about 3 cm to
about 10 cm;
alternately from about 5 cm to about 20 cm; alternately from about 5 cm to
about 15 cm;
alternately from about 5 cm to about 10 cm. Similarly, also as illustrated in
Figs. 85A and 85B,
the maximum width of the rounded arch (or loop) may be more or less than the
maximum width
of the A19 incandescent light bulb, and the maximum width may or may not
maintain the
general proportions of the A19 incandescent light bulb, for example.
Specifically, in some
embodiments, the maximum width of the rounded arch (e.g., in the loop formed
by the lighting
strip 886), may be about 2 cm to about 20 cm; alternately about 2 cm to about
15 cm; alternately
about 2 cm to 10 cm; alternately about 2 cm to 5 cm; alternately about 4 cm to
about 20 cm;
alternately about 4 cm to about 15 cm; alternately about 4 cm to about 10 cm.
As such, if the
height of the rounded arch (or loop) is 1.5" (38.1 mm), the maximum width
would be
approximately 1" (25.4 mm). That is, the ratio of width:height of the lighting
strips 886 when
formed into loops and/or arches may be from about 1:1 to about 1:3;
alternately about 1:1 to
about 1:2; alternately about 1:1 to about 3:4.
[0200] In additional embodiments, the height of the rounded arch (or loop) may
be greater than
(or significantly greater than) the height of the A19 incandescent light bulb,
as illustrated in
Figs. 86A and 86B. More specifically, the height may be approximately 5 inches
(127 mm), 6"
(152.4 mm), or 7" (177.8 mm), for example. Similarly, also as illustrated in
Figs. 86A and 86B,
the maximum width of the rounded arch (or loop) may be significantly greater
than the
maximum width of the A19 incandescent light bulb, and the maximum width may
maintain the
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general proportions of the A19 incandescent light bulb, for example. As such,
if the height of
the rounded arch (or loop) is 7" (177.8 mm), the maximum width would be
approximately 4.75"
(120.6 mm).
[0201] In further embodiments, a first lighting strip 886a may have a first
length and a second
lighting strip 886b may have a second length that is less than the first
length, as discussed above
with reference to Fig. 78. However, as illustrated in Figs. 87A and 87B, the
height of the
rounded arch (or loop) of the first lighting strip 886a may be greater than
(or significantly
greater than) the height of the A19 incandescent light bulb, and the height of
the rounded arch
(or loop) of the second lighting strip 886b may be significantly less than the
height of the
rounded arch (or loop) of the first lighting strip 886a. For example, the
height of the rounded
arch (or loop) of the second lighting strip 886b may equal to or significantly
less than the height
of the rounded arch (or loop) of the A19 incandescent light bulb. For example,
the height of the
rounded arch (or loop) of the first lighting strip 886a may be approximately
7" (177.8 mm), for
example, and the height of the rounded arch (or loop) of the second lighting
strip 886b may be
approximately 1" (25.4 mm). Alternatively, the height of the rounded arch (or
loop) of the
second lighting strip 886b may be slightly less than the height of the rounded
arch (or loop) of
the first lighting strip 886a. In an additional embodiment, both the height of
the rounded arch
(or loop) of the first lighting strip 886a and the height of the rounded arch
(or loop) of the
second lighting strip 886b may be significantly less than the height of the
A19 incandescent light
bulb. One having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that any number of
additional
lighting strip assemblies 884 having various sizes and various mutual
orientations can be
coupled to a base assembly 735 to emulate the shape of a conventional light
bulb (such as, for
example, an A19 incandescent light bulb).
[0202] In any of the embodiments previously discussed (or discussed below),
the widths of each
of the lighting strips 886 may vary. For example, in the embodiment
illustrated in Figs. 87A and
87B, the first lighting strip 886a and the second lighting strip 886b may have
a transverse
distance (i.e., the distance normal to the longitudinal axis of each lighting
strip 886, or the
width) within the first range of transverse distances, and both of the
transverse distances may be
equal. However, the first lighting strip 886a and the second lighting strip
886b may have
different transverse widths, and each of the transverse distance may be chosen
from the first
range, the second range, and the third range, as described above. Moreover, if
more than two
lighting strips 886 are used, the transverse width of any of the lighting
strips 886 may be chosen
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from the first range, the second range, and the third range. For example, if
ten lighting strips
886 are coupled to the base assembly 735 (or are capable of being coupled to
the base assembly
735), all ten lighting strips 886 may have an equal transverse distance, and
the transverse
distance may be within the second range. One having ordinary skill in the art
would recognize
that the lengths of all of the lighting strips may be equal, or the length of
any or all of the
lighting strips may vary.
[0203] As discussed above, the lighting strip 886 of the lighting strip
assembly 884 may be
flexible. More specifically, the lighting strips 886 may have any suitable
flexural modulus
according to the materials used to manufacture the material. Moreover,
regardless of the
flexural modulus of the material, the material may have a minimum radius to
which it can be
bent without compromising the electrical and/or physical integrity of the
structure (e.g., causing
layers of materials to shear, without shorting electrical components, etc.).
As used herein, this
minimum radius is referred to as a "minimum bending radius." Both the minimum
bending
radius and the flexural modulus may vary according to a particular
application, depending on the
substrate materials used and the desired flexibility of the material. For
example, a lighting strip
886 using a first substrate material may have a minimum bending radius of
between 4 mm and
25 mm, while an illumination element 782 in the form of a disk using a second
substrate
material may have a minimum bending significantly greater, on the order of 100
mm to 200 mm
or more. Thus, in some embodiments the lighting strip 886 has a minimum
bending radius of
about 10 mm to about 20 cm; alternately about 10 mm to about 10 cm;
alternately about 10 mm
to about 5 cm; alternately about 3 cm to about 5 cm; alternately about 3 cm to
about 10 cm;
alternately about 3 cm to about 20 cm. Alternatively, the sheet 788 may be
relatively rigid,
having a larger bending radius of approximately 15 cm, for example. If more
than one lighting
strip assembly 884 is used for an application, one having ordinary skill in
the art would
recognize that the minimum bending radius of all of the lighting strips 886
may be equal, or the
minimum bending radius of any or all of the lighting strips 886 may vary.
[0204] Due to the flexibility of the lighting strip 886, a first connector
assembly 896 may be
rotated relative to a second connector assembly 896 to twist the lighting
strip. For example, as
illustrated in Fig. 81, the first and second contact elements 900 of a single
lighting strip
assembly may be inserted into slots 902 that are disposed at an angle of
between 145 degrees
and 45 degrees , alternatively from 100 degrees to 45 degrees alternatively
from 100 degrees to
145 degrees, alternatively from 80 degrees to 100 degrees, alternatively about
90 degrees, to
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create an elongated arc that extends from the base assembly 735.
Alternatively, as illustrated in
Figs. 82A, 82B, the lighting strip 886 of a single lighting strip assembly 884
can be twisted to
form multiple loops. Moreover, as illustrated in Figs. 83A, 83B, the lighting
strips 886 of more
than one lighting strip assembly 884 can be twisted to form a desired
configuration.
[0205] Each of the lighting strips 886 of the lighting strip assemblies 884
may be capable of
illuminating in any desired manner. For example, the entire front surface of
any or all of the
lighting strips 886 may be capable of illumination. Alternatively, only
portions of the front
surface may be capable of illumination. In other embodiments, portions of the
front surface may
be capable of selective illumination such that the entire front surface of the
lighting strip 886
may be illuminated or only portions of the front surface of the lighting strip
may be illuminated.
Similarly, the entire back surface of any or all of the lighting strips 886
may be capable of
illumination. Alternatively, only portions of the back surface may be capable
of illumination, or
portions of the back surface may be capable of selective illumination.
Selective illumination
may be controlled by any method, including those previously described. In some
instances,
selective illumination may be by lighting strip (i.e, a first lighting strip
may be illuminated,
while a second lighting strip remains unilluminated, etc.).
[0206] In a still further embodiment of the lighting device 700 illustrated in
Figs. 28A and 28B,
a flexible cord 766 may extend from a bulb base 710, and the bulb base 710 may
be integrally
formed with the base assembly 735. A hub 768 may be disposed at the distal end
of the cord
766, and a plurality of support rods 770 may radially extend from the hub 768.
A lighting
element 772 may be supported by the plurality of support rods 770, and the
support rods 770, the
hub 768, and the cord 766 may provide a means to electrically connect the base
assembly 735
with the lighting element 772. The lighting element 772 may have any shape,
and any interior
and/or exterior surface of the lighting element 772 may illuminate. For
example, as shown in
Figs. 28A and 28B, the lighting element 772 may include a plurality of faceted
surfaces 774 that
form a generally cylindrical shape, and all (or some) of the faceted surfaces
774 may be capable
of illumination. Another example is shown in Fig. 28C, where the lighting
element 772 is
comprised of a plurality of cylinders 776. The hub 768 may have an interface
to allow a user to
select or adjust a functional setting, such as to dim the lighting or switch
on the illumination of
internal faceted surfaces 774 only.
[0207] In another embodiment illustrated in Figs. 31A, 31B, 31C, and 31D, a
sheet assembly
787 may include a sheet 788, and both sides of the sheet 788 may be capable of
illumination.
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The sheet 788 may be flexible, and the sheet may have any suitable minimum
bending radius
suitable for a given application. For example, the sheet 788 may have a
minimum bending
radius of between 1" (25.4 mm) and 6" (152.4 mm). Alternatively, the sheet 788
may be
substantially rigid, having a larger bending radius of approximately 24"
(60.96 cm), for
example. Alternately, the sheet 788 may have any minimal bending radius or
range of minimum
bending radii previously described. The sheet 788 may have a diamond shape and
may be
substantially planar, as illustrated in Figs. 31A, 31B, 31C. However, the
sheet 788 may have
any shape or combination of shapes, such as the contoured shape illustrated in
Fig. 31D.
Optionally, the sheet 788 may include a printed pattern or image or other type
or ornamentation.
A power cord 790 may be electrically coupled to the sheet 788, and the power
cord 790 may
also be electrically coupled to a power interface 792 that may be capable of
coupling to a source
of power, such as, for example, a standard wall outlet, to provide power to
illuminate the sheet
788. However, the power interface 792 may be capable of interfacing with any
source of power,
such as the socket of a standard light or a car lighter outlet. The power cord
790 may be
permanently coupled to the sheet 788 or it may be releaseably coupled. A
functional interface
794 may be electrically coupled to the sheet 788 and the power interface 792,
and the functional
interface 794 may include interfaces to control the functions of the sheet
788, such as a power
switch, a dimmer, or any other suitable function. The sheet assembly 787 may
include at least
two coupling elements 796 to allow a first portion of the sheet 788 to attach
to a second portion
of the sheet. For example, a first coupling element may be coupled to the
first portion of the
sheet and a second coupling element may be coupled to the second portion of
the sheet, and the
first coupling element may be adapted to engage the second coupling element to
removably
secure the first portion of the sheet to the second portion of the sheet.
[0208] The coupling elements 796 of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 31A,
31B, 31C, and
31D may be any mechanism known in the art capable of releaseably coupling at
least two
portions of the sheet 788 such as, for example, hook and loop fasteners or
magnetic fasteners.
As an additional example, a coupling element 796 may be disposed at each of
the four corners of
the diamond-shaped sheet illustrated in Fig. 31A. The coupling elements 796
may include a
male projection 798 that can be releaseably secured within a female aperture
800 to secure the
sheet in a desired shape, as illustrated in Fig. 31C. More than one type of
coupling element 796
may be included, such as, for example, a plurality of inwardly-directed slits
802, and an edge
portion of the sheet can be inserted into one of the silts 802 to secure the
sheet in a desired
position as illustrated in Fig. 31B. It is contemplated that the sheet
assembly 787 can be hung
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from a wall, suspended from an overhead power source, hung from the ceiling,
or be disposed
on a flat surface.
[0209] In a further embodiment illustrated in Figs. 32A to 32E, the device 700
may have a
generally elongated shape. Specifically, a base 804 may extend in a
substantially longitudinal
direction. The base 804 may have any suitable length for a particular
application, and the base
may be dimensioned such that the overall length of the device 700 is
approximately equal to a
conventional fluorescent lighting fixture. For example, the base 804 may be
dimensioned such
that the overall length of the device 700 is 12 inches (304.8 mm), 24 inches
(609.6 mm), 36
inches (914.4 mm) or 48 inches (1219.2 mm) long. The base 804 may have any
shape suitable
for a particular application. For example, as shown in Fig. 32A, the base 804
may be comprised
of a first wall 806 and a second wall 808, and the first wall 806 and the
second wall 808 may be
symmetrically formed about a centrally-disposed slot wall 810 such that the
base 804 has a
wedge-like shape. The base 804 may be manufactured as a unitarily formed
feature, or may be
assembled from two or more components. A lighting element 812 may be coupled
to the base
804, and the lighting element 812 may have any shape or size suitable for a
particular
application. For example, the lighting element 812 may be substantially
planar, as illustrated in
Fig. 32A and 94B, and the lighting element 812 may extend along the entire
length of the base
804 along the slot wall 810. However, the lighting element 812 may be
comprised of segments
that are spaced along the length of the base 804, for example. Any portion of
the lighting
element 812, including the entire lighting element 812, may be capable of
illumination, as will
be described in more detail below.
[0210] Still referring to Figs. 32A to 32E, a cover 814 may be coupled to the
base 804 by any
means known in the art, including permanent coupling or removable coupling.
For example, the
top and bottom edges of the cover 814 may each slide into slots formed at the
teiminal ends of
the first wall 806 and the second wall 808, respectively. When secured to the
base 804, the
cover 814 may have any cross-sectional shape, such as convex, concave, or
flat, for example. In
addition, the cover 814 may be comprised of a single unitary part, or may be
comprised of
several segments that collectively form the cover 814, and one segment of the
cover 814 may be
convex, and a second segment may be concave, for example. The cover 814 may be
substantially frosted or may be transparent, and the cover 814 may also have a
surface texture or
be untextured. In addition, the cover 814 may have any suitable color. In an
alternative
embodiment, the cover 814 may illuminate instead of the lighting element 812.
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[0211] Referring again to Figs. 32A to 32E, an end cap 816 may be secured to
each end of the
base 804. Each end cap 816 may have any shape, and the end cap 816 may have a
cross-
sectional shape that is substantially identical to the cross-sectional shape
of the cover 814/base
804 assembly, for example. Each end cap 816 maybe secured to each end of the
base 804 by
any manner known in the art, such as by a tab/slot assembly or an interference
fit, for example.
