Methods and apparatus for controlling devices in a networked lighting system

• US 6,608,453 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Morgan, Frederick, Ducharme, Alfred, Laszewski, Robert, Chemel, Brian, Dowling, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/870,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/292, 315/295, 315/312, 315/316, 315/317, 315/318, 315/361, 315/362, 315/297, 315/307
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2014 by modulation of the duration of a single pulse during which the logic level remains constant
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for computer-based control of light sources and other devices in a networked lighting system. Conventional light sources may be controlled in combination with LED-based (e.g., variable color) light sources to provide enhanced lighting effects for a variety of space-illumination applications (e.g., residential, office/workplace, retail, commercial, industrial, and outdoor environments). Individual light sources or groups of light sources may be controlled independently of one another based on data transported throughout the network. In one example, one or more other controllable devices (e.g., various actuators, such as relays, switches, motors, etc.) and/or sensors (e.g., heat, light, sound/pressure, or motion sensors) also may be coupled to the network to facilitate automated lighting applications based on a variety of feedback stimuli.

Claims

1. A method, comprising acts of:

A) transmitting data to an independently addressable controller coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, the data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the controller to the at least one other controllable device; and

B) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data,

wherein the independently addressable controller includes at least a first output port to output the first control signal, wherein the first control information includes at least a first identifier for the first output port, and wherein the act A) includes an act of;

transmitting at least the first identifier for the first output port to the independently addressable controller, and

wherein the first control information includes the first identifier for the first output port and a desired parameter of the first control signal, and wherein the act B) includes acts of;

B1) decoding the data based at least on the first identifier for the first output port to obtain the desired parameter of the first control signal; and

B2) outputting the first control signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data further includes at least one address for the independently addressable controller, and wherein the act B) includes acts of:

selecting at least one of the first control information and the second control information based on the at least one address of the independently addressable controller; and

controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the selected at least one of the first control information and the second control information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the act B2) includes an act of:

selecting a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the act B2) includes an act of:

selecting a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the independently addressable controller includes a second output port to output the second control signal, wherein the second control information includes at least a second identifier of the second output port, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting at least the second identifier for the second output port to the independently addressable controller.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second control information includes the second identifier for the second output port and a desired parameter of the second control signal, and wherein the act B) further includes acts of:

B3) decoding the data based at least on the second identifier of the second output port to obtain the desired parameter of the second control signal; and

B4) outputting the second control signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the act B4) includes an act of:

selecting a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the act B4) includes an act of:

selecting a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the independently addressable controller includes at least one input port to receive an input signal, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

C) encoding the input signal to provide input data; and

D) transmitting the input data from the independently addressable controller.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one input port has an input port identifier, and wherein the act C) includes an act of:

encoding the input signal such that the input data is identifiable by the input port identifier.

14. The method of claim 12, further including acts of:

E) receiving the input data transmitted from the independently addressable controller; and

F) transmitting second data to the independently addressable controller based on the input data, the second data including at least one of third control information for the first control signal based on the input data and fourth control information for the second control signal based on the input data.

15. A method, comprising acts of:

A) transmitting data to an independently addressable controller coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, the data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the controller to the at least one other controllable device; and

B) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data,

wherein the independently addressable controller includes at least a first output port to output the first control signal and a second output port to output the second control signal, wherein the data corresponds to a desired parameter of the first control signal and a desired parameter of the second control signal, wherein the data is arranged in a particular sequence based on a configuration of the first and second output ports in the independently addressable controller, and wherein the act B) includes acts of;

B1) decoding the data based on the particular sequence to obtain the desired parameters of the first and second control signals, respectively; and

B2) outputting the first and second control signals based on the desired parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the independently addressable controller includes at least one input port to receive an input signal, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

C) encoding the input signal to provide input data; and

D) transmitting the input data from the independently addressable controller.

