Apparatus and methods relating to wavelength conditioning of illumination
First Claim
1. A lighting system that provides a variable selected spectral output and a variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution, the lighting system comprising a light path that comprises:
- a) a spectrum former configured to provide a spectrum from a light beam traveling along the light path, andb) a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light comprising the desired spectral and intensity distribution, the desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution,c) and wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is a first pixelated spatial light modulator, and wherein the desired segment of light is directed to a second spatial light modulator operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the second spatial light modulator to select the desired segment.
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Abstract
Lighting systems comprising a spectrum former upstream from a reflective pixelated spatial light modulator (reflective SLM), the SLM reflecting substantially all of the light in the spectrum into at least two different light paths, that do not reflect back to the light source or the spectrum former. At least one of the light paths acts as a projection light path and transmits desired light out of the lighting system. The lighting systems provide virtually any desired color(s) and intensity(s) of light, and avoid overheating problems by deflecting unwanted light and other electromagnetic radiation out of the system or to a heat management system. The systems can be part of another system, a luminaire, or any other suitable light source. The systems can provide virtually any desired light, from the light seen at the break of morning to specialized light for treating cancer or psoriasis, and may change color and intensity at speeds that are perceptually instantaneous.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A lighting system that provides a variable selected spectral output and a variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution, the lighting system comprising a light path that comprises:
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a) a spectrum former configured to provide a spectrum from a light beam traveling along the light path, and b) a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light comprising the desired spectral and intensity distribution, the desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, c) and wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is a first pixelated spatial light modulator, and wherein the desired segment of light is directed to a second spatial light modulator operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the second spatial light modulator to select the desired segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lighting system that provides a variable selected spectral output and wavelength dependent intensity distribution, the lighting system comprising a light path that comprises:
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a) a spectrum former configured to provide a spectrum from a light beam traveling along the light path, and b) a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light comprising the desired spectral and intensity distribution, the desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, and c) a detector operably connected to a controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to determine from the detector whether the desired segment contains a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, and adjust the on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to improve the correspondence between the desired segment and the desired selected spectral output and the desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A stand alone luminaire sized to project light onto a scene and having a variable selected spectral output and wavelength dependent intensity distribution, the luminaire comprising:
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a) a high output light source, b) a spectrum former optically connected to and downstream from the light source to provide a spectrum from a light beam emitted from the light source, c) a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light comprising the desired spectral and intensity distribution, the desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, d) a projection system optically connected to and downstream from the pixelated spatial light modulator in the first direction, wherein the projection system projects the desired segment as a directed light beam to illuminate the scene, and e) a detector optically connected to and downstream from the pixelated spatial light modulator, the detector also operably connected to a controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to determine from the detector whether the desired segment contains a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, and adjust the on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to improve the correspondence between the desired segment and the desired selected spectral output and the desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of lighting a scene comprising:
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a) directing a light beam along a light path and through a spectrum former to provide a spectrum from the light beam traveling; b) passing the spectrum by a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, c) transmitting the desired segment of light to a detector operably connected to a controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to determine from the detector whether the desired segment contains the desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, and adjusting the on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to improve the correspondence between the desired segment and the desired selected spectral output and the desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of lighting a scene comprising:
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a) directing a light beam along a light path and through a spectrum former to provide a spectrum from the light beam traveling; and
,b) passing the spectrum by a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, c) wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is a first pixelated spatial light modulator, and wherein light from the first pixelated spatial light modulator is directed to a second spatial light modulator operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the second spatial light modulator to select the desired segment. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method of emitting modified light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution from a stand alone luminaire, the method comprising:
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a) emitting light from a high output light source located in a housing of the luminaire; b) passing the light by a spectrum former optically connected to and downstream from the light source to provide a spectrum from a light beam emitted from the light source; c) passing the spectrum by an optical element connected to and downstream from the spectrum former to provide an enhanced image of the spectrum; d) passing the spectrum by a pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the pixelated spatial light modulator configured to pass desired light from the spectrum to select a segment of light, wherein the pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to provide a desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, e) passing the modified light beam by a projection system optically connected to and downstream from the pixelated spatial light modulator in the first direction, wherein the projection system projects the modified light beam from the luminaire as a directed light beam, and f) transmitting the desired segment of light to a detector operably connected to a controller containing computer-implemented programming configured to determine from the detector whether the desired segment contains the desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, and adjusting the on/off pattern of pixels in the pixelated spatial light modulator to improve the correspondence between the desired segment and the desired selected spectral output and the desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification