Multicolored lighting method and apparatus

• US 7,274,160 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Mueller, George G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/810,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20040178751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/313, 315315-318, 315/292, 315/294, 315/297, 315/360, 315/362, 315/149, 315/158, 315/159, 345/589, 359276-278, 359/289, 362/800, 362/240, 362/249, 362/234, 362/236, 362/231
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• 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: G09G 3/3283 in which the data driver supplies a variable data current for setting the current through, or the voltage across, the light-emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Illumination methods and apparatus, in which a first number of first light sources are adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum, and a second number of second light sources are adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum. In one example, the first number of the first light sources and the second number of the second light sources are different. In another example, a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation are independently controlled so as to controllably vary at least an overall perceivable color of generated visible radiation. In yet another example, a first control signal controls all of the first light sources substantially identically, and a second control signal controls all of the second light sources substantially identically.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a first number of first light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a second number of second light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum, wherein the first number and the second number are different;

at least one structure coupled to the first number of first light sources and the second number of second light sources so as to facilitate a mixing of the first radiation and the second radiation; and

at least one controller coupled to the first number of first light sources and the second number of second light sources and 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 at least an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus,

wherein the apparatus is configured to provide ambient illumination including visible radiation in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination, the visible radiation including at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the first light sources and the second light sources irrespective of any imaging of the ambient illumination.

3. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first control signal to control all of the first light sources substantially identically, and a second control signal to control all of the second light sources substantially identically.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first PWM control signal to control all of the first light sources substantially identically, and a second PWM control signal to control all of the second light sources substantially identically.

6. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the first light sources and the second light sources irrespective of a motion of any object in the environment to be occupied by the observer.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to process the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

10. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED, and wherein

the at least one controller is configured to control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation such that an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the apparatus is white.

11. The illumination apparatus of claim 10, further comprising at least one power connection coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one power connection configured to engage mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

12. The illumination apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one power connection includes an Edison screw-type power connection.

13. The illumination apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one structure is configured to resemble at least one type of conventional light bulb.

14. The illumination apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one structure is configured to resemble an Edison-mount light bulb housing.

15. The illumination apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one 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 the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

16. The illumination apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one user interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to facilitate an adjustment of the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

17. The illumination apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the at least one controller and configured to generate at least one control signal in response to at least one detectable condition, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus in response to the at least one control signal.

18. The illumination apparatus of claim 15, further comprising at least one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the at least one controller and configured to communicate at least one control signal to or from the illumination apparatus.

19. The illumination apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

20. The illumination apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

21. The illumination apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to process the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

22. The illumination apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

23. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a plurality of first light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a plurality of second light sources;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide visible radiation having an overall perceivable color;

D) receiving at least one addressed network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation; and

E) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information so as to controllably vary at least the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act E) includes acts of;

E1) controlling all of the first light sources substantially identically; and

E2) controlling all of the second light sources substantially identically.

24. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a first number of first LED light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a second number of second LED light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum, wherein the first number and the second number are different;

at least one controller coupled to the first number of first light sources and the second number of second light sources and configured to control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation such that an overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the apparatus is white;

at least one power connection coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one power connection configured to engage mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket; and

at least one of a housing and a mounting for the first and second light sources and the at least one controller, wherein the at least one of the housing and the mounting is configured to resemble at least one type of conventional light bulb,

wherein the at least one 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 the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

25. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a first number of first LED light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a second number of second LED light sources, wherein the first number and the second number are different;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide visible radiation having an overall perceivable color;

D) controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white; and

E) receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act D) includes an act of controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

26. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a plurality of first light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a plurality of second light sources;

C) coupling the first light sources and second light sources via an essentially planar inflexible substrate so as to provide ambient illumination including visible radiation in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination, the visible radiation including at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation;

D) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation; and

E) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary at least the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act E) includes acts of;

E1) controlling all of the first light sources substantially identically; and

E2) controlling all of the second light sources substantially identically, the method further comprising an act of;

receiving at least one addressed network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act E) further includes an act of;

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

27. The illumination method of claim 26, wherein respective numbers of the first light sources and the second light sources are different.

28. The illumination method of claim 26, wherein the act E) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

29. The illumination method of claim 26, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED, and wherein the act E) comprises an act of:

E3) controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white.

