Patent Publication Number: US-2023156888-A1

Title: Luminaire for remote monitoring of power usage

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/793,121, which was filed on Feb. 18, 2020 and entitled “Luminaire as an Intrinsically Safe Power Source,” which claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 202021003289, which was filed on Jan. 24, 2020 and is entitled “Luminaire as an Intrinsically Safe Power Source” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures that are disposed in hazardous environments, such as intrinsically safe and/or explosion proof luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures that provide ambient, task, and/or focused light within hazardous environments. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The background description provided within this document is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     Intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures provide general, ambient light and/or task or focused light within hazardous environments such as industrial process plants, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, power-generating systems, mines, and the like. As such, intrinsically safe and/or explosion proof luminaires, lighting units, and light fixtures must comply with all standards and/or regulatory rules that are applicable to the particular hazardous environment in which they are disposed, e.g., to prevent ignition and/or explosion of hazardous atmospheric mixtures such as flammable gases and/or dust, to protect electronics within the luminaire from being compromised or damaged, to contain any explosion that may occur, etc. Such luminaires may be rated by Class, Division, and Group. For example, Class I Division 1, or Class I Division 2 Group D, E, and F are commonly required ratings for products that are located in hazardous environments within the petrochemical industry, in which flammable vapors may be present. Generally speaking, intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires and light fixtures are designed to limit undesirable and/or dangerous effects of thermal and/or electrical energy generated during both their normal use and maintenance, as well as during fault conditions. For ease of reading, intrinsically safe, explosion proof, or other hazardous rated luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures that are located in hazardous environments are generically referred to herein as “hazardous environment (HE) luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures”, and/or simply as “luminaires, lighting units, and/or light fixtures.” 
     Similar to HE luminaires, other types of electronic equipment disposed in hazardous environments also utilize intrinsically safe (IS) configurations and implementations to mitigate risk (e.g., of ignition, fire, explosion, etc.), and must comply with all standards and/or regulatory rules that are applicable to the particular hazardous environment in which they are disposed. For example, within industrial power plants, process control devices such as controllers, field devices (e.g., sensors, valves, actuators, etc.), and other electronic devices are configured and installed using IS techniques and equipment. For instance, to provide power to electronic devices disposed in the hazardous environment, an AC power panel or other type of AC power source may be installed in a non-hazardous environment. The AC power generated by the AC power source is converted into DC power, which traverses through an IS barrier prior to being delivered into the hazardous environment. Alternatively, a non-IS DC power source may be installed in the non-hazardous environment, and the power generated by the non-IS DC power source may traverse through the IS barrier prior to being delivered into the hazardous environment. Within the hazardous environment, IS DC power produced via the IS barrier is delivered to various electronic devices via respective IS wiring and cabling runs, thereby providing IS DC power to electronic devices disposed in the hazardous environment. 
     Accordingly, to provide IS DC power to electronic devices that are disposed in hazardous environments, IS wiring and cabling must be individually run from the IS barrier to each HE electronic device. Consequently, intrinsic safety barrier implementation and power delivery is very expensive, e.g., in materials and products, time, and costs needed to install and maintain the IS cabling runs to each individual HE electronic device. Further, IS cabling runs may result in electronic devices being mounted or installed in less than ideal locations for industrial process purposes merely to accommodate the physical requirements and limitations of the IS cabling mechanisms, thus adding to the costs and complexity of installing and maintaining electronic devices within the hazardous environment. 
     SUMMARY 
     The systems, methods, and techniques disclosed herein relate to a hazardous environment (HE) luminaire, lighting unit, or light fixture disposed in a hazardous environment. The terms “luminaire,” “lighting unit”, and “light fixture” are utilized interchangeably herein to refer to an electrically powered group of components that operates to supply general or ambient light and/or task or focused light in the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye, e.g., from about 380 to 740 nanometers. During normal run-time operations, embodiments of the disclosed HE luminaire radiates general or ambient light and/or task or focused light into the hazardous environment. Advantageously, the disclosed HE luminaire is configured to leverage the AC power that it receives to provide IS DC power to nearby or proximate electronic devices that are installed in hazardous environments. That is, the disclosed HE luminaire may serve as an IS DC power hub for intrinsically safe electronic devices, e.g., that are disposed in a hazardous environment, and thus may replace individual IS DC power cabling runs from AC or DC power panels/sources disposed in a non-hazardous environment to each device disposed in the hazardous environment. As such, for ease of reading, embodiments of the disclosed luminaire are referred to herein as Intrinsically Safe Power Source Luminaires or “IS-PSLs.” Moreover, as IS-PSLs are installed throughout hazardous environments to provide ambient and/or task lighting, IS-PSLs may be leveraged to easily provide IS DC power at various locations throughout the hazardous environment. Accordingly, by utilizing IS-PSLs to deliver IS DC power to hazardous environment electronic devices, the costs and resources that are typically needed to install, run, and maintain individual IS cabling runs to the electronic devices are greatly reduced, and in some cases, eliminated. Further, utilizing IS-PSLs as IS DC power sources in a hazardous environment increases the flexibility and scalability of electronic devices and equipment within the hazardous environment, as individual DC power cabling runs no longer affect the physical layout and placements of the electronic devices and equipment. 
     In an embodiment, an intrinsically safe power source luminaire, lighting unit, or light fixture is disposed in a hazardous environment and includes a power-reception port via which power is received, and one or more drivers coupled to one or more illumination sources, where the one or more drivers are powered by at least a first portion of the received power to operate the one or more illumination sources. The IS-PSL further includes a power converter that converts at least a second portion of the power received via the power-receiving port into DC power of one or more DC voltages utilized by one or more external IS devices disposed in the hazardous environment (and/or passes through at least a second portion of the received power, e.g., when the received power is DC power of a DC voltage utilized by the one or more external IS devices). Still further, the IS-PSL includes an intrinsically-safe (IS) barrier that is converts the DC power generated, produced, or passed through by the power converter into IS DC power, and one or more power-distribution ports via which the IS DC power is delivered to power the one or more external IS devices. The IS-PSL also includes a hazardous location enclosure in which the one or more drivers, the one or more illumination sources, the power converter, the IS barrier, and optionally other components are disposed. 
     In an embodiment, a method at an intrinsically safe power source luminaire disposed in a hazardous environment includes receiving power via a power-reception port of the luminaire, and powering one or more drivers to operate one or more illumination sources using at least a first portion of the received power. The method further includes converting, via a power converter of the luminaire, at least a second portion of the received power into DC power of one or more DC voltages utilized by one or more external devices disposed in the hazardous environment, or passing through at least a second portion of the received power (e.g., when the received power is DC power of a DC voltage utilized by the one or more external IS device(s) to an intrinsically-safe (IS) barrier included in the luminaire. Additionally, the method includes converting, via the IS barrier of the luminaire, the DC power generated, produced, or passed through by the IS barrier into intrinsically-safe (IS) DC power; and delivering, via one or more power distribution ports of the luminaire, the IS DC power to the one or more external IS devices disposed in the hazardous environment. The IS-PSL includes a hazardous location enclosure in which the one or more drivers, the one or more illumination sources, the power converter, the IS barrier, and optionally other components are disposed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an example hazardous environment lighting unit, light fixture, or luminaire that provides visible light and is a source of intrinsically safe DC power for other devices disposed in the hazardous environment, e.g., an intrinsically safe power source luminaire. 
