Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions

• US 20030133292A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Cella, Charles H., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M., Ducharme, Alfred D.
• Application Number:
  US10/245,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 42/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/02 Furniture or other equipment specially adapted for hairdressers' rooms and not covered elsewhere hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• 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 45/10 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 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3577 Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions. Examples of applications in which such methods and apparatus may be implemented include retail environments (e.g., food, clothing, jewelry, paint, furniture, fabrics, etc.) or service environments (e.g., cosmetics, hair and beauty salons and spas, photography, etc.) where visible aspects of the products/services being offered are significant in attracting sales of the products/services. Other applications include theatre and cinema, medical and dental implementations, as well as vehicle-based (automotive) implementations. In another example, a personal grooming apparatus includes one or more light sources disposed in proximity to a mirror and configured to generate variable color light, including essentially white light, whose color temperature may be controlled by a user.

Claims

1. A personal grooming apparatus, comprising:

at least one mirror;

at least one light source including a plurality of LEDs, the at least one light source disposed in proximity to the at least one mirror and configured to generate variable color light, the variable color light including essentially white light; and

at least one user interface adapted to facilitate varying at least a color temperature of the white light generated by the at least one light source.

2. The personal grooming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle visor, wherein the at least one mirror and the at least one light source is coupled to the vehicle visor.