A light module, comprising: an LED system for generating a range of colors within a color spectrum; a processor for controlling the amount of electrical current supplied to the plurality of light emitting diodes, so that a particular amount of current supplied thereto generates a corresponding color within the color spectrum, a housing within which the LED system is positioned, and a heat spreader plate in contact with the housing for dissipating heat from the housing; wherein the LED system includes a thermal connection to the heat spreader plate. view more

A light module of claim 1, wherein the thermal connection includes a thermally conductive polymer.

The light module of claim 1, further comprising a data connection.

A light bulb, comprising:</claim-text> a housing configured to fit at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light fixture; an illumination source including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); a processor coupled to the ination source and controlling current to the plurality of LEDs to generate color within a color spectrum, wherein the illumination source and the processor are disposed within the housing; and, at least one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the processor for respectively receiving or transmitting a data signal from an external device. view more

The light bulb of claim 1 wherein the housing is further configured to resemble at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light bulb.

The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the data signal is selected from the group consisting of infrared, optical, electrical, radio, electromagnetic, and acoustic signals.

The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the external device is at least one of another light bulb, a motor, a television, a security system, a video cassette recorder, a video cassette player, a disc player, a receiver, a stereo, a turntable, a personal computer, a microprocessor, a network, a pager, a security badge, a web television, an alarm system, a server, a phone, a disc drive, a laptop computer, a microwave, an oven, an alarm, a clock, a radio, a tape player, a manual input device, and a tape recorder. view more

The light bulb of claim 1, further comprising:</claim-text> memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory stores at least one program for controlling current to the plurality of LEDs.

A light bulb, comprising:</claim-text> a housing configured to fit at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light fixture; an illumination source having at least one blue LED; and a processor coupled to the illumination source and olling current to the illumination source to generate color within a color spectrum, wherein the illumination source and the processor are disposed within the housing, and wherein the processor is configured to receive and respond to at least one control signal transmitted to the light bulb from a remote user interface. view more

The light bulb of claim 11 wherein the housing is further configured to resemble at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light bulb.

The light bulb of claim 11, further comprising:</claim-text> memory coupled to the processor wherein the memory stores at least one program for controlling current to the illumination source.

The light bulb of claim 11 further comprising at least one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the processor for respectively receiving or transmitting a data signal from an external device.

The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the data signal is selected from the group consisting of infrared, optical, electrical, radio, electromagnetic, and acoustic signals.

The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the external device is at least one of another light bulb, a motor, a television, a security system, a video cassette recorder, a video cassette player, a disc player, a receiver, a stereo, a turntable, a personal computer, a microprocessor, a network, a pager, a security badge, a web television, an alarm system, a server, a phone, a disc drive, a laptop computer, a microwave, an oven, an alarm, a clock, a radio, a tape player, a manual input device, and a tape recorder. view more

A light bulb, comprising:</claim-text> illumination means for generating light of variable color, control means, coupled to the illumination means, for controlling the color of the light generated, housing means for containing the illumination means he control means, wherein the housing means is configured to fit at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light fixture, and communication means, coupled to the control means, for transmitting or receiving at least one control signal to or from at least once external device. view more

The light bulb of claim 21 wherein the housing means is further configured to resemble at least one of a halogen, incandescent and fluorescent light bulb.

The lightbulb of claim 21, wherein the communications means comprises a receiver.

The lightbulb of claim 21, wherein the communications means comprises a transmitter.

The lightbulb of claim 21, wherein the control means comprises a processor.

The lightbulb of claim 21, wherein the illumination means comprises a plurality of LEDs.

The light bulb of claim 21, further comprising:</claim-text> memory means, coupled to the control means, for storing at least one program for controlling current to the illumination means.

An illumination unit comprising:</claim-text> a light module having a plurality of light emitting diodes for generating light of a range of colors within a color spectrum, a processor for controlling the amount of electrical current supplied to each emitting diode such that a particular amount of current supplied to the light module generates a corresponding color within the color spectrum, and a power module for providing electrical current from a power source to the light module, the power module including a connector for removably and replacably connecting the power module to the light module. view more

The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the light module includes a receiver for receiving a data signal from an external device, the receiver being coupled to the processor to provide the data signal to the processor.

The illumination unit of claim 1, wherein the processor is coupled to the power module.