17. The method of claim 16, further including acts of:

E) receiving the input data transmitted from the independently addressable controller; and

F) transmitting second data to the independently addressable controller based on the input data, the second data including at least one of third control information for the first control signal based on the input data and fourth control information for the second control signal based on the input data.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one input port has an input port identifier, and wherein the act C) includes an act of:

encoding the input signal such that the input data is identifiable by the input port identifier.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the act B1) further includes an act of:

routing the desired parameters of the first and second control signals to the first and second output ports, respectively, based on the configuration of the first and second output ports in the independently addressable controller.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein at least the first control signal includes a first pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the act B1) includes an act of:

selecting a pulse width of the first pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein at least the first control signal includes a first variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the act B1) includes an act of:

selecting a voltage of the first variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

25. A method, comprising acts of:

A) receiving data for a plurality of independently addressable controllers, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device;

B) selecting at least a portion of the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device; and

C) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the selected portion of the data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data further includes at least one address for the at least one independently addressable controller, and wherein the act B) includes acts of:

selecting at least the portion of the data based on the at least one address of the at least one independently addressable controller.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one independently addressable controller includes at least a first output port to output the first control signal, wherein the first control information includes at least a desired parameter of the first control signal, and wherein the act C) includes an act of

C1) outputting the first control signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the act C1) includes an act of:

selecting a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the act C1) includes an act of:

selecting a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one independently addressable controller includes a second output port to output the second control signal, wherein the second control information includes at least a desired parameter of the second control signal, and wherein the act C) further includes an act of:

C2) outputting the second control signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the act C2) includes an act of:

selecting a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the second control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the act C2) includes an act of:

selecting a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the act C) includes an act of:

routing the desired parameter of the first control signal and the desired parameter of the second control signal to the first and second output ports, respectively, based on a configuration of the first and second output ports in the independently addressable controller.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one independently addressable controller includes at least one input port to receive an input signal, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

D) encoding the input signal to provide input data; and

E) transmitting the input data from the at least one independently addressable controller.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the at least one input port has an input port identifier, and wherein the act D) includes an act of:

encoding the input signal such that the input data is identifiable by the input port identifier.

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

39. The method of claim 25, wherein:

the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED light source, at least one green LED light source, and at least one blue LED light source;

the first control signal is output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one red LED light source;

the at least one independently addressable controller outputs a third control signal to the at least one green LED light source and outputs a fourth control signal to the at least one blue LED light source;

the data includes third control information for the third control signal and fourth control information for the fourth control signal; and

the act C) includes an act of;

controlling the at least one red LED light source, the at least one green LED light source, the at least one blue LED light source, and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

43. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled together to form a network, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device; and

at least one processor coupled to the network and programmed to transmit data to the plurality of independently addressable controllers, the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device,

wherein;

the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED light source, at least one green LED light source, and at least one blue LED light source;

the first control signal is output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one red LED light source;

the at least one independently addressable controller outputs a third control signal to the at least one green LED light source and outputs a fourth control signal to the at least one blue LED light source;

the data includes third control information for the third control signal and fourth control information for the fourth control signal; and

the independently addressable controller controls the at least one red LED light source, the at least one green LED light source, the at least one blue LED light source, and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.

44. The lighting system of claim 43, wherein the data further includes at least one address for the at least one independently addressable controller, and wherein the at least one independently addressable controller includes:

a microprocessor to select at least one of the first control information and the second control information based on the at least one address of the independently addressable controller; and

control circuitry, coupled to the microprocessor, to output the first and second control signals so as to control at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the selected at least one of the first control information and the second control information.

45. The lighting system of claim 44, wherein the first control information includes at least a desired parameter of the first control signal, and wherein the control circuitry outputs the first control signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

46. The lighting system of claim 45, wherein the first control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the control circuitry controls a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

47. The lighting system of claim 45, wherein the first control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the control circuitry controls a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the first control signal.

48. The lighting system of claim 45, wherein the second control information includes at least a desired parameter of the second control signal, and wherein the control circuitry outputs the second control signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

49. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the second control signal includes a pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the control circuitry controls a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

50. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the second control signal includes a variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the control circuitry controls a voltage of the variable analog voltage signal based on the desired parameter of the second control signal.

51. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the control circuitry routes the desired parameters of the first and second control signals to the first and second output ports, respectively, based on a configuration of the first and second output ports in the at least one independently addressable controller.

