Temperature and lighting control device
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a device for controlling room temperature and room lighting wherein the device comprises a temperature control system for the receipt and/or delivery of heat to the surroundings and a lighting system wherein the lighting system is thermally coupled to sections of the temperature control system.
1. A device for controlling room temperature and room lighting, comprising:
a room temperature control system that decreases a temperature of an area surrounding the system by receiving heat from the area surrounding the system and that increases the temperature by delivering heat to the surroundings; and
a lighting system thermally coupled to the room temperature control system.
2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein during operation the lighting system supplies waste heat to the temperature control system.
3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting system comprises a housing with at least one light-emitting means and an opening through which light is radiated to the surroundings and a cover over the opening that is at least partially transparent to visible light but reflects heat.
4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting system comprises light-emitting diodes.
5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the room temperature control system is configured to transfer heat to the surroundings across a large area.
6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein transfer of heat is accomplished through convection or air flow.
7. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the room temperature control system is integrated into a ceiling or a wall of a room.
8. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the room temperature control system is in direct contact with the lighting system.
9. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a thermal coupler coupling the room temperature control system to the lighting system, wherein the thermal coupler is a material with heat conduction properties.
10. A device according to claim 9 , wherein the thermal coupler conductor comprises a heat transporting medium.
11. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising a thermal coupler coupling the room temperature control system to the lighting system, wherein the thermal coupler employs convection or creates an air flow.
12. A room comprising the device of claim 1 for controlling the temperature and lighting.
13. A room according to claim 12 , wherein the device is integrated into a ceiling or into a wall.
14. A room according to claim 12 , wherein the lighting system is integrated into a wall or ceiling in the room.
15. A room according to claim 12 , wherein light emitted by the lighting system is radiated into a reflecting cavity to form reflected light and the reflected light is directed out of the lighting system.
16. A room according to claim 15 , wherein:
the lighting system comprises at least two light emitting means that emit light with different wavelengths from one another; and
the reflected light is a combination of the different wavelengths of light.
17. A method of heating a room with the lighting system of claim 1 , comprising:
operating the lighting system to cause the lighting system to deliver heat to the room temperature control system; and
operating the temperature control system to deliver heat the room.
18. A method of according to claim 17 , wherein operating the room temperature control system includes delivering heat to a room across a large area by the temperature control system.
19. A method of heating according to claim 17 , wherein operating the room temperature control system to deliver heat to the room comprises using only heat generated by the lighting system.
20. The device of claim 1 , wherein a heat exchange area of the device is greater than four square feet.