At least one of the end caps 816 may be coupled to a power interface 792. For
example, a
flexible cord 818 may extend from an end cap 816 to the power interface 792
such that when the
end cap 816 is secured to the base 804, the lighting element 812 (or the cover
814 if the cover
814 is capable of illumination) is electrically coupled to the power interface
792. A functional
interface 794 may be electrically coupled to the lighting element 812 (or the
cover 814 if the
cover 814 is capable of illumination) and the power interface 792, and the
functional interface
794 may include interfaces to control the functions of the lighting element
812 (or the cover 814
if the cover 814 is capable of illumination), such as a power switch, a
dimmer, or any other
suitable function. The functional interface 794 may be disposed at any
suitable location of the
device 700, including as a module coupled to the power cord 818.
Alternatively, the functional
interface 794 may be integrally formed with an end cap 816 or the power
interface 792.
[0212] Still referring to Figs. 32A to 32E, two or more of the cover 814/base
804 assemblies
may be secured together to form a multi-unit assembly 822. Because the
individual cover 814
and base 804 shapes can vary, the multi-unit assembly 822 may have any cross-
sectional shape
or combination of shapes. For example, as shown in Fig. 32C and 94E, the multi-
unit assembly
822 may have a substantially cylindrical shape. Alternatively, the multi-unit
assembly 822 may
have a semi-cylindrical shape as illustrated in Fig. 32D. The cover 814/base
804 assemblies
may be secured together by any means known in the art, such as by the use of a
tab/slot
configuration or by magnetic coupling. For example, a portion of an elongated
tab 820 may be
inserted into a slot formed by the slot wall 810 of the base 804 of each of
two adjacent cover
814/base 804 assemblies to form a semi-cylinder, or a portion of the elongated
tab 820 may be
inserted into a slot formed by the slot wall 810 of the base 804 of each of
four cover 814/base
804 assemblies to form a cylinder. If the multi-unit assembly 822 is to be
suspended from the
power cord 818, the power cord 818 may be coupled to a hub that may be coupled
to one or all
of the lowermost end caps 816 to support the multi-unit assembly 822.
[0213] In a further elongated embodiment illustrated in Fig. 33, a fluorescent
replacement
assembly 823 may have the shape of a conventional tube-type fluorescent bulb
such that the
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fluorescent replacement assembly 823 may be inserted into conventional tube-
type fluorescent
sockets to replace conventional tube-type fluorescent bulbs. Specifically, the
lighting element
812 of the fluorescent replacement assembly 823 may be capable of
illumination, and the
lighting element 812 may be substantially cylindrical. The lighting element
812 may be
disposed within a rigid outer cylinder 824, and the outer cylinder 824 may be
made of any
suitable material, such as plastic or glass, for example. The lighting element
812 and the outer
cylinder 824 may, as shown, be cylindrical in shape, or may have any cross-
sectional shape or
combination of shapes. Moreover, if the lighting element 812 is sufficiently
rigid to withstand
the torque applied upon installation, no outer cylinder 824 may be used. An
end cap 826 may be
disposed on both ends of the lighting element 812. The end caps 826 may have
any suitable
shape, and may be cylindrical and have an outer diameter substantially equal
to that of the outer
cylinder 824. The end caps 826 may be rigidly secured to the outer cylinder
824 (or to the
lighting element 812 if no outer cylinder 824 is used) by any method known in
the art, such as
by threaded coupling or tab/slot locking. One or more pins 828 may extend from
each of the
end caps 826, and the pins 828 may collectively form any of several
conventional configurations
that are used to couple a conventional fluorescent bulb with a socket. The
pins 828 may be
electrically coupled to a power interface 792, and the power interface 792 may
be electrically
coupled to the lighting element 812 such that the power interface 792 may
convert the voltage
from the conventional socket to a voltage suitable to illuminate the lighting
element 812. One or
both of the end caps 826 may include a power interface 792, and the power
interface 792 may be
electrically coupled to the pins 828 and the lighting element 812. A
functional interface 794
may be electrically coupled to the lighting element 812 and the power
interface 792, and the
functional interface 794 may include interfaces to control the functions of
the lighting element
812 such as a power switch, a dimmer, or any other suitable function. The
functional interface
794 and the power interfaces 792 may be integrally formed in one or both end
caps 726. The
outer diameter of the outer cylinder 824 (or the lighting element 812 if no
outer cylinder 824 is
necessary) may be substantially equal to the outer diameter of a conventional
fluorescent bulb.
For example, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 824 may be 11/2 inches
(38.1 mm). The
overall length of the fluorescent replacement assembly 823 (excluding the
length of the pins
828) may be substantially equal to the length of a conventional fluorescent
bulb. For example,
the length of the fluorescent replacement assembly 823 may be 12 inches (304.8
mm), 24 inches
(609.6 mm), 36 inches (914.4 mm) or 48 inches (1219.2 mm). However, the outer
diameter of
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the outer cylinder 824 and the length of the fluorescent replacement assembly
823 may have any
suitable value.
[0214] As described briefly above, in addition to taking any number of
conceivable physical
forms, a lighting assembly according to the present description may provide
any number of
operational functions. Each function may include one or more configurable
parameters and,
depending on the particular embodiment, may be implemented in either of a
combination of a
bulb, a base, and a coupling mechanism, by software, firmware, hardware,
and/or a combination
of software, firmware, and/or hardware.
[0215] In some embodiments, for example, an assembly 1000 includes a base
portion 1002
integrally formed with and coupled to a seat portion 1004, as depicted in Fig.
37A. The seat
portion 1004 receives a bulb portion 1006 that may, in turn, be integrally
formed with the base
or may be separately formed and fixedly or removably coupled to the base
portion 1002. The
bulb portion 1006 may include any light emitting element and, in particular,
may include an
illuminated sheet, an incandescent or fluorescent bulb (not shown), a shade,
one or more LEDs,
etc. As depicted in the functional block diagram illustrated in Fig. 37B, the
assembly 1000
includes a bulb 1008 (e.g., the illuminated sheet), a controller 1010, and a
power source interface
1012. The power source interface 1012 may serve to physically and/or
electrically couple the
assembly 1000 to a power source (not shown), which may be an AC and/or a DC
power source.
The power source interface 1012 may also, possibly in cooperation with the
controller,
transform, adapt, switch, filter, condition, and/or perform impedance matching
on the electrical
signal provided by the power source. For example, where the bulb 1008 includes
one or more
light emitting diodes, the power source interface 1012 may transform a 120 VAC
signal
provided by the power source into a lower-voltage DC signal according to the
characteristics of
the diodes and the configuration of the one or more illuminating circuits
footling the bulb 1008,
and/or to provide to the controller 1010 an appropriate operating voltage. As
another example,
the power source interface 1012 may adapt to various voltages and frequencies
of electrical
power signals provided by the power source to allow, for example, the same
assembly 1000 to
be used with a 60-Hertz, 120 VAC signal, with a 50-Hertz, 120 VAC signal, with
a 60-Hertz,
240 VAC signal, etc. As still another example, the power source interface 1012
may switch
connections between multiple power sources (e.g., power from a mains line and
power from an
energy storage device). As yet another example, the power source interface
1012 may filter
and/or condition an electrical signal provided by the power source, to remove
noise from the
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electrical signal, convert the electrical signal from AC to DC, and/or to
remove or isolate one or
more signals (e.g., a communication signal). The assembly 1000 may also
include one or more
sensors 1014 and one or more components (e.g., receivers and transmitters)
footling a
communication interface 1016.
[0216] In other embodiments, such as that depicted in Fig. 38A, two or more
assemblies 1018
may be separately formed. The assemblies 1018 may include a base assembly 1020
and a bulb
assembly 1022, that may be removably coupled to one another. The base assembly
1020 and the
bulb assembly 1022 may include respective coupling portions 1024 and 1026,
that cooperate
with one another to join the base assembly 1020 to the bulb assembly 1022 both
electrically and
physically. The bulb assembly 1022 may include any light emitting element and,
in particular,
may include an illuminated sheet, an incandescent or fluorescent bulb (not
shown), a shade, one
or more LEDs, etc. As depicted in the functional block diagram illustrated in
Fig. 38B, the base
assembly 1020 may include a primary power source interface 1028, operating in
the manner
described above with respect to the power source interface 1012. The base
assembly 1020 may
also include a controller 1030, one or more components forming a communication
interface
1032, and one or more sensors 1034.
[0217] The base assembly 1020 also includes a coupling interface 1039, which
itself includes a
secondary power source interface 1036 and a data interface 1038 for
electrically coupling,
respectively, power and data signals provided by the base assembly 1020 to
corresponding
interfaces 1040 and 1042 of a coupling interface 1043 of the bulb assembly
1022. In some
embodiments, the power signal(s) provided by the base assembly 1020 to the
bulb assembly
1022 are provided by means of an inductive transfer of energy.
[0218] The data signals may be any data signals passing between the bulb
assembly and the base
assembly, depending on the specific embodiment. By way of example and not
limitation,
exemplary data signals may include: signals between one or more sensors in the
bulb assembly
and a controller in the base assembly; signals sent from a controller or a
communication
interface in the base assembly to a transmitter in the bulb assembly; signals
received by a
receiver in the bulb assembly and relayed to a controller in the base
assembly; and/or signals
from the bulb assembly identifying to the base assembly the type of bulb
and/or the features of
the bulb assembly. While illustrated in Fig. 38B as distinct interfaces, the
interfaces 1036 and
1038 (and 1040 and 1042) may be a single interface where, for example, an
electrical power
signal serves as a carrier signal for a data signal.
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[0219] In some embodiments, respective data interfaces 1038 and 1042 may
implement wireless
communication, such as a near field communication protocol, the Bluetooth
protocol, a radio-
frequency identification (RFID) protocol, etc.
[0220] In some embodiments, the controller 1030 may be implemented in the bulb
assembly
1022 instead of in the base assembly 1020. Additionally, the base assembly
1020 may, in some
embodiments, include only the power interface 1036 and the power source
interface 1028, while
the remainder of the sensors 1034, the controller 1030, and/or the
communication interface 1032
may be part of the bulb assembly 1022. Embodiments implementing such a "dumb"
base
assembly 1020 and incorporating the controller, and possibly other components,
into a "smart"
bulb assembly 1022 may allow a consumer to add functionality to the lighting
assembly by
replacing the bulb assembly 1022 and leaving the base assembly 1020 in place
(i.e., connected
to the power source). Additionally, the use of a smart bulb assembly 1022 with
a dumb base
assembly 1020 may allow any particular light emitting element 1044 to be
implemented with a
corresponding controller 1030, such that the controller 1030 controls the
functionality available
according to the light emitting element 1044. For example, a light emitting
element 1044 having
multiple illumination circuits would have a corresponding controller 1030
configured to control
the multiple illumination circuits.
[0221] The bulb assembly 1022 includes one or more illuminating circuits 1044,
each of which
illuminating circuits 1044 is electrically and, optionally, selectively-
coupled to the interface
1040 to power a corresponding plurality of illuminating elements in the
illuminating circuit
1044. One or more sensors 1046 may also be included within the bulb assembly
1022, and may
be electrically coupled to one or both of the interfaces 1040 and 1042. For
example, the sensor
1046 may receive operating power from the interface 1040 while sending and/or
receiving data
signals (e.g., indicating a sensed parameter) to the controller 1030 through
the interfaces 1042
and the 1038. Alternatively, one or more of the sensors 1046 may receive
operating power from
signals provided via the interface 1042. The physical and electrical
implementation of the
interfaces 1036/1040 and 1038/1042 will be described with respect to specific
embodiments in
the "coupling" section, below.
[0222] As described briefly above, some embodiments of the base assembly 1020
and the bulb
assembly 1022 may include one or more features interoperable to prevent the
use of
unauthorized bulb assemblies with the base assembly 1020. These "lock and key"
features may
be electronic, electrical, and/or mechanical in nature. Fig. 38C, depicts a
block diagram of a
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lighting assembly similar to that depicted in Fig. 38B, but including an
electronic and/or
electrical lock and key interface. Specifically, the coupling interface 1043
of the bulb assembly
1022 includes an electronic key device 1041. The electronic key device 1041
may be a simple
integrated circuit (IC) device, for example, operable to perform a specific
function upon
application of electrical power and/or receipt of a specific signal. The
electronic key device
1041 may have a power interface (i.e., a pin or connection for receiving
power; not shown)
electrically coupled to the data interface 1042 via an electrical connection
1045, and a data
interface (i.e., one or more pins or connections for receiving/transmitting
data, not shown)
electrically coupled to the data interface 1042 via an electrical connection
1047. As previously
described, the data interface 1043 may be coupled to the data interface 1038
of the coupling
interface 1039 in the base assembly 1020, and may include electrical
connections 1049 and 1051
corresponding, respectively, to the power and data interfaces 1045 and 1047 to
the electronic
key device 1041. In this manner, the electronic key device 1041 may receive
power and
receive/transmit data from/to the controller via the data interface 1038.
[0223] Of course, the electronic key device 1041 could be any device operable
to receive power
from the base assembly 1020 when connected thereto and to transmit data, via
wired or wireless
signal, to the controller 1030 in the bulb assembly 1020. For example, the
electronic key device
1041 could be a radio frequency identification (RFID) device operable both to
receive wireless
power and to transmit wireless data.
[0224] In any event, the controller 1030 is programmed not to provide power to
the power
interface 1036 (or through the power interface 1040 to the bulb assembly 1022)
in the absence of
a compatible bulb assembly 1022. That is, if the base assembly 1020 is
connected to a power
source (e.g., plugged into an AC main, secured in a conventional light bulb
socket, etc.) the
power interface 1036 is de-energized when not coupled to a bulb assembly 1022,
or when the
coupled bulb assembly 1022 is incompatible with the base assembly 1022 (i.e.,
if the bulb
assembly 1022 does not include the electronic key device 1041 or if the
electronic key device
1041 does not properly authenticate). The base assembly 1020 may provide a
minimal power
signal ¨ for example, via the data interface or a wireless transmitter ¨ to
power the electronic key
device 1041 when one is present. In response to receiving the power signal,
the electronic key
device 1041 may provide data, via the data interface or a wireless interface,
to the base assembly
1020 and, in particular, to the controller 1030. Having received the data
transmitted by the
electronic key device 1041, the controller 1030 may interpret the received
data and, accordingly,
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may selectively enable one or more functions. In embodiments in which the
controller 1030 is
implemented in the bulb assembly 1022, the key device 1041, correspondingly,
may be located
in the base assembly 1020.
