Abstract:
A backup lighting apparatus includes a light housing having a conductive base selectively connected to a light socket and a bulb portion extending upwardly therefrom that defines an interior area. A processor, battery, light, and audio sensor are situated in the interior area. The audio sensor is configured to detect a predetermined sound. Another sensor in the interior area is configured to detect a power outage and if a light switch is in an “on configuration.” The processor causes the battery to energize the light if a power outage is detected, the light switch is “on,” and a predetermined sound—such a hand clap—is detected. Accordingly, only a room in which a light was already on when an outage occurred and in which a person is present and signals for a backup is illuminated, such that electricity and battery power is conserved.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to illumination devices and, more particularly, to a battery backup lighting device that is only activated in a power outage if an associated light switch is in an “on” configuration and either a predetermined sound or motion is detected. 
     Power outages occur when electricity is interrupted due to lightning strikes from storms or simple failure of components somewhere an electric grid infrastructure. When all of the electricity to a house or business is lost during nighttime hours, the suddenness and completeness of darkness can cause major inconveniences, safety concerns, and even fear. Residents often have to scramble in the darkness to locate a flashlight or, in a longer term outage, for a generator to generate power to power lights. 
     Various devices and systems have been proposed in the art for immediately restoring all power to a residence or business when a power outage is experienced. Such systems may automatically tap an alternative energy source, such as battery or generator, to energize all lights that were previously turned on. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing systems may result in a waste of energy in that lights in unoccupied rooms or in rooms that become unoccupied may be energized. For instance, all lights in a residence or business need not be energized by backup power if no person is in some or all of the affected rooms experiencing the power outage. In other words, the existing systems and proposals are not room-by-room specific to the power outage, are not confirmed to being occupied, or are not dependent upon the request of a user to be energized by alternative or back-up power. In today&#39;s increased energy-conservation consciousness, the existing proposals and products are undesirable. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a backup lighting apparatus that provides backup power to energize a light source only when the power outage is confirmed, when an associated light switch is confirmed to be in an “on” configuration, and when sensors detect that the associated room is occupied and the occupant has requested backup power be energized. Further, it would be desirable to have a backup lighting apparatus that saves energy by not automatically energizing backup power when an outage is detected. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A backup lighting apparatus according to the present invention includes a light housing having a conductive base configured to be conductively connected to a light socket and a bulb portion extending upwardly from the base that defines an interior area. A processor, battery, light, and audio sensor are situated in the interior area. The audio sensor is configured to detect a predetermined sound. The apparatus includes a memory in communication with the processor and includes programming. Another sensor in the interior area is configured to detect a power outage and if a light switch is in an “on configuration.” The processor causes the battery to energize the light if a power outage is detected, the light switch is “on” and a predetermined sound—such a hand clap—is detected. Accordingly, only rooms in which lights were already on when an outage occurred, in which a person is present and calls for a backup are illuminated, such that electricity and battery power is conserved. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a backup lighting apparatus that is configured to energize a light using battery power when a room serviced by the lighting apparatus is occupied, was “on” at the time of a power outage, and is requested by an occupier of the room. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a backup lighting apparatus, as aforesaid, that conserves energy usage by only energizing lights using backup power under predetermined conditions. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a backup lighting apparatus, as aforesaid, in which sensors, backup power source, and sensors are situated inside a light housing. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide a backup lighting apparatus, as aforesaid, that is as easy to install in a light socket as a traditional light bulb. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a backup lighting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the backup lighting apparatus as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is a side view of the backup lighting apparatus as in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   b  is a sectional view taken along line  3   b - 3   b  of  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the electronic components of the backup lighting apparatus as in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the logic of the processor of the backup lighting apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A backup lighting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with references to  FIGS. 1 to 5  of the accompanying drawings. The backup lighting apparatus  10  includes a light housing  20  configured for electrical engagement with a light socket and electronics housed with an interior area thereof as will be described below. 
     The present invention is for use in either a residential or commercial building environment that includes electrical sockets of a type configured to receive light bulbs. It is understood that each electrical socket is electrically connected to an electrical power source such as a traditional electricity grid. Each electrical socket is associated with at least one actuation switch (i.e. a light switch) that is movable between an “on configuration” that allows electricity from the power source to flow through the actuation switch to the associated light socket. 
