IP Library Granted Patent US 9,924,577
Granted Patent B2
US 9,924,577 · App. 14/208,855 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Underwater LED light with replacement indicator

Inventors: Kevin L. Potucek (Far Hills, NJ); James Carter (Warwick, RI); James Murdock (Wakefield, RI); Steven Mitchell (Chepachet, RI); Gregory Fournier (West Kingston, RI)
Assignee: Hayward Industries, Inc.
H05B33/0893H05B33/0842H05B37/0245H05B37/034
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,924,577
App. No.
14/208,855
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a method of determining depreciation of a lumen output of an LED. More particularly, disclosed is a method of determining depreciation of a lumen output of an LED comprising monitoring, by a processing device, an operating characteristic of an AC power source operatively coupled to the LED; determining, by the processing device, whether a lumen output the LED depreciated beyond a specified lumen value based on the monitoring; and causing, by the processing device, an indicator to provide notification to a user based on determining the lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond the specified lumen value.

Claims (32)

1. A method of determining depreciation of a lumen output of an LED, comprising:

monitoring, by a processing device, an operating characteristic of an AC power source operatively coupled to the LED;

determining, by the processing device, whether a lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond a specified lumen value based on the monitoring; and

causing, by the processing device, an indicator to provide notification to a user based on determining the lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond the specified lumen value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring step comprises detecting zero crossing events of an AC voltage signal provided by the AC power source.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises counting a number of zero crossing events of an AC voltage signal provided by the AC power source that occur when the LED is energized; and comparing the counted number of zero crossing events to a threshold value.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the threshold value is based on a specified total time of operation corresponding to a predetermined lumen depreciation of the LED.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises counting a number of zero crossing events of an AC voltage signal provided by the AC power source that occur when the LED is energized; multiplying the counted number by half of a period of the AC voltage signal to compute a total time of operation; and comparing the total time of operation to a threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein causing the indicator to provide notification comprises at least one of causing the LED to blink on and off, or causing a replacement indicator light to shine a red light.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LED is one of a plurality of LEDs disposed in a light fixture submersible under water.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing device is connected to the LED via a control system through at least one of a wired connection or a wireless connection.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

an LED disposed within the housing;

a processor operatively coupled to the LED and to an AC power source, the processor configured to:

monitor an operating characteristic of the AC power source;

determine whether a lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond a specified lumen value based on the monitoring; and

cause an indicator to provide notification to a user based on determining the lumen output of the LED has depreciated beyond the specified lumen value.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein processor determines whether the lumen output depreciated beyond the specified value based on counting a number of zero crossing events of an AC voltage signal provided by the AC power source that occur when the LED is energized; and comparing the counted number of zero crossing events to a threshold value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the threshold value is based on a specified total time of operation corresponding to a predetermined lumen depreciation of the LED.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor causes the indicator to provide notification by at least one of causing the LED to blink on and off, or causing a replacement indicator light to shine a red light.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a light fixture submersible under water.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor is connected to the LED via a control system through at least one of a wired connection or a wireless connection.

15. An LED replacement indicator comprising a memory and a processor, the memory storing non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to,

monitor an operating characteristic of an AC power source operatively coupled to an LED;

determine whether a lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond a specified lumen value based on the monitoring; and

cause an indicator to provide notification to a user based on determining the lumen output of the LED depreciated beyond the specified lumen value.

16. The LED replacement indicator of claim 15 , wherein the processor determines whether the lumen output depreciated beyond the specified value based on counting a number of zero crossing events of an AC voltage signal provided by the AC power source that occur when the LED is energized; and comparing the counted number of zero crossing events to a threshold value.

17. The LED replacement indicator of claim 16 , wherein the threshold value is based on a specified total time of operation corresponding to a predetermined lumen depreciation of the LED.

18. The LED replacement indicator of claim 15 , wherein the processor causes the indicator to provide notification by at least one of causing the LED to blink on and off, or causing a replacement indicator light to shine a red light.

19. The LED replacement indicator of claim 15 wherein the housing comprises a light fixture submersible under water.

20. The LED replacement indicator of claim 15 , wherein the processor is connected to the LED via a control system through at least one of a wired connection or a wireless connection.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (SECOND LIEN) Recorded May 3, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.; GSG HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056122/0218 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2017
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043812/0694 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 8, 2017
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043790/0558 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 7, 2017
From: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043796/0407 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2017
From: POTUCEK, KEVIN L.; CARTER, JAMES; MURDOCK, JAMES; MITCHELL, STEVEN; FOURNIER, GREGORY
To: HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 043167/0752 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61790847 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20140292204A1 · Oct 2, 2014