[0225] Fig. 38D is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of
selectively enabling
interoperability between a base assembly 1020 and a bulb assembly 1022. When
the bulb
assembly 1022 is coupled to the base assembly 1020, power is provided to the
electronic key
device 1041 (block 1053). The electronic key device 1041 transmits one or more
data values to
the controller 1030 in the base assembly 1020 (block 1055). The one or more
data values may
include, for example, a serial number of the bulb assembly. The data, whether
or not in the form
of a serial number, may be programmed according to any algorithm and, in
particular, to an
algorithm that may make it difficult to reliably replicate the data without
foreknowledge of the
algorithm. In some embodiments, the data (again, whether or not in the form of
a serial number)
may include information indicative of one or more properties of the bulb
assembly including, by
way of example and not limitation: presence and type of sensors integrated in
the bulb assembly,
number and type of circuits implemented in the bulb assembly, compatibility
with various
functions such as timers, dimmers, and the like, bulb shape, communication
protocols
implemented, color(s) available on the lighting element, etc.
[0226] Having received the data transmitted from the electronic device key
1041, the controller
1030 may perform one or more calculations and/or operations to determine the
validity of the
received values (block 1057). For example, the controller 1030 may use one or
more portions of
the received data as inputs to an algorithm, and compare the output of the
algorithm to one or
more portions of the received data. If the controller 1030 determines that the
data is valid (at
block 1057) and, therefore, that the bulb assembly 1022 is compatible, the
controller 1030
selectively enables one or more functions according to the determined validity
(block 1059).
The one or more functions may include, for example and without limitation:
providing power to
the power interface 1036 to power the bulb assembly 1022, providing dimming or
timer
functionality, controlling one or more circuits in the bulb assembly 1022,
responding to one or
more sensors in the bulb assembly 1022 or the base assembly 1020, or any other
function
described herein.
[0227] In some embodiments, one or more features of the lighting assembly
described above has
being disposed in the base assembly 1020 may, instead, be disposed in the bulb
assembly 1022.
Specifically, in some embodiments, one or both of the controller 1030 and/or
the
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communications interface 1032 may reside in the bulb assembly 1022, as
depicted in Fig. 38E.
In these embodiments, it may be unnecessary for the coupling interface 1039
and/or the coupling
interface 1043 to include respective data interfaces 1038 and 1042, as only
power need be
supplied to the bulb assembly 1022. Thus, each of the coupling interfaces 1039
and 1043 may
include a power interface 1036 and 1040, respectively, for transferring power
from the base
assembly 1020 to the bulb assembly 1022. In turn, the power interface 1040 may
provide power
to the controller 1030, which may provide power to the communication interface
1032, the light
emitting element 1044, the sensors 1046, etc. Of course, each of the
communication interface
1032, the light emitting element 1044, and/or the sensors 1046 could be
powered directly from
the power interface 1040, in some embodiments. Embodiments including such a
"smart bulb"
may ensure that bulb assemblies having varied configurations and/or varied
functionality
likewise include corresponding controllers configured and/or programmed to
support those
configurations and/or functionality. For example, a bulb assembly having two
illumination
circuits may have a controller configured and/or programmed to control both
illumination
circuits independently, a bulb assembly having an integrated ambient light
sensor may have a
controller configured and/or programmed to receive and respond to signals from
the sensor, etc.
[0228] Various embodiments of the bulbs, bases, and assemblies described
herein may be
communicatively coupled to one or more other devices, for example, the
communication
interface 1016 or the communication interface 1032. Fig. 39 depicts a device
network 1048.
The device network 1048 includes an assembly 1050, which may be similar to the
assembly
1000 of Fig. 37B or to the bulb assembly 1022 of Fig. 38B. In any event, the
assembly 1050
includes a communication interface (e.g., the communication interface 1016
with the
communication interface 1032) and, in particular, includes one or more
transceivers 1052. The
assembly 1050 may communicate, using the transceiver 1052, with one or more
other devices.
The other devices may include one or more controllers 1054, one or more
sensors 1056, one or
more other bulb assemblies 1058, one or more appliances 1060, and/or any other
device
compatible with the physical and logical network implemented. Each controller
1054, sensor
1056, other bulb assembly 1058, appliance 1060, or other device may include a
receiver, a
transmitter, and/or a transceiver. For example, each of the controller 1054,
the other bulb
assemblies 1058, and the appliances 1060, may include a transceiver 1062,
1068, and 1070,
respectively, while the sensors 1056 may include only transmitters 1064. A
physical network
1072, which would may be wired or wireless, communicatively connects the
transceivers 1052,
1062, 1068, and 1070, and the transmitter 1064.
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[0229] The device network 1048 may be, for example, a home automation network.
As such,
the physical network 1072 may be a wired network, such as optical fiber,
cable, digital
subscriber line (DSL), twisted-pair, universal serial bus (USB), FireWire,
power lines, etc. The
physical network 1072 may also be a wireless network, using any RF, infrared,
or other wireless
technology. By way of example, and not limitation, wireless networks may
include IEEE
802.11 (WiFi), wireless telephony standards such as GPRS, UMTS, Bluetooth, and
any other
compatible wireless network. The devices on the device network 1048 may
communicate with
one another over the physical network 1072 using any proprietary or open
standard adapted for
home automation purposes. Well known home automation protocols include the X10
protocol,
Universal powerline bus (UPB), ONE-NET, and ZigBee, among others.
[0230] The devices 1050, 1054, 1056, 1058, and 1060 may cooperate using the
device network
1072 to provide home automation capability. In some embodiments, the
controller 1054 may be
an X10 controller, operable to receive commands from and/or send commands to
the other
devices on the network 1072. For example, the controller 1054 may receive, via
the transceiver
1062, commands from the sensors 1056 (i.e., signals transmitted by the
transmitter 1064) and
may send commands to other devices on the network 1072 such as the assembly
1050.
Depending on the protocol implemented by the controller 1054 and the devices
on the network
1072, the commands transmitted to the devices on the network 1072 and, in
particular, to the
assembly 1050, include turning on the device, turning off the device,
increasing or decreasing
brightness, requesting a status, or executing a pre-programmed mode.
[0231] In some embodiments, the controller 1054 may be, or may be
communicatively coupled
to, a mobile device (not shown). The mobile device may execute one or more
applications
operable to send and/or receive commands on the device network 1072, or may be
operable to
send commands to and/or to receive commands from the controller 1054, where
the controller
1054 is coupled to the mobile device. Such applications are described in
related application
_______ (docket no. 12096), entitled "Sensing and Adjusting Features of an
Environment."
For example, in some embodiments, the mobile device is a smart-phone device
(or a personal
digital assistant, portable media player, tablet computer, etc.) executing an
application adapted
for execution on the smart-phone device. The application may communicate
through a wireless
(or a wired) interface between the mobile device and a corresponding
transceiver on the device
network 1072, which transceiver may be part of (or communicatively coupled to)
the controller
1054. The mobile device may transmit commands directly to and/or receive
commands directly
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from the device network 1072, or may do so via an intermediary controller such
as the controller
1054.
[0232] In some embodiments, a conventional remote control (which may be a wall-
mounted
control panel, in some embodiments) may allow a user to control an assembly
including the
lighting element disclosed herein. Fig. 40 depicts a block diagram of a
lighting assembly 1074.
The lighting assembly 1074 includes one or more receivers 1076 for receiving
one or more
command signals from one or more remote control devices. The remote control
devices may be
a wired remote 1078 or a wireless remote 1080. In some embodiments, a lighting
assembly
1074 may include one or more receivers operable to receive signals from both
the wired remote
1078 and a wireless remote 1080. Of course, while the wireless remote control
1080 may
implement an infrared communication protocol (e.g., IrDA) or an RF protocol,
the wireless
remote control 1080 may transmit commands via any wireless protocol adapted to
be used for
such control. Similarly, the wired remote control 1078 may be wired
specifically to the lighting
assembly 1074, or may communicate with the receiver 1076 via a power wiring,
such as with
Universal powerline bus. In any event, the remote control 1078 and/or the
remote control 1080
may operate to cause the lighting assembly 1074 to turn on, to turn off, to
brighten, to dim, to
enter a preset mode, or to activate any other function associated with the
lighting assembly 1074,
including other functions described in greater detail below.
[0233] In some embodiments, one lighting assembly may serve to provide remote
control
functionality with respect to another lighting or assembly. Fig. 41 depicts a
system 1082
implementing such "cascading" control. A first lighting assembly 1084 may
include a bulb
assembly 1022 and a base assembly 1020, as depicted in Fig. 38B, or may be
integrated as in the
lighting assembly 1000 depicted in Fig. 37B. In any event, the lighting
assembly 1084 includes
a bulb or other light emitting element(s) 1098, a controller 1096A, one or
more transmitters
1086, and one or more receivers 1088. The receiver 1088 may be operable to
receive one or
more signals 1097 from a remote control device 1080, from the home automation
controller
1054, or from other lighting assemblies 1050.
[0234] By operation of the transmitter 1086, the lighting assembly 1084 may
also transmit
and/or relay commands and/or signals to other lighting assemblies, such as the
lighting assembly
1090, also depicted in Fig. 41. In this manner, the remote control 1080 may
transmit the signal
1097 to the lighting assembly 1084. The signal 1097 may be received by the
receiver 1088 and
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retransmitted as a signal 1099 by the transmitter 1086. The signal 1099 may be
received by a
receiver 1092 and the lighting assembly 1090.
[0235] In some embodiments, a sensor communicatively coupled to the lighting
assembly 1084
may cause an action in the lighting assembly 1084 (e.g., turning on the bulb
assembly 1098),
and the lighting assembly 1084 may, in turn, cause the lighting assembly 1090
to take a similar
or different action. For example, if the sensor is implemented as a low-light
detector, detection
of low lighting conditions by sensor may cause the lighting assembly 1084 and,
in particular, the
controller 1096A to switch on the bulb assembly 1098, and the transmitter 1086
within the
lighting assembly 1084 may transmit the signal 1099 for reception by the
receiver 1092 in the
lighting assembly 1090. An instruction encoded on the signal 1099 may instruct
the lighting
assembly 1090 and, in particular, the controller 1094 to activate the bulb
assembly 1094 within
the lighting assembly 1090.
[0236] In some embodiments, the transmitter 1086 may be implemented as a
circuit within the
bulb 1096A and/or the receiver 1092 may be implemented as a circuit within the
bulb 1096B. In
an exemplary embodiment depicted in Fig. 42, a system 1100 includes a first
bulb 1102 and a
second bulb 1104, which may be disposed in respective lighting assemblies,
such as the lighting
assemblies 1084 and 1090. The bulb 1102 may include a first circuit 1106
implementing an
LED light emitting apparatus, and a second circuit 1108 implementing an IrDA
transmitter.
Likewise, the bulb 1104 may include a first circuit 1110 implementing an LED
light emitting
apparatus, and a second circuit 1112 implementing an IrDA receiver. The
circuits 1106 and
1108 may be arranged such that the circuit 1108 forms a band around an outer
circumference of
the bulb 1102.
[0237] For example, Fig. 43 depicts a bulb 1114 implemented as a truncated,
right circular cone.
An exterior surface 1116 of the bulb 1114 includes a first area 1118 in which
visible-light
emitting elements, such as the LEDs described herein, are disposed, and a
second area 1120 in
which infrared light-emitting elements are disposed. In this manner, a
lighting assembly such as
the lighting assembly 1084 of Fig. 41 may transmit an infrared signal that
radiates, generally
transverse to an axis A, outwardly from the bulb 1114 in all directions.
Likewise, the second
area 1120 may include infrared light-receiving elements. In this manner, a
lighting assembly
such as the lighting assembly 1090 of Fig. 41 may receive an infrared signal
from any direction
generally transverse to the axis A.
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[0238] The second circuit 1108 of the bulb 1102 (i.e., the transmitter) may be
communicatively
coupled to a controller such as the controller 1098 of the lighting assembly
1084. Likewise, the
second circuit 1112 of the bulb 1104 may be communicatively coupled to a
controller such as
the controller 1094 of the lighting assembly 1090. In embodiments in which the
lighting
assembly comprises a bulb assembly and a base assembly, separately formed, the
respective
signals between the controller and the respective second circuits 1108 and
1112 of the bulbs
1102 and 1104 may pass through a coupling mechanism as described in further
detail below.
[0239] Of course, the transmitter 1086 and the receiver 1092 need not
implement the IrDA
protocol. The transmitter 1086 and the receiver 1092 could, instead, implement
a proprietary
infrared protocol or, in fact, could implement any suitable wireless protocol.
Moreover, the
individual transmitter 1086 and receiver 1092, while depicted in Figs. 42 and
43 as implemented
in the bulbs 1102 and 1104, respectively, need not be disposed in the bulbs
and may instead be
disposed within a base such as the base assembly 1020 depicted in Fig. 38B.
[0240] Lighting assemblies implementing the lighting apparatus described
herein, may also
include integrated dimming circuitry. Fig. 44 depicts a lighting apparatus
1122. The lighting
apparatus 1122 includes a bulb 1124, a controller circuit 1126, a power
interface 1128, and the
dimming circuitry 1130. The bulb 1124 may be an illuminated sheet, in some
embodiments. As
described above, the power interface 1128 is electrically coupled to the
controller circuit 1126
and, directly or indirectly, to the bulb 1124. The bulb 1124 is depicted as
having multiple
illuminating circuits 1132A, 1132B, 1132C. Each of the multiple illuminating
circuits 1132A,
1132B, and 1132C, is powered separately via the dimming circuit 1130. The
illuminating
circuits 1132A, 1132B, and 1132C are electrically coupled to the dimming
circuitry 1130 via
connections 1134A, 1134B, and 1134C, respectively. The controller 1126 may
provide control
signals to the dimming circuitry 1130, via one or more control lines 1136. In
some
embodiments the power interface 1128 provides to the dimming circuitry 1130 a
desired voltage
for lighting each of the multiple illuminating circuits 1132A-C, while
providing to the controller
1126 a desired voltage for operating the components comprising the controller
1126. In other
embodiments, the power interface 1128 provides to the controller 1126 a
desired voltage for
operating each of the multiple illuminating circuits 1132A-C, and the desired
voltage for each of
the multiple illuminating circuits 1132A-C is provided to the dimming
circuitry 1130.
Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more signals may pass directly
between the
controller 1126 and the bulb 1124, such as in the instance that a sensor is
embedded in the bulb
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1124 (see, e.g., Fig. 43). In some embodiments, the dimming circuitry 1130 may
implement
pulse width modulation to control the brightness of one or more of the
illuminating circuits
1132A-C.
[0241] Like Fig. 44, Fig. 45 depicts a lighting assembly 1142 including
integrated dimming
circuitry. The lighting assembly 1142 includes a bulb assembly 1144 and a base
assembly 1146.