         FIG.  2 A  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the intrinsically safe power source luminaire of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  2 B  is a block diagram of another embodiment of the intrinsically safe power source luminaire of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  2 C  is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of the intrinsically safe power source luminaire of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    depicts an example intrinsically safe power source luminaire in connection with other example components that are disposed in hazardous and non-hazardous environments. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a flow diagram of an example method at an intrinsically safe power source luminaire. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    depicts an example hazardous environment lighting unit (also referred to interchangeably herein as a “light,” “lighting unit,” “light fixture,” or “luminaire”)  100  that is disposed in a hazardous environment  102 , such as an industrial process plant, a manufacturing facility, an oil refinery, a power-generating system, a mine, etc. As such, the luminaire  100  is a hazardous environment (HE) or Intrinsically Safe (IS) luminaire that is compliant with any (and in some cases, all) standards and/or regulations governing its configuration, installation, and usage within the hazardous environment. That is, the IS luminaire  100  complies with standard and/or regulated thermal and electrical limits so as to limit the energy generated by the luminaire  100  that is available for potential ignition and/or explosion within the hazardous environment. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the IS luminaire  100  receives power from a power panel or source  105  that is disposed in a non-hazardous environment  108 . The power panel  105  delivers AC or non-IS DC power to the IS luminaire  100  in an intrinsically safe manner which is typically physical in nature, e.g., via wires, cabling, or other suitable power transmission media  110  that are enclosed within conduit that is run through ceilings, walls, etc. within the hazardous environment  102 . The power may be of any standard or suitable AC voltage typically ranging between 100V AC to 480 V AC (such as 110 V, 115V, 220 V, 230 V, 240V, 440V AC etc.), or the power may be of any standard or suitable DC voltage typically ranging between 24V DC and 300V DC, (e.g., low voltage DC such as 24V DC, or high voltage DC such as 300 V DC) which is not intrinsically safe, e.g., “non-IS DC voltage,” as generally referred to herein. 
     It is noted that various portions of the present document describe the IS luminaire  100  (and/or embodiments thereof) as receiving AC power from an AC power panel or source, however, this is only for ease of discussion purposes, and is non-limiting. Indeed, any one or more of the techniques described herein may easily be applied to an IS luminaire  100  (and/or embodiments thereof) that receives non-IS DC power from a non-IS DC power source. As utilized herein a “non-IS” DC power source generally refers to a DC power source that generates DC power without regard to any IS standards and/or regulations. That is, the DC power generated by the non-IS DC power source may or may not meet any IS standard and/or regulation pertaining to hazardous environments, and the non-IS DC power source is not designed and/or configured to meet any IS standard and/or regulation pertaining to hazardous environments. 
     Advantageously, the IS luminaire  100  is further configured to serve as an Intrinsically Safe (IS) DC power source or hub for one or more external devices  112   a ,  112   b  that are also disposed in the hazardous environment  102 . Accordingly, for ease of discussion herein, the IS luminaire  100  that provides both visual light and IS DC power in hazardous environments  102  is referred to as an “IS power source luminaire” or “IS-PSL.” As shown in  FIG.  1   , the IS-PSL  100  delivers IS DC power to external device  112   a  via a wired power delivery mechanism  115   a  (e.g., via a wire, cable, or another type of physical link), and delivers IS DC power to external device  112   b  via a wireless power delivery mechanism  115   b  (e.g., using a near field wireless power technique, power beaming, or other suitable wireless power transfer technique). External devices  112   a ,  112   b  may be any type of electronic device that is utilized in the hazardous environment and that is powered by DC, such as process controllers, field devices or equipment (e.g., sensors, monitors, valves, actuators, pumps, etc.), safety controllers and/or logic solvers, drivers (such as solenoid drivers and other types of drivers), I/O devices, etc. Generally, the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  are intrinsically safe external devices and have an IS rating suitable for the hazardous environment  102  in which they are disposed. The external devices  112   a ,  112   b  may include an electronic device which is mounted or installed within the hazardous environment  102 , and/or may include a mobile or portable communication device that is located in the hazardous environment  102 , for example. At least some of the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  may include one or more on-board batteries, which may serve as primary, auxiliary, emergency, and/or back-up sources of DC power for the host external device  112   a ,  112   b.    
       FIG.  2 A  depicts a block diagram of an embodiment  200  of the example IS power source luminaire of IS-PSL  100 . The IS-PSL  200  receives AC power  110  from an AC power panel (not shown in  FIG.  2 A ), and delivers IS DC power via wired power transfer media  115   a  to external device  112   a  and/or delivers IS DC power via wireless power transfer media  115   b  to external device  112   b . The IS-PSL  200  includes at least one hazardous location enclosure or housing  202  in which at least some of its components are typically disposed or enclosed. For example, the hazardous location enclosure or housing  202  may be explosion-proof, flame-proof or otherwise at least partially non-incendive, water-proof, sealed, hermetically sealed, dust ignition protected, etc. In some embodiments of the IS-PSL  200  (not shown in  FIG.  2 A ), a single IS power source luminaire  200  may include multiple hazardous location enclosures or housings  202 , each of which surrounds a different subset of components of the luminaire  200 ; however, for ease of reading, and not for limitation purposes, the hazardous location enclosure or housing  202  is referred to herein using the singular tense. Moreover, at least one portion  205  of the hazardous location enclosure or housing  202  is at least partly transparent or visible light-permeable, so that illumination or light generated by one or more illumination sources IL- 1  to IL-n (corresponding to references  208   a - 208   n  in  FIG.  2 A ) of the IS-PSL  200  is able to radiate into the environment. The illumination sources  208   a - 208   n  may be any suitable type of illumination source that generates visible light, e.g., incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, metal halide, xenon, LEDs (light emitting diodes), etc. 
     The IS-PSL  200  also includes a power-reception port  210  via which the AC power  110  is received. The AC power-reception port  210  is coupled to a power converter  212  that converts the received AC power into DC power which, as shown in the embodiment  200  of  FIG.  2 A , may be used to power one or more LED drivers  215  to activate/deactivate and/or otherwise operate the illumination sources  208   a - 208   n . In an embodiment, the AC-to-DC power converter  212  and the LED driver(s)  215  are an integral or unitary component of the IS-PSL  200 , and in other embodiments, the power converter  212  and the LED driver(s)  215  are separate components of the IS-PSL  200 . In some embodiments, the IS-PSL  200  includes a single power converter  212 , which may generate or produce different voltages of DC power at different instances in time from the received AC power  110 . In some embodiments (not shown), the IS-PSL  200  includes multiple power converters, each of which converts the received AC power into a different voltage of DC power. In still other embodiments (not shown), the LED driver(s)  215  may be AC-powered LED drivers, and as such may be directly coupled to the power-reception port  210  to receive AC power  110  for activating and deactivating the illumination sources  208   a - 208   n , while a separate AC-to-DC power converter  212  converts the received AC power  110  into DC power for powering external devices  112   a ,  112   b . The AC-to-DC power converter  212  may produce and provide DC power (e.g., non-IS DC power) to one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  that are disposed within the hazardous location enclosure  202  of the IS-PSL  200 , e.g., simultaneously or in parallel, sequentially, selectively, etc. 
