Method of charging a light bulb
A method of charging a light bulb is disclosed. A processor within the light bulb detects a state-of-charge of the battery and if it is below a predetermined dynamic battery state-of-charge threshold then the transceiver sends a wireless signal from the light bulb to a remote light switch with instructions to supply power to the light bulb. The predetermined dynamic battery state-of-charge threshold may be determined based on historical light use data during an on-peak energy time period. The predetermined dynamic threshold allows a battery in the light bulb to supply energy to the light bulb during on-peak hours and recharge during off-peak hours.
1. A method of charging a light bulb comprising:
detecting with a processor and memory in the light bulb that a battery within the light bulb is below a predetermined battery state-of-charge threshold;
providing an external switch device powered by an external power source coupled with the processor and the battery;
sending a wireless signal from a wireless transceiver within the light bulb to the switch device to supply power to the battery within the light bulb when the battery within the light bulb is below the predetermined battery state-of-charge threshold;
and charging the battery within the light bulb via the switch device and external power source.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb comprises an Edison screw base.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor receives an input from the external switch device.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the input is derived from a wire which connects the external switch device to the light bulb.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the input is a wireless signal from the transceiver.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the input causes the light bulb to remain in an “OFF” state while the battery is charging unless a user toggles the external switch device “ON”.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined battery state-of-charge threshold is dynamically determined based on a historical time-of-day usage.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined battery state-of-charge threshold is dynamically determined based on a cost-per-kilowatt-hour and a historical time-of-day.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined battery state-of-charge threshold is determined based on historical usage of the light bulb.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb is automatically controlled by the processor to change an output intensity of the light bulb based on a historical time-of-day usage.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb is automatically controlled by the processor to change an output intensity of the light bulb based on a state-of-charge of the battery and historical usage.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb is automatically controlled by the processor to change an output intensity of the light bulb based on a state-of-charge of the battery and an expected output of the battery over a predetermined time period.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the remote light switch is toggled from an “ON” state to an “OFF” while the light bulb is off-peak charging and the charge of the battery is below the predetermined battery charge threshold, the light bulb turns “OFF” and the power stays supplied to the light bulb.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb comprises one or more light sources.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more light sources are LED (light emitting diode) light sources.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the LED light sources surround the battery within the light bulb.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more LED light sources is individually controllable by the processor.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the processor is programmed to selectively turn “ON” or “OFF” each of the one or more LED light sources based on a desired intensity of the light bulb.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the processor is programmed to selectively turn “ON” or “OFF” each of the one or more LED light sources based on a desired color of the light bulb.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the processor is programmed to selectively turn “ON” or “OFF” each of the one or more LED light sources based on a state-of-charge of the battery.