Systems and methods for controlling illumination sources

• US 6,975,079 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Morgan, Frederick M., Ducharme, Alfred D., Blackwell, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/174,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20030057890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 315/292, 315/307, 315/362, 315/318, 315/169.3, 711/100, 711/115, 711/202, 711/212, 711/221, 345/46, 345/77, 345/82
• US Class Current: 315/292
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash units

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for controlling the conversion of data inputs to a computer-based light system into lighting control signals. The methods and systems include facilities for controlling a nonlinear relationship between data inputs and lighting control signal ouputs. The nonlinear relationship may be programmed to account for varying responses of the viewer of a light source to different light source intensities.

Claims

1. A method of providing a control signal for a light, comprising:

accessing a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light;

providing a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control signal;

determining the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light; and

converting data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

3. A method of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

4. A method of claim 1 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

5. A method of claim 1 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the light is an LED.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

9. A method of claim 7 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

10. A method of claim 7 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

11. A method of claim 10, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

12. A method of claim 11, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

13. A method of claim 10, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

14. A method of claim 13 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

15. A method of claim 7, wherein the light is an LED.

16. A method of claim 1, wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.

17. A method of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

19. A method of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

20. A method of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

22. A method of providing a lighting control signal, comprising:

providing a processor;

providing memory;

providing a light;

providing a data input;

providing a user interface; and

using the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor accesses the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table stores a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.

23. A method of claim 22, wherein the table stores a function that defines the nonlinear relationship.

24. A method of claim 22, wherein the user interface permits a user to modify a parameter of the function.

25. A method of claim 24, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a PWM parameter and a scaling factor.

26. A method of claim 22, further comprising using the user interface to modify the table.

27. A method of claim 22, further comprising using the user interface to select a table from a plurality of available tables.

28. A method of claim 23, wherein the function defines a relationship between the data input and the control signal that increases continually throughout the range of the data input.

29. A method of claim 22, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

30. A method of claim 22 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

31. A method of claim 22 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

32. A method of claim 22 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

33. A method of claim 22, wherein the light is an LED.

34. A method of claim 22, wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

35. A method of claim 22, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

36. A method of claim 35 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

37. A method of claim 35 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

38. A method of claim 37, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

39. A method of claim 38, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

40. A method of claim 38, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

41. A method of claim 40 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

42. A method of claim 22, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

43. A method of claim 42, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

44. A method of claim 22, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

45. A method of claim 22, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

46. A method of claim 45, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

47. A method of providing control of a light, comprising:

providing a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.

48. A method of claim 47, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

49. A method of claim 47, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

50. A method of claim 47 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

51. A method of claim 47 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

52. A method of claim 47, wherein the light is an LED.

53. A method of claim 47 wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

54. A method of claim 53, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

55. A method of claim 53 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

56. A method of claim 53 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

57. A method of claim 56, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

58. A method of claim 57, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

59. A method of claim 57, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

60. A method of claim 59 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

61. A method of claim 53, wherein the light is an LED.

62. A method of claim 47, wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.

63. A method of claim 47, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

64. A method of claim 63, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

65. A method of claim 47, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

66. A method of claim 47, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

67. A method of claim 66, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

68. A system for controlling a light, comprising:

a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light; and

a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control, wherein the conversion module converts data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.

69. A system of claim 68, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

70. A system of claim 68 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

71. A system of claim 68 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

72. A system of claim 68 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

73. A system of claim 68, wherein the light is an LED.

74. A system of claim 68, wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

75. A system of claim 74, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

76. A system of claim 74 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

77. A system of claim 74 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

78. A system of claim 77, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

79. A system of claim 78, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

80. A system of claim 77, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

81. A system of claim 80 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

82. A system of claim 74, wherein the light is an LED.

83. A system of claim 68, wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.

84. A system of claim 68, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

85. A system of claim 84, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

86. A system of claim 68, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

87. A system of claim 68, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

88. A system of claim 87, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

89. A system of providing a lighting control signal, comprising:

a processor;

a memory;

a light;

a data input facility; and

a user interface, wherein the user interface permits a user to use the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor can access the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table can store a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.

90. A system of claim 89, wherein the table stores a function that defines the nonlinear relationship.

91. A system of claim 89, wherein the user interface permits a user to modify a parameter of the function.

92. A system of claim 91, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a PWM parameter and a scaling factor.

93. A system of claim 89, further comprising using the user interface to modify the table.

94. A system of claim 89, further comprising using the user interface to select a table from a plurality of available tables.

95. A system of claim 90, wherein the function defines a relationship between the data input and the control signal that increases continually throughout the range of the data input.

96. A system of claim 89, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

97. A system of claim 89 wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

98. A system of claim 89 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

99. A system of claim 89 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

100. A system of claim 89, wherein the light is an LED.

101. A system of claim 89, wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

102. A system of claim 89, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

103. A system of claim 102 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

104. A system of claim 102 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

105. A system of claim 104, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

106. A system of claim 105, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

107. A system of claim 104, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

108. A system of claim 107 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

109. A system of claim 89, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

110. A system of claim 109, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

111. A system of claim 89, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

112. A system of claim 89, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

113. A system of claim 112, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

114. A system of providing control of a light, comprising:

a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.

115. A system of claim 114, wherein changes in the output control signal are smaller at low levels of light output and larger at higher levels of light output.

116. A system of claim 114, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

117. A system of claim 114 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is a continuously increasing relationship.

118. A system of claim 114 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

119. A system of claim 114, wherein the light is an LED.

120. A system of claim 114 wherein the output control signal is a pulse-width-modulated control signal.

121. A system of claim 120, wherein the ratio of the output control signal to the data input increases continuously throughout the intensity range of the light.

122. A system of claim 120 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

123. A system of claim 120 wherein the relationship between the data input and the output control signal comprises at least two relationships.

124. A system of claim 123, wherein the two relationships are two linear relationships of different slopes.

125. A system of claim 124, wherein the first relationship applies to lower levels of data input and has a lower slope than a second relationship that applies to higher levels of data input and has a higher slope.

126. A system of claim 123, wherein the two relationships comprise a first linear relationship that applies to a portion of the data input range and a second nonlinear relationship that applies to a different portion of the data range.

127. A system of claim 126 wherein the nonlinear relationship is based on a function selected from the group consisting of an exponential function, a quadratic function, a squared function, and a cubed function.

128. A system of claim 120, wherein the light is an LED.

129. A system of claim 114, wherein the range of output signals is as large as the range for a linear conversion module.

130. A system of claim 114, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer to an illumination source having LEDs of colors of at least two different frequency ranges.

131. A system of claim 130, wherein the LEDs are selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.

132. A system of claim 114, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of reflected illumination.

133. A system of claim 114, wherein the nonlinear relationship accounts for the response of a viewer of the output of a light source that is a color-mixed light output.

134. A system of claim 133, wherein the light source is an LED light source and wherein the LED is selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, white, UV, IR, and amber LEDs.