Systems and methods for generating and modulating illumination conditions

• US 7,014,336 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M., Ducharme, Alfred D.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US09/716,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,947 Days
• Field of Search: 362/229, 362/230, 362/231, 362/236, 362/240, 362/251, 362/255, 362/293, 362/295, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• 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 45/00 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: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods for generating and/or modulating illumination conditions to generate high-quality light of a desired and controllable color, for creating lighting fixtures for producing light in desirable and reproducible colors, and for modifying the color temperature or color shade of light within a prespecified range after a lighting fixture is constructed. In one embodiment, LED lighting units capable of generating light of a range of colors are used to provide light or supplement ambient light to afford lighting conditions suitable for a wide range of applications.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture for generating white light, comprising:

a plurality of component illumination sources, said plurality including component illumination sources producing electromagnetic radiation of at least two different spectrums, each of said spectrums having a maximum spectral peak outside the region 510 nm to 570 nm; and

a mounting holding said plurality, said mounting designed to allow said spectrums of said plurality to mix and form a resulting spectrum;

wherein said resulting spectrum is continuous within the photopic response of the human eye; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of component illumination sources has a maximum spectral peak less than 400 nm.

2. A lighting fixture for generating white light, comprising:

a plurality of component illumination sources, said plurality including component illumination sources producing electromagnetic radiation of at least two different spectrums, each of said spectrums having a maximum spectral peak outside the region 510 nm to 570 nm; and

a mounting holding said plurality, said mounting designed to allow said spectrums of said plurality to mix and form a resulting spectrum;

wherein said resulting spectrum is continuous within the photopic response of the human eye; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of component illumination sources has a maximum spectral peak greater than 700 nm.

3. A lighting fixture comprising:

a plurality of LEDs, each of said plurality adapted to produce one of three preselected spectrums, each of said spectrums having a maximum spectral peak outside the region bounded by 530 nm and 570 nm;

wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that additive interference of said spectrums results in white light that can be controlled to produce white light within a range of color temperatures;

a controller enabling a particular color temperature within said range of color temperatures to be selected, and a signal to be generated representing that color temperature; and

a processor in communication with said plurality of LEDs, said processor capable of receiving said signal from said controller and controlling the intensity of each of said plurality of LEDs in response thereto.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein at least one of said preselcted spectrums has a maximum spectral peak of about 450 nm.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 3 wherein at least one of said preselected spectrums has a maximum spectral peak of about 592 nm.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 3, wherein said range of color temperatures extends from about 500K to about 10,000K.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 3, wherein said range of color temperatures extend from about 2300K to about 4500K.

8. A lighting fixture for replacing fluorescent tubes comprising:

a mounting;

at least two component illumination sources mounted on said mounting;

a connector mounted on said mounting, said connector capable of connecting with a device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes to receive power from said device and provide power to said at least two component illumination sources; and

a control circuit for controlling said at least two component illumination sources, wherein said control circuit comprises a processor.

9. The lighting fixture of claim 8 wherein said component illumination sources comprise LEDs.

10. The lighting fixture of claim 8, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include at least two white LEDs configured to generate respectively different spectrums.

11. The lighting fixture of claim 8 further comprising a housing for said mounting.

12. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in shape.

13. The lighting fixture of claim 11 wherein said housing includes a filter.

14. The lighting fixture of claim 11, wherein said housing includes at least one of a transparent portion and a translucent portion.

15. The lighting fixture of claim 8, wherein said control circuit is configured to control said at least two component illumination sources based on the power provided by said device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes.

16. The lighting fixture of claim 8

wherein said control circuit and said at least two component illumination sources are configured such that a mixing of radiation from the at least two component illumination sources is capable of producing white light.

17. The lighting fixture of claim 8

wherein each illumination source of the at least two component illumination sources is configured to generate radiation having an essentially white color.

18. The lighting fixture of claim 17, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include at least one white LED.

19. The lighting fixture of claim 8

wherein the at least two component illumination sources comprise:

a first illumination source configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum; and

a second illumination source configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum,

wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a mixing of the first and second radiation, when power is provided to at least the first and second illumination sources, produces a resulting spectrum.

20. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the first and second illumination sources are configured such that the first spectrum and the second spectrum are different.

21. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer at a given time is an essentially non-white color.

22. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer at a given time is an essentially white color.

23. The lighting fixture of any of claims 22–

36, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include at least one LED.

24. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes at least one white LED.

25. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes at least one amber LED.

26. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

27. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes at least two white LEDs configured to generate respectively different spectrums.

28. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes an infrared (IR) LED.

29. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least one LED includes an ultraviolet (UV) LED.

30. The lighting fixture of claim 23, wherein the at least two component illumination sources further comprise at least one third illumination source that is not an LED, the at least one third illumination source configured to generate third radiation having a third spectrum, the lighting fixture arranged such that, when power is provided to the first, second and third illumination sources, the third spectrum mixes with at least one of the first and second spectrums to produce the resulting spectrum.

31. The lighting fixture of claim 30, wherein the third spectrum has a maximum spectral peak wavelength within a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

32. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that the resulting spectrum is continuous within a photopic response of a human eye.

33. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a portion of the resulting spectrum in a visible range has a lowest spectral valley having an intensity greater than background noise.

34. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that each spectral valley wavelength of the resulting spectrum within a photopic response of a human eye is less than a maximum spectral peak wavelength of the resulting spectrum.

35. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that within a visible range, the resulting spectrum is continuous, has no spectral valley wavelength greater than a maximum spectral peak wavelength of the resulting spectrum, and has a lowest spectral valley intensity greater than background noise.

36. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second spectrums has a maximum spectral peak wavelength outside a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

37. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

38. The lighting fixture of claim 37, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

39. The lighting fixture of claim 38, wherein the control circuit is configured as an addressable control circuit.

40. The lighting fixture of claim 39, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one other addressable lighting fixture so as to form a networked lighting system.

41. The lighting fixture of claim 37, wherein the 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 controllably vary an overall intensity of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer.

42. The lighting fixture of claim 37, wherein the 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 controllably vary an overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer.

43. The lighting fixture of claim 42, wherein the overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by the observer is essentially white, and wherein the 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 controllably vary a color temperature of the resulting spectrum.

44. The lighting fixture of claim 37, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

45. The lighting fixture of claim 44, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one user interface that provides at least one control signal to the control circuit.

46. The lighting fixture of claim 45, in combination with the at least one user interface.

47. The combination of claim 46, further in combination with the device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes.

48. The combination of claim 47, wherein the at least one user interface is affixed to the device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes.

49. The lighting fixture of claim 45, wherein the control circuit 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 controllably vary the resulting spectrum to generate essentially white light over a range of color temperatures.

50. The lighting fixture of claim 49, wherein the control circuit is configured to controllably vary the resulting spectrum in response to the at least one control signal and wherein the at least one control signal indicates a user specified color temperature in the range of color temperatures.

51. The lighting fixture of claim 49, in combination with the at least one user interface.

52. The combination of claim 51, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

53. The combination of claim 52, wherein the user interface includes at least one display configured to display the at least one representation of the range of color temperatures.

54. The combination of claim 52, wherein the means for selecting a desired color temperature includes at least one of a dial, a switch, a slider, and a touch-sensitive surface.

55. The combination of claim 51, wherein the at least one user interface is affixed to the lighting fixture.

56. The combination of claim 51, wherein the at least one user interface is capable of being affixed proximate the lighting fixture.

57. The combination of claim 51, wherein the at least one user interface is adapted to be mounted to a wall.

58. The lighting fixture of claim 49, in combination with a computer system comprising the at least one user interface.

59. The combination of claim 58, wherein the computer system includes means for controllably varying the resulting spectrum.

60. The combination of claim 58, wherein the computer system includes means for selecting a color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

61. The combination of claim 60, wherein the means for selecting a color temperature includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a console, and a touch sensitive surface.

62. The combination of claim 58, wherein the computer system includes at least one display configured to display at least one representation of the range of color temperatures.

63. The combination of claim 62, wherein the at least one representation includes at least one of a color palette, a color range, chromaticity diagram and a Commission Internationale de l'"'"'Eclairage (CIE) diagram.

64. The combination of claim 62, wherein the display further indicates a current selected color temperature.

65. The lighting fixture of claim 45, wherein the control circuit includes a wireless receiver configured to receive remote wireless user input.

66. The lighting fixture of claim 65, in combination with the at least one user interface, wherein the at least one user interface includes a remote control unit adapted to wirelessly provide the at least one control signal to the control circuit.

67. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include at least one LED including a phosphor.

68. The lighting fixture of claim 67, wherein:

the first illumination source includes the at least one LED including the phosphor;

the at least one LED including the phosphor is configured to irradiate the phosphor with pump radiation; and

the phosphor converts at least a portion of the pump radiation so as to emit the first radiation having the first spectrum.

69. The lighting fixture of claim 68, wherein the second illumination source is configured such that the second spectrum includes essentially amber light.

70. The lighting fixture of claim 69, wherein the second illumination source comprises at least one amber LED.

71. The lighting fixture of claim 70, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary an overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer.

72. The lighting fixture of claim 71, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

73. The lighting fixture of claim 71, wherein the control circuit is configured to controllably vary the resulting spectrum to produce essentially white light over a range of color temperatures.

74. The lighting fixture of claim 73, wherein the range of color temperatures includes approximately 4800K and wherein the control circuit is configured to control a composition of the resulting spectrum such that white light produced at approximately 4800K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 80.

75. The lighting fixture of claim 73, wherein the range of color temperatures includes approximately 2300K and wherein the control circuit is configured to control a composition of the resulting spectrum such that white light produced at approximately 2300K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 50.

76. The lighting fixture of claim 73, wherein the range of color temperatures includes at least one color temperature in a range from 500K to 2500K.

77. The lighting fixture of claim 73, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

78. The lighting fixture of claim 77, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one user interface that provides at least one control signal to the control circuit.

79. The lighting fixture of claim 78, in combination with the at least one user interface.

80. The combination of claim 79, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

81. The combination of claim 80, wherein the at least one user interface includes a control unit having at least one of a dial, a slider, a switch, and a touch-sensitive surface.

82. The lighting fixture of claim 71, wherein the control circuit is configured as an addressable control circuit.

83. The lighting fixture of claim 82, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one other addressable lighting fixture so as to form a networked lighting system.

84. The lighting fixture of claim 68, wherein the lighting fixture further comprises at least one filter to modify a portion of the resulting spectrum.

85. The lighting fixture of claim 84, wherein the at least one filter includes a high pass filter configured to attenuate a portion of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum.

86. The lighting fixture of claim 84, wherein the at least one filter includes a high pass filter configured to attenuate a portion of the pump radiation not converted by the phosphor.

87. The lighting fixture of claim 68, wherein the first spectrum includes essentially green and red light.

88. The lighting fixture of claim 87, wherein the pump radiation includes essentially blue light.

89. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the first illumination source includes at least one white LED.

90. The lighting fixture of claim 89, wherein the second illumination source includes at least one non-white LED.

91. The lighting fixture of claim 90, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes at least one of at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

92. The lighting fixture of claim 90, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes at least one amber LED.

93. The lighting fixture of claim 92, wherein the at least one non-white LED further includes at least one of at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

94. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein the first illumination source includes at least one white LED configured to generate the first radiation and wherein the second illumination source includes at least one second white LED configured to generate the second radiation.

95. The lighting fixture of claim 94, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary an overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer.

96. The lighting fixture of claim 95, wherein the control circuit 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 controllably vary the resulting spectrum to generate essentially white light over a range of color temperatures.

97. The lighting fixture of claim 96, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

98. The lighting fixture of claim 97, wherein the control circuit is configured as an addressable control circuit.

99. The lighting fixture of claim 98, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one other addressable lighting fixture so as to form a networked lighting system.

100. The lighting fixture of claim 97, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

101. The lighting fixture of claim 100, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one user interface that provides at least one control signal to the control circuit.

102. The lighting fixture of claim 101, further including the at least one user interface.

103. The lighting fixture of claim 102, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

104. The lighting fixture of claim 103, wherein the at least one user interface includes a control unit having at least one of a dial, a slider, a switch, and a touch-sensitive surface.

105. The lighting fixture of claim 102, in combination with said device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes.

106. The lighting fixture of claim 19, wherein:

the at least two component illumination sources include a plurality of LEDs;

the mounting includes at least one linear track; and

the plurality of LEDs are mounted in an essentially linear arrangement along the at least one linear track.

107. The lighting fixture of claim 106, wherein the plurality of LEDs include at least one first white LED configured to generate the first radiation and at least one second white LED configured to generate the second radiation.

108. The lighting fixture of claim 107, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

109. The lighting fixture of claim 108, wherein the control circuit is configured as an addressable control circuit.

110. The lighting fixture of claim 109, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one other addressable lighting fixture so as to form a networked lighting system.