Similarly to the lighting assembly 1122, the bulb assembly 1144 is depicted as
having three
illuminating circuits 1148A-C. The illuminating circuits 1148A-C are
electrically coupled to a
coupling mechanism 1150. The coupling mechanism 1150 in the bulb assembly 1144
is coupled
electrically and mechanically with a corresponding coupling mechanism 1152 in
the base
assembly 1146. The base assembly 1146, in addition to the coupling mechanism
1152, includes
a controller 1154, a power interface 1156, and a dimming circuit 1158. As with
the lighting
assembly 1122, the power interface 1156 electrically couples the lighting
assembly 1142 to a
power source (not shown). The power interface 1156 transforms, adapts,
switches, filters,
conditions, and/or performs impedance matching on the electrical signal
received from the
power source, and provides one or more electrical signals to the controller
1154 and to the
dimming circuitry 1158. The electrical signals provided by the power interface
1156 to the
controller 1154 include an electrical signal adapted to power the components
of the controller
1154, and may also include an electrical signal adapted to power the bulb
assembly 1144. The
electrical signal adapted to power the bulb assembly 1144 may, in turn, be
provided by the
controller 1154 to the dimming circuitry 1158 and, through the coupling
mechanisms 1152 and
1150, to the lighting circuits 1148A-C. Alternatively, the power interface
1156 may provide an
electrical signal adapted to power the illuminating circuits 1148A-C directly
from the dimming
circuitry 1158.
[0242] The dimming circuitry 1158, in turn, provides one or more electrical
signals to the
illuminating circuits 1148A-C, via the coupling mechanisms 1152 and 1150,
according to one or
more signals received from the controller 1154. Of course, some embodiments
may have more
or less than three illuminating circuits 1148A-C and, accordingly, the dimming
circuitry 1158
may provide more or less than three signals. For example, some bulb assemblies
1144 (or bulbs
1124) may have only a single illuminating circuit 1148, and only a single
signal provided to the
illuminating circuit 1148 from the dimming circuitry 1158.
[0243] The dimming circuitry 1158 will now be described with reference to Fig.
46, which
depicts an exemplary dimming circuitry block 1160. In the dimming circuitry
1160 an electrical
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signal 1162, which may be provided by a power interface (e.g., the power
interface 1156)
directly or through a controller (e.g., the controller 1154), may be
selectively provided to the one
or more illuminating circuits (e.g., circuits 1148A-C) through one or more
switches 1164A-C.
In lighting assemblies having multiple illuminating circuits, selectively
switching on each of the
illuminating circuits may be sufficient to provide multiple levels of
brightness. That is, if each
of the illuminating circuits provides the same level of illumination (e.g.,
equivalent to a 50W
incandescent bulb), the light output of the lighting assembly may be one, two,
or three times that
level of illumination (e.g., equivalent to a 50-100-150 W three-way bulb).
Alternatively, the
multiple illuminating circuits may each illuminate at different levels to
provide additional
lighting levels. For example, if the lighting assembly has three illuminating
circuits with levels
of illumination equivalent to 20, 40, and 80 W incandescent light bulbs,
lighting levels
equivalent to 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140 W could be provided by
selectively providing a
power signal to one, two, or three of the illuminating circuits.
[0244] Alternatively, or additionally as depicted in Fig. 46, a triac circuit
1166A-C may be
disposed between each illuminating circuit and the respective switch 1164A-C
selectively
providing power to the illuminating circuits. As generally known, the triac
circuits 1166A-C
may include a capacitor and a variable resistor, in addition to a triac. By
varying the resistance
of the variable resistor in an individual triac circuit 1166, the amount of
energy provided to the
attached illuminating circuit (and, therefore, the amount of light produced by
the illuminating
circuit) may be varied. The combination of the switches 1164 and the triac
circuits 1166 allows
for greater variability in the lighting intensity. Of course, any known
dimming technology
compatible with the implemented lighting element and adapted for use with the
illuminating
circuits described herein may be used.
[0245] A controller (e.g., the controller 1154) may, via control lines 1168A-
C, provide control
signals necessary to activate the switches 1164A-C and/or may provide, via
control lines 1170A-
C, the control signals necessary to vary the resistance of the variable
resistor in each triac circuit
1166A-C. In some embodiments, the switches 1164A-C may be solid-state
switches. In some
embodiments, the dimming circuitry 1160 (or the controller providing signals
to the dimming
circuitry 1160) may include other components, including by way of example and
not limitation,
digital-to-analog converters and analog-to-digital converters.
[0246] The lighting assembly, whether implemented as a single unit (as in Fig.
44) or as coupled
sub-assemblies (as in Fig. 45), may include one or more sensors and/or
detectors. The
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sensors/detectors may include one or more of light detectors, motion
detectors, sound detectors,
temperature sensors, pressure sensors, voltage detectors, smoke detectors,
carbon monoxide
detectors, and the like. Each of the one or more sensors and/or detectors may
be incorporated
into the base assembly, may be incorporated into the bulb assembly, or may be
a module
adapted for communicative and/or physical coupling to the lighting assembly.
Fig. 47 depicts a
single sensor 1172 electrically coupled to a controller 1174. The controller
1174 includes a
control logic block 1176, and an 1/0 block 1178. The 1/0 block 1178 may
include any circuitry
implemented for the purpose of receiving an input signal or transmitting an
output signal and, in
particular, may function to receive signals from the sensor 1172, to receive
one or more
electrical signals from a power source, to output one or more electrical
signals to a bulb, to
output one or more control signals, etc.
[0247] Fig. 47 depicts the logic block 1176 as including a general purpose
processor 1180 and a
memory 1182. The memory 1182, which may include one or both of non-volatile
memory and
volatile memory, may store instructions executable by the processor 1180 to
implement one or
more control algorithms on the processor 1180. So programmed by the
instructions stored on
the memory device 1182, the processor 1180 may become a special-purpose
processor. The one
or more control algorithms may perform specified actions in response to
various stimuli.
Without limitation, exemplary control algorithms may:
[0248] (1) energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
light detector (i.e., a
photovoltaic diode) falling below a predetermined threshold level;
[0249] (2) de-energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
light detector
falling below a predeteimined threshold level;
[0250] (3) energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
light detector rising
above a predetermined threshold level;
[0251] (4) de-energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
light detector rising
above a predetermined threshold level;
[0252] (5) progressively increase the brightness of an illuminating circuit in
response to a
decreasing signal from a light detector;
[0253] (6) progressively decrease the brightness of an illuminating circuit in
response to a
decreasing signal from a light detector;
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[0254] (7) progressively increase the brightness of an illuminating circuit in
response to an
increasing signal from a light detector;
[0255] (8) progressively decrease the brightness of an illuminating circuit in
response to an
increasing signal from a light detector;
[0256] (9) energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
sound detector;
[0257] (10) de-energize an illuminating circuit in response to a lack of
signal from a sound
detector;
[0258] (11) energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
motion detector;
[0259] (12) de-energize an illuminating circuit in response to a lack of
signal from a motion
detector; or
[0260] (13) energize an illuminating circuit in response to a signal from a
smoke detector
indicating the detection of smoke.
[0261] The logic block 1176 may, alternatively, be implemented in hardware
instead of
software. That is, instead of the processor 1180 and the memory 1182, the
logic block 1176
may be implemented as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC.
[0262] In some embodiments, the sensor 1172 is a sound detector (e.g., a
microphone), which
cooperates with the controller 1174 to execute one or more commands in
response to a signal
from the sound detector. In specific embodiments, computer executable
instructions stored on
the memory 1182 may be used to configure the processor 1180 to include speech
processing
capability, and to recognize a set of commands (e.g., "light on," "light off,"
etc.) issued vocally
by a user and detected by the sound detector. In other embodiments, the logic
block 1176 may
include a special purpose processor (not shown), such as a digital signal
processor (DSP), an
ASIC, an FPGA, or a specially-programmed general-purpose processor, in
addition to the
processor 1180, for implementing speech recognition. In still other
embodiments, the processor
1180 may be configured to recognize auditory signals other than (or in
addition to) voice
commands. For example, the processor 1180 may be configured to recognize
signals
transmitted from a sound detector in response to clapping, whistling, and the
like. The
implementation of control in response to sound detection could, additionally,
provide an
interface to cascading or home automation control, such as allowing a user to
issue a command
affecting multiple lighting assemblies. For example, a user could issue a
command such as "all
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lights off," which could cause the lighting assembly to relay the command to a
home automation
controller and/or to issue a command to other lighting assemblies directly.
[0263] Fig. 48 depicts an embodiment of a lighting assembly 1200. The lighting
assembly 1200
includes a bulb 1202, a controller 1204, and a power interface 1206. The power
interface 1206
may be connected to a primary power supply 1208. In some embodiments, the
primary power
source 1208 is a mains line (e.g., 120 V AC at 60 Hz), while in other
embodiments, the primary
power source 1208 is a power storage device (e.g., a battery). The power
interface 1206 may
receive as input an electrical signal from the primary power source 1208, and
may receive one or
more electrical signals operable to power the components of the controller
1204 and the bulb
1202. The one or more electrical signals may include a first electrical signal
for powering the
components of the controller 1204 and a second electrical signal for powering
the bulb 1202.
Alternatively, if the bulb 1202 and the controller 1204 require the same
voltage operation, the
power interface 1206 may provide a single electrical signal to the controller
1204 and to the bulb
1202.
[0264] The power interface 1206 may also receive and/or provide to the
controller 1204 one or
more additional signals. For example, one or more home automation protocol
signals (e.g., X10
signals) may be carried by an AC signal provided by the primary power source
1208. The home
automation protocol signals may be received with the AC electrical signal at
the power interface
1206. The power interface 1206 may, via appropriate filtering, separate the
home automation
protocol signal from the AC electrical signal, and may pass the home
automation protocol signal
to the controller 1204 via a data connection 1210. Concurrently, the power
interface 1206 may
appropriately condition the AC electrical signal (e.g., by converting the AC
electrical signal to a
low-voltage DC electrical signal), and may pass the conditioned signal to the
controller 1204 to
provide operating power for the components thereof, via a power connection
1212.
[0265] The lighting assembly 1200 and, in particular, the power interface
1206, may
additionally be connected to a secondary power source 1214. The secondary
power source 1214
may be a secondary mains line or a power storage device such as a battery or a
capacitive
device. Like the primary power source 1208, the secondary power source 1214
may provide an
electrical signal to the power interface 1206, from which the power interface
1206 may derive
one or more electrical signals for provision, via the electrical connection
1212, to the controller
1204.
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[0266] In some embodiments, the power interface 1206 selectively provides to
the controller
1204 and/or the bulb 1202 an electrical signal derived from either the primary
power source
1208 or the secondary power source 1214. The power interface 1206 may select
either the
primary power source 1208 or the secondary power source 1214 according to one
or more
criteria. The one or more criteria may include, by way of example and not
limitation,
availability of the primary power source 1208, stability of the electrical
signal provided by the
primary power source 1208, quality of the electrical signal provided by the
primary power
source 1208, cost of the power provided by the primary power source 1208, etc.
Circuitry
and/or program logic for evaluating the one or more criteria used to select
between the primary
power source 1208 or the secondary power source 1214 may be part of the power
interface
1206, the controller 1204, or both.
[0267] In some embodiments, the primary power source 1208 may be an AC mains
supply
while the secondary power source 1214 may be a battery. If the primary power
source 1208
becomes unstable or unavailable, the controller 1204 and/or the power
interface 1206 may cause
the bulb 1202 (and the controller 1204) to operate from the secondary power
source 1214. For
example, in embodiments where the secondary power source 1214 is a capacitive
device, the
power interface 1206 and/or the controller 1204 draw power from the secondary
power source
1214 to carry the bulb 1202 and/or the controller 1204 through voltage sags
experienced by the
primary power source 1208. In another example, a capacitive device employed as
the secondary
power supply 1214 may be sufficient to provide full or reduced power to all,
or fewer than all, of
one or more illuminating circuits in the bulb 1202, allowing the bulb 1202 to
continue to provide
full or partial illumination for some period of time after the primary power
supply 1208 becomes
unavailable.
[0268] Also, in some embodiments in which the secondary power source 1214 is a
power
storage device, the secondary power source 1214 may be charged using power
from the primary
power source 1208. The use of power from the primary power source 1208 to
charge the
secondary power source 1214 may be regulated by the power interface 1206.
Additionally, or
alternatively, one or more photovoltaic devices may provide charging energy to
the secondary
power source 1214. In the lighting assembly 1200 depicted in Fig. 48, the bulb
1202 is depicted
as including a circuit 1216 comprising a plurality of photovoltaic diodes.
Power from the
photovoltaic circuit 1216 may be used to charge the secondary power source
1214.
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[0269] Fig. 49 depicts one exemplary embodiment of a bulb 1218 that includes a
photovoltaic
circuit. The bulb 1218 may take the form of a truncated right circular cone,
formed from a
multilayer material having disposed on a layer of the multilayer material a
plurality of discrete
light-emitting devices, as described with reference to Fig. 2. The multilayer
material and/or the
discrete diode devices form a layered diode apparatus. In particular, the bulb
1218 may be an
apparatus 1228 formed of back-to-back apparatuses similar to the diode
apparatus depicted in
Fig. 2.
[0270] Referring again to Fig. 49, the bulb 1218, has an interior surface 1220
and an exterior
surface 1222, which may correspond, respectively, to respective diode layers
of the apparatus
520. Though in some embodiments, the diodes on the interior surface 1220 and
the diodes on
the exterior surface 1222 may be light emitting diodes, in other embodiments,
the diodes on the
interior surface 1220 may be light emitting diodes, and the diodes on the
exterior surface 1222
may be photovoltaic diodes. In this manner, the interior surface 1220 may be
adapted to collect
light and convert the collected light to energy for storage in, for example,
the secondary power
source 1214, while the exterior surface 1222 may be adapted to convert energy
from the primary
power source 1208 and/or the secondary power source 1214 into light.
[0271] It should be appreciated that there is no requirement that either of
the primary power
source 1208 or the secondary power source 1214 be a mains line. In fact, some
embodiments
may omit the secondary power source 1214 and implement an energy storage
device as the
primary power source 1208, and in some embodiments both the primary power
supply 1208 and
the secondary power supply 1214 may be energy storage devices. When coupled to
a bulb
having both light emitting and photovoltaic devices, such as the bulb 1218
depicted in Fig. 49,
the lighting apparatus may be self-charging. For example, photovoltaic diodes
on one surface
(e.g., the upper surface 1220) may convert light into energy to charge an
energy storage device
during the day, and light emitting diodes on the same or a different surface
(e.g., the lower
surface 1222) may convert the stored energy back into light at night.
