MULTICOLOR LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20100328935A1
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kerr, Duncan, Pance, Aleksandar, Culbert, Michael F., Bilbrey, Brett
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/005 using light guides light guides specially adapted for lighting devices G02B6/0001
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3265 Power saving in display device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system for displaying multiple colors individually or in combination with one another. The system may emit red, green and blue light from light emitting diodes and may additionally provide white light to brighten the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes. The white light source may also be used to increase the power efficiency of the system, thus increasing the lifetime of the system for displaying multiple colors. The white light source may be used to backlight the color provided by the red, green and blue light emitted by the light emitting diodes, or may also be used as an additional light source to the light provided by the red, green and blue light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A multicolor light source, comprising:

a first light source operable to emit a first light of a first color;

a second light source operable to emit a second light of a second color; and

a wave guide coupling the first light to the second light, thereby creating an outputted light having at least one aspect, other than hue, different from the first light and second light.

2. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein:

the second light source is a white light emitting diode; and

the first light source is a multicolor light emitting diode.

3. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first light source is an organic light emitting diode.

4. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first light source comprises:

a first LED operable to emit light of a first color;

a second LED operable to emit light of a second color; and

a third LED operable to emit light of a third color.

5. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect is a tint.

6. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect is a brightness.

7. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources illuminate a portion of a display device.

8. The multicolor light source of claim 1, wherein the first and second light sources backlight a portion of a computing input device.

9. A method for outputting a light, comprising:

activating a first light source to output a first light having a first color;

determining that at least one aspect of the first light does not match a desired profile; and

activating a second light source to output a white light in conjunction with the first light source;

wherein

the light and the white light combine to produce an outputted light.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second light source is a white light emitting diode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first light source is an organic light emitting diode.

12. The method of light of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one aspect of the first light is a brightness; and

the outputted light is brighter than the first light.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the outputted light is a same color as the first light.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the outputted light is a different tint of the same color as the first light.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one aspect of the first light is a tint; and

the outputted light is a different tint than the first light.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tint of the outputted light is controlled by varying a duty cycle of the second light source.

17. A method for providing multiple colors in a display system comprising:

a first light emitting diode operable to emit white light;

a second organic light emitting diode operable to emit red light;

a third organic light emitting diode operable to emit green light;

a fourth organic light emitting diode operable to emit blue light, wherein;

the first, second, third and fourth light organic light emitting diodes are configured to emit white, red, green and blue light in combination with one another.

19. The method for providing multiple colors in a display system of claim 17 further comprising arranging the first light emitting diode, and the second, third and fourth organic light emitting diodes in a stack configuration.

20. The method for providing multiple colors in a display system of claim 17, further comprising arranging the second, third and fourth organic light emitting diodes in a grid pattern and the first light emitting diode in a stack configuration with respect to the second, third and fourth organic light emitting diodes, such that the first light emitting diode is located beneath the second, third and fourth organic light emitting diodes.

18. The method for providing multiple colors in a display system of claim 17 further comprising arranging the first light emitting diode, and the second, third and fourth organic light emitting diodes within a pixel.

18-1. (canceled)