U.S. patent application number 15/182206 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-14 for lightbulb in a fixture having a configuration memory.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Philipp Anton Roosli.
Application Number | 20170359885 15/182206 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60574194 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170359885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roosli; Philipp Anton |
December 14, 2017 |
LIGHTBULB IN A FIXTURE HAVING A CONFIGURATION MEMORY
Abstract
An internet of things system having a smart light bulb and a
smart fixture. The smart light bulb may be inserted into and
connect with the smart fixture for power to the smart light bulb.
The smart light bulb may be configured by reading configuration
information from a memory in the smart fixture. As a whole, the
system may have two or more smart light bulbs inserted in two or
more smart fixtures, respectively. The two or more smart light
bulbs may be interconnected with one another with communication
links to make up a mesh network. Non-bulb devices may be connected
to the mesh network.
Inventors: |
Roosli; Philipp Anton;
(Niantic, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60574194 |
Appl. No.: |
15/182206 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/155 20200101;
H05B 47/12 20200101; H05B 45/20 20200101; H05B 47/19 20200101; Y02B
20/48 20130101; Y02B 20/40 20130101; H05B 47/11 20200101; H05B
47/185 20200101; H05B 47/175 20200101 |
International
Class: |
H05B 37/02 20060101
H05B037/02; H05B 33/08 20060101 H05B033/08 |
Claims
1. An internet of things (IoT) smart light bulb system comprising:
a smart fixture; a smart light bulb that is configured to be
inserted into and connected to the smart fixture for power to the
smart light bulb; and a memory situated in the smart fixture; a
control electronics module situated in the smart light bulb; a
wireless receiver in the smart light bulb connected to the control
electronics module; and a wireless transmitter in the smart fixture
connected to the memory; and wherein the smart light bulb is
configured by reading configuration information from the memory in
the smart fixture.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart light bulb is connected
to the memory by a contact between conductors from the smart
fixture and the smart light bulb, upon the insertion of the smart
light bulb into the smart fixture.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein: the memory is a wireless memory
tag affixed to the smart fixture; and the wireless memory tag is
read by a tag reader in the smart light bulb to obtain
configuration information for the smart light bulb.
4. (canceled)
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory contains configuration
information for the smart light bulb.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein: the smart light bulb comprises a
light source having one or more LEDs; and the control electronics
module comprises a LED drive circuit connected to the one or more
LEDs.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein: the control electronics module
further comprises a power feed circuit having a first set of
terminals; and the smart fixture comprises a power supply having a
second set of terminals for connection to the first set of
terminals upon insertion of the smart light bulb into the smart
fixture.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein: the wireless transmitter
emanates signals that contain the configuration information from
the memory; and the wireless receiver receives the signals from the
wireless transmitter and deciphers the configuration information
from the signals.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the signals of the wireless
transmitter and the wireless receiver operate in a context of near
field communications (NFC) or Bluetooth.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless transmitter
periodically transmits the configuration information without being
externally prompted.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein: the smart fixture further
comprises a receiver that is connected to the memory; and signals
received by the receiver contain information that adds to or
changes the configuration information in the memory.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the signals received by the
receiver are sent by a smart phone.
13. A method for configuring a smart bulb comprising: inserting a
smart bulb, having a light source, in a smart socket; connecting a
control electronics module in the smart bulb, to the light source;
connecting a wireless receiver in the smart bulb to the control
electronics module; and connecting a wireless transmitter in the
smart socket to a memory in the smart socket; and wherein: the
memory contains configuration information that is configured to be
provided via the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver and
the control electronics module, respectively; and the configuration
information is for configuring the light source.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the smart bulb is replaced
with a new smart bulb, the new smart bulb is configured with the
configuration information in the memory that is read by the
wireless transmitter and transmitted to the wireless receiver which
in turn provides the configuration information to the control
electronics module for configuring the light source.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the configuration information
comprises one or more features of the smart bulb selected from a
group comprising a device address, a device descriptor, location,
light color, light brightness, light patterns, and on and off
times.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein: the configuration information
comprises a unique identifier to enable the smart bulb to obtain
full configuration information from a remote configuration service;
and the unique identifier serves as a lookup key for the
configuration information.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: connecting a second
receiver in the smart socket to the memory of the smart socket; and
transmitting new, updated, replacement, or additional configuration
information to the second receiver for entry in the memory.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the new, updated, replacement,
or additional configuration information is sent to the second
receiver from a smartphone.
