LED light source

• US 6,796,690 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bohlander, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/097,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 362/470, 362/471, 362/479, 362/490, 362/488, 362/219, 362/478, 362/545, 362/800, 362/231, 362/230, 362/331, 362/187, 362/184, 362/268
• US Class Current: 362/471
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/44 Spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/47 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An LED light source having an array of LEDs provides increased control of a light beam pattern while providing increased service life. The LEDs are selectively powered to control the light beam pattern, including, for example, shape, size, intensity and direction of the light beam pattern. A controller may provide manual or automatic control of the light beam pattern to thereby adjust the illumination area.

Claims

1. An improved light source providing increased control of lighting, the improved light source comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes configured in an array;

a collector lens for capturing white light emitted from the diodes; and

a controller to selectively power groups of the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide different light beam patterns.

2. The improved light source according to claim 1, further comprising a color conversion component.

3. The improved light source according to claim 2, wherein the color conversion component comprises a phosphor impregnated material energized by the light emitting diodes.

4. The improved light source according to claim 1, further comprising an objective lens for focusing the different light beam patterns.

5. The improved light source according to claim 1, further comprising an aperture for shielding the light so that glare is not seen from an objective lens.

6. The improved light source according to claim 1, further comprising a programmable controller for controlling the different light beam patterns.

7. The improved light source according to claim 6, wherein the programmable controller provides different current levels to power the array of light emitting diodes.

8. The improved light source according to claim 7, further comprising switches to control activation of different light emitting diodes within the array.

9. The improved light source according to claim 1, wherein the different light beam patterns comprise different shapes.

10. The improved light source according to claim 1, wherein the different light beam patterns comprise different sizes.

11. The improved light source according to claim 1, wherein the different light beam patterns comprise different intensities.

12. The improved light source according to claim 1, wherein the different light beam patterns are directed in different directions.

13. The improved light source according to claim 1, further comprising an overlay providing different light colors.

14. In combination with a mobile passenger cabin, a plurality of light sources providing illumination within the mobile passenger cabin, each of the plurality of light sources comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes configured in an array;

a collector lens for capturing white light emitted from the diodes; and

a controller to control the plurality of light sources and selectively power at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide different projected light beam patterns to illuminate specific areas within the mobile passenger cabin.

15. The plurality of light sources according to claim 14, further comprising a control program adapted to control the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide the different projected light beam patterns.

16. The plurality of light sources according to claim 14, wherein the control of the plurality of light emitting diodes comprises controlling at least one of the size, shape, intensity or projected direction of the light beam pattern.

17. The plurality of light sources according to claim 15, wherein the control program controls the current levels to power the plurality of light emitting diodes and controls switches to activate some of the plurality of light emitting diodes.

18. A method of controlling lighting using a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in an array, the method comprising the step of:

selectively powering at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes;

configuring a controller to control the pattern of a light beam produced by the selective powering of at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

controlling the light beam pattern using an aperture.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising using a phosphor impregnated member to emit a wide spectrum white light when energized by the plurality of light emitting diodes.

20. A light source providing increased control of lighting, the light source comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes configured in an array;

a collector lens for capturing white light emitted from the diodes; and

a controller to selectively power groups of the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide different light beam patterns selectable from a plurality of preprogrammed light beam patterns.

21. The light source according to claim 20, wherein the selectable preprogrammed light beam patterns are configured to provide at least one of a selectable pattern type and a selectable aiming.

22. The light source according to claim 20, further comprising a user control for selecting one of the preprogrammed light beam patterns.

23. The light source according to claim 22, wherein the user control is provided within a mobile passenger cabin for activation by a user to select a preprogrammed light beam pattern.

24. The light source according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of selectable preprogrammed light beam patterns comprise one of a rectangular light pattern, a light pattern for illuminating a keyboard of a computer without illuminating the screen, a general illumination pattern and a lower illumination pattern for illuminating a seat and floor area around a user.

25. The light source according to claim 24, wherein the controller controls the aiming of the light pattern based upon a user selected input.