52. The lighting system of claim 43, wherein the at least one independently addressable controller includes at least one input port to receive an input signal, and wherein the at least one independently addressable controller encodes the input signal to provide input data and transmits the input data from the independently addressable controller to the network.

53. The lighting system of claim 52, wherein the at least one input port has an input port identifier, and wherein the at least one independently addressable controller encodes the input signal such that the input data is identifiable by the input port identifier.

54. The lighting system of claim 52, wherein the at least one processor receives the input data transmitted from the independently addressable controller and in response transmits second data to the independently addressable controller based on the input data, the second data including at least one of third control information for the first control signal based on the input data and fourth control information for the second control signal based on the input data.

55. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

56. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

57. The lighting system of claim 48, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

58. The lighting system of claim 43, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

59. The lighting system of claim 43, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

60. The lighting system of claim 43, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

61. A method, comprising acts of:

A) transmitting data to an independently addressable controller coupled to at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device, the data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the controller to the at least one other controllable device; and

B) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data,

wherein;

the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED light source, at least one green LED light source, and at least one blue LED light source;

the first control signal is output by the controller to the at least one red LED light source;

the controller outputs a third control signal to the at least one green LED light source and outputs a fourth control signal to the at least one blue LED light source;

the data includes third control information for the third control signal and fourth control information for the fourth control signal; and

the act B) includes an act of;

controlling the at least one red LED light source, the at least one green LED light source, the at least one blue LED light source, and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the at least one other controllable device includes at least one actuator.

65. In a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source, a method comprising an act of:

A) transmitting data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data being arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one LED light source.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one LED light source is adapted to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

A1) transmitting the data to the at least one LED light source so as to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the act A1) includes an act of:

transmitting the data to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary a perceived color of radiation generated by the at least one LED light source.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least a first LED to output the first radiation and a second LED to output the second radiation.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one non-LED light source in addition to the at least one LED light source, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting the data to the at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices so as to independently control the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source.

73. The method of claim 67, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one first LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one second LED light source, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting the data to the at least one first LED light source and the at least one second LED light source so as to independently control the at least one first LED light source and the at least one second LED light source.

74. The method of claim 67, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one non-LED light source, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting the data to the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source so as to independently control the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source.

75. The method of claim 65, wherein the control information includes at least one address for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices.

76. The method of claim 66, wherein the control information includes at least one modulated signal, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

setting a modulation parameter of the at least one modulated signal based on the at least one desired parameter.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the control information includes at least one pulse width modulated signal, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

setting a pulse width of the at least one pulse width modulated signal based on the at least one desired parameter.

78. The method of claim 66, wherein the control information includes at least one variable analog voltage signal, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

setting a voltage of the at least one variable analog voltage signal based on the at least one desired parameter.

79. The method of claim 65, further comprising an act of:

decoding the data at at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices based on the relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

80. The method of claim 65, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one fluorescent light source, wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one fluorescent light source, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting the data in the at least one fluorescent light source, the data being arranged based on the relative position in the series connection of the at least one fluorescent light source.

81. The method of claim 65, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one incandescent light source, wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one incandescent light source, and wherein the act A) includes an act of:

transmitting the data to the at least one incandescent light source, the data being arranged based on the relative position in the series connection of the at least one incandescent light source.

82. An apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor having an output to couple the at least one processor to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

83. In a lighting system including at least first and second independently addressable devices, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source, a method comprising acts of:

A) receiving at the first independently addressable device first data for at least the first and second independently addressable devices;

B) removing at least a first data portion from the first data to form second data, the first data portion corresponding to first control information for the first independently addressable device; and

C) transmitting from the first independently addressable device the second data.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the data includes at least one address for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one LED light source.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one first LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one second LED light source, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

controlling the at least one first LED light source based on the first data portion; and

controlling the at least one second LED light source based on at least a portion of the second data.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one non-LED light source, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

controlling the at least one LED light source based on the first data portion; and

controlling the at least one non-LED light source based on at least a portion of the second data.

88. The method of claim 83, wherein the first control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the first independently addressable device.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the first control information includes at least one modulated signal having a modulation parameter based on the at least one desired parameter associated with the first independently addressable device.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the first control information includes at least one pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width based on the at least one desired parameter associated with the first independently addressable device.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein the first control information includes at least one variable analog voltage signal having a voltage based on the at least one desired parameter associated with the first independently addressable device.

92. The method of claim 88, further comprising acts of:

D) decoding the first data portion to recover the first control information; and

E) controlling the first independently addressable device based on the recovered first control information.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one fluorescent light source, wherein the first control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one fluorescent light source, and wherein the act E) includes an act of:

controlling the at least one fluorescent light source based on the recovered first control information.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one incandescent light source, wherein the first control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one incandescent light source, and wherein the act E) includes an act of:

controlling the at least one incandescent light source based on the recovered first control information.

95. The method of claim 92, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one LED light source, wherein the first control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one LED light source, and wherein the act E) includes an act of:

E1) controlling the at least one LED light source based on the recovered first control information.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the at least one LED light source is adapted to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength, wherein the first control information includes at least first intensity information and second intensity information, and wherein the act E1) includes an act of:

E2) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based on the first intensity information and the second intensity information.

97. The method of claim 96, the act E2) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary a perceived color of radiation generated by the at least one LED light source.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least a first LED to output the first radiation and a second LED to output the second radiation.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

100. The method of claim 92, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one non-LED light source in addition to the at least one LED light source, wherein the first control information corresponds to at least one first desired parameter associated with the at least one non-LED light source and at least one second desired parameter associated with the at least one LED light source, and wherein the act E) includes an act of:

E1) controlling the at least one non-LED light source and the at least one LED light source based on the recovered first control information.

101. A lighting system, comprising:

at least first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one device of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source; and

at least one processor coupled to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

102. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein the control information includes at least one address for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices.

103. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices.

104. The lighting system of claim 103, wherein the control information includes at least one modulated signal having a modulation parameter based on the at least one desired parameter.

105. The lighting system of claim 104, wherein the control information includes at least one pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width based on the at least one desired parameter.

106. The lighting system of claim 103, wherein the control information includes at least one variable analog voltage signal having a voltage based on the at least one desired parameter.

107. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein each of the at least first and second independently addressable devices includes a decoder adapted to decode the data based on the relative position in the series connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

108. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one fluorescent light source, and wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one fluorescent light source.

109. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one incandescent light source, and wherein the control information corresponds to at least one desired parameter associated with the at least one incandescent light source.

110. The lighting system of claim 101, wherein at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one LED light source.

111. The lighting system of claim 110, wherein the at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices includes at least one non-LED light source in addition to the at least one LED light source, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to transmit the data to the at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices so as to independently control the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source.

112. The lighting system of claim 110, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one first LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one second LED light source, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to transmit the data to the at least one first LED light source and the at least one second LED light source so as to independently control the at least one first LED light source and the at least one second LED light sources.

113. The lighting system of claim 110, wherein the at least one LED light source is adapted to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to transmit the data to the at least one LED light source so as to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

114. The lighting system of claim 113, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary a perceived color of radiation generated by the at least one LED light source.

115. The lighting system of claim 113, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least a first LED to output the first radiation and a second LED to output the second radiation.

116. The lighting system of claim 115, wherein the at least one LED light source includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

117. The lighting system of claim 110, wherein the first independently addressable device includes at least one LED light source, wherein the second independently addressable device includes at least one non-LED light source, and wherein the at least one processor is programmed to transmit the data to the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source so as to independently control the at least one LED light source and the at least one non-LED light source.

118. An apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least first and second independently controllable devices, at least one device of the independently controllable devices including at least one light source, the apparatus comprising:

at least one controller having at least one output port to couple the at least one controller to at least the first independently controllable device and at least one data port to receive first data for at least the first and second independently controllable devices, the at least one controller constructed to remove at least a first data portion from the first data to form second data and to transmit the second data via the at least one data port, the first data portion corresponding to first control information for at least the first independently controllable device.

119. The apparatus of claim 118, wherein the at least one data port includes a receive port and a transmit port, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the first data via the receive port and transmit the second data via the transmit port.

120. The apparatus of claim 118, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to control at least the first independently controllable device based on the first data portion.

121. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate at least one variable analog voltage signal to control at least the first independently controllable device.