     It is noted that in embodiments of the IS-PSL  200  in which the IS-PSL  200  receives non-IS DC power via its power-reception port  210  (not shown), the AC-to-DC power converter  212  may be omitted, and at least a portion of the received non-IS DC power may be directly provided to the one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m . Alternatively, in these embodiments in which the received power is non-IS DC power, the power converter  212  may be implemented as a DC-to-DC power converter, splitter, divider, etc. that converts or transforms the received non-IS DC power into non-IS DC power of one or more DC voltages that are utilized by the recipient external devices  112   a ,  112   b , and provides the transformed or converted non-IS DC power to the one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m . Still alternatively, in these embodiments, the power converter  212  may be implemented as a pass-through component that provides the received non-IS DC power to the one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  without modifying the DC voltage of the received non-IS DC power, e.g., when the recipient external devices  112   a ,  112   b  are able to utilize the DC voltage of the received non-IS DC power. 
     Each IS barrier  218   a - 218   m  may correspond to a different intrinsically-safe rating, e.g., for different voltages, zone usages, classes, divisions, groups, etc., and as such each IS barrier complies with corresponding IS requirements and standards. Although in  FIG.  2 A  each different IS barrier  218   a - 218   m  is depicted as an individual unit, in some embodiments, a single, integral IS barrier unit may provide IS protection for multiple different IS ratings, e.g., either in parallel or by switching between provided IS ratings. For ease of discussion, though, the IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  are described herein as individual units, each with a respective IS rating, some of which may be the same IS rating, and some of which may be different IS ratings. For example, the IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  may include one or more respective IS barriers, each of which respectively may produce IS DC power of 2 Volts DC, 5.6 VDC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC, 30 VDC, 300 VDC, or any other desired output DC voltage that is able to be generated (e.g., via power converter  212 ) from the level of received AC power  110  received at the IS-PSL  200  via the AC power-reception port  210 . Generally, the IS-PSL  200  includes at least one IS barrier  218   a - 218   m  that respectively produces IS DC power in accordance with a DC voltage that is native to or utilized by each external device  112   a ,  112   b  that the IS-PSL  200  services. For example, the IS-PSL  200  may generate and deliver IS DC power at 5.6 VDC to an external device that natively utilizes 5.6 V IS DC power, such as a battery-powered external device, and/or the IS-PSL  200  may generate and deliver IS DC power at 12 VDC to an external device that natively utilizes 12 V IS DC power, such as a field device (e.g., a sensor, valve, actuator, etc.). In some embodiments, at least two IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  included in the IS-PSL  200  may have a same or common IS rating. In some embodiments, at least two IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  included in the IS-PSL  200  may have different IS ratings. At any rate, each IS barrier  218  transforms the DC power received from the AC-to-DC power converter  212  into IS DC power in accordance with its respective IS rating. The connectivity relationships between the AC-to-DC power converter(s)  212  and the IS barrier(s)  218  of the IS-PSL  200  may be one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many, for example. 
     Additionally, each IS barrier  218   a - 218   m  is connected to one or more IS DC power distribution ports  220   a ,  220   b  via which the IS DC power produced by each IS barrier  218   a - 218   m  may be delivered from the IS-PSL  200  to one or more external devices  112   a ,  112   b . As shown in  FIG.  2 A , the IS DC power distribution port  220   a  delivers IS DC power via wired media  115   a , and the IS DC power distribution port  220   b  delivers IS DC power via wireless media  115   b . Further, although  FIG.  2 A  depicts a one-to-one correspondence between power distribution ports  220   a ,  220   b  and external devices  112   a ,  112   b , in some arrangements, a single IS DC power distribution port may distribute power to multiple external devices, e.g., via a splitter, divider, or some other suitable mechanism or arrangement. Generally, each of the one or more external devices  112   a ,  112   b  may receive IS DC power that is transferred from the IS-PSL  200  and that is at a DC voltage native to or utilized by each recipient device  112   a ,  112   b . Each recipient device  112   a ,  112   b  may utilize the IS-PSL  200  as a main or primary IS DC power source for operational purposes, as an auxiliary, supplemental, emergency, and/or back-up power source, and/or to charge one or more batteries or energy storage devices which may be included in or otherwise service the device  112   a ,  112   b.    
     In some embodiments, the AC-to-DC power converter  212  of the IS-PSL  200  provides converted DC power to charge one or more on-board batteries or energy storage devices  222  of the IS-PSL  200  itself. The batteries  222  may serve as a back-up, supplemental, and/or emergency power source for the IS-PSL  200 , and as such may be utilized to power the one or more drivers  215 , one or more on-board processors  225 , and/or other components of the IS-PSL  200  as and when needed. In embodiments of the IS-PSL  200  in which the IS-PSL  200  receives non-IS DC power via its power-reception port  210  and the AC-to-DC power converter  212  is omitted (not shown), the IS-PSL  200  may charge its on-board batteries or energy storage devices  222  using at least a portion of the received non-IS DC power. For example, the IS-PSL  200  include one or more voltage splitters, dividers, and/or switches that provide the non-IS DC power received via the power-reception port  210  to multiple recipient components of the IS-PSL  200 , such as on-board batteries  222 , one or more drivers  215 , one or more processors  225 , and/or other components. 
     Indeed, the IS-PSL  200  optionally includes one or more processors  225  and one or more tangible, non-transitory memories  228  storing one or more sets of computer-executable instructions  230  and data  232  related to IS DC power. Generally speaking, the one or more processors  225  may execute the one or more sets of computer-executable instructions  230  and optionally utilize at least some of the data  232  to communicate information regarding the delivery of IS DC power from the IS-PSL  200  to one or more other external devices  112   a ,  112   b , e.g., by transmitting signals to the one or more other devices via one or more communication ports  235   a - 235   p  of the IS-PSL  200  and one or more links and/or networks. The recipients of the informational IS-DC power signals may include, for example, a back-end server or host, a computing device disposed within the hazardous environment (which may be a wireless computing device), the external devices  112   a ,  112   b , and/or other devices. 
