Methods and apparatus for illumination of liquids

• US 7,187,141 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/893,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20050044617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 315/296, 315/297, 315/302, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312, 315316-318, 315/294, 315/362, 315/360, 362/800, 362/152, 362/158, 362/558, 362/562, 362/101, 362/122, 362/563, 362/227, 362/372, 362/555, 362/231, 362/543, 362/545
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/092 Suction devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/06 Passive matrix structure, i.e. with direct application of both column and row voltages to the light emitting or modulating elements, other than LCD or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0272 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers communicating data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 : for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 : for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 : Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2014 : by modulation of the duration of a single pulse during which the logic level remains constant
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 : semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 : Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 : Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 : Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based light sources are employed to achieve a wide range of enhanced lighting effects in liquids. In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more multi-color light sources that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices, or coupled together to form a networked lighting system to provide a variety of programmable and/or coordinated color illumination effects in the pool or spa environment.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a body to contain a liquid;

at least one light source, supported by the body, to illuminate the liquid, the at least one light source including at least one LED; and

at least one microprocessor-based controller, coupled to the at least one light source, to control radiation output by the at least one light source;

wherein the at least one light source includes at least a first light source and a second light source, wherein the at least one controller includes at least a first controller coupled to the first light source and a second controller coupled to the second light source;

wherein each of the first controller and the second controller is adapted to be independently addressable; and

wherein the first controller and the second controller are coupled together to form a networked lighting system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for sensing a flow of the liquid;

wherein the at least one microprocessor-based controller, is adapted to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on an output signal of the means for sensing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the means for sensing monitors a temperature of the flow; and

the radiation output by the at least one light source varies with changes in the monitored temperature of the flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body forms a part of at least one of a faucet and a sprinkler.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is adapted to be submersible in the liquid.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one light source includes at least one waterproof surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is adapted to generate radiation of different colors without requiring the use of a color filter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED includes at least two differently colored LEDs.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED includes at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED includes at least two independently controllable LED s.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes at least two independently controllable light sources.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least two independently controllable light sources include at least two independently addressable light sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is adapted to generate a remotely controllable variable radiation output.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one storage device, coupled to the at least one controller, to store at least one illumination program, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to execute the at least one illumination program so as to control the radiation output by the at least one light source.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to control a color of the radiation output by the at least one light source.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is adapted to control an intensity of the radiation output by the at least one light source.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one controller outputs at least one control signal to the at least one light source to control the radiation output by the at least one light source; and

the at least one control signal includes at least one pulse width modulated signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one controller outputs at least one control signal to the at least one light source to control the radiation output by the at least one light source; and

the at least one control signal includes at least one variable analog signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one LED includes at least a first LED and a second LED, the first and second LEDs having different colors; and

the at least one controller is adapted to control a first intensity of the first LED and a second intensity of the second LED.

20. A method for illuminating a flow of liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising:

illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output by at least one independently, microprocessor controlled light source; and

varying a color of the radiation based on control signals received from at least one accessory operating the one of the pool and the spa.

21. A method for illuminating a flow of liquid according to claim 20, wherein the at least one light source is adapted to generate radiation of different colors without requiring the use of a color filter.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;

at least one light source to illuminate a flow of liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with radiation of varying colors; and

at least one microprocessor-based controller, coupled to the at least one light source, to control the color of the radiation based on control signals received from at least one accessory operating the one of the pool and the spa.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22,

wherein the at least one light source is adapted to generate radiation of different colors without requiring the use of a color filter.

24. A method for illuminating a flow of liquid, comprising an act of illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output simultaneously by at least two differently colored independently addressable LEDs supported by a body containing the flow.

25. A method for illuminating a flow of liquid, comprising:

sensing a temperature of the flow of liquid;

illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output by at least two independently addressable LEDs; and

varying a color of the radiation with changes in the temperature of the flow.