31. The illumination method of claim 26, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

processing the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

32. The illumination method of claim 26, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the act D) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first and second light sources are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and a mounting, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

engaging the package mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising an act of:

adjusting the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation via at least one user interface.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising an act of:

controlling the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation in response to at least one detectable condition.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the first and second light sources are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and a mounting, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

communicating at least one control signal to or from the package.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein the act E3) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising an act of:

receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act E3) includes an act of;

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

processing the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the act E3) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

41. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a first number of first light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a second number of second light sources, wherein the first number and the second number are different;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation so as to provide ambient illumination including visible radiation in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination, the visible radiation including at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation;

D) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to controllably vary at least an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation; and

receiving at least one addressed network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act D) includes an act of;

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

42. The illumination method of claim 41, wherein the act D) includes acts of:

D1) controlling all of the first light sources substantially identically; and

D2) controlling all of the second light sources substantially identically.

43. The illumination method of claim 42, wherein the act D) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique so as to controllably vary at least the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation.

44. The illumination method of claim 42, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED.

45. The illumination method of claim 41, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

processing the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

D) controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation such that an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the first and second light sources are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and a mounting, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

E) engaging the package mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the act D) includes an act of:

D1) 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 overall perceivable color of the visible radiation.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising an act of:

adjusting the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation via at least one user interface.

50. The method of claim 48, further comprising an act of:

controlling the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation in response to at least one detectable condition.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the first and second light sources are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and a mounting, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

communicating at least one control signal to or from the package.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the act D1) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising an act of:

E) receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act D1) includes an act of;

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

processing the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the act D1) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

56. The illumination method of claim 41, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the act D) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

57. The method of claim 41, further comprising wherein the act D) comprises an act of controlling the first LED light sources and the second LED light sources irrespective of a motion of any object in the environment to be occupied by the observer.

58. The method of claim 41, further comprising wherein the act D) comprises an act of controlling the first LED light sources and the second LED light sources irrespective of any imaging of the ambient illumination

59. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of first light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a plurality of second light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

an essentially inflexible planar substrate on which all of the first light sources and all of the second light sources are mounted such that the apparatus is configured to provide ambient illumination including visible radiation in an environment to be occupied by an observer of the ambient illumination, the visible radiation including at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation; and

at least one controller coupled to the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources and 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 at least an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first control signal to control all of the first light sources substantially identically, and a second control signal to control all of the second light sources substantially identically, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

60. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein:

each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED; and

the at least one controller is configured to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white.

61. The illumination apparatus of claim 60, further comprising at least one power connection coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one power connection configured to engage mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

62. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the at least one controller and configured to generate at least one control signal in response to at least one detectable condition, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus in response to the at least one control signal.

63. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, further comprising at least one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the at least one controller and configured to communicate at least one control signal to or from the illumination apparatus.

64. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

65. The illumination apparatus of claim 60, wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

66. The illumination apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to process the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

67. The illumination apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

68. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, wherein the at least one power connection includes an Edison screw-type power connection.

69. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, wherein the apparatus is configured to resemble at least one type of conventional light bulb.

70. The illumination apparatus of claim 69, further comprising a housing configured to resemble an Edison-mount light bulb housing.

71. The illumination apparatus of claim 61, further comprising at least one user interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to facilitate an adjustment of the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

72. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein respective numbers of the first light sources and the second light sources are different.

73. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

74. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein each light source of the first and second light sources is an LED.

75. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to process the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

76. The illumination apparatus of claim 59, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

77. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of first LEDs adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a plurality of second LEDs adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

an essentially inflexible planar substrate on which all of the first LEDs and all of the second LEDs are mounted; and

at least one controller coupled to the plurality of first LEDs and the plurality of second LEDs and configured to independently control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation such that an overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus is white,

wherein at least one 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 the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

78. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first control signal to control all of the first LEDs substantially identically, and a second control signal to control all of the second LEDs substantially identically.

79. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, wherein respective numbers of the first LEDs and the second LEDs are different.

80. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, further comprising at least one power connection coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one power connection configured to engage mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

81. The illumination apparatus of claim 80, wherein the at least one power connection includes an Edison screw-type power connection.

82. The illumination apparatus of claim 80, further comprising a housing for the respective pluralities of first and second LEDs and the at least one controller, wherein the housing is configured to resemble at least one type of conventional light bulb.

