Methods and Apparatus for Sensing Light Output and Controlling Light Output

• US 20150102732A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: ENGELEN, Dirk Valentinus Ren, ALIAKSEYEU, Dzmitry Viktorovich, VAN DE SLUIS, Bartel Marinus, LASHINA, Tatiana Aleksandrovna, DEKKER, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 9,807,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/152
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• 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 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for lighting control. In some embodiments methods and apparatus are provided that sense a low lighting condition at a location and direct light toward that location after detection of the low lighting condition. In some embodiments apparatus are provided that include a plurality of networked LEDs. Some of the LEDs may be illuminated in response to sensed light conditions at certain locations.

Claims

1. A method of directing light output of LEDs in a LED network, comprising:

activating each of a plurality of light-generating LEDs in a calibration mode;

measuring a light intensity at each of a plurality of light-sensing nodes during said calibration mode to determine a light intensity contribution of each of said light-generating LEDs at each of said light-sensing nodes;

monitoring said light intensity at each of said plurality of light-sensing nodes during an active mode;

detecting a blocked condition at a blocked node of said light-sensing nodes when said light intensity at said blocked node is below a threshold level in said active mode;

activating at least one light-generating LED in response to detecting said blocked condition, wherein said activated at least one light-generating LED provided at least a minimum light intensity contribution of said light intensity contribution at said blocked node during said calibration mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said blocked node includes at least one light-sensing LED.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said blocked node includes a plurality of said light-sensing LED.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising selectively generating a light output with said light-sensing LED when said light-sensing LED is not in said blocked condition.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of activating each of said plurality of light-generating LEDs in a calibration mode includes sequentially activating each of said light-generating LEDs.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said blocked node includes at least one of said light-generating LEDs.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said light-generating LED of said blocked node does not generate a light output when in said blocked condition.

8. A method of directing light output of LEDs in a LED network, comprising:

associating directional information and intensity information of a plurality of light-generating LEDs with a plurality of light-sensing nodes;

associating a directional parameter with each of said light-sensing nodes;

monitoring a light intensity at each of said light-sensing nodes;

detecting a blocked condition at a blocked node of said light-sensing nodes when said light intensity is below a threshold level at said blocked node;

activating, in response to said blocked condition, at least one of said light-generating LEDs associated with said blocked node that has said directional information corresponding to said directional parameter of said blocked node.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said blocked node includes at least one light-sensing LED.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein only those said light-generating LEDs that have said directional information corresponding to said directional parameter of said blocked node are activated in response to said blocked condition.

11. A network of LEDs, comprising:

a plurality of networked LEDs;

said networked LEDs including a first LED configured to selectively generate a light output therefrom and a second LED configured to selectively sense a light intensity level thereat;

wherein said light output of said first LED affects said light intensity at said second LED when no obstructions are present therebetween;

wherein said first LED is illuminating in the direction of said second LED in response to said second LED sensing said light intensity level thereat below a threshold value.

12. The network of claim 11 wherein said second LED is additionally configured to selectively generate a second light output therefrom, wherein said first LED is additionally configured to sense a second light intensity level thereat, and wherein said second light output of said second LED affects said second light intensity at said first LED when no obstructions are present therebetween

13. The network of claim 11 wherein said first LED is on a first surface and said second LED is either on a second surface facing said first surface, or is also on said first surface.