     The IS-PSL  200  may be communicatively connected to a wireless network or wireless link via a first communication interface (COM 1 )  235   a  and/or may be communicatively connected to a wired network or wired link via a second communication interface (COMp)  235   p . As such, the IS-PSL  200  may be a node of a wireless network and/or may be a node of a wired network. Each of the wireless and/or wired networks may include one or more other nodes such as, for example, one or more back-end computers, hosts, controllers, and/or servers that are disposed in a non-hazardous environment or that are otherwise shielded from the harsh conditions of the hazardous environment, and/or one or more mobile or portable communication devices that are operated by personnel within the hazardous environment. Other examples of nodes which may be included in the wireless and/or wired network may include one or more other luminaires, sensors, process control devices, and/or other devices disposed within the hazardous environment. As such, the IS-PSL  200  may execute, via the one or more processors  225 , at least some of the computer-executable instructions  230  to communicate information or data related to IS DC power to and/or receive information or data related to IS DC power from one or more of the nodes to which the IS-PSL  200  is communicatively connected. 
     Examples of information which the IS-PSL  200  may communicate via the communication interfaces  235   a - 235   p  include status, alert, and/or configuration information related to IS DC power corresponding to the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  and/or to the IS-PSL  200  itself. For example, the IS-PSL  200  may monitor and/or track the respective DC power delivery to each of the external devices  112 , and communicate related information related to a back-end server or mobile device. To illustrate, in an example arrangement, the IS-PSL  200  receives (e.g., from the back-end server or mobile device) and stores one or more IS DC power configurations for each external device  112   a ,  112   b  to which the IS-PSL  200  provides IS DC power for run-time or operational purposes, where the respective IS DC power configurations may indicate respective amounts and/or rates of IS DC power (and/or maximums, minimums, and/or ranges thereof) that are expected to be drawn by each device  112   a ,  112   b . The IS-PSL  200  may transmit an alert to the back-end server and/or a portable communication device when a device  112   a ,  112   b  is drawing operational IS DC power at an amount and/or rate greater than its respective threshold(s). Additionally or alternatively, the IS-PSL  200  may transmit respective (e.g., non-alert) power usage amounts and/or statuses of the primary IS DC power drawn by each external device  112   a ,  112   b  (e.g., to the back-end server and/or a mobile communication device) periodically, over time, and/or on demand, e.g., for tracking purposes. 
     Further, in some arrangements, the IS-PSL  200  may monitor and/or track the DC power consumption of batteries that are utilized by the external devices  112   a ,  112   b , e.g., batteries that are located on-board the external devices  112  and that serve as a primary operational power source, and/or batteries that serve as back-up or secondary power sources to the external devices  112   a ,  112   b . For example, the IS-PSL  200  may provide IS 12V or 24V DC power to an external device  112   a  as a primary source of IS DC power (e.g., either directly and continuously, or for charging a 12 V or 24V DC primary power source battery on-board the device  112   a ), and the IS-PSL  200  may also provide IS 5.5V DC power to the external device  112   a  for charging a back-up or emergency battery of the device  112   a . In some embodiments, the respective IS DC power configurations of serviced external devices  112  that are provided to the IS-PSL  200  include indications of the expected voltages and/or usages of batteries that are on-board or otherwise utilized by the serviced external devices  112 , and/or indications of whether the batteries of the external devices  112  are primary or back-up power sources. Accordingly, in addition to monitoring the primary, operational IS 12V or 24V DC power that it provides to the external device  112   a , the IS-PSL  200  may also monitor the amounts of IS 5.5 V DC power it provides to the external device  112   a  (and/or how often it provides IS 5.5 V DC power to the external device  112   a ), thereby effectively monitoring the battery power consumption and/or expected remaining battery supply or lifetime of the device&#39;s back-up battery. In arrangements in which the external device  112   a  is a smart device (e.g., when the device  112   a  includes an on-board processor and communication port via which the device  112   a  communicates with the IS-PSL  200 ), the smart external device  112   a  may self-monitor its expected back-up battery supply or remaining lifetime, and may report corresponding battery-related information to the IS-PSL  200 . However, irrespective of whether the battery usage of the external device  112   a  is indirectly monitored by the IS-PSL  200  or is self-monitored by the external device  112   a , the IS-PSL  200  may report the back-up battery usage (e.g., power consumption, expected remaining battery supply or lifetime, etc.) of the external device  112   a  to the back-end server and/or to a portable communication device, e.g., periodically, over time, and/or on demand. For example, the IS-PSL  200  may communicate an alert when the expected remaining battery lifetime of the back-up battery of the external device  112   a  falls below a pre-defined, respective threshold, when re-charging occurs at a rate faster than a respective, pre-defined threshold, etc. For an external device that utilizes a battery as a primary source of DC power (e.g., external device  112   b ), the IS-PSL  200  may monitor and report on the device&#39;s primary battery usage in a manner similar to that described above with respect to back-up batteries. 
     In some arrangements in which the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  are smart devices, the IS-PSL  200  may transmit instructions or commands to the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  to manage and/or modify the devices&#39; primary and/or back-up battery power usage, e.g., sleep, wake-up, power down, etc. The IS-PSL  200  may automatically or autonomously generate device battery management instructions in response to monitored device battery power status (e.g., by utilizing the computer-executable instructions  230  and/or local data  232 ), and/or the IS-PSL  200  may forward instructions that it receives from the back-end server and/or a mobile device to the external devices  112   a ,  112   b  for device battery management purposes. 
     Generally speaking, the IS-PSL  200  may communicate with smart external devices  112   a ,  112   b  via the one or more communication ports  235   a - 235   p  and respective wired and/or wireless links, which typically (but not necessarily) are direct links between the IS-PSL  200  and the smart devices  112   a ,  112   b . The communication links via which the IS-PSL  200  and the smart external devices  112   a ,  112   b  communicate may support standardized wired and/or wireless communication protocols, such as Ethernet, IP, Wi-Fi, other types of IEEE-based protocols, Bluetooth and/or other short range protocols, etc., and/or the communication links via which the IS-PSL  200  and the smart external devices  112   a ,  112   b  communicate may support industrial communication or automation protocols, such as 4-20 mA, Fieldbus, Profibus, OPC-UA, wired HART, WirelessHART, HART-IP, etc. 
     Another example of information which the IS-PSL  200  may communicate to back-end servers and/or mobile devices include alert, status, and/or configuration information related to IS DC power of the IS-PSL  200  itself. For example, the IS-PSL  200  may include an on-board back-up battery  222  that the IS-PSL  200  charges using DC power provided by the AC-to-DC power converter  212 , and the IS-PSL  200  may monitor and communicate usage status and/or alerts related to the battery  222  to a back-end server and/or mobile device. Indeed, the IS-PSL  200  may monitor its internal DC power usage (e.g., power draw, loading, etc.) across one or more of its internal components (e.g., the battery  222 , the IS barriers  218 - 218   m , the power distribution ports  220   a ,  220   b , etc.), and may provide statuses and/or alerts relating thereto to a back-end server and/or mobile device. In some arrangements, the IS-PSL  200  may automatically or autonomously modify its DC power usage and/or activate and deactivate various components in response to the monitoring. Additionally or alternatively, the IS-PSL  200  may modify its DC power usage in response to instruction(s) that the IS-PSL  200  receives (e.g., via the communication ports  235   a - 235   p ) from the back-end server or mobile device, where the received instructions may or may not have been transmitted by the back-end server or mobile device in response to a status, alert, or other communication which was previously generated and transmitted by the IS-PSL  200 . Modifications to DC power usage of the IS-PSL  200  may include, for example, re-distributing IS-DC power loading among one or more of the IS barriers  218   a - 218   m , the power distribution ports  220   a ,  220   b , the communication ports  235   a - 235   p , and/or other components; deactivating and/or deactivating (e.g., disabling/enabling, turning off/turning on) various IS barriers  218   a - 218   m , the power distribution ports  220   a ,  220   b , the communication ports  235   a - 235   b , and/or other components; managing the usage of the on-board battery  222 ; etc. 
