Lighting Configuration and Circuits

• US 20080149810A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolivegreen Corp.
• Original Assignee: Mag-E Tech Incorporated
• Inventors: Culler, Paul L., Bryan, Leonard C., Tracy, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,745,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/204
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3925 by frequency variation H05B41/3922 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and system for adjusting a light source that is capable of displaying light of different colors receives inputs from various sources and provides an output color selection signal. The output color selection signal is applied to the light source to adjust the intensity and color thereof.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a light source capable of displaying light of different colors, the light source used for illuminating an interior space comprising:

sensing an illumination of the interior space and providing an illumination signal;

sensing a brightness adjustment input and providing a brightness adjustment signal;

sensing a color balance adjustment input and providing a color balance adjustment signal;

processing the illumination signal, the brightness adjustment signal, and the color balance adjustment signal and providing an output color selection signal; and

applying the output color selection signal to the light source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the light source is capable of displaying light of a first color and light of a second color and wherein the applying step further includes increasing the intensity of the light of the first color and decreasing the light of the second color.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the output color selection signal is a pulse-width modulated signal.

4. The method as in claim 2 wherein the light source is a fluorescent light source.

5. The method as in claim 2 wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode source.

6. The method as in claim 2 further including obtaining a time of day indication and adjusting the output color selection signal based on the time of day indication.

7. The method as in claim 6 wherein the step of adjusting the output color selection signal based on the time of day indication includes altering the output color selection signal to increase the color temperature of the light source when the time of day indication corresponds to the morning.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein the step of adjusting the output color selection signal based on the time of day indication includes altering the output color selection signal to decrease the color temperature of the light source when the time of day indication corresponds to the afternoon.

9. The method as in claim 1 further including the step of receiving a remote brightness adjustment signal via an external network connection, and wherein the step of adjusting the output color selection signal includes setting the output color selection signal to be substantially the same as the remote brightness adjustment signal.

10. A system for adjusting a light source capable of displaying light of different colors, the light source used for illuminating an interior space, the circuit comprising:

an illumination sensor disposed to detect an illumination of the interior space and provide an illumination signal;

a brightness adjustment mechanism disposed to provide a brightness adjustment signal;

a color balance adjustment input disposed to provide a color balance adjustment signal;

a processor disposed to receive the illumination signal, the brightness adjustment signal, and the color balance adjustment signal and to provide a output color selection signal; and

an output driver circuit disposed to receive the output color selection signal and to applying a conditioned output color selection signal to the light source.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the light source is capable of displaying light of a first color and light of a second color and wherein the processor provides an output color selection signal having a first component for increasing the intensity of the light of the first color and a second component for decreasing the light of the second color.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the output color selection signal is a pulse-width modulated signal.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the light source is a fluorescent light source.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode source.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further disposed to obtain a time of day indication and to adjust the output color selection signal based on the time of day indication.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the output color selection signal causes an increased color temperature of the light source when the time of day indication corresponds to the morning.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the output color selection signal causes a decreased color temperature of the light source when the time of day indication corresponds to the afternoon.

18. The system of claim 10 further including means for receiving a remote brightness adjustment signal via an external network connection, wherein the processor is disposed to adjust the output color selection signal to be substantially the same as the remote brightness adjustment signal.