[0272] The use of multiple illuminating circuits within a bulb also lends
itself to other
applications. In some embodiments, each of two or more illuminating circuits
may energize
elements (e.g., filaments, gasses, LEDs, etc.) emitting light in different
colors or at different
color temperatures. By selectively energizing one or both of the first and
second illuminating
circuits, the color and/or color temperature of the light emitted from the
apparatus may be
selected. For example, a first plurality of light emitting diodes may emit red
light and a second
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plurality of light emitting diodes emit blue light. Accordingly, red, blue, or
magenta lighting
may be selected by selectively or combinatorially energizing the first and
second illuminating
circuits. If a third illuminating circuit is added to the apparatus, an
additional color or color
temperature element may be deposited on the third illuminating circuit. In
some embodiments,
the third illuminating circuit may have deposited thereon a plurality of
elements that emit green
light. Implementing red, blue, and green light emitting diodes on separate
illuminating circuits
allows selection of red, blue, green, magenta, yellow, cyan, or white light.
[0273] In some embodiments, each individual illuminating circuit may be
electrically coupled to
a dimming circuit such as the dimming circuit 1160 depicted in Fig. 46. By
selectively
increasing or decreasing the brightness of the light emitted by the diodes on
each of the
illuminating circuits, the color of the light emitted by the apparatus 1230
may be precisely
controlled.
[0274] The concepts of employing multiple illuminating circuits and/or
multiple illuminated
surfaces may also be applied, in combination with various bulb shapes, to
achieve varying or
selected illumination patterns. Fig. 50 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of
a bulb 1244
implementing multiple surfaces and multiple illuminating circuits to create
varying illumination
patterns. The bulb 1244 has an exterior surface 1246 and an interior surface
1248, the light
emitting diodes of each of the exterior surface 1246 and the interior surface
1248 electrically
coupled to two individual illuminating circuits. Energizing one illuminating
circuit to illuminate
the exterior surface 1246 may cause illumination of a relatively broad area,
while energizing the
other illuminating circuit to illuminate the interior surface 1248 may cause
illumination across a
more narrow area. Of course, energizing both illuminating circuits to
illuminate both of the
exterior surface 1246 and the interior surface 1248 may provide the greatest
illumination
intensity.
[0275] One or more timing functions may also be implemented in various
embodiments of the
lighting assemblies described herein. In some embodiments, a daily timer
function operates to
energize one or more illuminating circuits in the bulb at a pre-programmed
time each day.
Advantageously, embodiments implementing the daily timer function do not
require a separate,
external timer device to provide execution of a daily lighting schedule. In
other or additional
embodiments, one or more timer functions may be programmable to deactivate an
illuminating
circuit of a bulb after a programmable period has expired from a triggering
event. The
triggering event may be the activation of a light (e.g., by a motion detector,
by a switch, etc.) or
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may be some other event (e.g., a time of day, detection of a programmed light
level, etc.). In
still other or additional embodiments, one or more timer functions may be
programmable to
activate an illuminating circuit of a bulb after a programmable period has
expired from a
triggering event.
[0276] It will be apparent that various ones of the functions described herein
with respect to the
lighting assembly may be implemented in combination with one another. Dimming
functionality, for instance, may operate in cooperation with multiple
illuminating circuits to
adjust color and/or lighting patterns. Sensors and/or detectors may operate in
cooperation with
timing functionality to illuminate one or more illuminating circuits upon
detection of sound or
motion, upon detection of darkness, and the like, and to extinguish the
illumination after a
predetermined period has elapsed. Home automation or remote connectivity
(e.g., X10
compliance, mobile device application, etc.) may cooperate with timing
functionality, directional
selection, color selection, motion, sound, and light detectors, cascading
control connectivity, and
dimming circuitry to allow programming of detector sensitivity, lighting
schemes, timer values,
and the like. Cascading control connectivity may operate in cooperation with
motion, sound,
and/or light detectors to allow a single detector to control multiple lighting
devices.
[0277] It is not strictly necessary that functionality be built-in, activated,
or accessible upon
installation of a lighting assembly. In some embodiments, hardware and/or
software necessary
to implement one or more functions may be present in the lighting assembly,
but may be
inactivated or inaccessible. Depending on the implementation, one or more
functions may be
activated after purchase and/or installation of the lighting assembly. For
example, a function
(e.g., a dimmer function) may be activated via a command issued by a home
automation
controller, upon input of a purchase code into the automation controller. In
embodiments in
which a lighting assembly includes a base assembly and a separable bulb
assembly, a base
assembly may include inactive functionality, which may be activated when the
base assembly is
coupled to a bulb assembly that supports the inactive functionality. As but
one example of this,
a base assembly having programmed functionality and circuitry operable to
implement motion
detection may activate or make available that functionality only upon coupling
of the base
assembly to a bulb assembly having an integrated motion detection sensor.
[0278] In some embodiments, some functionality may be present, yet unavailable
for use or for
activation. Advantageously, such embodiments may allow a manufacturer to
produce only a
single hardware implementation, while providing one or more optional functions
to consumers.
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That is, first and second devices having identical hardware could be
programmed during the
manufacturing process to enable various functionality, for example through the
use of flag bits
in a memory device and, in particular, in a read-only memory (ROM) device.
[0279] Relatedly, some embodiments may implement one or more module interface
connections. Fig. 51A is a block diagram of an embodiment of a base assembly
1250. The base
assembly 1250 includes a controller 1252, a power interface 1254, and coupling
interface 1256.
Additionally, the base assembly 1250 includes a module interface 1258. The
module interface
1258 may be adapted to electrically couple one or more modules external to the
base assembly
1250 to the controller 1252 and, in some instances, to mechanically couple one
or more modules
to the base assembly 1250. The module interface 1258 may provide one or more
physical and
electrical interfaces to accommodate one or more external modules. While the
one or more
physical interfaces may be standardized, one or more of the physical
interfaces may be adapted
for a particular module or a particular subset of modules, while one or more
other physical
interfaces may be adapted for different modules. In some embodiments, the
module interface
1258 includes one or more physical and electrical interfaces formed as
receptacles for a
corresponding plug on an external module.
[0280] In some embodiments, the module interface 1258 may correspond, at least
partially, with
the coupling interface 1039. Fig. 51B is a block diagram of an exemplary
embodiment of a
lighting assembly implementing a modular functionality scheme in which the
module interface
1258 corresponds to the coupling interface 1039. In Fig. 51B, the base
assembly 1020 is
depicted as including the coupling interface 1039, the sensors 1034, the
controller 1030, the
communication interface 1032, and the power source interface 1028. Likewise,
the bulb
assembly 1022 is depicted as including light emitting element 1044, the
sensors 1046, and the
coupling interface 1043.
[0281] Each of the coupling interfaces 1039 and 1043 includes a power
interface 1036 and
1040, respectively, and a data interface 1038 and 1042, respectively. The
controller 1030 may
implement basic functionality or, in embodiments in which implemented
functionality does not
require the controller 1030, may be omitted entirely from the base assembly
1020. In
embodiments such as that of Fig. 51B, a module 1251 may be electrically, and
in certain
embodiments physically, disposed between the base assembly 1020 and the bulb
assembly 1022.
The module 1251 has a coupling interface 1253 (base-module coupling interface)
and a coupling
interface 1255 (bulb-module coupling interface), each adapted electrically,
and in some
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embodiments physically, a respective one of the coupling interface 1039 of the
base assembly
1020 and the coupling interface 1043 of the bulb assembly 1022. That is, the
power interface
1036 of the coupling interface 1039 may be coupled to a power interface 1257
of the coupling
interface 1253, the data interface 1038 of the coupling interface 1039 may be
coupled to a data
interface 1259 of the coupling interface 1253, the power interface 1040 of the
coupling interface
1043 may be coupled to a power interface 1261 of the coupling interface 1255,
and the data
interface 1042 of the coupling interface 1043 may be coupled to a data
interface 1263 of the
coupling interface 1255. The base-module coupling interface 1253 may receive
an electrical
signal from the base assembly 1020 via the power interface 1257 in the
coupling interface 1253
and the power interface 1036 in the coupling interface 1039. In some
embodiments, the base-
module coupling interface 1253 may include an inductive coupling element
coupled to a
complementary inductive coupling element in the coupling interface 1039. In
some
embodiments, the base-module coupling interface 1253 may receive a data signal
from the base
assembly 1020 via the data interface 1259 in the coupling interface 1253 and
the data interface
1038 in the coupling interface 1039.
[0282] The module 1251 may include a module function block 1265 electrically
coupled to the
coupling interfaces 1253 and 1255. The module function block 1265 may include
any circuitry
and/or programming necessary to implement a desired function including, but
not limited to,
processors, sensors, memory, FPGAs, ASICs, firmware, software, discrete
components, and the
like. In some embodiments, the module function block 1265 may implement a
timer function,
such as a daily on/off timer function or a delayed on/off timer function. In
some embodiments,
the module function block 1265 may implement a motion detector function, and
may include a
sensor for detecting motion and circuitry and/or programming necessary to
implement a control
function in response to detection of motion. In some embodiments, the module
function block
1265 may implement one or more dimmer functions to control, or to allow a user
to control, the
intensity of one or more illumination circuits in the lighting assembly. In
some embodiments,
the module function block 1265 may implement control, or additional control
(e.g., an expansion
circuit), over one or more circuits in the lighting assembly to control the
color, color
temperature, lighting direction, and/or lighting surfaces associated with the
illumination. If, for
example, the base assembly implements control for only a single illumination
circuit, the module
1251 and, in particular, the function block 1265, may implement control of two
illumination
circuits by, for example, receiving a single power input from the base and
implementing two
independently controllable power outputs from the module to the bulb assembly.
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[0283] Accordingly, the module 1251 may receive one or more signals via the
coupling
interface 1253, may alter the one or more received signals according to the
function
implemented by the function block 1265, and may provide one or more altered
second signals
via the interface 1255. As just one example, the module 1251 may implement a
dimming
function and, therefore, may receive an electrical signal (e.g., an AC
electrical signal) from the
base assembly, modify the received electrical signal (e.g., by switching the
signal, stepping
down the voltage of the signal, modulating the signal, etc.), and provide the
modified electrical
signal to the bulb assembly 1022 via the coupling interface 1255. In some
embodiments, the
modified electrical signal may be provided to the bulb assembly 1022 via an
inductive coupling
element in the coupling interface 1255 coupled to a complementary inductive
coupling element
in the coupling interface 1043.
[0284] The module function block 1265 may also cooperate with circuitry and/or
programming
in the bulb assembly 1022 and/or the base assembly 1020 to implement the
functionality
associated with the module 1251. For example, as described, the base assembly
1020 may
include the controller 1030. The module function block 1265 may include a
sensor (not shown)
operable to cooperate with the controller 1030 to allow the controller 1030 to
implement
additional functionality. Of course, the controller 1030 may be pre-programmed
to impelement
the additional functionality upon addition of the module 1251, or may require
an update in order
to implement the functionality associated with the module 1251. In some
embodiments, the
module function block 1265 includes means for updating another component in
the lighting
assembly, such as for updating programming associated with the controller
1030. Alternatively,
in some embodiments, the controller 1030 may be updated via another interface
(such as the
communication interface 1032). Similarly, the module function block 1265 may
cooperate with
the sensor or sensors 1046 in the bulb assembly 1022.
[0285] Of course, the module function block 1265 may communicate with either
or both of the
bulb assembly 1022 and the base assembly 1020 via the coupling interfaces 1255
and 1039,
respectively. In some embodiments, for example, the module 1251 and, in
particular, the
module function block 1265, may receive operating power from the base assembly
1020 through
the power interface 1036 and the power interface 1257, while receiving and or
transmitting data
between the base assembly 1020 and the module 1251 via the data interface 1038
and the data
interface 1259. In some embodiments, the bulb assembly 1022 may receive
operating power,
provided to the module 1251 by the base assembly 1020, from the module 1251
via the power
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interface 1261 and the power interface 1040, and may exchange data with the
base assembly
1020 and/or the module 1251 via the data interface 1263 and the data interface
1042. One or
both of power and/or data, or portions thereof, may pass through the circuitry
of the module
function block 1265, or may bypass the module function block 1265 and be
passed directly
between the coupling interfaces 1253 and 1255 of the module 1251.
[0286] Figs. 51C and 51D illustrate perspective and side views, respectively,
of a base assembly
1267 and a corresponding module 1269. In the depicted embodiment, the base
assembly 1267
has a coupling surface 1271 concavely shaped so as to couple with a
correspondingly shaped
convex surface, such as a convex surface 1273 on the module 1269 or a convex
surface (not
shown) on a bulb assembly (not shown). Also in the depicted embodiment, a
connector
receptacle 1275 is disposed such that an opening 1277 of the connector
receptacle 1275 is flush
with the surface 1271. The connector receptacle 1275 is adapted to mate with a
corresponding
plug connector 1279 extending from the surface 1273 of the module 1269. The
module 1269
depicted in Figs. 51C and 51D is disk-shaped. That is, the module 1269 has a
thickness T small
relative to its diameter D. The module 1269 also has a surface 1281 identical
(or at least similar)
in curvature (e.g., convex) to the surface 1271, such that a bulb assembly
(not shown) adapted to
couple with the surface base assembly 1267 via the surface 1271 in the absence
of the module
1269, could likewise couple to the module 1269 via the surface 1281. The
module 1269 may
similarly include a connector receptacle 1283 disposed in the module 1269 such
that an opening
1285 of the connector receptacle 1283 is flush with the surface 1281.
[0287] Of course, in some embodiments, the curvature of the surfaces 1271
and/or 1281 may
differ from that depicted in Figs. 51C and 51D, or the surfaces 1271 and/or
1281 may not be
curved at all. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the
connector receptacles
1275 and 1285 and the connector plug 1279 may have different geometries than
that depicted in
Figs. 51C and 51D. Instead of having the opening 1277 of the connector
receptacle 1275
disposed flush with the surface 1271, for example, the receptacle 1275 as a
whole may protrude
from the surface 1271, the connector plug 1279 may be recessed into the
surface 1273 of the
module 1269, etc. In still other embodiments, data and/or power connections on
each of the
base assembly 1267 and the module 1269 may pass through the surfaces 1271 and
1273 instead
of (or in addition to) the connector receptacle 1275 and the connector plug
1279, or the
connector receptacle 1275 and the connector plug 1279 may be omitted
completely.
