Granted Patent B2

US 8,729,826 · App. 13/610,732 · Granted May 20, 2014

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method for controlling brightness of a light emitting apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling a brightness of a light emitting device based on a brightness value;

receiving a message over a network and changing the brightness value based on the message; and

detecting a modulation of a power input of the light emitting apparatus, and changing the brightness value based on the modulation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection of the modulation of the power input comprises measuring a phase of the power input.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection of the modulation of the power input comprises measuring an amplitude of the power input.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is received from a radio frequency network.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises information about a relative change of the brightness value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message comprises information about an absolute value of the brightness value.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending an outgoing message over the network to control a brightness of another light emitting apparatus.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the brightness of the another light emitting apparatus is based on the brightness value.

9. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed, result in:

controlling at least one control line based on a brightness value, wherein the at least one control line is capable to control a brightness of a light emitting device;

receiving a message over a network;

changing the brightness value based on the message; and

changing the brightness value based on information regarding a modulation of a power input.

10. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in sending an outgoing message over the network to control a brightness of another light emitting apparatus.

11. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in creating the outgoing message based on the brightness value.

12. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in determining the modulation of the power input by measuring a duty cycle of a line.

13. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in communicating over the network using a 6LoWPAN protocol.

14. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in making a relative change in the brightness value.

15. The article of manufacture as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the instructions, if executed, further result in making an absolute change in the brightness value.

16. An integrated circuit comprising:

at least one control line output capable to control a brightness of a light emitting device;

at least one memory location to store a brightness value;

at least one input to receive information regarding a modulation of a power line; and

supervisory circuitry coupled to the at least one control line output, the at least one memory location, and the at least one input;

wherein the supervisory circuitry is configured to:

receive a message over a network;

change the brightness value based on the message;

change the brightness value based on the information received from the at least one input; and

control the at least one control line output based on the brightness value.

17. The integrated circuit of claim 16 , wherein the supervisory circuitry is further configured to send an outgoing message over the network to control a brightness of another light emitting apparatus.

18. The integrated circuit of claim 16 , wherein the information regarding the modulation of the power line comprises a duty cycle of the at least one input.

19. The integrated circuit of claim 16 , wherein the information regarding the modulation of the power line comprises a voltage level of a line.

20. The integrated circuit of claim 16 , further comprising a wireless network interface coupled to the supervisory circuitry.

21. The integrated circuit of claim 20 , wherein the wireless network interface is arranged to communicate over the network using a protocol compliant with an IEEE 802.15.4 specification.

22. A lighting apparatus comprising:

at least one light emitting device;

detection circuitry coupled to a power input of the lighting apparatus and arranged to detect a characteristic of a modulation of the power input; and

a networked controller, coupled to the detection circuitry, configured to control a brightness of the at least one light emitting device based on a brightness value, and to change the brightness value based on the characteristic of the modulation of the power input and one or more messages received over a network.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the at least one light emitting device comprises one or more LEDs.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the at least one light emitting element comprises a fluorescent tube.

25. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the characteristic comprises a phase of an alternating current electrical power at the power input.

26. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the networked controller is further configured to send an outgoing message over the network to control a brightness of another light emitting apparatus.

27. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the networked controller comprises a wireless network interface.

28. The lighting apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the wireless network interface is arranged to communicate using a protocol compliant with an IEEE 802.15.4 specification.

29. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the networked controller comprises a powerline network interface.

30. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 , further comprising a shell at least partially surrounding the at least one light emitting device, the detection circuitry and the networked controller, the shell at least partially transparent and substantially the same size and shape as a typical incandescent light bulb;

wherein the power input comprises an Edison screw base coupled to the shell.

Assignments (9)