     In some embodiments, the IS-PSL  200  may receive, from the back-end server or operator mobile device, information regarding its own configuration. The configuration may include thresholds that are utilized by the IS-PSL  200  to manage its own power usage and consumption, such as described above. Additionally or alternatively, the configuration may indicate different voltage settings of different IS barriers  218   a - 218   m , different voltages that are to be generated by the AC-to-DC power converter  212 , different voltages that are to be generated by and/or utilized by other components of the IS-PSL  200 , etc. In some instances, the configuration may indicate various times, triggers, and/or conditions that would cause changes in voltage settings; etc. 
     In some embodiments, the IS-PSL  200  is a smart or connected luminaire. In these embodiments, the memories  228  of the IS-PSL  200  store additional computer-executable instructions  230  that, when executed by the one or more processors  225 , cause the IS-PSL  200  to instruct the one or more drivers  112  control lighting functions, for example, to energize or activate the one or more illumination sources  208   a - 208   n , e.g., individually or independently, and/or as a set or group in a coordinated manner. Additionally, the execution of the additional computer-executable instructions  230  may cause the IS-PSL  200  to transmit and/or receive information regarding lighting statuses, alerts, diagnostics, control commands, and/or other lighting operations to/from a back-end server, a mobile device, and/or other smart luminaires, e.g., via one or more of the communication ports  235   a - 235   p.    
     It is noted that  FIG.  2 A  depicts only one example embodiment  200  of a plurality of embodiments of the intrinsically safe power source luminaire  100  described herein. Other embodiments of the IS-PSL  100  may include fewer, additional, and/or alternate features than those described with respect to the embodiment  200 . For example,  FIG.  2 B  depicts an embodiment  250  of an IS-PSL  100 . Similar to the embodiment  200  of  FIG.  2 A , the IS-PSL  250  includes a hazardous environment enclosure or housing  252  having an at least partly transparent or visible light-permeable portion  255  via which one or more illumination sources  258   a - 258   n  may radiate visible light into the hazardous environment. The IS-PSL  250  also includes an AC power-reception port  260  via which AC power  110  is received, an AC-to-DC power converter  262 , and one or more LED drivers  265  that activate and deactivate the illumination sources  258   a - 258   n . In the embodiment  250 , though, the DC power produced by the power converter  262  is provided to a single, IS barrier  268 , which in turn provides IS DC power via an IS DC power distribution port  270  to an external IS device  272 . In this embodiment  250 , the IS barrier  268  is of a fixed intrinsically safe rating, which may be pre-selected prior to integrating the IS barrier  268  into the luminaire  250 , for example. As such, the embodiment  250  may be particularly useful to convert legacy luminaires into power source luminaires. 
     It is noted that in embodiments of the IS-PSL  250  in which the IS-PSL  250  receives non-IS DC power via its power-reception port  260  (not shown), the AC-to-DC power converter  262  may be omitted, and the received non-IS DC power may be directly provided to the single, IS barrier  268 . Alternatively, in these embodiments in which the received power is non-IS DC power, the power converter  262  may be implemented as a DC-to-DC power converter, splitter, divider, etc. that converts or transforms the received non-IS DC power into non-IS DC power of the DC voltage that is utilized by the recipient external device  272  and provides the converted or transformed non-IS DC power to the one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m . Still alternatively, in these embodiments, the power converter  212  may be implemented as a pass-through component that provides the received non-IS DC power to the one or more IS barriers  218   a - 218   m  without modifying the DC voltage of the received non-IS DC power. 
       FIG.  2 C  depicts another example embodiment  280  of an IS-PSL  100 . Similar to the embodiments  200  and  250 , the IS-PSL  280  includes a hazardous environment enclosure or housing  282  having an at least partly transparent or visible light-permeable portion  285  via which one or more illumination sources  288   a - 288   n  may radiate visible light into the hazardous environment. The IS-PSL  280  also includes a power-reception port  290  via which AC power  110  is received, and an AC-to-DC power converter  292  that supplies one or more LED drivers  295  with DC power so the LED driver(s)  295  may activate/deactivate or otherwise operate the illumination sources  288   a - 288   n . The AC-to-DC power converter  292  and the LED driver(s)  295  may be an integral or unitary component of the IS-PSL  280 , or the AC-to-DC power converter  292  and the LED driver(s)  295  may be separate components of the IS-PSL  280 . In the embodiment  280  illustrated in  FIG.  2 C , the AC power received via the power-reception port  290  is also provided to an AC-to-DC switch mode power supply (SMPS)  298 , which may convert or transform the received AC power  110  into a range of different DC voltages in a switched manner. That is, the DC power generated by the SMPS  298  may be switched between multiple different DC voltages across a range of DC voltages, e.g., 3 VDC to 300 VDC. As such, in this embodiment  280 , the SMPS  298  may deliver each different DC voltage to a respective IS barrier  300  that is correspondingly rated. As such, the SMPS  298  may be connected to multiple IS barriers  300   a - 300   m , each of which may be rated for a different DC voltage; however, generally only one of the IS barriers  300   a - 300   m  is utilized at any instance in time, e.g., the IS barrier  300  that corresponds to the DC voltage that is presently being generated by the SMPS  298  may be selected to receive DC power generated by the SMPS  298 . The utilized IS barrier  300   a - 300   m  may then provide IS DC power to respective external devices  302   a ,  302   b  via respective IS DC power distribution ports  305   a ,  305   b  of the IS-PSL  280 . Accordingly, this embodiment  280  may be particularly useful when the IS-PSL  280  intermittently powers multiple external devices of different native DC voltages, or when a provider desires to have multiple instances of a same model of the IS-PSL  280  respectively provide IS DC power to multiple external devices of different native DC voltages. To this end, in some embodiments, the SMPS  298  may be programmable, e.g., to indicate which levels of voltage are to be utilized and optionally under which conditions or timing. 