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[0288] While external modules are contemplated for the purpose of implementing
additional
functionality through the addition of hardware to the lighting assembly, in
some embodiments
external modules may serve only to activate or enable one or more functions of
which the
lighting assembly is capable prior to connection to the external module, but
which were
previously inactive or unavailable. That is, in some embodiments external
modules may act as
"dongles" for activating functionality. In other embodiments, an external
module may include
hardware and/or software and/or firmware for implementing a motion detector, a
sound detector,
a light detector, a secondary power supply, a backup power supply, a
photovoltaic charging
device, a timer function, and/or remote connectivity (e.g., remote control,
cascading control,
compatibility with a home automation system, etc.). Embodiments implementing
connectivity
with external modules may be particularly advantageous, for example, where it
is desirable that
a sensor be in a position other than proximal to the lighting assembly, such
as where a sensor
located outdoors controls illumination of the lighting assembly located
indoors.
[0289] As described above with respect to the lighting assembly depicted in
Figs. 38C and 38D,
the module 1269 may cooperate with the base assembly 1267 and/or with a bulb
assembly to
provide a lock and key feature to the lighting assembly. For example, the
module 1269 may
include an electronic key device (not shown) which may communicate via the
connectors 1279
and 1275 with the base assembly 1267 and, in particular, the controller in the
base assembly
1267. The module 1269 may also pass one or more signals to/from an electronic
key device in a
bulb assembly to implement a second lock and key feature. That is, the
controller may be
operable to provide power to electronic key devices in one or more modules and
in one or more
bulb assemblies, to validate and/or interpret data received from the one or
more electronic key
devices, and to implement features or functions, individually or in any
combination, in the base
assembly, the modules and/or the bulb assemblies.
[0290] In some embodiments, an external module may cooperate with a
counterpart module to
accomplish an accessibility function. For instance, a module adapted to plug
into a telephone
jack, or to connect to a mobile phone, may cooperate with a module adapted to
couple to the
base assembly 1252 through the module interface 1258 to cause the lighting
assembly to
indicate an incoming call (e.g., by flickering, flashing, etc.). As another
example, a module
adapted to coupled to the base assembly 1252 through the module interface 1258
may cooperate
with a module connected to an alert device (e.g., to a smoke detector, a
carbon monoxide
detector, a security system, a doorbell, a baby monitor, etc.) to cause the
lighting assembly to
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indicate one or more conditions associated with the alert device (e.g., by
flickering, flashing,
etc.). The external modules, in addition to implementing a communication
function to couple
the base assembly 1252 another device, may also include a visual signaling
device, such as a
strobe light or an LED indicator. Of course, while accessibility functions
may, in some
embodiments, be added by connection of an external module to the base assembly
1250, the
same accessibility functions could be implemented within the base assembly.
[0291] The lighting assembly may also include various visual or audible
indicators, to indicate
operation of various functions integrated into the lighting assembly. In some
embodiments, the
lighting assembly and, in particular, the base of the lighting assembly, may
include one or more
conventional LED indicator lights. The LED indicator lights may be operable to
indicate, for
example, that the lighting assembly is connected to a power source, that a
timing function is
enabled, that a photodetector is enabled, or that one or more particular
illuminating circuits in
the bulb assembly are energized. The LED indicator lights may be individual
LED lamps built
into the side of the base. Alternatively, the LED indicators may illuminate
one or more annular
light pipes extending around the circumference of the base. Similar indication
may, in some
embodiments, be integrated into the bulb assembly. For example, one or more
illuminating
circuits may form annular indicators on a surface of the bulb, or may form
small indicator areas
on the surface of the bulb.
[0292] Various control mechanisms may be built into the base and/or bulb
assemblies to
effectuate control of the function(s) incorporated into the lighting assembly.
In some
embodiments, such as that depicted in Fig. 52, a base assembly 1270 may
include one or more
annular control rings 1272, 1274. In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 52, the
annular control
rings 1272, 1274 allow a user to configure a timer function of the base
assembly. In particular, a
user may align an indicator 1276 on the annular control ring 1272 with one of
a plurality of
times 1278 indicated on the base assembly 1270 to set an "on" time for the
timer function. The
user may align an indicator 1280 on the annular control ring 1274 with one of
the plurality of
times 1278 indicated on the base assembly 1270 to set an "off' time for the
timer function.
[0293] Additionally or alternatively, annular control rings may implement
control of other
functions. For example, Fig. 53 depicts a base assembly 1282, in which annular
control rings
1284 and 1286 respectively control two illuminating circuits in a bulb
assembly (not shown).
Each of the annular control rings 1284 and 1286 includes an indicator 1288
that, by rotating the
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respective annular control rings 1284 or 1286, may selectively cause a
corresponding
illuminating circuit to energize, brighten, and dim the attached illuminating
element.
[0294] Multi-position switches may also be used to implement control of
various functionality.
Fig. 54 depicts a base assembly 1290 having two, two-position switches 1292
and 1294. The
switches 1292 and 1294, respectively, may operate to energize or de-energize
corresponding
illuminating circuits to turn on or off the illuminating elements attached to
each illuminating
circuit. By moving each of the switches 1292 and 1294 to the "on" position,
the user may
energize, respectively first and second illuminating circuits in an attached
bulb assembly (not
shown), causing the illuminating elements coupled to the respective
illuminating circuit to
illuminate. Of course, while the base assembly 1290 is depicted as having two
switches 1292
and 1294, the base assembly 1290 could have a more or fewer switches.
Additionally, while the
switches 1292 and 1294 are described as controlling respective illuminating
circuits in a bulb
assembly, the switches 1292 and 1294 could also (or instead) control other
functions. For
example, the switches 1292 and 1294 could control illuminating circuits
corresponding to upper
and lower surfaces of the bulb assembly, thereby controlling the direction and
type of light
provided by the bulb assembly. The switches 1292 and 1294 could also activate
and deactivate
timer functions, sensor functions, dimmer functions, or any other function
amenable to control
by a two-position switch. Moreover, while the switches 1292 and 1294 are
described as two-
position switches, it should be clear that switches having other numbers
(e.g., three, four, five,
etc.) of positions may also be used to control functionality of the lighting
assembly.
[0295] As depicted in Fig. 55, in some embodiments, a base assembly 1300
implements one or
more slider mechanisms 1302 to control one or more functions associated with
the base
assembly 1300. The slider mechanism 1302 is depicted in Fig. 55 as a dimmer
control operable
to move over a continuous range of positions between an end 1304, labeled
"dim," and an end
1306, labeled "bright." In other embodiments, the slider mechanism 1302 may
operate to set the
sensitivity of a sensor or to set a timer (e.g., to turn the light off after a
configurable amount of
time). In some embodiments, the slider mechanism 1302 may control the color of
light emitted
from a bulb assembly (not shown). The slider mechanism 1302 may, for example,
vary the
voltage applied to an analog-to-digital converter, causing a controller (not
shown) in the base
assembly 1300 to selectively dim and/or brighten each of two or more
illuminating circuits in a
bulb, with each illuminating circuit having coupled thereto illuminating
elements emitting at
different wavelengths.
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[0296] In still other embodiments, such as the embodiment depicted in Fig. 56,
a base assembly
1310 may include an electronic user interface module 1312. The electronic user
interface
module 1312 may include a display (e.g., an LED, LCD, or electrophoretic
display) 1314, and
one or more buttons 1316-1322. The electronic user interface module 1312 may
operate to
control a function of the bulb assembly. If the module 1312 operates to
control a timer function,
for example, a button 1316 may allow the user to place the module 1312 in a
"timer on" mode or
in a "timer off' mode, a button 1318 may allow the user to set a current time,
an "on" time,
and/or an "off' time, and buttons 1320 and 1322 may allow the user to increase
(button 1320) or
decrease (button 1322) a value being set. Similar electronic user interface
modules 1312 may be
implemented to control other functionality including, but not limited to, the
sensitivity of various
sensors.
[0297] Interaction between the bulb assembly and the base assembly may also
control one or
more functions of the lighting assembly. Figs. 57 and 58 are, respectively,
top and perspective
views of a base assembly 1330. A surface 1332 of a coupling mechanism 1334
includes a
recessed channel 1336. A slider mechanism 1338, disposed within the recessed
channel 1336, is
electrically coupled to a controller (not shown). In the embodiment depicted
in Fig. 57, the
coupling mechanism 1334 further includes a magnetic assembly 1340, disposed in
a recess 1342
at a center 1344 of the surface 1332. The magnetic assembly 1340 includes at
least one
magnetic element. While depicted as a single magnetic element disposed within
the recess 1342
and centered within the surface 1332 of the coupling mechanism 1334, the
coupling mechanism
1334 may include multiple magnetic assemblies 1340, the magnetic assembly or
assemblies
1340 need not be centered within the coupling mechanism 1334, and need not be
recessed from
the surface 1332. Moreover, the coupling mechanism 1334 need not include the
magnetic
assembly 1340 at all, as other physical coupling mechanisms (bayonets,
threaded surfaces, etc.)
may provide physical connection between the base assembly 1330 and a bulb
assembly.
[0298] In any event, and with reference now to Fig. 59, the slider mechanism
1338 is adapted to
receive an actuating pin 1346 on a coupling mechanism 1348 of a bulb assembly
1350. A
surface 1352 of the coupling mechanism 1348 is adapted to sit flush with the
surface 1332 of the
base assembly 1330 when mated with the coupling mechanism 1334 of base
assembly 1330. At
the center of the surface 1352, a magnetically engagable surface 1354, which
may be a magnet,
is disposed to magnetically couple the bulb assembly 1350 to the base assembly
1330 via the
magnetic assembly 1340. The actuating pin 1346 is disposed such that, when the
coupling
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mechanisms 1334 and 1348 engage one another, the actuating pin 1346 is
received by a pin
receptacle 1339 in the slider mechanism 1338. The actuating pin 1346 may be
disposed within a
recess 1356, depicted in Fig. 60, which is a bottom view of the bulb assembly
1350. The
actuating pin 1346 and the recess 1356 may cooperate to allow the actuating
pin 1346 to engage
the slider mechanism 1338 and move the slider mechanism 1338 within the
recessed channel
1336.
[0299] Fig. 61 depicts a perspective of an embodiment of a base assembly 1360.
The base
assembly 1360 includes two annular control rings 1362 and 1364. In the
depicted embodiment,
the annular control ring 1362 operates to control the intensity of the
illumination of an attached
bulb assembly (not shown), while the annular control ring 1364 operates to
control the direction
of the illumination from the attached bulb assembly. A selection indicator
1366 indicates the
current setting of each of the annular control rings 1362 and 1364. As
depicted, for example, the
annular control ring 1362 is set to "60 W," indicating a setting of 60 Watts
(or equivalent), and
the annular control ring 1364 is set to "LAMP." The annular control ring 1362
may operate by
varying the voltage across the terminals of one or more illuminating circuits
of the bulb
assembly, by selecting different illuminating circuits of the bulb assembly,
by coupling an
illuminating circuit of the bulb assembly to different circuits of the base
assembly 1360, etc.
[0300] Moreover, while Fig. 61 depicts the annular control ring 1362 as having
positions labeled
"40 W," "60 W," and "100 W," the switch positions could be labeled in any
desired manner.
For example, and without limitation, the label for each position could
indicate the brightness of
the light based on wattage of an incandescent light, could indicate the actual
wattage of the bulbs
used with the base assembly, or could merely indicate "LOW," "MEDIUM," and
"HIGH," "1,"
"2," and "3," or the like. Additionally, the annular control ring 1362 could
be coupled to a
controller in the base assembly 1360 to vary the behavior of the controller
(e.g., to cause the
controller to alter the behavior of a dimmer circuit, cause the controller to
couple the bulb
assembly to various circuits, or change the output of the controller), to a
dimmer in the base
assembly 1360 to vary the output of the dimmer, or to multiple circuits in the
base assembly
1360.
[0301] In a similar manner, the annular control ring 1364 of the base assembly
1360 may
control the direction of the light emitted from the bulb assembly. Figs. 62A
and 62B depict the
annular control ring 1364 positioned to select, respectively, each of two
settings: "RECESS" and
"LAMP." As depicted in Fig. 62A, adjusting the annular control ring 1364 to
the "LAMP"
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setting may cause a bulb assembly 1368 to illuminate a first illuminating
element 1370 disposed
at a first end of the bulb assembly 1368, such as might be desirable when the
bulb and base
assemblies (together) are fitted into as wall sconce 1374, as shown in Fig.
64A. Meanwhile,
adjusting the annular control ring 1364 to the "RECESS" setting (as depicted
in Fig. 62B) may
cause the bulb assembly 1368 to illuminate a second lighting element 1372
disposed at a second
end of the bulb assembly 1368 and provide illumination from an end 1374 of the
bulb assembly,
such as might be desirable when the bulb and base assemblies (together) are
fitted into a
recessed lighting fixture 1376, as shown in Fig. 64B.
[0302] In some embodiments, actuation of the annular control ring 1364 may
operate to
selectively energize one or more illuminating circuits in the bulb assembly
1368 by, for
example, selectively energizing one or more terminals in the base assembly
1360 or by causing
(e.g., by means of a control signal transmitted to the bulb assembly 1368) a
switch in the bulb
assembly 1368 to selectively couple one or more illuminating circuits in the
bulb assembly 1368
to a terminal on the base assembly 1360. Moreover, while Figs. 61, 62A, 62B
64A, and 64B
depict the annular control ring 1364 as having positions labeled "RECESS" and
"LAMP," the
positions could be labeled in any desired manner. For example, and without
limitation, the label
for each position could indicate the surface illuminated (e.g., "INSIDE" or
"OUTSIDE") or
could be pictorial (e.g., a picture of a sconce and a picture of a recess,
pictures of bulbs with
various illumination patterns, etc.).
[0303] Additionally, in some embodiments, two or more sectional portions of an
illuminating
element may be coupled to corresponding illuminating circuits in a bulb
assembly. For
example, Figs. 63A, 63B, and 63C depict a base assembly 1361 having an annular
control ring
1365 positioned to select, respectively, each of three settings: "DIRECT,"
"INDIRECT," and
"FULL." Adjusting the annular control ring 1365 to select the "DIRECT"
setting, as depicted in
Fig. 63A, may selectively energize a first terminal in the base assembly 1361
to cause a first
portion of an attached illuminating element to illuminate, while adjusting the
annular control
1365 to select the "INDRIECT" setting, as depicted in Fig. 63B, may
selectively energize a
second terminal in the base assembly 1361 to cause a second portion of an
attached illuminating
element to illuminate. Adjusting the annular control ring 1365 to select the
"FULL" setting, as
depicted in Fig. 63C, may selectively energize both the first and second
terminals in the base
assembly 1361 to cause both the first and second portions of the attached
illuminating element to
illuminate.
