Intelligent illumination device

Abstract

Intelligent illumination device are disclosed that use components in an LED light to perform one or more of a Wide variety of desirable lighting functions for very low cost. The LEDs that produce light can be periodically turned off momentarily, for example, for a duration that the human eye cannot perceive, in order for the light to receive commands optically. The optically transmitted commands can be sent to the light, for example, using a remove control device. The illumination device can use the LEDs that are currently off to receive the data and then configure the light accordingly, or to measure light. Such light can be ambient light for a photosensor function, or light from other LEDs in the illumination device to adjust the color mix.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An illumination device comprising:
 a light source configured to provide illumination when said illumination device is physically coupled to a power source and set in an on-state; and 
 a light detector integrated circuit configured to: 
 detectlight, during certain times when the light source is not providing illumination, an optically modulated data command received from an external device, wherein the data command includes configuration data;  
 to automatically adjust the illumination device based on the detected received configuration data; and  
 , receivingif the illumination device is physically decoupled from the power source, receive light from the external device to power an un-powered said illumination device that is separate from an AC mains socket before screwingthe integrated circuit to store the received configuration data prior to physically coupling the Illuminationillumination device intoto the AC mains socketpower source. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The illumination device of as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a first LED configured to provide the illumination, and wherein the first LED is also configured to be the light detector convert incident light to electrical energy during certain times when the first LED is not providing illumination. 
     
     
       3. The illumination device as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a second LED, wherein the first LED detects light emitted from the second LED. 
     
     
       4. The illumination device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the integrated circuit is further comprising a control circuit configured to adjust a color of light produced by the illumination device. 
     
     
       5. The illumination device as recited in  claim 4  wherein light produced by the first LED or the second LED or both are adjusted in order to adjust the color. 
     
     
       6. A method for operating an illumination device comprising:
 when said illumination device is set in an on-state,
 engagingcausing a light source included in said illumination device to provide illuminationilluminate; 
 and usingcausing said light source to cease illumination for a period of time while detecting, via a light detector integrated circuit of the illumination device, incident light, wherein the incident light is one or more of ambient light, light from a second light source included in the illumination device, or an optically transmitted command; and  
 to detect light during certain times when the light source is not providing illumination, to automatically adjust theadjusting, by the light detector integrated circuit, a level of illumination of said light source based on the incident light; and  
 
 detected light, receiving light to powerwhen said illumination device is set in an un-powered state in which said illumination device an unpowered said illumination device that is separate from an AC mains socket before screwing the Illumination a power source prior to coupling said illumination device into the AC mains socket to said power source,
 receiving light and an optically transmitted command comprising configuration data from an external device, the light to power the integrated circuit to store the configuration data. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the engaging first causing step comprises engaging a first LED to provide illumination, and wherein the using detecting step in the second causing step comprises using the first LED to detect convert the incident light to electrical energy during certain times when the first LED is not providing illumination. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the using detecting step comprises using the first LED to detect light emitted from a second LED. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 8  further comprising adjusting a color of light produced by the illumination device. 
     
     
       10. The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein the adjusting step comprises adjusting light produced by the first LED or the second LED or both in order to adjust the color. 
     
     
       11. An illumination device comprising:
 a light source configured to provide illumination when the illumination device is set in an on-state; and   a light control circuit configured to:
 control the light source at first times to provide pulse-width-modulated (PWM) illumination at a modulation frequency; 
 periodically turn the light source off at second times to produce periodic gaps in the PWM illumination at a frequency less than the modulation frequency of the PWM illumination; 
 configure the light source during the periodic gaps to detect incident light originating from outside the illumination device, wherein the incident light comprises an optically modulated data command conveyed by an external device; 
 control the illumination device responsive to the incident light detected by the light source, wherein to control the illumination device comprises to:
 demodulate the incident light to decode the optically modulated data command conveyed by the external device; and 
 change an attribute of the illumination device in response to the data command decoded from the incident light; and 
 
 control the light source during third times for transmitting a response to the external device after receiving the data command.  
   
     
     
       12. An illumination device comprising:
 a first LED configured to:
 provide illumination; and 
 when not providing illumination, output a voltage signal related to light incident on the first LED; and 
   an integrated circuit coupled to the first LED, the integrated circuit configured to:
 receive the voltage signal; 
 responsive to a physical connection of the illumination device to a power source, adjust the illumination produced by the first LED based on the received voltage signal; and 
 responsive to a physical separation of the illumination device from the power source, use the received voltage signal to power the integrated circuit to store configuration information received from an external device.  
   
     
     
       13. The illumination device as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a second LED, wherein the light incident on the first LED is light emitted from the second LED.  
     
     
       14. The illumination device as recited in  claim 13  wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to adjust a color of light produced by the illumination device.  
     
     
       15. The illumination device as recited in  claim 14  wherein the color of light of the first LED or the second LED or both are adjusted.  
     
     
       16. The illumination device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the light incident on the first LED comprises an optically transmitted command from the external device and wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to change an attribute of the illumination device in response to the command.  
     
     
       17. The illumination device as recited in  claim 16  wherein the integrated circuit is further configured to transmit a response to the external device after receiving the command.