     It is noted that in embodiments of the IS-PSL  280  in which the IS-PSL  200  receives non-IS DC power via its power-reception port  290  (not shown), the AC-to-DC power converter  292  and the AC-to-DC switch mode power supply  298  may be omitted, and the received non-IS DC power may be provided from the power-reception port  290  to a DC-to-DC switch mode power supply, converter, splitter, and/or divider (which may be implemented as an integral component, or which may be implemented as multiple components). The DC-to-DC switch mode power supply, converter, splitter, divider, etc. may convert the received non-IS DC power into a range of DC voltages that are natively utilized by the recipient external devices  302   a ,  302   b , e.g., in a switched manner and/or in a split or subdivided manner. As such, the non-IS DC power generated by the DC-to-DC switch mode power supply, converter, splitter, divider, etc. may deliver each different DC voltage to a respective IS barrier  300  that is correspondingly rated. 
       FIG.  3    depicts an example intrinsically safe power source luminaire (IS-PSL)  300  located in an example hazardous environment  305 . For example, the IS-PSL  300  of  FIG.  3    may be an embodiment of the IS-PSL  100  of  FIG.  1    or of the IS-PSL  200  of  FIG.  2 A . For ease of discussion herein (and not for limitation purposes),  FIG.  3    is discussed below in conjunction with reference numbers included in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the IS-PSL  300  is a node of a wireless network  302  of the hazardous environment  305 , where the wireless network  302  includes other nodes such as other luminaires  308 ,  310  (which may be IS power source luminaires, or may be IS luminaires that do not provide IS DC power to other devices) and a wireless gateway  312  which communicatively interconnects the wireless network  302  and a wired network  315  associated with the hazardous environment  305 . The wired network  315  may utilize Ethernet, broadband, fiber optic, or any suitable type of wired communications and/or data transmission protocols and media to communicatively connect a back-end server, host, controller, computing device, and/or group of computing devices behaving as a single logical server or host  318  with respect to the components (e.g., with respect to the luminaires  300 ,  308 ,  310 , the wireless gateway  312 , and/or other components) disposed in the hazardous environment  305 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  3   , at least portions of the wired network  315  are disposed in a non-hazardous environment  320 , which may be an environment  320  in which components are shielded or protected from the harsh conditions of the hazardous environment  305 . Some components of the non-hazardous environment  320  may be disposed locally to the hazardous environment  305  (e.g., within an enclosure), and some may be disposed remotely from the hazardous environment. 
     The host  318  may be implemented by an individual computing device, by one or more controllers and/or systems associated with the hazardous environment (such as a programmable logic controller (PLC), distributed control system (DCS), or other type of industrial process control system), by a bank of servers, by a computing cloud, or by any suitable arrangement of one or more computing devices. The host  318  may service nodes of the wired network  315  and/or nodes of the wireless network  302 . For example, the host  318  may provide (e.g., via download or other mechanism), to the IS-PSL  300 , configuration and/or operating instructions  230  and/or data  232  that correspond to governing or controlling IS DC power delivery related to the IS-PSL  300 . For example, the host  318  may provide one or more IS DC power thresholds and/or DC power thresholds of the external devices  330   a ,  330   b  serviced by the IS-PSL  300 , and/or the host  318  may provide one or more IS DC power thresholds and/or DC power thresholds to which the IS-PSL  300  itself is subject. 
     Generally, the IS-PSL  300  communicates via the wireless network  302  using one or more on-board wireless communication interfaces, such as one or more of the communication interfaces  235   a - 235   p . In some embodiments (not shown in  FIG.  3   ), the IS-PSL  300  may directly communicate via the wired network  315  using one or more wired communication interfaces, such as one or more of the communication interfaces  235   a - 235   p.    
     Wired network  315  may include a user computing device  322 , which may be disposed in the non-hazardous environment  320 . In some arrangements (not shown in  FIG.  3   ), the user computing device  322  may be communicatively connected to the wired network  315  via a wireless link and access point (and optionally via one or more other networks), where the access point is communicatively connected in a wired manner to the network  315 . A user  325  may utilize the computing device  322  to configure, modify, and/or otherwise provide instructions and/or data that is related to the IS-PSL  300  and utilized by and/or stored at the host  318 , and/or to view data and information provided by other devices and/or nodes via the wired network  315  and/or the wireless network  302  corresponding to the hazardous environment  305 . For example, via the user computing device  322 , the user  325  may generate, delete, update, and/or modify the instructions  230  and/or the data  232  that is downloaded or otherwise provided by the host  318  to the IS-PSL  300 . 
     The wired network  315  and the wireless network  302  may be in compliance with applicable hazardous environment standards and regulations. For example, the wireless network  302  may utilize Wi-Fi, WirelessHART, and/or one or more other communication protocols that are suitable for (e.g., is in compliance with all regulations and standards that are applicable to) the hazardous environment  305 , and devices of the networks  302 ,  315  that are located at least partially within the hazardous environment  305  (e.g., the luminaires  300 ,  308 ,  310 , the wireless gateway  312 , and at least some components of the wired network  315 ) may similarly comply with all applicable hazardous environment standards and regulations that pertain to the hazardous environment  305 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , IS-PSL  300  provides IS DC power to a first external device  330   a  via a direct, IS wired connection  332   a , and the IS-PSL  300  provides IS DC power to a second external device  330   b  via a direct, IS wireless connection  332   b , e.g., in a manner similar to those described elsewhere herein. The wireless external device  330   b  may be a smart wireless device, and as such may communicate data and/or information pertaining to IS DC power with the IS-PSL  300  via the IS wireless connection  332   b  or a different wireless connection (not shown), for example. In some implementations, the smart wireless external device  330   b  may also communicate data and/or information pertaining to lighting control and status with the IS-PSL  300 , e.g., when the IS-PSL  300  includes data  232  and computer-executable instructions  230  configured to perform lighting control and administration. Additionally or alternatively, a smart wireless external device  330   b  may communicate data and/or information pertaining to lighting control and status with other components  308 ,  310 ,  312 ,  318 ,  322  to which the smart wireless external device  330   b  is communicatively connected via the wireless network  302 . The smart wireless external device  330   b  may utilize a wireless link (not shown) other than the IS wireless link  332   b  that it utilizes to communicate with the IS-PSL  300  to communicate via the wireless network  302 . For example, the IS wireless link  332   b  may be a near field wireless power link, and the wireless link communicatively connecting the smart wireless external device  330   b  to the wireless network  302  (not shown) may be a WirelessHART link. 
     As further depicted in  FIG.  3   , the example hazardous environment  305  includes a portable computing device  335  that is operated by a user  338  within the hazardous environment  305 . The portable computing device  335  is compliant with hazardous environment standards and regulations applicable to the hazardous environment  305 . For example, the portable computing device  335  may be configured to communicate with the IS-PSL  300  and/or with other nodes of the wireless network  302  using a WirelessHART protocol or some other protocol that is suitable for (e.g., is in compliance with all regulations and standards that are applicable to) the hazardous environment  305 . The portable computing device  335  may be any type of wireless or mobile computing device, such as a laptop, tablet, smart phone, smart device, wearable computing device (e.g., virtual reality device, headset, or other body-borne device), etc. The portable computing device  335  may or may not be a node of the wireless network  302 . 