83. The illumination apparatus of claim 82, wherein the housing is configured to resemble an Edison-mount light bulb housing.

84. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

85. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, further comprising at least one user interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to facilitate an adjustment of the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.

86. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, further comprising at least one sensor coupled to the at least one controller and configured to generate at least one control signal in response to at least one detectable condition, wherein the at least one controller is configured to control the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus in response to the at least one control signal.

87. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, further comprising at least one of a receiver and a transmitter coupled to the at least one controller and configured to communicate at least one control signal to or from the illumination apparatus.

88. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

89. The illumination apparatus of claim 88, wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first PWM control signal to control all of the first LEDs substantially identically, and a second PWM control signal to control all of the second LEDs substantially identically.

90. The illumination apparatus of claim 77, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to process the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

91. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of first LED light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a plurality of second LED light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

at least one controller coupled to the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources and configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to an overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus, the at least one controller configured to control at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information, wherein;

the at least one controller is configured to generate a first control signal to control all of the first light sources substantially identically and a second control signal to control all of the second light sources substantially identically; and

the at least one controller is configured to control at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white; and

at least one power connection coupled to the at least one controller, the at least one power connection configured to engage mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

92. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a plurality of first LED light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a plurality of second LED light sources;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide an overall perceivable color of the visible radiation;

D) receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation; and

E) controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information,

wherein the act E) includes acts of;

controlling all of the first light sources substantially identically;

controlling all of the second light sources substantially identically; and

controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white.

93. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a plurality of first LEDs;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a plurality of second LEDs;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide visible radiation having an overall perceivable color;

D) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation such that the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation is white; and

E) coupling the first light sources and second light sources via an essentially planar inflexible substrate,

wherein the act D) includes an act of;

D1) 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 overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

the method further comprising an act of;

F) receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation,

wherein the act D1) includes an act of;

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the act D) includes acts of:

controlling all of the first LEDs substantially identically; and

controlling all of the second LEDs substantially identically.

95. The method of claim 93, wherein respective numbers of the first LEDs and the second LEDs are different.

96. The method of claim 93, wherein the respective pluralities of first and second LEDs are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and the substrate, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

engaging the package mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket.

97. The method of claim 93, wherein the at least one network signal is formatted using a DMX protocol, and wherein the act D1) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the DMX protocol.

98. The method of claim 93, further comprising an act of:

adjusting the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation via at least one user interface.

99. The method of claim 93, further comprising an act of:

controlling the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation in response to at least one detectable condition.

100. The method of claim 93, wherein the respective pluralities of first and second LEDs are arranged as a package including at least one of a housing and the substrate, and wherein the method further comprises an act of:

communicating at least one control signal to or from the package.

101. The method of claim 93, wherein the act D1) includes an act of:

independently controlling at least the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique.

102. The method of claim 93, wherein the at least one network signal includes address information and lighting information for a plurality of illumination apparatus, and wherein the method further includes an act of:

processing the at least one network signal based on at least the address information in the at least one network signal to recover the first lighting information.

103. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum from a first number of first light sources;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a second number of second light sources, wherein the first number and the second number are different;

C) mixing at least a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation to provide visible radiation having an overall perceivable color;

D) receiving at least one addressed network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation; and

E) independently controlling at least a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation based at least in part on the first lighting information so as to controllably vary at least the overall perceivable color of the visible radiation.

104. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of first light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a plurality of second light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum; and

at least one controller coupled to the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources and 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 at least an overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus,

wherein the at least one controller is configured to generate a first control signal to control all of the first light sources substantially identically, and a second control signal to control all of the second light sources substantially identically, and

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the mnination apparatus.

105. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of first LEDs adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a plurality of second LEDs adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

at least one addressable controller coupled to the plurality of first LEDs and the plurality of second LEDs, the at least one addressable controller configured to be associated with an alterable address, the at least one addressable controller further 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 perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus; and

an address selection device configured to facilitate a selection of the alterable address associated with the at least one addressable controller.

106. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a first number of first light sources adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum; and

a second number of second light sources adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum, wherein the first number and the second number are different; and

at least one controller coupled to the first number of first light sources and the second number of second light sources and 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 at least an overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus,

wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller capable of receiving at least one network signal including at least first lighting information relating to the overall perceivable color of visible radiation generated by the illumination apparatus.