Led-based secondary general illumination lighting color slaved to alternate general illumination lighting

• US 20100110682A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Jung, Edward K.Y., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.20
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/46 Circuits providing for substitution in case of failure of the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback

Abstract

One aspect relates to combining an at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting with an at least one primary general illumination lighting to at least partially provide an at least one combined general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of an at least one alternate general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises controlling at least one controlled optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the one or more sensed optical characteristics of an at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture which, when electrically connected with at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source, is configured to emit at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, wherein the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting when combined with at least one primary general illumination lighting at least partially results in at least one combined general illumination lighting;

at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics provided by at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from at least one alternate general illumination lighting source; and

at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture that when electrically connected with at least one primary general illumination lighting source is configured to emit the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising at least one primary general illumination lighting component that includes the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture and the at least one primary general illumination lighting source configured to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting component configured to include the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source, the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture configured to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting, and the at least one sensor are included in a modular unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting component that includes the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture and the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture and the at least one sensor forms a modular unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches a color of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches an intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches a spectral intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of a one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the combined general illumination lighting is enhanced relative to the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the combined general illumination lighting is limited relative to the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source comprises:

the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source combined with the at least one combined general illumination lighting.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source comprises:

at least one sensor configured to sense one or more time averaged optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source comprises:

at least one spectrally sensitive sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics relating to at least one color of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source comprises:

at least one optical sensor configured to sense an at least one intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source comprises:

at least one optical sensor configured to sense an at least one spectral intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source.

30. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source is further configured to sense at least one electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

31. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source includes at least one additional sensor configured to sense at least one electric characteristic used to provide the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source is further configured to sense general illumination lighting including at least some optical characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor configured to sense the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting source is further configured to sense general illumination lighting including at least some optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics from an alternate general illumination light source.

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

36. A method, comprising:

combining at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting with at least one primary general illumination lighting to at least partially provide an at least one combined general illumination lighting;

sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of at least one alternate general illumination lighting; and

controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches a color of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches an intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting substantially matches a spectral intensity of at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of an one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristics optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling at least one time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the combined general illumination lighting is enhanced relative to the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

48. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the combined general illumination lighting is limited relative to the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

49. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

50. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

51. The method of claim 36, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting to control the at least one combined general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the combined general illumination lighting in combination with the at least one alternate general illumination lighting corresponds to a function of the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

52. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting comprises sensing the one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting as combined at least partially with the at least one combined general illumination lighting.

53. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting is performed after the at least one alternate general illumination lighting passes directly from at least one alternate general illumination lighting component.

54. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting is performed after the at least one alternate general illumination lighting deflects at least partially off at least one surface.

55. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting is performed after the at least one alternate general illumination lighting passes through at least one media.

56. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing at least one time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

58. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing at least one intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

59. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing at least one spectral intensity of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

60. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting further comprises sensing one or more electric characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

61. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting further comprises sensing one or more optical characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

62. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting further comprises sensing one or more optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

64. The method of claim 36, wherein the sensing one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting further comprises sensing one or more optical characteristics as provided from another general illumination light source.

57. (canceled)

63. (canceled)

65. A system, comprising:

at least one primary general illumination lighting component configured to emit an at least one primary general illumination lighting;

at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting component configured to emit at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, lighting;

wherein the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting when combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting at least partially results in at least one combined general illumination lighting;

at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics of at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from at least one alternate general illumination lighting component; and

an at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting emitted by the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting component to adjust the at least one combined general illumination lighting to drive toward at least one combined general illumination lighting target at least partially responsive to the at least one sensor configured to sense one or more optical characteristics of the at least one alternate general illumination lighting emanating from the at least one alternate general illumination lighting component.