     In some embodiments, the portable computing device  335  is a wireless server, host, controller, computing device, and/or group of computing devices behaving as a single logical server or host that services the nodes of the wireless network  302 . For example, the wireless host  335  may provide (e.g., via download or other mechanism), to the IS-PSL  300 , configuration and/or operating instructions  230  and/or data  232  that correspond to governing or controlling IS DC power delivery related to the IS-PSL  300 . For example, the wireless host  335  may provide one or more IS DC power thresholds and/or DC power thresholds of the external devices serviced by the IS-PSL  300 , and/or the wireless host  335  may provide one or more IS DC power thresholds and/or DC power thresholds to which the IS-PSL  300  is subject to itself. The user  338  may utilize a user interface of the wireless host  335  to configure, modify, and/or otherwise provide instructions and/or data stored at the wireless host  335 , and/or to view data and information provided by other devices and/or nodes via the wireless network  302  corresponding to the hazardous environment  305 . For example, the user  338  may add, delete, and/or modify at least portions of the instructions  230  and/or the data  232  via a user interface of the host  335 . 
     Generally speaking, a user  325 ,  338  may utilize one or more of the user interface computing devices  322 ,  335  to manage instructions  230  and/or data  232  corresponding to providing IS DC power via intrinsically safe power source luminaires, e.g., the IS-PSL  300  and/or other IS-PSLs utilized in the hazardous environment  305 . The data  232  may include, for example, configurations of the IS-PSL  300  and configurations of the external devices  330   a ,  330   b  to which the IS-PSL  300  provides IS DC power, and the user  325 ,  338  may create, add, delete, and/or modify any configurations or portions thereof. For example, as discussed above, the user  325 ,  338  may add, delete, and/or modify IS DC power thresholds, alerts, status reporting, voltage levels, and/or other information corresponding to external devices serviced by the IS-PSLs and/or corresponding to the IS-PSL units themselves. 
       FIG.  4    depicts a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method  400  in an intrinsically safe power source luminaire, such as the IS-PSL  100 , the IS-PSL  200 , the IS-PSL  250 , the IS-PSL  280 , the IS-PSL  300 , or other embodiments. For example, the method  400  may execute at an IS-PSL disposed in a hazardous environment, where the luminaire includes a hazardous location enclosure in which one or more drivers coupled to one or more illumination sources are disposed, the illumination sources may radiate visible light into the hazardous environment. The luminaire may optionally include a power converter, which may be implemented as an AC-to-DC power converter, a DC-to-DC power converter, a pass-through component, etc., e.g., in a manner such as described above. The luminaire may additionally include one or more intrinsically safe barriers that are disposed within the hazardous location enclosure, as well as a power-reception port and one or more power distribution ports. Generally speaking, the method  400  may operate in accordance with any IS-PSL having one or more of the features discussed herein. For ease of discussion, though, and not for limitation purposes, the method  400  is discussed below with respect to  FIGS.  1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  2 C, and  3   . Further, in some embodiments, the method  400  includes one or more alternate or additional actions other than those described with respect to  FIG.  4   . 
     At a block  402 , the method  400  includes receiving power via a power-reception port of an intrinsically safe power source luminaire (IS-PSL). Block  402  may include receiving the power in an intrinsically safe manner from a power source, such as an AC power panel, a low voltage non-IS DC voltage source, a high voltage non-IS DC voltage source, etc. For example, the power may be transmitted from the power source to the power-reception port via physical, intrinsically safe, power delivery transmission media, e.g., wires, cables, and the like that may be run thorough conduit or similar, and/or that are enclosed within a wall, ceiling, conduit, trench, etc. The power that is received by the IS-PSL via its power-reception port may be of any standard or suitable AC or DC voltage, such as 110 V AC, 115V AC, 220 V AC, 230 V AC, 240V AC, 440V AC, 2V DC, 5.6 V DC, 12V DC, 24 V DC, 30 V DC, 300 V DC, etc. 
     At a block  405 , the method  400  includes powering the one or more drivers to operate (e.g., activate and/or deactivate) the one or more illumination sources using at least a first portion of the received power. For example, in embodiments in which the received power is AC power and the driver(s) are AC powered, the driver(s) may receive at least a first portion of the received AC power directly from the power-reception port. In embodiments in which the received power is AC power and the driver(s) are DC powered, the IS-PSL may include a power converter that converts at least a first portion of the AC power received via the power-reception port into the DC power that powers the one or more drivers. The power converter may be a separate and distinct component from the one or more drivers, or the power converter and at least one driver may be an integral component or unit. In embodiments in which the received power is standard, non-IS DC power and the driver(s) are DC powered, the one or more driver(s) may receive at least a first portion of the non-IS DC power directly from the power-reception port, via a DC-to-DC switch mode power supply, converter, voltage splitter, a voltage divider, etc., or via a pass-through component, etc. 
     Indeed, at an optional block  408 , the method  400  includes converting or transforming, via the power converter, switch mode power supply, splitter, and/or divider, at least a second portion of the received AC or DC power into DC power of one or more DC voltages that is to be delivered to one or more external devices that are disposed in the hazardous environment in which the IS-PSL is disposed. The external devices may include, for example, a process controller, a solenoid driver, a safety controller or logic solver, another type of process control driver, a field device, a sensor, an I/O device, a device that includes a battery, etc. At least some of the DC power produced by the power converter/switch mode power supply/splitter/divider may be of a DC voltage that is natively utilized by a recipient external device. In embodiments in which the received power is non-IS DC power of a DC voltage that is native to the recipient external device, the block  408  may be omitted, or the power converter may merely pass through the received non-IS DC power received via the power-reception port. 
     Generally speaking, but not exclusively, the external devices that are recipients of IS DC power generated by the luminaire are intrinsically safe external devices. In an embodiment, e.g., in arrangements in which the IS-PSL services multiple different external devices of different native voltages, the power converter/switch mode power supply/splitter/divider, etc. of the luminaire may produce different non-IS DC voltages for delivery to the different external devices of different native voltages, e.g., sequentially, periodically, at pre-defined intervals, upon demand, when triggered, etc. In an embodiment, the power converter/switch mode power supply/splitter/divider is included in a single component that is configured to produce different non-IS DC voltages. In an embodiment, the luminaire may include multiple power converters, splitters, and/or dividers, at least some of which may produce, from the received AC or DC power, different non-IS DC voltages for different recipient external devices. 
     At a block  410 , the method  400  includes converting, via an intrinsically-safe (IS) barrier disposed within the hazardous location enclosure of the luminaire, the non-IS DC power (which may have been produced by the power converter, switch mode power supply, splitter, divider, etc., or which may be the received non-IS DC power) into intrinsically-safe (IS) DC power. The IS barrier may have an IS rating (e.g., voltage, zone usage, class, division, group, etc.) that corresponds to a recipient external device. In some embodiments, the IS barrier is a configurable or modifiable IS barrier which may be re-configured (e.g., either manually or automatically) to be compliant with multiple different IS ratings. In some embodiments, the luminaire includes multiple IS barriers, at least some of which may have different IS ratings. The connectivity relationships between the power converter(s)/splitter(s)/divider(s) and the IS barrier(s) of the luminaire may be one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many, if desired. 