     The backup lighting apparatus  10  includes a light housing  20  having a conductive base portion  22  that is configured to be operatively, removably, and conductively connected to a light socket so as to receive electric current therefrom when the light socket is energized, i.e. when the light actuation switch is in an “on” configuration. More particularly, the base portion  22  may include a threaded configuration constructed of aluminum or other conductive metal material. 
     The lighting apparatus  10  includes a glass bulb portion  24  coupled to the base portion  22  and extends away therefrom. The bulb portion  24  preferably includes a generally domed configuration in the traditional manner of incandescent light bulbs. The bulb portion  24  defines an interior area configured to surround and contain various electronic components as will be described below. An exemplary arrangement of the electronic components is illustrated in  FIG. 3   b ). In addition, the bulb portion  24  may be constructed of glass and include a transparent or translucent configuration such that light may pass therethrough. 
     An illumination source, which may also be referred to merely as a light  30 , is positioned in the interior area of the bulb portion  24 . Preferably, the illumination source is a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LED”) although an incandescent or fluorescent light may also be suitable. An LED is advantageous as the air within the bulb portion  24  need not be an inert gas as is typical in a traditional incandescent light bulb. The light  30  may be electrically connected to the conductive base portion  22  with one or more wires (not shown). The LEDs may be white, colored, or a combination of colors. 
     A processor  32  or suitable logic controller may be situated in the interior area of the light housing  20  and is operatively connected to the conductive base portion  22  so as to receive electrical current therefrom when energized (electrical wiring or solder connections not shown in the illustrations). It is understood that the processor  32  may be the primary electrical connector to the base portion  22  such that all of the other electrical components described herein may be coupled to the processor  32  to receive power ( FIG. 4 ). The processor  32  may be directly connected to the light  30  or may be indirectly connected thereto by being first connected to a battery  36  as disclosed below. A memory  34  component may also be situated in the interior area and in data communication with the processor  32 . The memory  34  includes programming instructions to be executed by the processor  32  as will be described later. 
     A battery  36  is situated in the interior area and in electrical communication with the processor  32  and with the light  30 . The battery  36  may include a pair of battery cells so as to provide about 2.5 hours of electrical current to power the light  30  when actuated by the processor  32  to do so. 
     One or more sensors may also be situated in the interior area of the bulb portion  24  of the light housing  20 . More particularly, an audio sensor  40  may be positioned in the interior area and in data communication with the processor  32 . The audio sensor  40  is configured to detect audible sounds and to communicate audio data to the processor  32  where it is processed according to programming instructions as will discussed in more detail later. 
     A motion sensor  42  may also be positioned in the bulb portion interior area and in data communication with the processor  32 . The motion sensor  42  is configured to detect movement away from the light housing  20  and to communicate motion data to the processor  32  where it may be processed according to programming instructions. 
     A power sensor may also be positioned in the bulb portion interior area and in data communication with the processor  32 . The power sensor may also be configured to communicate with the actuation switch so as to determine if the switch is in the “on configuration” and also if there is a complete power outage. More particularly, the power sensor may include a circuit, such as an electrical wiring loop, that extends between the battery  36 , the processor  32 , and the actuation switch  12 . The battery  36  may be configured to transmit a test current (presumably under programming control initiated by the processor  32 ) through the circuitous wire loop. If the test current is returned to the processor in a predetermined amount of time, then it is indicated that the actuation switch is in the “on configuration.” In electrical terms, a return of the test current indicates that the electrical circuit is “closed” so as to allow current to flow from the electricity source to the respective electrical socket. It is also understood that the electrical wiring loop may be configured to test if electrical current is available on the “hot side” of the actuation switch  12  so as to indicate if current is available from the electricity source or if a power outage has occurred. The power sensor may be seen in  FIG. 4  as the lines interconnecting the components described above, it being understood that the processor  32 , under programming control, is capable of initiating and interpreting test current data. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the bulb portion  24  may define one or more openings to enhance data received by respective sensors. More particularly, an upper end of the bulb portion  24  may define what will be referred to herein as a motion aperture  26 . The motion sensor  42  is positioned within the interior area generally adjacent the motion aperture  26  and oriented in alignment therewith such that motion outside the bulb portion may be detected efficiently by the motion sensor  42 . Similarly, the bulb portion  24 , such as a side panel thereof, may define what will be referred to herein as an audio aperture  28 . Preferably, the audio sensor  40  is positioned within the interior area generally adjacent the audio aperture  28  and oriented in alignment therewith such that sounds outside of the bulb portion  24  may be detected efficiently by the audio sensor  40 . 