19. An internet of things mesh network comprising: two or more
smart sockets; and two or more smart light bulbs inserted in the
two or more smart sockets, respectively; a control electronics
module situated in one or more of the smart light bulbs; a wireless
receiver in the one or more of the smart light bulbs having the
control electronics module, wherein the wireless receiver is
connected to the control electronics module; memory in the smart
fixture receiving a smart light bulb having the wireless receiver
and the control electronics module, wherein the memory includes the
configuration for a smart light bulb inserted in the smart socket;
and a wireless transmitter in the smart fixture receiving a smart
light bulb having the wireless receiver and the control electronics
module, wherein the wireless transmitter is connected to the memory
of the smart fixture; and wherein: the two or more smart light
bulbs are interconnected with one another with communication links;
each smart light bulb has an exclusive connection with a smart
socket in which the smart light bulb is inserted; and each smart
socket contains a configuration for a smart light bulb inserted in
the smart socket, respectively.
20. (canceled)
21. The network of claim 19, further comprising one or more
non-light bulb devices having communication links with the one or
more smart light bulbs.
22. The network of claim 21, wherein the one or more non-light bulb
devices are selected from a group comprising thermostats, switches,
mobile phones, dimmers, light detectors, and gateways.
23. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure pertains to smart light bulbs and
particularly to light bulbs having configurations.
SUMMARY
[0002] The disclosure reveals an internet of things system having a
smart light bulb and a smart fixture. The smart light bulb may be
inserted into and connect with the smart fixture for power to the
smart light bulb. The smart light bulb may be configured by reading
configuration information from a memory in the smart fixture. As a
whole, the system may have two or more smart light bulbs inserted
in two or more smart fixtures, respectively. The two or more smart
light bulbs may be interconnected with one another with
communication links to make up a mesh network. Non-bulb devices may
be connected to the mesh network.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0003] FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows an overall setup of the
present arrangement;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a low power transmitter in a socket
and a transmitter or radio that may be in control electronics;
and
[0005] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an internet of things system having a
mesh network of bulbs.
DESCRIPTION
[0006] The present system and approach may incorporate one or more
processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless
and/or wire connections, and/or the like, in an implementation
described and/or shown herein.
[0007] This description may provide one or more illustrative and
specific examples or ways of implementing the present system and
approach. There may be numerous other examples or ways of
implementing the system and approach.
[0008] Aspects of the system or approach may be described in terms
of symbols in the drawing. Symbols may have virtually any shape
(e.g., a block) and may designate hardware, objects, components,
activities, states, steps, procedures, and other items.
[0009] A core element of IoT devices is that they may need to be
configured, such as being programmed with a device address, device
descriptor, location information and possibly other installation
dependent settings. When a device is being replaced, it may take
time and effort to configure the replacement part. This effort may
add to the total cost of ownership. As the number of light bulbs is
high in a building, the cost may be exceptionally large for light
fixtures and light bulbs in particular.
[0010] A memory chip may be added to a light bulb socket or
fixture. The light bulb may then read/write the memory once
installed into a resulting smart socket or fixture. A broken light
bulb can now be easily removed and a spare light bulb installed.
The spare light bulb may simply read the previous configuration
settings from the memory in the smart light fixture or socket.
[0011] The memory chip may be a two or single wire memory. The
connection to the bulb could occur through contacts. Alternatively,
a wireless memory tag may be affixed to the smart socket or light
fixture that can be read by the light bulb (e.g., an RFID tag
reader in the light bulb and an RFID tag in the fixture or
socket).
[0012] The present device or system may have a smart socket that
provides information for the smart light bulb. The smart light bulb
may obtain information from an external location, i.e., a smart
socket. The smart socket may provide support for the smart light
bulb.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram that shows an overall setup of the
present arrangement. Item 11 may be a socket housing. Item 12 may
be a socket thread for the threaded base of light bulb 21. Lines 15
and 16 may provide the phase (hot) and neutral (e.g., ground)
inputs, respectively, of a power feed from a live voltage. A
configuration electronics 14 may incorporate a low power RF
transmitter, memory, receiver and a processor and be connected to
lines 15 and 16 for power. Control electronics 22 of the IoT or
smart light bulb 21 may be situated in a structure of bulb 21.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram of example circuitry 10 for smart socket
or fixture 11 and smart light bulb 21. Various versions of
circuitry 10 may not necessarily incorporate all of the components
shown which depend on the design and operations desired or needed
from the circuitry.
