Pre-configured light modules

• US 6,967,447 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lim, Kevin Len Li, Lee, Joon Chok, Jaffar, Rizal Bin
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, Minh Dieu
• Application Number:
  US10/740,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/293, 315/300, 315/307, 315/244, 315/304, 362/800
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention includes a light source having N light generators, a receiver, and an interface circuit. Each light generator emitting light of a different wavelength, the intensity of light generated by the k^th generator is determined by a signal I_k coupled to that light generator. The receiver receives a color coordinate that includes N color components, C_k, for k=1 to N, wherein N is greater than 1. The interface circuit generates the I_k for k=1 to N from the received color components and a plurality of calibration parameters. The calibration parameters depend on manufacturing variations in the light generators. The calibration parameters have values chosen such that a light signal generated by combining the light emitted from each of the light generators is less dependent on the manufacturing variations in the light generators than a light signal generated when I_k is proportional to C_k for k=1 to N.

Claims

1. A light source comprising:

N light generators, each light generator emitting light of a different wavelength, the intensity of light generated by the k^th generator being determined by a signal I_k coupled to that light generator;

a receiver for receiving a color coordinate comprising N color components, C_k, for k=1 to N, wherein N is greater than 1; and

an interface circuit for generating I_k for k=1 to N from said received color components and a plurality of calibration parameters, said calibration parameters depending on manufacturing variations in said light generators and having values such that a light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is less dependent on said manufacturing variations in said light generators than a light signal generated when I_k is proportional to C_k for k=1 to N.

2. The light source of claim 1 wherein one of said I_k is proportional to a weighted sum of said C_k values, said weighted sum utilizing weight parameters that depend on said calibration parameters.

3. The light source of claim 1 wherein each of said light generators comprises an LED.

4. The light source of claim 1 wherein each of said light generators comprises a laser.

5. A light source comprising:

N light generators, each light generator emitting light of a different wavelength, the intensity of light generated by the K^th generator being determined by a signal I_k coupled to that light generator;

a receiver for receiving a color coordinate comprising N color components, C_k, for k=1 to N, wherein N is greater than 1; and

an interface circuit for generating I_k for k=1 to N from said received color components and a plurality of calibration parameters, said calibration parameters depending on manufacturing variations in said light generators and having values such that a light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is less dependent on said manufacturing variations in said light generators than a light signal generated when I_k is proportional to C_k for k=1 to N; and

wherein N=3 and wherein one of said light generators generates light in the red region of the optical spectrum, another of said light generators generates light in the blue region of the optical spectrum, and the remaining light generator generates tight in the green region of the light spectrum.

6. The light source of claim 5 wherein said color components correspond to the CIE color standard and wherein said calibration parameters are chosen such that said light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is characterized by color components in said CIE color standard of C′

_k when received color components have values in which C_k=C′

_k, for k=1 to 3.

7. A method for generating light in response to a color coordinate comprising N color components, C_k, for k=1 to N, wherein N is greater than 1, said method comprising:

generating I_k, for k=1 to N from said received color components and a plurality of calibration parameters;

generating N light components with N light generators, the i^th light component having an intensity determined by I_k and a wavelength that is different from the other light components, wherein said calibration parameters depend on manufacturing variations in said light generators and have values such that a light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is less dependent on said manufacturing variations in said light generators than a light signal generated when I_k is proportional to C_k for k=1 to N; and

combining said N light components to form said generated light.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein one of said I_k is proportional to a weighted sum of said C_k values, said weighted sum utilizing weight parameters that depend on said calibration parameters.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein each of said light generators comprises an LED.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein each of said light generators comprises a laser.

11. A method for generating light in response to a color coordinate comprising N color components, C_k, for k=1 to N, wherein N is greater than 1, said method comprising:

generating I_k for k=1 to N from said received color components and a plurality of calibration parameters;

generating N light components with N light generators, the i^th light component having an intensity determined by I_k and a wavelength that is different from the other light components, wherein said calibration parameters depend on manufacturing variations in said light generators and have values such that a light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is less dependent on said manufacturing variations in said light generators than a light signal generated when I_k is proportional to C_k for K=1 to N; and

combining said N light components to form said generated light; and

wherein N=3 and wherein one of said light generators generates light in the red region of the optical spectrum, another of said light generators generates light In the blue region of the optical spectrum, and the remaining light generator generates light in the green region of the light spectrum.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said color components correspond to the CIE color standard and wherein said calibration parameters are chosen such that said light signal generated by combining said light emitted from each of said light generators is characterized by color components in said CIE color standard of C′

_k when received color components have values in which C_k=C′

_k, for k=1 to 3.