Led lamp failure alerting system

Abstract

A lighting system includes at least one LED and at least one regulator in communication with the at least one LED. The at least one regulator is configured to supply a substantially constant current to the at least one LED while allowing a light output from the at least one LED to degrade over time towards a target minimum light output, and once the light output of the at least one LED is below the target minimum light output, increase current to the at least one LED to maintain the light output at the target minimum light output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a first conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 one or more first LEDs; and 
 a first connector configured to physically engage the first device with one or more sockets of the first fluorescent tube fixture; 
   a second fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a second conventional fluorescent tube fixture comprising:
 one or more second LEDs; and 
 a second connector configured to physically engage the second device with one or more sockets of the second fluorescent tube fixture; 
   at least one photodetector configured to generate one or more first signals indicating that a light output of the first device is below a target minimum light output; and   a regulator configured to regulate currents in the first device and the second device in response to the one or more first signals.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator is in communication with the at least one photodetector for receiving the one or more first signals. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one thermal sensor configured to generate one or more second signals indicating an operating temperature of the one or more first LEDs, the regulator in communication with the at least one thermal sensor for receiving the one or more second signals, wherein the regulator is further configured to regulate the current in the first device in response to the one or more second signals.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the regulator is further configured to:
 determine that the operating temperature of the one or more first LEDs exceeds a target temperature; and   in response to determining that the operating temperature of the one or more first LEDs exceeds the target temperature, reduce current to the first device until the operating temperature of the one or more first LEDs drops below the target temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a low light output indicator in communication with the at least one photodetector, wherein the low light output indicator is configured to generate at least one of a visual signal or an audio broadcast indicating that the light output has been below the target minimum light output for a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the visual signal is generated using one or more first LEDs. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein generating the visual signal comprises generating light of a different color than light emitted from the sone or more first LEDs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first LEDs includes one or more supplemental LEDs on standby, and wherein regulating current in the first device comprises supplying current to the one or more supplemental LEDs, such that the one or more supplemental LEDs contribute to maintaining the light output at the target minimum light output. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a first fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a first conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 at least one first LED; and 
 a first connector configured to physically engage the first device with one or more sockets of the first fluorescent tube fixture; 
   a second fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a second conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 at least one second LED; and 
 a second connector configured to physically engage the second device with one or more sockets of the second fluorescent tube fixture; and 
   a control system configured to manage the first device and the second device, the control system configured to:
 detect a light output of the first device, and 
 regulate currents in the first device and the second device in response to the detected light output of the first device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
 sense an operating temperature of the at least one first LED;   determine that the operating temperature of the at least one first LED exceeds a target temperature;   in response to determining that the operating temperature of the at least one first LED exceeds the target temperature, reduce current in the first device until the operating temperature of the at least one first LED drops below the target temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the control system is further configured to generate at least one of a visual signal or an audio broadcast indicating that the light output has been below the target minimum light output for a predetermined period of time, and
 wherein generating the visual signal comprises turning on one or more LEDs.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the visual signal is generated using the at least one first LED. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein generating the visual signal comprises generating light of a different color than light emitted from the at least one first LED. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first LED includes one or more supplemental LEDs on standby, and wherein regulating current in the first device comprises powering the one or more supplemental LEDs, such that the one or more supplemental LEDs contribute to maintaining the light output at the target minimum light output. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a first fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a first conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 at least one first LED; 
 a first light transmitting cover at least partially enclosing the at least one first LED, the first light transmitting cover at least partially forming a first housing for the first device; and 
 a first connector attached to the first housing and configured to physically engage the first device with one or more sockets of the first fluorescent tube fixture; 
   a second fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a second conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 at least one second LED; 
 a second light transmitting cover at least partially enclosing the at least one second LED, the second light transmitting cover at least partially forming a second housing for the second device; and 
 a second connector attached to the second housing and configured to physically engage the second device with one or more sockets of the second fluorescent tube fixture; and 
   a control system configured to manage the first device and the second device, the control system configured to:
 detect a light output of the first device, and 
 regulate currents in the first device and the second device in response to the detected light output of the first device. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control system is further configured to generate at least one of a visual signal or an audio broadcast indicating that the light output has been below the target minimum light output for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one first LED includes one or more supplemental LEDs on standby, and wherein regulating current in the first device comprises powering the one or more supplemental LEDs only upon the generation of the visual signal or the audio broadcast, such that the one or more supplemental LEDs contribute to maintaining the light output at the target minimum light output. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises at least two LEDs, and wherein at least one photodetector is disposed between two of the LEDs. 
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a first fluorescent tube replacement device for use in a first conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 a first housing; 
 a first plurality of LEDs disposed within the first housing; and 
 one or more first connectors coupled to the first housing, wherein the first connectors are configured to physically engage the first device with one or more sockets of the first fluorescent tube fixture; 
   a second fluorescent tube replacement device for use in a second conventional fluorescent tube fixture, comprising:
 a second housing; 
 a second plurality of LEDs disposed within the second housing; and 
 one or more second connectors coupled to the second housing, wherein the second connectors are configured to physically engage the second device with one or more sockets of the second fluorescent tube fixture; 
   a photodetector configured to measure the light output from the first device; and   a regulator in electrical communication with the first device and the second device, wherein the regulator is configured to regulate currents in the first device and the second device in response to the measured light output.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the photodetector is disposed between at least two LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an indicator disposed on the first housing and visible from an exterior of the first housing, wherein the indicator is configured to provide a visual signal when the regulator is unable to maintain the light output above the threshold amount, and wherein the indicator is disposed between at least two LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of LEDs and the indicator are directed towards a front of the first housing. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the regulator is further configured to:
 supply a substantially constant current to the first device while allowing the light output from the first device to degrade over time towards the target minimum light output without varying the substantially constant current in response to the degradation, and   once the light output of the first device is below the target minimum light output, increase current to the first device to maintain the light output at the target minimum light output.