     At a block  412 , the method  400  includes delivering, via one or more power distribution ports of the luminaire, the IS DC power produced by the IS barrier(s) to one or more recipient external devices disposed in the hazardous environment. Each power distribution port may correspond to a different IS DC voltage that is native to a respective external device, for example. Each power distribution port may deliver IS DC power via a respective power delivery mechanism, e.g., in a wired manner via an intrinsically safe, physical power delivery transmission media, or in a wireless manner via near field wireless power delivery techniques, power beaming, etc.). Each power distribution port may deliver IS DC power produced by one or more of the IS barriers included in the luminaire. The connectivity relationships between the IS barrier(s) and the power distribution port(s) of the luminaire may be one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many, as desired. The IS DC power that is delivered to the one or more recipient external devices may be respectively utilized by the one or more recipient external devices as a primary source of power, an auxiliary source of power, a back-up or emergency source of power, and/or to charge batteries utilized by the recipient external devices (where the batteries themselves may be a primary, auxiliary, back-up, and/or emergency source of DC power). 
     In some implementations, the luminaire includes one or more wired and/or wireless communication interfaces, one or more processors, and one or more memories (e.g., one or more tangible, non-transitory memories) storing data and computer-executable instructions which, when executed, allow the luminaire to communicate DC power-related information to/from other devices and systems. That is, the one or more processors may execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the luminaire to transmit and/or receive signals indicative of and/or otherwise pertaining to IS DC power with respect to the luminaire and/or to the external device(s) to which the luminaire provides IS DC power. In some embodiments, the execution of the computer-executable instructions may cause the luminaire to transmit and/or receive signals indicative of and/or otherwise pertaining to lighting status and/or control, e.g., of the luminaire itself and/or of other luminaires  308 ,  310 . The one or more processors and the one or more memories may be disposed within the hazardous environment enclosure, for example. As discussed above, devices and/or systems with which the luminaire may communicate may include, for example, user operated devices  322 ,  335 , back-end servers and/or hosts  318 , other luminaires  308 ,  310 , and/or external devices  330   a ,  330   b  to which the luminaire provides IS DC power. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more processors may execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the luminaire to monitor IS DC power related to the external device(s) to which the luminaire provides IS-DC power, and to generate and transmit signals corresponding to IS DC power usage of external devices to the back-end servers or hosts, user operated devices, and/or external devices. The luminaire may directly and/or indirectly monitor IS DC power that is provided to and/or consumed by the external device(s) (e.g., utilized by the external device(s) as a primary power source, as an auxiliary, back-up, and/or emergency source, for charging batteries, etc.). For example, the luminaire may monitor IS DC power that is delivered via one or more particular power delivery ports to a particular external device, e.g., for amounts of power, time intervals between power delivery, requests of the particular external device for additional power and the timing thereof, etc. for each particular power delivery port associated with the particular external device. The information indicative and/or related to IS DC power usage of the external device(s) that is transmitted by the luminaire may be related to the monitoring, and as such may include, for example, configurations, thresholds, statuses, usages, alerts, estimated lifetimes (e.g., of battery supply and/or the battery itself and/or other components), and the like. In some cases, the information transmitted by the luminaire may include instructions or commands issued by the luminaire to the particular external device to modify its consumption and/or usage of IS DC power, e.g., going to sleep, waking up, powering down, switching to using batteries as a primary power source, switching to provided IS DC power as a primary power source, etc. Additionally or alternatively, based on the monitoring of IS DC power related to the particular external device, the luminaire may modify and/or adjust its own behavior corresponding to delivery IS DC power. For example, the luminaire may select and/or switch to a different IS barrier and/or different power delivery port for delivery of IS DC power to the particular external device; the luminaire may modify the distribution of IS DC power among various power distribution ports; the luminaire may activate and/or deactivate various power distribution ports, etc. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the one or more processors may execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the luminaire to monitor IS DC power related to the luminaire itself, and generate and transmit signals corresponding to IS DC power usage of the luminaire to accordingly to the external devices, back-end servers or hosts, and/or user operated devices. For example, the luminaire may send alerts and/or status information related to its back-up battery  222  to user operated devices, the luminaire may instruct one or more external devices to modify behavior with respect to IS DC power differently based on conditions of the luminaire (e.g., conditions related to the usage of various on-board components  220 ,  218 ,  212 , etc. of the luminaire). 
     Accordingly, embodiments of the novel and inventive intrinsically safe power source lighting unit, light fixture, or luminaire disclosed herein provide significant advantages over known techniques. For example, as IS-PSLs are installed to provide ambient and/or focused light in hazardous environment, the IS-PSLs may be easily leveraged to deliver IS DC power to electronic devices disposed within the hazardous environment, thereby greatly reducing (and in some situations, eliminating) the costs and resources that are typically needed to install, run, and maintain individual IS cabling runs to each electronic device requiring DC power. Further, utilizing IS-PSLs as IS DC power sources in a hazardous environment increases the flexibility and scalability of electronic devices and equipment within the hazardous environment, thereby increasing efficiencies as individual DC power cabling runs no longer affect the physical layout and placements of the electronic devices and equipment. Still further, various embodiments of the IS-PSL described herein may easily be applied to legacy HE luminaires and/or may be easily (re-)configured to service various external devices of different native DC voltages. 
     The following additional considerations apply to the foregoing discussion. 
     A portable computing device, such as the device  335 , which may operate in conjunction with embodiments of the hazardous environment lighting unit, light lighting unit, light fixture, or luminaire disclosed herein can be any suitable device capable of wireless communications such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a wearable or body-borne device, a drone, a camera, a media-streaming dongle or another personal media device, a wireless hotspot, a femtocell, or a broadband router. Further, the portable computing device and/or embodiments of the disclosed hazardous environment lighting unit, light fixture, or luminaire can operate as an internet-of-things (IoT) device or an Industrial internet-of-things (IIoT) device. 
     Certain embodiments are described in this disclosure as including logic or a number of components or modules. Modules may can be software modules (e.g., code stored on non-transitory machine-readable medium) or hardware modules. A hardware module is a tangible, non-transitory unit capable of performing certain operations and may be configured or arranged in a certain manner. A hardware module can include dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured (e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) to perform certain operations. A hardware module may also include programmable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassed within a general-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that is temporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. The decision to implement a hardware module in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and time considerations. 
     When implemented in software, the techniques can be provided as part of the operating system, a library used by multiple applications, a particular software application, etc. The software can be executed by one or more general-purpose processors or one or more special-purpose processors. 
     Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciate still additional alternative structural and functional designs for a hazardous environment lighting unit, light fixture, or luminaire that communicates alerts and/or detected conditions and/or events via visual sequences through the principles disclosed in this disclosure. Thus, while this document illustrates and describes particular embodiments and applications, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed. Various modifications, changes and variations, which will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, may be made in the disclosed arrangement, operation and details of the method, and apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope defined in the appended claims.