122. The apparatus of claim 121, wherein the at least one controller is configured to set a voltage of the at least one variable analog voltage signal based on the first control information.

123. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate at least one modulated signal to control at least the first independently controllable device.

124. The apparatus of claim 123, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate at least one pulse width modulated signal to control at least the first independently controllable device.

125. The apparatus of claim 124, wherein the at least one controller is configured to set a pulse width of the at least one pulse width modulated signal based on the first control information.

126. The apparatus of claim 118, wherein the at least one output port includes a first output port to couple the at least one controller to the first independently controllable device and a second output port to couple the at least one controller to the second independently controllable device.

127. The apparatus of claim 126, wherein the first data portion corresponds to first control information for the first independently controllable device and second control information for the second independently controllable device.

128. The apparatus of claim 127, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control at least the first and second independently controllable devices based on the first data portion.

129. The apparatus of claim 128, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first pulse width modulated signal to control the first independently controllable device and a second pulse width modulated signal to control the second independently controllable device.

130. The apparatus of claim 129, wherein the at least one controller is configured to select a first pulse width of the first pulse width modulated signal based on the first control information and a second pulse width of the second pulse width modulated signal based on the second control information.

131. The apparatus of claim 128, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first variable analog voltage signal to control the first independently controllable device and a second variable analog voltage signal to control the second independently controllable device.

132. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the at least one controller is configured to select a first voltage of the first variable analog voltage signal based on the first control information and a second voltage of the second variable analog voltage signal based on the second control information.

133. The apparatus of claim 118, further comprising the first independently controllable device coupled to the at least one output port of the at least one controller, wherein the first independently controllable device includes the at least one light source.

134. The apparatus of claim 133, wherein the at least one light source includes at least one incandescent light source.

135. The apparatus of claim 133, wherein the at least one light source includes at least one LED light source.

136. The apparatus of claim 135, wherein the at least one output port includes a first output port to couple the at least one controller to the at least one LED light source and a second output port to couple the at least one controller to the second independently controllable device.

137. The apparatus of claim 136, further comprising the second independently controllable device coupled to the second output port of the at least one controller.

138. The apparatus of claim 137, wherein the second independently controllable device includes at least one incandescent light source.

139. The apparatus of claim 137, wherein the second independently controllable device includes at least one fluorescent light source.

140. The apparatus of claim 137, the first independently controllable device includes a first LED light source and the second independently controllable device includes a second LED light source.

141. The apparatus of claim 140, wherein the first and second LED light sources are adapted to output at least first radiation having a first wavelength and second radiation having a second wavelength, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based on the first data portion.

142. The apparatus of claim 141, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary a perceived color of combined radiation generated by the first and second LED light sources.

143. The apparatus of claim 140, wherein the at least one output port includes a third output port to couple the at least one controller to a third independently controllable device.

144. The apparatus of claim 143, further comprising the third independently controllable device coupled to the third output port, wherein the third independently controllable device includes a third light source.

145. The apparatus of claim 144, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first, second, and third light sources based on the first data portion.

146. The apparatus of claim 144, wherein the third light source includes at least one fluorescent light source.

147. The apparatus of claim 144, wherein the third light source includes at least one incandescent light source.

148. The apparatus of claim 144, wherein the third light source includes a third LED light source.

149. The apparatus of claim 148, wherein the first LED light source includes at least one red LED, the second LED light source includes at least one green LED, and the third LED light source includes at least one blue LED.

150. The apparatus of claim 149, wherein the at least one output port includes a fourth output port to couple the at least one controller to a fourth independently controllable device.

151. The apparatus of claim 150, further comprising the fourth independently controllable device coupled to the fourth output port, wherein the fourth independently controllable device includes a fourth light source.

152. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the fourth light source includes at least one fluorescent light source.

153. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the fourth light source includes at least one incandescent light source.

154. The apparatus of claim 150, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first, second, third and fourth light sources based on the first data portion.

155. The apparatus of claim 118, wherein at least a portion of the second data corresponds to second control information for at least the second independently controllable device, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to transmit the second data via the at least one data port to the second independently controllable device.

156. The apparatus of claim 133, wherein the at least one light source includes at least one fluorescent light source.