111. The lighting fixture of claim 108, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

112. The lighting fixture of claim 111, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

113. The lighting fixture of claim 112, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one user interface that provides at least one control signal to the control circuit.

114. The lighting fixture of claim 113, in combination with the at least one user interface.

115. The combination of claim 114, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

116. The combination of claim 115, wherein the at least one user interface is capable of being affixed proximate to the lighting fixture.

117. The combination of claim 115, wherein the at least one user interface is configured to be affixed to the lighting fixture.

118. The lighting fixture of claim 106, further comprising an essentially cylindrical housing substantially enclosing the mounting.

119. The lighting fixture of claim 118, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes a portion that is at least one of transparent and translucent.

120. The lighting fixture of claim 118, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes at least one filter.

121. The lighting fixture of claim 106, in combination with the device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes.

122. The lighting fixture of claim 19, further comprising at least one sensor operatively coupled to the processor, the at least one sensor providing information to the processor to control a composition of the resulting spectrum.

123. The lighting fixture of claim 122, wherein the overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by the observer is essentially white, and wherein the processor is configured to independently control at least one of the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary a color temperature of the resulting spectrum.

124. The lighting fixture of claim 123, wherein the information from the at least one sensor includes ambient light information relating to ambient light proximate the lighting fixture.

125. The lighting fixture of claim 124, wherein the processor is configured to calibrate the lighting fixture based on the ambient light information.

126. The lighting fixture of claim 123, wherein the information from the at least one sensor includes remote illumination information relating to illumination conditions remote from the lighting fixture.

127. The lighting fixture of claim 126, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the resulting spectrum according to the information from the at least one sensor to essentially reproduce the remote illumination conditions.

128. The lighting fixture of claim 124, wherein the information from the at least one sensor further includes remote light information about illumination conditions remote from the lighting fixture and wherein the processor is configured to adjust the resulting spectrum to substantially match the ambient light information with the remote light information.

129. The lighting fixture of claim 123, wherein the lighting fixture further comprises a user interface coupled to the processor and adapted to provide user control over the composition of the resulting spectrum.

130. The lighting fixture of claim 129, wherein the user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of colors; and

means for selecting a color from the range of colors.

131. The lighting fixture of claim 130, wherein the at least one representation includes at least one of a color palette, a color range, chromaticity diagram and a Commission Internationale de l'"'"'Eclairage (CIE) diagram.

132. A lighting fixture for generating white-light, comprising:

a plurality of component illumination sources including at least two white LEDs configured to generate electromagnetic radiation of at least two different spectrums; and

a mounting holding said plurality, said mounting designed to allow said spectrums of said plurality to mix and form a resulting spectrum;

wherein the visible portion of said resulting spectrum has intensity greater than background noise at its lowest spectral valley.

133. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said resulting spectrum has intensity at its lowest spectral valley which is at least 5% of its intensity at its maximum spectral peak.

134. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said resulting spectrum has intensity at its lowest spectral valley which is at least 10% of its intensity at its maximum spectral peak.

135. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said resulting spectrum has intensity at its lowest spectral valley which is at least 25% of its intensity at its maximum spectral peak.

136. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said resulting spectrum has intensity at its lowest spectral valley which is at least 50% of its intensity at its maximum spectral peak.

137. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said white light can be generated at a color temperature within a preselected range of color temperatures.

138. The lighting fixture of claim 137, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the plurality of component illumination sources to selectably generate the white light from the lighting fixture at a particular color temperature within said range of color temperatures.

139. The lighting fixture of claim 138, wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of component illumination sources such that white light produced at 4800K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 80.

140. The lighting fixture of claim 139, wherein the controller is configured to control the plurality of component illumination sources such that white light produced at 2300K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 50.

141. The lighting fixture of claim 132, wherein the plurality of component illumination sources include at least two component illumination sources comprising:

a first illumination source including at least one first white LED configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum; and

a second illumination source including at least one second white LED configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum,

wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a mixing of the first and second radiation, when power is provided to at least the first and second illumination sources, produces the resulting spectrum.

142. The lighting fixture of claim 141, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that a color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer at a given time is an essentially white color.

143. The lighting fixture of claim 141, wherein the lighting fixture is configured such that within a visible range, the resulting spectrum is continuous and has no spectral valley wavelength greater than a maximum spectral peak wavelength of the resulting spectrum.

