Illumination apparatus utilizing light emitting diodes

• US 20020179816A1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Henry Hurst Willis, Joshua Paul Haines, Nicholas Andrew Rixham, Stephen Frazer Belafonte
• Original Assignee: Charles Henry Hurst Willis, Joshua Paul Haines, Nicholas Andrew Rixham, Stephen Frazer Belafonte
• Inventors: Haines, Joshua Paul, Rixham, Nicholas Andrew, Willis, Charles Henry Hurst, Belafonte, Stephen Frazer
• Granted Patent: US 6,689,999 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0621 Supply
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0626 Use of several LED's for spatial resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback

Abstract

A light emitting diode lighting apparatus that includes: a power supply for providing a fixed direct current; a light emitting diode head for emitting light; and a controller for adjusting the level of said light output on said head and compensating for efficiency altering effects of said light in said power head, whereby said controller receives signals for optical feedback stabilization, temperature compensation, and detection of short term current changes to adjust said light and efficiency.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode lighting apparatus, comprising:

a) a power supply for providing a fixed direct current;

b) a light emitting diode head for emitting light; and

c) a controller for adjusting the level of said light output on said head and compensating for efficiency altering effects of said light in said power head, whereby said controller receives signals for optical feedback stabilization, temperature compensation, and detection of short term current changes to adjust said light and efficiency.

2. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is an intelligent controller.

3. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head is powered from constant voltage.

4. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said intelligent controller supplies variable constant current through a (0-5 v dc) analog input voltage.

5. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said intelligent controller provides a light level output analog voltage, an operating temperature output analog voltage and a light emitting diode head forward output analog voltage.

6. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply provides about 12 v dc output voltage.

7. A light emitting diode head apparatus, comprising:

a) a body that is internally hollow for positioning a light emitting diode cluster inside said body and communicating with a signal cable;

b) a light emitting diode cluster mounted on a platform for emitting a desired level of light;

c) a photosensitive device for collecting a representative amount of light from a number of light emitting diodes using the photocurrent generated as a regulation parameter signal to drive said cluster through an Intelligent controller with said photosensitive device mounted on said platform and optically isolated from said light emitting diode cluster;

d) a temperature-sensitive device for monitoring temperature of said cluster by generating an operating temperature signal to drive said cluster through an intelligent controller with said temperature device located within said cluster;

e) a light emitting diode failure detector for continuous monitoring of light emitting diode current allowing the detection of short term current changes and providing a signal to drive said cluster through an intelligent controller;

f) a matrix plate to hold said light emitting diode cluster in said body; and

g) a retainer to hold other members and said matrix plate in said body.

8. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said body may be a plurality of shapes and sizes.

9. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said body material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, PVC, and metal.

10. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said other members are selected from the group consisting of a diffuser, a window, and a polarizer.

11. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plate is a plurality of shapes.

12. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plate material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, PVC, and metal.

13. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said retaining ring is a plurality of shapes.

14. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said retaining ring material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, PVC, and metal.

15. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light emitting diode cluster further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a platform with said photosensitive device mounted on the opposite side of said platform.

16. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said light emitting diode cluster further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a platform with said thermister mounted on the same side of said platform and among the cluster of light emitting diodes.

17. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said photosensitive device is a photodiode.

18. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said failure detector indicates a signal selected from the group consisting of an open circuit, a short circuit, a partial emitting diode, and a resistive diode.

19. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light emitting diode cluster further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a platform with said photosensitive device mounted within a mechanical recess formed on same side as the light emitting diode cluster is mounted on said platform.

20. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said light emitting diode cluster further comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes providing said light with a plurality of colors.

21. The light emitting diode lighting head apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said temperature-sensitive device may be a thermister.

22. A light emitting diode head apparatus, comprising:

a) a body that is internally hollow for positioning a light emitting diode cluster inside said body and communicating with a signal cable;

b) a light emitting diode cluster mounted on a platform for emitting a desired level of light;

c) a photosensitive device for collecting a representative amount of light from a number of light emitting diodes using the photocurrent generated as a regulation parameter signal to drive said cluster through an Intelligent controller with said photosensitive device mounted on said platform and optically isolated from said light emitting diode cluster;

d) a temperature-sensitive device for monitoring temperature of said cluster by generating an operating temperature signal to drive said cluster through an intelligent controller with said temperature device located within said cluster;

e) a light emitting diode failure detector for continuous monitoring of light emitting diode current allowing the detection of short term current changes and providing a signal to drive said cluster through an intelligent controller;