[0015] Socket 11 may incorporate a control electronics module 62.
Module 62 may have a power supply 41 connected to a power source 63
via line 15 (phase) and line 16 (neutral). A configuration
electronics module 14 of module 62 may have a memory 64 connected
to it. Memory 64 may store various kinds of configuration
information for the smart light bulb 21. Configuration information
may be received by a receiver 65 via an antenna 66. The wireless
transmit power can be curtailed to the point that only light bulbs
in immediate vicinity are able to receive the configuration. This
assures that light bulbs spaced apart can maintain their individual
settings. In support of this, the RF antenna of the configuration
electronics module 14 can have an antenna with a shaped radiation
pattern to avoid reception of RF signals by nearby light bulbs.
This for example can be achieved by having the outer socket housing
11 act as a shield. The light bulb can query the configuration
information from configuration electronics module 14.
Alternatively, configuration module 14 can periodically transmit
the configuration information without any external trigger.
Configuration information could be received via a wire rather than
a wireless medium. The wireless medium may be classic RF, light, or
the like. Configuration information may instead be received via
optical fiber instead.
[0016] Configuration information may go to configuration
electronics module 14, which processes the information that is sent
out via a transmitter 42 and antenna 43 to smart light bulb 21.
Transmission may be via RFID devices in control electronics module
62 of smart socket 11 and control electronics 22 of smart light
bulb 21. Alternatively, transmission of configuration information
to smart light bulb 21 may be via wire or other media.
[0017] Power supply 41 may provide power to configuration
electronics module 14, transmitter 42 and receiver 65.
Configuration information may have settings that may be provided to
configuration electronics module 14 and memory 64. Memory 64 may be
a chip that could be replaced with another chip with different
configuration information.
[0018] Besides power supply 41, transmitter 42, configuration
electronics module 14, memory 64 and receiver 65 may be a part of
control electronics module 62. Other components may likewise be a
part of module 62.
[0019] A socket or insertion mechanism 12 for screwing or plugging
in smart light bulb 21 may have contacts 55 and 56 for connecting
lines 15 and 16, respectively, from power source 63 to a power
supply 44 of control electronics module 22. Power supply 44 may
provide power to a configuration electronics module 67, receiver
45, transmitter 68, and LED drive circuit 47. Other components may
be powered by power supply 44.
[0020] As an example of transmitting configuration information from
smart socket or fixture 11, transmitter 42 via antenna 43 may send
out or emanate signals from configuration electronics module 14 and
memory 64 that are detected by receiver 45 via antenna 46. The
signals may go to configuration electronics module 67 which
processes the signals for LED drive circuit 47, which may control
the power from power supply 44 to LED 48 in accordance with
configuration information. LED 48 may be regarded as a primary
light source in bulb 21. Light source 48 may be another kind of
source (e.g., fluorescent, incandescent, or other kind of
source).
[0021] Control electronics 22 may incorporate a transmitter 68 and
antenna 69 for purposes of communicating information back to smart
socket 11, or to other smart bulbs and/or smart fixtures, such as
in a mesh network. Components may be added or left out of control
electronics module 22, or bulb 21 in general.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an IoT mesh network system. Between
each light bulb 21 and its socket 11 may be a low power short range
configuration link 52. There may be a mesh network 51 among the
light bulbs 21. Thermostat 53 and switch 54 may be other non-bulb
devices in the IoT system. For instance, the IoT system may
incorporate a mobile device 55. Also, a gateway 56 may be situated
in the IoT system. Alternatively, there may be a mesh network 51
among the smart sockets or fixtures 11 using appropriate components
present in each of the smart fixtures 11 as shown in FIG. 2, or
adding them to each of smart fixtures 11 so as to achieve the mesh
network among the fixtures 11.
[0023] The IoT mesh network may have two or more smart sockets. Two
or more smart light bulbs may be inserted in the two or more smart
sockets, respectively. The two or more smart light bulbs may be
interconnected with one another with communication links. Each
smart light bulb may have an exclusive connection with a smart
socket in which the smart light bulb is inserted.