144. The lighting fixture of claim 141, wherein each of the first and second spectrums has a maximum spectral peak wavelength outside a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

145. The lighting fixture of any of claims 141–

144, wherein the at least two component illumination sources further include at least one non-white LED.

146. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes at least one amber LED.

147. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

148. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes at least one amber LED, and at least one of at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

149. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes an infrared (IR) LED.

150. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least one non-white LED includes an ultraviolet (UV) LED.

151. The lighting fixture of claim 145, wherein the at least two component illumination sources further comprise at least one third illumination source that is not an LED, the at least one third illumination source configured to generate third radiation having a third spectrum, the lighting fixture arranged such that, when power is provided to the first, second and third illumination sources, the third spectrum mixes with at least one of the first and second spectrums to produce the resulting spectrum.

152. The lighting fixture of claim 151, wherein the third spectrum has a maximum spectral peak wavelength within a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

153. The lighting fixture of claim 141, further comprising a control circuit configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

154. The lighting fixture of claim 153, wherein the control circuit is configured to implement a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

155. The lighting fixture of claim 154, wherein the control circuit is configured as an addressable control circuit.

156. The lighting fixture of claim 155, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one other addressable lighting fixture so as to form a networked lighting system.

157. The lighting fixture of claim 153, wherein the control circuit is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

158. The lighting fixture of claim 157, wherein the control circuit includes a wireless receiver configured to receive remote wireless user input.

159. The lighting fixture of claim 158, in combination with at least one user interface, wherein the at least one user interface includes a remote control unit adapted to wirelessly provide at least one control signal to the control circuit.

160. The lighting fixture of claim 157, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to be coupled to at least one user interface that provides at least one control signal to the control circuit.

161. The lighting fixture of claim 160, wherein the control circuit 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 controllably vary the resulting spectrum to generate essentially white light over a range of color temperatures.

162. The lighting fixture of claim 161, wherein the control circuit is configured to controllably vary the resulting spectrum in response to the at least one control signal and wherein the at least one control signal indicates a user specified color temperature in the range of color temperatures.

163. The lighting fixture of claim 162, in combination with the at least one user interface.

164. The combination of claim 163, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

165. The combination of claim 164, wherein the user interface includes at least one display configured to display the at least one representation of the range of color temperatures.

166. The combination of claim 164, wherein the means for selecting a desired color temperature includes at least one of a dial, a switch, a slider, and a touch-sensitive surface.

167. The lighting fixture of claim 161, in combination with a computer system comprising the at least one user interface.

168. The combination of claim 167, wherein the computer system includes means for controllably varying the resulting spectrum.

169. The combination of claim 167, wherein the computer system includes means for selecting a color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

170. The combination of claim 169, wherein the means for selecting a color temperature includes at least one of a keyboard, a mouse, a console, and a touch sensitive surface.

171. The combination of claim 167, wherein the computer system includes at least one display configured to display at least one representation of the range of color temperatures.

172. The combination of claim 171, wherein the at least one representation includes at least one of a color palette, a color range, chromaticity diagram and a Commission Internationale de l'"'"'Eclairage (CIE) diagram.

173. The combination of claim 171, wherein the display further indicates a current selected color temperature.

174. The lighting fixture of claim 141, wherein:

the at least two component illumination sources include a plurality of LEDs;

the mounting includes at least one linear track; and

the plurality of LEDs are mounted in an essentially linear arrangement along the at least one linear track.

175. The lighting fixture of claim 174, wherein the plurality of LEDs include the at least two white LED and at least one amber LED.

176. The lighting fixture of claim 174, wherein the plurality of LEDs include at least one of at least one amber LED, at least one red LED, at least one green LED and at least one blue LED.

177. The lighting fixture of claim 174, further comprising an essentially cylindrical housing substantially enclosing the mounting.

178. The lighting fixture of claim 177, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes a portion that is at least one of transparent and translucent.

179. The lighting fixture of claim 177, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes at least one filter.

180. The lighting fixture of claim 179, wherein the at least one filter includes at least one of a diffuse filter, a colored filter, and a high pass filter.

242. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said resulting spectrum has intensity at its lowest spectral valley which is at least 75% of its intensity at its maximum spectral peak.

243. The lighting fixture of claim 132 wherein said component illumination sources include only LEDs.

181. A lighting fixture for generating white light, comprising:

a plurality of component illumination sources including at least one white LED, said plurality including component illumination sources producing electromagnetic radiation of at least two different spectrums; and

a mounting holding said plurality, said mounting designed to allow said spectrums of said plurality to mix and form a resulting spectrum;

wherein each spectral valley wavelength of the resulting spectrum within a photopic response of a human eye is less than a maximum spectral peak wavelength of the resulting spectrum.

