CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE COLOR OF LIGHT EMITTED FROM A LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20090128059A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Joosen, Bram Francois, Bergman, Anthonie Hendrik
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (1) for controlling the color of light (L) emitted from a light source (2). The control device comprises color variation means (24) for varying the color of said light emitted from said light source and one or more light-emitting elements (26) arranged to indicate an available color variation range for the color of said light emitted from said light source upon operation of said color variation means. The control device 1 further comprises control means (23) capable of controlling at least one color of the light emitted by said light-emitting elements in dependence on said available color variation range for said light emitted by said light source.

Claims

1. A control device (1) for controlling the color of light (L) emitted by a light source (2), wherein said control device comprises:

color variation means (24) for varying the color of said light emitted by said light source;

one or more light-emitting elements (26) arranged to indicate a color variation range for the color of said light emitted by said light source, which range is available through operation of said color variation means;

control means (23) capable of controlling at least one color of the light emitted by said light-emitting elements in dependence on said available color variation range for said light emitted by said light source.

2. The control device (1) according to claim 1, comprising means (20) for selecting the hue (H) and variation means (21) for varying the saturation (S) of said light (L) emitted by said light source (2), and wherein said control means (23) is capable of controlling the color of said light emitted by said light-emitting elements (26) to indicate an available saturation variation range in dependence on said selected hue.

3. The control device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said means (20) for selecting said hue (H) comprises a continuous, preferably ring-shaped, member.

4. The control device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said means (20) for selecting said hue (H) comprises a pre-printed range of available hues (H) for said light (L) emitted by said light source (2).

5. The control device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said means (20) for selecting said hue (H) comprises a plurality of further light-emitting elements (25) capable of indicating a range of available hues for said light emitted by said light source.

6. The control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting elements (26) comprise one or more light-emitting diodes.

7. The control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises a diffuser plate (27) arranged over one or more of said light-emitting elements (26).

8. The control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said control device further comprises brightness variation means (22).