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[0304] Figs. 65A, 65B, and 65C depict a lighting assembly 1375 including an
bulb assembly
1377 installed on the base assembly 1361. The bulb assembly 1377 is depicted
having a first
portion 1379 and a second portion 1381. In Fig. 65A, the base assembly 1361 is
depicted with
the annular control ring 1365 positioned to select the "DIRECT" lighting
setting as in Fig. 63A,
causing the first portion 1379 to illuminate (e.g., by a first directional
lighting element (not
shown)), while the second portion 1381 remains dark. This may be desirable,
for example, to
provide direct reading light. In Fig. 65B, the base assembly 1361 is depicted
with the annular
control ring 1365 positioned to select the "INDIRECT" lighting setting as in
Fig. 63B, causing
the second portion 1381 to illuminate (e.g., by a second directional lighting
element (not
shown)), while the first portion 1379 remains dark. This may be desirable, for
example, to
provide softer, ambient lighting effects. In Fig. 65C, the base assembly 1361
is depicted with
the annular control ring 1365 positioned to select the "FULL" lighting setting
as in Fig. 63C,
causing both the first and second portions 1379 and 1381 to illuminate (e.g.,
by both the first and
second directional lighting elements). This may be desirable, for example, to
provide balanced
and/or maximal lighting. Of course, while the first and second portions 1379
and 1381 are
depicted in Figs. 65A-65C as forming two, approximately equal halves of the
bulb assembly
1377, there is no restriction on the potential segmentation or sectioning of
the assembly. By
way of example and not limitation, the segments of the bulb assembly may be
vertical,
horizontal, or any other desirable pattern. Likewise, while depicted as having
two segments or
portions, the illuminating element may have more or less than two segments or
portions. In an
embodiment that may be disposed, for example, in a wall sconce, the
illuminating element has
three portions, a first of which comprises 25 percent of the surface area of
the illuminating
element (e.g., to provide a first reading light), a second of which comprises
another 25 percent of
the surface area of the illuminating element (e.g., to provide a second
reading light), and a third
of which comprises the remaining 50 percent of the surface area of the
illuminating element
(e.g., to provide indirect light). Similarly, in an embodiment, the
illuminating element has four
segments or portions, each of which comprises 25 percent of the surface area
of the illuminating
element. Further, in an embodiment that may be disposed, for example at a 90-
degree corner
formed by two walls, the illumination has two segments or portions, a first of
which comprises
75 percent of the surface area of the illuminating element (e.g., for
providing indirect lighting)
and a second of which comprises the remaining 25 percent of the surface area
of the illuminating
element (e.g., for providing direct lighting).
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[0305] The annular control ring 1364 may function similarly when the bulb
assembly 1368 is
formed as a different shape. Figs. 66 and 67 depict a bulb assembly 1380
having a coupling
mechanism 1382, a stem 1384, and an illuminating element 1386. The
illuminating element
1386 may be a generally flat, disk-like structure (though the illuminating
element 1386 need not
be circular) having a first illuminating surface 1388 and a second
illuminating surface 1390. For
example, each illuminating surface 1388, 1390 may include an array of light
emitting diodes as
described above. The annular control ring 1364 may operate to selectively
illuminate one or the
other (or both) of the illuminating surfaces 1388 and 1390. For example,
adjusting the annular
control ring 1364 to a first position (as illustrated in Fig. 66) may cause
the light emitting diode
array of the second illuminating surface 1390 to illuminate, while adjusting
the annular control
ring 1364 to a second position (as illustrated in Fig. 67) may cause the light
emitting diode array
of the first illuminating surface 1388 to illuminate. Figs. 66 and 67
illustrate that icons 1392
may be employed on the annular control ring 1364 to indicate the functions of
the various
control positions. Fig. 68 shows two ways a generally disk-like illuminating
element may be
deployed in a setting 1398. In Fig. 68, a first lighting assembly 1394, with
the annular control
ring 1364 adjusted as depicted in Fig. 66, provides indirect lighting. At the
same time, a second
lighting assembly 1396, in which the annular control ring 1364 is adjusted as
depicted in Fig. 67,
provides direct lighting.
[0306] In some embodiments, a touch-sensitive surface may control one or more
features of a
lighting assembly. In addition to controlling whether a lighting assembly is
on or off, a touch-
sensitive control may operate a dimming circuit, allowing a user to dim and/or
brighten the
illumination of the lighting assembly by moving a finger along the surface of
the control, to
touch specific areas of the control according to the desired brightness, or to
cycle through two or
more fixed brightness settings. A touch-sensitive control may instead (or
additionally) allow a
user to cycle through one or more illuminating circuits that may be turned on
and/or off in the
bulb assembly (e.g., in place of the annular control ring 1364).
[0307] Touch-sensitive controls may be implemented in many embodiments of
lighting
assemblies and in many of embodiments of lighting assemblies employing the
apparatus
described herein. Unlike many lighting assemblies, a lighting assembly having
an LED array as
an illuminating element may be, for most intents and purposes, two
dimensional. For this
reason, such lighting assemblies are uniquely suited for use in spaces such as
drawers and
cabinets, in which it could be used as a lining, for use as under-cabinet
lighting, and the like (see
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Fig. 71). Touch sensitive controls may be integrated into the base assembly
such that by
touching the base assembly, a user may control one or more functions of the
lighting assembly.
In some embodiments, the touch sensitive control may be separately attachable
to the base
assembly by, for example, connecting a touch-sensitive module to the base
assembly or
connecting to the base assembly a module that is itself connected to a touch
sensitive control. In
still other embodiments, a touch sensitive control may be integrated into a
bulb assembly to
allow a user to touch the bulb assembly and control one or more functions of
the lighting
assembly. In such embodiments, it is contemplated that the control function
may be
implemented in a controller located in a base or base assembly of the lighting
assembly and
connected to a sensor (i.e., a touch sensitive surface) disposed in the bulb
or bulb assembly of
the lighting assembly.
[0308] Various embodiments of lighting assemblies in accordance with the
present description
may include control elements for one or more functions, which control elements
are integrated
into the bulb assembly or even the bulb itself. With reference now to Fig. 69,
a lighting
assembly 1400 includes a base section 1402 and a bulb section 1404, both
integrated into the
lighting assembly 1400. The bulb section 1404 includes a cylindrical shade
member 1405 and a
stalk 1406. In some embodiments, the shade 1405 is an illuminating element. In
other
embodiments, the stalk 1406 is an illuminating element.
[0309] In any event, the stalk 1406 is rotatable around an axis 1407 and is
electrically and/or
mechanically coupled to a dimmer circuit in the base 1402. An end 1408 of the
stalk 1406
protrudes from an end 1410 of the bulb section 1404. Rotation of the stalk
1406 around the axis
1407 may operate to adjust the dimmer circuit and control the intensity of the
illumination
emitted from the bulb section 1404. In some embodiments, rotation of the stalk
1406 operates to
adjust the dimmer circuit by actuating a rheostat in the base section 1402
and, thereby, directly
adjusting the voltage applied to the illuminating element. In other
embodiments, rotation of the
stalk 1406 operates to adjust the dimmer circuit by adjusting an input to an
analog-to-digital
converter and indirectly adjusting the voltage or the duty cycle of the signal
applied to the
illuminating element.
[0310] In still other embodiments, the stalk 1406 may not be coupled to a
dimmer circuit.
Instead, the stalk 1406 may be coupled to a controller or a switch, and
rotation of the stalk 1406
around the axis 1407 may operate to alter one or more signals to the
controller or to switch
between various output circuits. Alteration of the one or more signals may
cause the controller
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to alter the output to the illuminating element or may alter the output of the
illuminating element
directly. For example, rotation of the stalk 1406 may cause the controller to
switch between
three lighting modes (e.g., between low, medium, and high illumination modes,
or between three
illuminating circuits within the illuminating element). Alternatively,
rotation of the stalk 1406
may cause the bulb portion 1404 to connect with different circuits already
active in the base
portion 1402.
[0311] In Fig. 70, a lighting assembly 1412 includes a base assembly 1414 and
a bulb assembly
1416. The lighting assembly 1416 includes a shade 1418 in the form of a
truncated right
circular cone, and a stalk 1420, either of which may be an illuminating
element. A coupling
mechanism 1422 on the bulb assembly 1416 includes a socket 1424 adapted to
couple with a
corresponding ball 1426 disposed on a coupling mechanism 1428 on the base
assembly 1414.
The ball 1426 and the socket 1424 interact as a ball-and-socket joint to allow
the bulb assembly
1416 to be adjustably positioned. The stalk 1420 may assist the user in
adjustably positioning
the bulb assembly by providing both a convenient point at which to grip the
bulb assembly 1406
and leverage to move the bulb assembly 1416 about the coupling mechanism 1422.
[0312] Like the stalk 1406 in the lighting assembly 1400 of Fig. 69, the stalk
1420 may also
serve as a control for one or more functions of the lighting assembly 1412
and, in particular,
may be rotatable around an axis 1430 to dim or brighten the illumination,
change the
illumination pattern, change the color of the illumination, turn the lighting
assembly on/off, etc.
[0313] Innumerable other combinations and/or functions may be implemented by
combining the
functionality and controls described in the paragraphs above. As but one
illustrative example, a
controller of a lighting assembly may cause the lighting assembly to blink on
and off. One of
the control mechanisms described above may allow a user to vary one or more of
the duration of
on time and the duration of the off time. As another example, the controller
may cause varying
illumination patterns by implementing one or more timers to selectively and/or
periodically
switch two or more conductive illuminating circuits on and off.
[0314] Of course, the various functions and controls described in the
paragraphs above may be
implemented in combination with one another to control multiple functions. For
example, a
lighting assembly may have a dimmer function and a daily timer function. The
lighting
assembly may implement control over the dimmer function using the slider
mechanism 1338
depicted in the Figs. 57-60, while implementing control of the daily timer
function using the
electronic user interface module 1312. Further, while the function controls
described in the
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paragraphs above, and in the accompanying Figs. 52-60, are depicted with
respect to lighting
assemblies including separate, but coupleable, bulb and base assemblies, those
of skill in the art
will readily appreciate that the function control mechanisms may likewise be
implemented in
integrated lighting assemblies, in which bulb and base are inseparable.
[0315] Many of the embodiments described above are described with reference to
bulb
assemblies coupled to base assemblies having an Edison-screw for coupling to a
power source.
However, as repeatedly indicated, many of the embodiments described do not
require a base
having an Edison-screw. For illustrative purposes, various embodiments of
bases and/or
coupling mechanisms will now be described.
[0316] As illustrated in Fig. 34 and described in the foregoing discussion,
the bulb base 710 of
the bulb assembly 702 may be both mechanically and electrically coupled to a
base assembly
735 to both secure the bulb assembly 702 to the base assembly 735 and allow
power provided
from a power source to be provided to an illuminating element. For example, as
illustrated in
Fig. 34, the bulb base 710 may be comprised of an plastic material (or a metal
material), and a
first magnet 1648 may be disposed at a portion of the bulb base 710 that is
adapted to be coupled
to a receiving portion 1649 of the base assembly 735. The receiving portion
1649 of the base
assembly 735 may have a second magnet 1650 secured thereon, and a portion of
the second
magnet 1650 that is adjacent to the first magnet 1648 may have an opposite
polarity to the
portion of the first magnet 1648 that is adjacent to the second magnet 1650
such that the second
magnet 1650 is magnetically attracted to the first magnet 1648. The first
magnet 1648 and the
second magnet 1650 may each be disposed along the central axis of the bulb
base 710 and the
base assembly 735 such that when the second magnet 1650 is magnetically
coupled to the first
magnet 1648, the bulb base 710 is coaxially aligned with the base assembly
735. However, two
or more magnets may be coupled to the bulb base 710 and the base assembly 735,
and the bulb
base 710 and the base assembly 735 may be aligned in any suitable orientation.
[0317] Instead of (or in addition to) the magnetic coupling described above,
the bulb base 710
and the base assembly 735 may be coupled in any manner known in the art. For
example, as
illustrated in Fig. 35A, one or more projections 1652 may project from the
bottom surface of the
bulb base 710, and the one or more projections 1652 may be adapted to be
received into
corresponding slots 1654 (or apertures or recessions) formed in the receiving
portion 1649 of the
base assembly 735. Alternatively, one or more projections may upwardly extend
from the
receiving portion 1649 of the base assembly 735, and the one or more
projections may be
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adapted to be received into corresponding slots, apertures, or recessions
formed in the bottom
surface of the bulb base 710. The projections may be secured within the slots
or recessions by
any means known in the art, such as by the frictional engagement of a leaf
spring acting on the
projection 1652 or by the rotation of the projection into a secured position
within the slot or
recess. Another example of a connection between the bulb base 710 and the base
assembly 735
may be a bayonet connection, which comprises a male side with one or more
pins, and a female
receptor with matching slots and one or more springs to keep the two parts
locked together.
With the bulb base 710 coupled to the base assembly 735, the bulb base coupled
710 may be
electrically coupled to the base assembly 735 my any method known in the art,
including the
electrical connections that are described in more detail below.
[0318] In addition to the coupling mechanisms discussed above, one or more
features may be
formed on the bulb base 710 and the base assembly 735 to ensure a desired
mutual orientation of
the bulb base 710 and the base assembly 735. For example, as illustrated in
Fig. 35B, a single
projection 1656 may be disposed on the bulb base 710 and if the projection
1656 is disposed in a
first recess or detent 1658, a first illumination function may be triggered,
such as a first
brightness setting. Alternatively, if the projection 1656 is disposed in a
second recess or detent
1660, a second illumination function may be triggered, such as a first
brightness setting.
[0319] Still further, the bulb base 710 may be coupled to the base assembly
735 by means of
one or more annular features. Fig. 35C depicts a bottom view of an embodiment
of the bulb
base 710, having annular contacts 1561 in addition to a projection 1563. In
some embodiments,
the annular contacts 1561 may each convey power to a different circuit of the
bulb assembly
702. In other embodiments, the annular contacts 1561 may each convey a data
signal to the bulb
assembly 702, while the projection 1563 provides power to a circuit of the
bulb assembly 702.
Of course, while Fig. 35C is depicted as having two annular contacts 1561,
various
embodiments may include more or fewer annular contacts 1561.
[0320] Fig. 35D depicts a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the
bulb base 710 and
a compatible embodiment of the base assembly 735. The bulb base 710 includes
the annular
contacts 1561 and the projection 1563. The base assembly 735 includes
corresponding recesses
1565 and 1567 configured to receive and electrically couple to the annular
contacts 1561 and the
projection 1563, respectively.