182. The lighting fixture of claim 181 wherein said component illumination sources include LEDs.

183. The lighting fixture of claim 181, wherein said resulting spectrum does not have a spectral valley wavelength longer than a maximum spectral peak wavelength in a range from 400 nm to 700 nm.

184. The lighting fixture of claim 181, wherein said white light can be generated at a color temperature within a preselected range of color temperatures.

185. A lighting fixture of claim 184, wherein said range of color temperatures includes at least one color temperature from the range 500K to 2500K.

186. A method for generating light comprising:

A) mounting a plurality of component illumination sources, including at least two white LEDs producing electromagnetic radiation of at least two different spectrums, in such a way as to mix the spectrums; and

B) choosing said at least two different spectrums in such a way that the mix of the spectrums forms a resulting spectrum having an intensity greater than background noise at its lowest spectral valley within the photopic response of the human eye.

187. The method of claim 186, wherein the act A) includes an act of mounting at least two component illumination sources comprising:

a first illumination source including at least one first white LED configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum; and

a second illumination source including at least one second white LED configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum, such that a mixing of the first and second radiation, when power is provided to at least the first and second illumination sources, produces the resulting spectrum.

188. The method of claim 187, wherein the act B) includes an act of selecting the first and second illumination sources such that within a visible range, the resulting spectrum is continuous and has no spectral valley wavelength greater than a maximum spectral peak wavelength of the resulting spectrum.

189. The method of claim 187, wherein the act B) includes an act of selecting the first and second illumination sources such that each of the first and second spectrums has a maximum spectral peak wavelength outside a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

190. The method of claim 187, wherein the act B) includes an act of selecting the first and second illumination sources to include at least one of at least one amber LED, at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

191. The method of claim 190, wherein the act A) includes an act of mounting at least one third illumination source that is not an LED, the at least one third illumination source configured to generate third radiation having a third spectrum, such that when power is provided to the first, second and third illumination sources, the third spectrum mixes with at least one of the first and second spectrums to produce the resulting spectrum.

192. The method of claim 191, wherein the third spectrum has a maximum spectral peak wavelength within a range from approximately 510 nm to 570 nm.

193. The method of claim 187, further including an act of:

C) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation.

194. The method of claim 193, wherein the act C) includes an act of implementing a pulse width modulation technique to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

195. The method of claim 194, wherein the act C) includes an act of receiving addressed data to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation.

196. The method of claim 195, further comprising an act of forming a networked lighting system using at least the first and second illumination sources.

197. The method of claim 193, wherein the act C) 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 controllably vary an overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer.

198. The method of claim 193, wherein act C) includes an act of independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation in response to user input.

199. The method of claim 198, wherein the act C) includes an act of receiving remote wireless user input to control the first and second illumination sources.

200. The method of claim 199, further comprising an act of wirelessly providing at least one control signal to control the first and second illumination sources.

201. The method of claim 198, further comprising an act of:

D) receiving at least one control signal from at least one user interface to perform the act C).

202. The method of claim 201, further including an act of affixing the at least one user interface to the plurality of component illumination sources.

203. The method of claim 201, further including an act of affixing the at least one user interface proximate the plurality of component illumination sources.

204. The method of claim 201, further including an act of mounting the at least one user interface to a wall.

205. The method of claim 201, wherein the act C) 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 controllably vary the resulting spectrum to generate essentially white light over a range of color temperatures.

206. The method of claim 205, wherein the range of color temperatures includes approximately 4800K and wherein the act C) includes an act of controlling a composition of the resulting spectrum such that white light produced at approximately 4800K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 80.

207. The method of claim 205, wherein the range of color temperatures includes approximately 2300K and wherein the act C) includes an act of controlling a composition of the resulting spectrum such that white light produced at approximately 2300K has a Color Rendering Index (CRI) value of at least 50.

208. The method of claim 205, wherein the range of color temperatures includes at least one color temperature in a range from 500K to 2500K.

209. The method of claim 205, wherein the act C) includes an act of controllably varying the resulting spectrum in response to the at least one control signal, wherein the at least one control signal indicates a user specified color temperature in the range of color temperatures.