     The lighting apparatus  10  may include a timer circuit  38  positioned in the interior area of the bulb portion  24  of the light and electrically connected to the processor  32 . The timer circuit  38  is configured to measure a predetermined amount of time when actuated to do so. For example, the timer circuit  38  may be configured to count up to a predetermined number or to count down to zero from a predetermined starting number. As will be described in more detail below, the timer circuit  38  enables the lighting apparatus  10  to de-energize the light  30  after a predetermined amount of time after being energized and, therefore, save energy in the event a room has become unoccupied. 
     Operation of the backup lighting apparatus  10  according to an exemplary process or methodology  100  will now be described below. The sensors  40 ,  42  provide data to the processor  32  and the processor  32  actuates certain actions according to execution of programming instructions in memory  34 . Therefore, it is understood that the flowchart shown in  FIG. 5  represents the logic executed by the processor  32  under program control. Specifically, the power outage sensor determines if a power outage exists and delivers data to the processor  32  accordingly, namely, if electrical current is no longer available from the power source. The power outage sensor may also be configured to detect if the associated light actuation switch is in an “on configuration. And, as described above, the motion sensor  42  and audio sensor  40  detect if movement and sound has occurred outside the light housing  20 , respectively. All of this data is provided to the processor  32 . 
     If the processor  32 , executing programming at step  102 , determines that a power outage exists, the process  100  proceeds to step  104 . Otherwise, the process  100  returns to step  102 . At step  104 , the processor  32  determines if data from the sensors is indicative that an associated actuation switch is in the “on” configuration and, if so, the process  100  proceeds in parallel to steps  106  and  108 . Otherwise, the process  100  returns to step  102 . At step  106 , the processor  32  determines if a predetermined audible sound has been detected by the audio sensor  40  and, if so, proceeds to step  110 . Otherwise, control is directed to step  108 . At step  108 , the processor  32  determines if motion has been detected by the motion sensor  42  and, if so, proceeds to step  110 . Otherwise, control is directed to step  102 . It is observed that in this case, a power outage has been detected but either the associated switch is in an “off configuration” or, even if in an “on configuration,” there is no indication that the room is occupied or that a user has requested a battery backup. 
     At step  110 , the processor  32  actuates the battery  36  to energize the light  30  within the bulb portion interior area and the process  100  proceeds to step  112 . At step  112 , the processor  32  actuates the timer circuit  38  to measure a predetermined amount of time and the process  100  proceeds to step  114 . At step  114 , the processor  32  determines if the timer has expired and, if so, the process  100  proceeds to step  118 . Otherwise, the process  100  returns to step  114  and monitoring of the timer is continued. At step  116 , the light  30  is de-energized, such as by preventing current from the battery  36  from flowing to the light  30 . The process  100  is then returned to step  102  to once again determine if the power outage continues. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of lighting apparatuses  10  may be included in a larger lighting system (not shown). By contrast with traditional lighting systems, a power outage typically results in all lights that are switched on at the moment of the power outage being re-energized by backup power—such as power from a generator. Applying the structure and process disclosed above, it is clear that only those lights that are switched on and for which motion or a predetermined audible sound is detected are re-energized with backup power. In other words, backup power is “room specific.” In some embodiments, backup power may only provided if both audio and motion are detected so as to indicate that a room is both occupied and that backup lighting is actually desired. 
     Accordingly, the present backup lighting apparatus  10  provides backup lighting only under specific conditions and for a predetermined amount of time so that energy is not wasted at the point of initiation or for a potentially unnecessary duration of time. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.