System and method for controlling color output of linear RGB led arrays

• US 10,555,392 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mary L. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Mary L. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Mary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US16/106,762
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/02 Mirrors used as equipment hand, pocket, or shaving mirrors A45D42/00; optical viewing means for vehicles B60R1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/0622 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/049 Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/302 for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An illumination system comprising a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements; a power supply coupled to the array; and a power regulating circuit, coupled between the power supply and the array, effective to activate the light emitting elements to emit light in accordance with a color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array. In a specific implementation, the invention includes a camera or other sensor for detecting ambient lighting conditions. This enables the system to adjust the array to achieve ambient lighting conditions in accordance with user preferences or profile. In yet another embodiment, lighting conditions at a remote location at a specific time are sensed by a smartphone camera or other device and coupled to the power regulating circuit for use in adjusting the array to achieve a match of ambient lighting to that or a remote location and time, subject to user adjustments, profile and/or preferences. In the best mode, user commands are entered via a smartphone or via voice using a virtual assistant.

Claims

1. An illumination system comprising:

a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements;

a power supply coupled to the array; and

a power regulating circuit coupled between the power supply and the array

whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with a tapered color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including an optical detector for detecting ambient lighting conditions operationally coupled to the power regulating circuit.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the optical detector is a camera.

4. The invention of claim 1 further including a smartphone for detecting remote lighting conditions operationally coupled to the power regulating circuit.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes an arrangement for selectively driving some of the light emitting elements with commands while driving other elements to output basic white light to mitigate the problem of narrow band source.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for matching local lighting conditions to sensed remote lighting conditions.

7. The invention of claim 6 further including a mechanism for further adjusting the local lighting conditions on voice command.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output color based on local ambient lighting conditions.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output color temperature based on local ambient lighting conditions.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output intensity based on local ambient lighting conditions.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output color based on sensed remote lighting conditions.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output color temperature based on sensed remote lighting conditions.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for adjusting output intensity based on sensed remote lighting conditions.

14. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes an arrangement for changing the profile.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the arrangement for changing the profile includes a user interface.

16. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes a system controller.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein the system controller includes a lookup table for providing any color profile by the array.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein the power regulating circuit includes an arrangement for regulating power to each of the light emitting elements individually.

19. An illumination system comprising:

a light source including a linear array of light emitting elements;

a power supply coupled to the array;

a controller coupled between the power supply and the array whereby the light emitting elements emit light as a function of location in the array in accordance with a color profile, the controller including a mechanism for matching local ambient color conditions to remote lighting conditions;

a camera or color detector operationally coupled to the controller for detecting local ambient lighting conditions;

a wireless mobile communications and computing platform having a camera for detecting remote lighting conditions; and

a communications interface for operationally coupling the controller to the mobile communications and computing platform.

20. An illumination method including the steps of:

providing a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements;

coupling a power supply to the array; and

coupling a power regulating circuit between the power supply and the array that controls the light emitting elements in accordance with a tapered color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array.

21. An illumination system comprising:

a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements;

a power supply coupled to the array;

a power regulating circuit coupled between the power supply and the array whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with a color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array; and

a smartphone for detecting remote lighting conditions operationally coupled to the power regulating circuit.

22. An illumination system comprising:

a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements;

a power supply coupled to the array; and

a power regulating circuit coupled between the power supply and the array wherein the power regulating circuit includes an arrangement for selectively driving some of the light emitting elements with commands while driving other elements to output basic white light to mitigate the problem of narrow band source,

whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with an output color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array.

23. An illumination system comprising:

a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements;

a power supply coupled to the array; and

a power regulating circuit coupled between the power supply and the array whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with a color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array, the power regulating circuit includes a mechanism for matching local lighting conditions to sensed remote lighting conditions.

24. An illumination system comprising:

an elongate mirror;

a light source including a linear array of color variable light emitting elements mounted along at least one side of said mirror;

a power supply coupled to the array; and

a power regulating circuit coupled between the power supply and the array

whereby the light emitting elements emit light in accordance with a color profile that varies as a function of location on at least a portion of the array.