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.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A system for regulating illumination of a commercial or household interior area, the system comprising:
 a fluorescent tube replacement device configured for use in a conventional fluorescent tube fixture for lighting the commercial or household interior area, comprising:   one or more LEDs; and   a connector configured to physically engage the device with one or more sockets of the fluorescent tube fixture,   wherein the fluorescent tube replacement device is configured to emit white light;   at least one photodetector configured to generate one or more first signals indicating that a light output of the device in the commercial or household interior area is below a target minimum light output; and   a regulator external to the fluorescent tube replacement device configured to regulate current in the device in response to the one or more first signals.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the regulator is in communication with the at least one photodetector for receiving the one or more first signals. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 at least one thermal sensor configured to generate one or more second signals indicating an operating temperature of the one or more 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 device in response to the one or more second signals.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the regulator is further configured to:
 determine that the operating temperature of the one or more LEDs exceeds a target temperature; and   in response to determining that the operating temperature of the one or more LEDs exceeds the target temperature, reduce current to the device until the operating temperature of the one or more LEDs drops below the target temperature.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 24 , 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.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the visual signal is generated using one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein generating the visual signal comprises generating light of a different color than light emitted from the one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the regulator is further configured to:
 supply a substantially constant current to the device while allowing the light output from the 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 device is below the target minimum light output, increase current to the device to maintain a light output of the device at the target minimum light output.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more signals is transmitted wirelessly.