210. The method of claim 205, wherein the at least one user interface includes:

at least one representation of the range of color temperatures; and

means for selecting a desired color temperature from the range of color temperatures.

211. The method of claim 210, wherein the means for selecting a desired color temperature includes at least one of a dial, a switch, a slider, and a touch-sensitive surface.

212. The method of claim 210, wherein the user interface includes at least one display configured to display the at least one representation of the range of color temperatures.

213. The method of claim 187, wherein the at least two component illumination sources further include at least one third LED including a phosphor.

214. The method of claim 213, wherein:

the first illumination source includes the at least one third LED including the phosphor;

the at least one third LED including the phosphor is configured to irradiate the phosphor with pump radiation; and

the phosphor converts at least a portion of the pump radiation so as to emit at least a portion of the first radiation having the first spectrum.

215. The method of claim 214, wherein the second illumination source is configured such that the second spectrum includes essentially amber light.

216. The method of claim 214, wherein the portion of the first spectrum emitted by the at least one third LED includes essentially green and red light.

217. The method of claim 216, wherein the pump radiation includes essentially blue light.

218. The method of claim 187, further comprising an act of filtering a portion of the resulting spectrum.

219. The method of claim 218, wherein the act of filtering includes an act of attenuating a portion of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum.

220. The method of claim 218, wherein the act of filtering includes an act of using at least of a high pass filter and a yellow filter.

221. The method of claim 187, wherein:

the at least two component illumination sources include a plurality of LEDs; and

the act A) includes an act of mounting the plurality of LEDs in an essentially linear arrangement along at least one linear track.

222. The method of claim 221, wherein the act B) includes an act of selecting the plurality of LEDs to include the at least two white LEDs and at least one amber LED.

223. The method of claim 221, further comprising an act of substantially enclosing the at least one linear track in an essentially cylindrical housing.

224. The method of claim 223, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes a portion that is at least one of transparent and translucent.

225. The method of claim 223, wherein the essentially cylindrical housing includes at least one filter.

226. The method of claim 187, further comprising an act of controlling a composition of the resulting spectrum based on information provided by at least one sensor.

227. The method of claim 226, wherein the overall color of the resulting spectrum as perceived by an observer is essentially white, and wherein the act of controlling includes an act of independently controlling at least one of the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary a color temperature of the resulting spectrum.

228. The method of claim 227, wherein the information from the at least one sensor includes remote illumination information relating to illumination conditions remote from the plurality of component illumination sources.

229. The method of claim 228, wherein the act of controlling includes an act of adjusting the resulting spectrum according to the information from the at least one sensor to essentially reproduce the remote illumination conditions.

230. The method of claim 227, wherein the information from the at least one sensor includes ambient light information relating to ambient light proximate the plurality of component illumination sources.

231. The method of claim 230, wherein the act of controlling includes an act of calibrating the plurality of component illumination sources based on the ambient light information.

232. The method of claim 230, wherein the information from the at least one sensor further includes remote light information about illumination conditions remote from the plurality of component illumination sources and wherein the act of controlling includes an act of adjusting the resulting spectrum to substantially match the ambient light information with the remote light information.

233. The method of claim 227, further comprising an act of providing user control over the composition of the resulting spectrum.

234. An apparatus, comprising:

a device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes; and

a lighting fixture for replacing fluorescent tubes, the lighting fixture being coupled to the device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes and comprising;

a mounting;

at least two component illumination sources mounted on said mounting;

a connector mounted on said mounting, said connector capable of connecting with the device adapted for holding fluorescent tubes to receive power from said device and provide power to said at least two component illumination sources; and

a control circuit for controlling said at least two component illumination sources, wherein said control circuit comprises a processor.

235. The apparatus of claim 234, wherein said device comprises a transformer to transform power from a power source.

236. The apparatus of claim 235, wherein the transformer is a ballast and the transformed power provided to the fixture is related to an impedance of the ballast.

237. The apparatus of claim 236, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include a plurality of LEDs.

238. The apparatus of claim 237, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive the power provided to the fixture and vary an intensity of radiation produced by at least one of the plurality of LEDs based on the received power.

239. The apparatus of claim 236, wherein the at least two component illumination sources include at least one white LED.

240. The apparatus of claim 239, wherein the at least two component illumination sources includes at least one amber LED.

241. The apparatus of claim 240, further comprising a converter circuit electrically connected to the plurality of LEDs to convert a ballast voltage to a DC voltage.