An illumination unit comprising</claim-text> a light module having a plurality of light emitting diodes for generating light of a range of colors within a color spectrum, a processor for controlling the amount of electrical current supplied to each emitting diode such that a particular amount of current supplied to the light module generates a corresponding color within the color spectrum, and a modular platform coupled to the light module, the modular platform having a coupling mechanism permitting the modular platform to be mechanically interconnected to at least one other modular platform to thereby form a modular illumination unit. view more

The illumination unit of claim 6, wherein the coupling mechanism provides for electrical coupling between the light module and at least one other light module.

Light apparatus comprising: a power terminal; at least one LED coupled to the power terminal; a current sink coupled to the at least one LED, the current sink comprising an input responsive to an activation signal enables flow of current through the current sink; an addressable controller having an alterable address, the controller coupled to the input and having timing means for generating the activation signal for a predefined portion of a timing cycle; the addressable controller further comprising means for receiving data corresponding to the alterable address and indicative of the predefined portion of the timing cycle: a second LED coupled to the power terminal and the current sink; the current sink comprising a second input corresponding to the second LED and responsive to a second activation signal; the addressable controller comprising second timing means for generating the second activation signal for a second predefined portion of the timing cycle, and further comprising second means for receiving data corresponding to the alterable address and indicative of the second predefined portion of a timing cycle. view more

The light apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one LED and the second LED comprise different colors.

The light apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predefined portion represents the duty cycle of a PWM signal and the timing cycle is the PWM period.

A lighting network comprising a central controller and a plurality of uniquely addressable illumination units, each unit comprising a first color LED and second color LED; each unit further comprising: data means for receiving from the central controller network data comprising LED intensity values addressed to an individual illumination unit and corresponding to respective ones of the first color and second color LED; memory means for storing intensity values received from said network data corresponding to the first color LED and to the second color LED; control means for generating a first pulse width modulated signal and a second pulse width modulated signal, both first and second signals having a duty cycle corresponding to the respective intensity values, whereby each of the first and second pulse width modulated signals is alternately in high voltage or a low voltage state; current switching means for applying current to the first color LED when the first pulse width modulated signal is in one of either the high voltage or the low voltage state, and for applying current to the second color LED when the second pulse width modulated signal is in one of either the high voltage or the low voltage state. view more

The network of claim 14 wherein the first color LED is a plurality of first color LEDs and the second color LED is a plurality of second color LEDs.

The network of claim 14 wherein the first color and the second color LEDs are respectively a first primary color LED and a second primary color LED.

The network of claim 14 wherein the unit comprises a third color LED, the intensity values addressed to an individual illumination unit further correspond to the third color LED, the control means further generates a third pulse width modulated signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the third color LED intensity value, whereby the third pulse width modulated signal is alternately in a high voltage or a low voltage state, and the current switching means further applies current to the third color LED when the third pulse width modulated signal is in one of either the high voltage or the low voltage state. view more

The network of claim 14 wherein the data means comprises a repeater adapted to electrically interconnect each unit to at least two other units to form a path for the network data.

The network of claim 19 wherein the repeater is adapted to electrically interconnect each unit to one network data input and to two network data outputs, whereby the network may comprise a binary tree configuration.

Light apparatus comprising: a power terminal; at least one LED coupled to the power terminal; a current sink coupled to the at least one LED, the current sink comprising an input responsive to an activation signal that enables flow of current through the current sink; an addressable controller having an alterable address, the controller coupled to the input and having timing means for generating the activation signal for a predefined portion of a timing cycle; the addressable controller further comprising means for receiving data corresponding to the alterable address and indicative of the predefined portion of the timing cycle. view more

The light apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predefined portion represents the duty cycle of a PWM signal and the timing cycle is the PWM period.

An illumination apparatus comprising: a plurality of LEDs of at least two different colors adapted to be coupled to a power source and to a common potential reference; a current sink interposed between the plurality of LEDs and the common potential reference, the current sink comprising at least two switches corresponding to respective current paths of the at least two different color LEDs; control means for periodically and independently opening and closing the at least two switches at high frequency and for generating a duty cycle thereby; programming means coupled to the control means for programming respective duty cycles for each color of the at least two different color LEDs. view more

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the duty cycle ranges from a minimum to a maximum, and the programming means is adapted to generate a substantially continuous range of duty cycles between the minimum and the maximum.

The apparatus of claim 4 comprising a housing that substantially encloses the plurality of LEDs, the current sink, the control means and the programming means.