[0024] To recap, an internet of things (IoT) smart light bulb
system may incorporate a smart fixture, a smart light bulb that can
be inserted into and connect to the smart fixture for power to the
smart light bulb, and a memory situated in the smart fixture. The
smart light bulb may be configured by reading configuration
information from the memory in the smart fixture.
[0025] The smart light bulb may be connected to the memory by a
contact between conductors from the smart fixture and the smart
light bulb, upon the insertion of the smart light bulb into the
smart fixture.
[0026] The memory may be a wireless memory tag affixed to the smart
fixture. The wireless memory tag may be read by a tag reader in the
smart light bulb to obtain configuration information for the smart
light bulb.
[0027] The system may further incorporate a control electronics
module situated in the smart light bulb, a wireless receiver in the
smart light bulb connected to the control electronics module, and a
wireless transmitter in the smart fixture connected to the
memory.
[0028] The memory may contain configuration information for the
smart light bulb.
[0029] The smart light bulb may incorporate a light source having
one or more LEDs. The control electronics module may incorporate a
LED drive circuit connected to the one or more LEDs.
[0030] The control electronics module may further incorporate a
power feed circuit having a first set of terminals. The smart
fixture may incorporate a power supply having a second set of
terminals for connection to the first set of terminals upon
insertion of the smart light bulb into the smart fixture.
[0031] The wireless transmitter may emanate signals that contain
the configuration information from the memory. The wireless
receiver may receive the signals from the wireless transmitter and
decipher the configuration information from the signals.
[0032] The signals of the wireless transmitter and the wireless
receiver may operate in a context of near field communications
(NFC) or Bluetooth.
[0033] The wireless transmitter may periodically transmit the
configuration information without being externally prompted.
[0034] The smart fixture may further incorporate a receiver that is
connected to the memory. Signals received by the receiver may
contain information that adds to or changes the configuration
information in the memory.
[0035] The signals received by the receiver may be sent by a smart
phone.
[0036] An approach for configuring a smart bulb may incorporate
inserting a smart bulb, having a light source, in a smart socket,
connecting a control electronics module in the smart bulb, to the
light source, connecting a wireless receiver in the smart bulb to
the control electronics module, and connecting a wireless
transmitter in the smart socket to a memory in the smart
socket.
[0037] The memory may contain configuration information that can be
provided via the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver and
the control electronics module, respectively. The configuration
information may be for configuring the light source.
[0038] If the smart bulb is replaced with a new smart bulb, the new
smart bulb may be configured with the configuration information in
the memory that is read by the wireless transmitter and transmitted
to the wireless receiver which in turn may provide the
configuration information to the control electronics module for
configuring the light source.
[0039] The configuration information may incorporate one or more
features of the smart bulb selected from a group comprising a
device address, a device descriptor, location, light color, light
brightness, light patterns, and on and off times.
[0040] The configuration information may incorporate a unique
identifier to enable the smart bulb to obtain full configuration
information from a remote configuration service. The unique
identifier may serve as a lookup key for the configuration
information.
[0041] The approach may further incorporate connecting a second
receiver in the smart socket to the memory of the smart socket, and
transmitting new, updated, replacement, or additional configuration
information to the second receiver for entry in the memory.
[0042] The new, updated, replacement, or additional configuration
information may be sent to the second receiver from a
smartphone.
[0043] An internet of things mesh network may incorporate two or
more smart sockets, and two or more smart light bulbs inserted in
the two or more smart sockets, respectively. The two or more smart
light bulbs may be interconnected with one another with
communication links. Each smart light bulb may have an exclusive
connection with a smart socket in which the smart light bulb is
inserted.
[0044] A smart socket may contain a configuration for a smart light
bulb inserted in the smart socket, respectively.
[0045] The network may further incorporate one or more non-light
bulb devices having communication links with the one or more smart
light bulbs.
[0046] The one or more non-light bulb devices may be selected from
a group comprising thermostats, switches, mobile phones, dimmers,
light detectors, and gateways.
[0047] Any publication or patent document noted herein is hereby
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each publication
or patent document was specifically and individually indicated to
be incorporated by reference.
[0048] In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a
hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner
or tense.
[0049] Although the present system and/or approach has been
described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many
variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled
in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the
intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as
possible in view of the related art to include all such variations
and modifications.
* * * * *