[0321] In some embodiments, power may be transferred from the base assembly
735 to the bulb
assembly 702 by an inductive couple, which may comprise a first transformer
1569 in the base
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assembly 735 and a corresponding second transformer 1571 in the bulb assembly
702. When
placed in close proximity to one another, as when the bulb base 710 is seated
in the
complementary base assembly 735, a controller or other mechanism (e.g., a
capacitive or
mechanical switch) may cause the flow of a current in the transformer 1569,
which, as will be
understood, causes a corresponding current to be generated in the transformer
1571, thereby
delivering power to the bulb assembly 702. Though Fig. 35D depicts the
physical interface
between the first transformer 1569 and the second transformer 1571 as a recess
1567 and a
corresponding projection 1563, a secondary power source interface 1036 and
1040
implementing inductive power transfer may implement many types of physical
interfaces, as
will be understood. Inductive power transfer is well known and, therefore,
will not be described
in detail in this specification.
[0322] Referring to Fig. 36, the bulb base 710 and the base assembly 735 may
be formed as a
unitary part. More specifically, the bulb base 710 may be permanently coupled
to the base
assembly 735 such that the bulb base 710 cannot be removed from the base
assembly 735.
[0323] As previously discussed, the base assembly 735 may be adapted to
receive power from
any source. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 34, for example, the base
assembly 735 may have
an interface feature 1668 that is a screw feature (e.g., an Edison screw, or,
more specifically, an
E27 type medium Edison screw) configured to be inserted into a conventional
light socket. One
having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that any type of Edison screw
may be used as an
interface feature 1668. The interface feature 1668 may be symmetrically
disposed about a
central axis of a base assembly 735 that is substantially cylindrical. The
base assembly 735 may
also have an interface feature 1668 adapted to be plugged into a conventional
wall outlet, and
the base assembly 735 may have one or more plug outlets disposed on an outside
surface such
that one or more electrical devices can be plugged into the outlets on the
base assembly 735 to
receive power from the wall outlet. The base assembly 735 may also be
configured to be
electrically coupled to a conventional track lighting system or any other
conventional system to
provide power to a conventional lighting element, such as a bulb.
[0324] Although the invention has been described with respect to specific
embodiments thereof,
these embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the
invention. In the description
herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of electronic
components,
electronic and structural connections, materials, and structural variations,
to provide a thorough
understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the
relevant art will
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recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced
without one or more
of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies,
components, materials,
parts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or
operations are not specifically
shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the
present invention.
One having skill in the art will further recognize that additional or
equivalent method steps may
be utilized, or may be combined with other steps, or may be performed in
different orders, any
and all of which are within the scope of the claimed invention. In addition,
the various figures
are not drawn to scale and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0325] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", or a
specific "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in
connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment and not
necessarily in
all embodiments, and further, are not necessarily referring to the same
embodiment.
Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any
specific embodiment
may be combined in any suitable manner and in any suitable combination with
one or more
other embodiments, including the use of selected features without
corresponding use of other
features. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
application,
situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present
invention. It is to be
understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the
present invention
described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein
and are to be
considered part of the spirit and scope of the present invention. By way of
example, and not
limitation, the disclosure herein contemplates at least the following aspects:
11032611. A lighting assembly comprising:
[0327] a base comprising a first interface and a second interface, the first
interface operable to
form an electrical and mechanical connection with a corresponding socket, the
base operable to
receive a first electrical signal from the socket via the first interface and
to provide a second
electrical signal at the second interface;
[0328] a lighting element having a third interface adapted to couple the
lighting element to the
base electrically and mechanically, the lighting element selectively
detachable from the base and
operable to receive the second electrical signal from the base when coupled to
the base via the
second and third interfaces; and
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[0329] a detachable module for selectively adding one or more features to the
lighting assembly,
the module including a fourth interface operable to mechanically and
electrically couple the
module to the base.
[0330] 2. A lighting assembly according to aspect 1, wherein the fourth
interface
cooperates with the second interface to mechanically and electrically couple
the detachable
module to the base.
[0331] 3. A lighting assembly according to either aspect 1 or aspect 2,
further comprising a
fifth interface on the detachable module for mechanically and electrically
coupling the module
to the lighting element.
[0332] 4. A lighting assembly according to aspect 3, wherein the module is
disk shaped and
disposed intermediate the base and the lighting element such that the fourth
interface couples to
the second interface and the fifth interfaces couples to the third interface.
[0333] 5. A lighting assembly according to aspect 1, further comprising a
sixth interface
disposed in the base, wherein the fourth interface couples to the sixth
interface.
[0334] 6. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 5,
wherein the module
comprises a circuit operable to implement a timer function when the module is
coupled to the
base.
[0335] 7. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 6,
wherein the module
comprises a circuit operable to implement a dimmer function when the module is
coupled to the
base.
[0336] 8. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 7,
wherein the module
operates to make the assembly responsive to a communication signal received
via the first
interface and communicated to the module.
[0337] 9. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 8,
wherein the module
operates to make the assembly responsive to a wireless signal.
110338110. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 9,
wherein the module
implements a home automation protocol.
110339111. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 10,
wherein the module
operates to transmit a command to one or more other lighting assemblies.
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[0340] 12. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 11,
wherein the module
comprises a sensor operable to sense one of the group consisting of sound,
light, and motion.
110341113. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 12,
wherein the module
activates a feature implemented by the base.
110342114. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 13,
further comprising a
second module.
110343115. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 14,
wherein a coupled
pair of the interfaces comprises a magnet.
110344116. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 15,
wherein the base
comprises a microprocessor.
110345117. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 16,
wherein the module
comprises a microprocessor.
110346118. A lighting assembly according to any one of aspects 1 to 17,
wherein the second
interface comprises an inductive coupling mechanism.
110347119. A lighting assembly base for use in a lighting assembly, the
lighting assembly
base comprising:
[0348] a first interface operable to form an electrical and mechanical
connection with a
corresponding socket and to receive from the socket a first electrical signal;
and
[0349] a second interface operable to couple the base electrically and
mechanically to a
corresponding interface of a lighting element and to provide to the lighting
element a second
electrical signal,
[0350] a module interface for selectively coupling the base electrically and
mechanically to a
detachable module operable to add or enable a feature of the lighting assembly
when coupled to
the base.
[0351] 20. A lighting assembly base according to aspect 19, wherein the
second interface is
the module interface.
[0352] 21. A lighting assembly base according to aspect 19, wherein the
module interface is
distinct from the second interface.
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[0353] 22. A lighting assembly base according to any of aspects 19 to 21,
wherein the
module interface is adapted to couple the base to a disk-shaped module.
[0354] 23. A lighting assembly base according to any of aspects 19 to 22,
further comprising
a controller.
[0355] 24. A lighting assembly base according to any of aspects 19 to 23,
wherein the
second interface comprises a data interface and a power interface.
[0356] 25. A module for adding functionality to a lighting assembly, the
lighting assembly
having a base and a bulb assembly, the base having first, second, and module
interfaces, the first
interface electrically and mechanically coupling the base to a socket and
receiving a first
electrical signal from the socket, the second interface providing a second
electrical signal to the
bulb assembly, the module interface providing a third electrical signal to the
module, the module
comprising:
[0357] a circuit operable to implement at least one of the feature set
consisting of: a timer, a
dimmer, a receiver, a transmitter, an expansion circuit and a sensor.
[0358] 26. A module according to aspect 25, further comprising a base-side
module
interface and a bulb assembly-side module interface, the base-side interface
adapted to
electrically and mechanically couple the module to the base via the module
interface, the bulb
assembly-side module interface adapted to electrically and mechanically couple
the module to
the bulb assembly.
[0359] 27. A module according to either aspect 25 or aspect 26, wherein the
module is
shaped like a disk.
[0360] 28. A module according to any one of aspects 25 to 27, wherein the
module base-side
interface includes a first magnet for mechanically coupling the module to the
base.
[0361] 29. A module according to any one of aspects 25 to 28, wherein the
module bulb
assembly-side interface includes a second magnet for mechanically coupling the
module to the
bulb assembly.
[0362] 30. A module according to any one of aspects 25 to 29, wherein the
module is
adapted to be disposed intermediate the base and the bulb assembly.
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[0363] 31. A method for adding a function to a light bulb assembly, the
light bulb assembly
comprising a base and a lighting element selectively detachable from the base,
the method
comprising:
[0364] providing on the base a first interface for electrically and
mechanically coupling the base
to a first electrical signal;
[0365] providing on the base a second interface for electrically and
mechanically coupling the
base to the lighting element;
[0366] providing a second electrical signal to the lighting element; and
[0367] providing a module operable to implement the function, the module
adapted to be
coupled electrically and mechanically to the base.
[0368] 32. A method according to aspect 31, wherein the module is shaped
like a disk.
[0369] 33. A method according to either aspect 31 or aspect 32, wherein the
module is
disposed intermediate the base and the lighting element.
[0370] 34. A method according to any one of aspects 31 to 33, wherein the
function
comprises one of the group consisting of: a timer, a dimmer, a receiver, a
transmitter, an
expansion circuit, and a sensor.
[0371] 35. A method according to any one of aspects 31 to 34, wherein the
second electrical
signal is provided to the lighting element from the module and wherein the
module receives a
third electrical signal from the base.
[0372] 36. A method according to any one of aspects 31 to 35, further
comprising providing
on the module a third interface for electrically and mechanically coupling the
base to the
module.
[0373] 37. A method according to any one of aspects 31 to 36, wherein
magnetism couples
the module to the base, wherein magnetism couples the lighting element to the
module, and
wherein the second interface is adapted such that it is coupleable alternately
to both the lighting
element and the module.
[0374] 38. A method according to any one of aspects 31 to 37, wherein the
second interface
is adapted such that it is coupleable alternately to both the lighting element
and the module.
1103751 39. A module for use with a lighting assembly, the module
comprising:
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[0376] a housing;
[0377] a base-module coupling interface, selectively coupleable to a base
assembly;
[0378] a bulb-module coupling interface, selectively coupleable to a bulb
assembly; and
[0379] a module function block disposed in the housing.
[0380] 40. A module according to aspect 39, wherein the housing is disk-
shaped.
[0381] 41. A module according to aspect 39 or aspect 40, wherein the
housing has a
thickness small relative to its width.
[0382] 42. A module according to aspect 41, wherein the housing is
cylindrical.
[0383] 43. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 42, wherein the
base-module
coupling interface comprises a power interface operable to receive a first
electrical signal from
the base assembly.
[0384] 44. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 43, wherein the
bulb-module
coupling interface comprises a power interface operable to provide a second
electrical signal to
the bulb assembly.
[0385] 45. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 44, wherein the
module function
block modifies the first electrical signal to generate the second electrical.
[0386] 46. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 45, wherein the
module function
block implements one of: a timer, a dimmer, a receiver, a transmitter, an
expansion circuit, and a
sensor.
[0387] 47. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 46, wherein the
housing
comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface adapted to
mate with a
corresponding surface of the base assembly, the second surface adapted to
replicate the
corresponding surface.
[0388] 48. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 47, further
comprising a first
magnet for coupling the module to the base assembly.
[0389] 49. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 48, further
comprising a second
magnet for coupling the module to the bulb assembly.
1103901 50. A module according to any one of aspects 39 to 49, further
comprising:
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[0391] a first inductive coupling element operable to generate a first
electrical signal in response
to current in a first corresponding coupling element in the base assembly; and
[0392] a second inductive coupling element operable to couple to a second
corresponding
coupling element in the bulb assembly, the second corresponding coupling
element generating a
second electrical signal in response to current in the second inductive
coupling element.
[0393] It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted
in the figures can
also be implemented in a more separate or integrated manner, or even removed
or rendered
inoperable in certain cases, as may be useful in accordance with a particular
application.
Integrally formed combinations of components are also within the scope of the
invention,
particularly for embodiments in which a separation or combination of discrete
components is
unclear or indiscernible. In addition, use of the term "coupled" herein,
including in its various
forms such as "coupling" or "couplable", means and includes any direct or
indirect electrical,
structural or magnetic coupling, connection or attachment, or adaptation or
capability for such a
direct or indirect electrical, structural or magnetic coupling, connection or
attachment, including
integrally formed components and components which are coupled via or through
another
component.
[0394] As used herein for purposes of the present invention, the terms "bulb"
or "illuminating
element" (and the respective plural of each) should be understood to include
any electrical
lighting element employing electroluminescence (e.g., a light emitting diode),
incandescence
(e.g., an incandescent light bulb), or fluorescence (e.g., a fluorescent tube)
to provide artificial
illumination except where one or more of these illumination elements is not
compatible with the
described embodiment(s). The bulb or illuminating element may be independent
or may be part
of a larger bulb assembly and/or a lighting assembly including a base
assembly.
[0395] As used herein for purposes of the present invention, the term "LED"
and its plural form
"LEDs" should be understood to include any electroluminescent diode or other
type of carrier
injection- or junction-based system which is capable of generating radiation
in response to an
electrical signal, including without limitation, various semiconductor- or
carbon-based structures
which emit light in response to a current or voltage, light emitting polymers,
organic LEDs, and
so on, including within the visible spectrum, or other spectra such as
ultraviolet or infrared, of
any bandwidth, or of any color or color temperature. Also as used herein for
purposes of the
present invention, the term "photovoltaic diode" (or PV) and its plural form
"PVs" should be
understood to include any photovoltaic diode or other type of carrier
injection- or junction-based
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89
system which is capable of generating an electrical signal (such as a voltage)
in response to
incident energy (such as light or other electromagnetic waves) including
without limitation,
various semiconductor- or carbon-based structures which generate of provide an
electrical signal
in response to light, including within the visible spectrum, or other spectra
such as ultraviolet or
infrared, of any bandwidth or spectrum.
[0396] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as
being strictly
limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise
specified, each such
dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range
surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is
intended to mean
"about 40 mm."
[0397] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are,
in relevant part,
incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be
construed as an
admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any
meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or
definition of the
same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to that
term in this document shall govern.
[0398] Furthermore, any signal arrows in the drawings/figures should be
considered only
exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Combinations
of components
of steps will also be considered within the scope of the present invention,
particularly where the
ability to separate or combine is unclear or foreseeable. The disjunctive term
"or", as used
herein and throughout the claims that follow, is generally intended to mean
"and/or", having
both conjunctive and disjunctive meanings (and is not confined to an
"exclusive or" meaning),
unless otherwise indicated. As used in the description herein and throughout
the claims that
follow, "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context
clearly dictates
otherwise. Also as used in the description herein and throughout the claims
that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0399] The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present
invention, including
what is described in the summary or in the abstract, is not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. From the foregoing, it
will be observed that
numerous variations, modifications and substitutions are intended and may be
effected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It
is to be understood
that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus
illustrated herein is
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intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the
appended claims all
such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
