Methods and apparatus for illuminating environments

US 7,300,192 B2
Filed: 10/03/2003
Issued: 11/27/2007
Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2002
Status: Expired due to Term

First Claim

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1. A light system, comprising:

a plurality of conduits each having an at least partially transparent outer surface and each being configured to be connected together in a modular fashion to form an assembly, anda plurality of light engines spaced apart from each other within the assembly, wherein at least one light engine of the plurality of light engines is configured to generate light within and along a length of at least one conduit of the assembly, such that at least some of the light passes through the outer surface of the at least one conduit along the length of and around a perimeter of the at least one conduit;

wherein the light system includes at least one light source and at least one controller to control the at least one light source, such that the light has at least one controllable characteristic.

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Abstract

Provided herein are methods and systems for preparing signs and displays. The methods and systems include using a light engine for generating light of a plurality of colors to illuminate the body of a flexible conduit that receives light from the light engine. The conduit can be used as a sign, display, or similar lighting facility in many applications that traditionally used neon signs and displays.

505 Citations

221 Claims

1. A light system, comprising:
- a plurality of conduits each having an at least partially transparent outer surface and each being configured to be connected together in a modular fashion to form an assembly, anda plurality of light engines spaced apart from each other within the assembly, wherein at least one light engine of the plurality of light engines is configured to generate light within and along a length of at least one conduit of the assembly, such that at least some of the light passes through the outer surface of the at least one conduit along the length of and around a perimeter of the at least one conduit;
  
  wherein the light system includes at least one light source and at least one controller to control the at least one light source, such that the light has at least one controllable characteristic.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- - 2. A system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a color, an intensity, a saturation, and a color temperature of the light.
  - 3. A system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an interface.
  - 4. A system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an LED.
  - 5. A system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs of different colors.
  - 6. A system of claim 5, wherein the light is white light produced by combining radiation generated by more than one of the plurality of LEDs, and each LED of the plurality of LEDs is selected from the group consisting of red, green, yellow, blue, amber, white, and orange LEDs.
  - 7. A system of claim 6, wherein a color temperature of the white light is adjusted by mixing different amounts of the radiation from the more than one of the plurality of LEDs.
  - 8. A system of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises LEDs configured such that the light from the light engine comprises different color temperatures of white light.
  - 9. A system of claim 1, wherein the light engine operates in a white color mode at some times and in a non-white color mode at other times.
  - 10. A system of claim 1, wherein the controller is a processor.
  - 11. A system of claim 1, wherein the assembly is configured such that the light passes substantially unobstructed from a first inner portion of one conduit of the assembly to an adjacent inner portion of an adjacent conduit of the assembly.
  - 12. A system of claim 1, wherein the at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits is made of an elastic material suitable for receiving and retransmitting the light.
  - 13. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is a flexible conduit.
  - 14. A system of claim 1, at least one of the plurality of conduits is transparent.
  - 15. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is semi-opaque.
  - 16. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is translucent.
  - 17. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is reflective.
  - 18. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is refractive.
  - 19. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is a transparent elastic material.
  - 20. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is elastomeric vinyl acetate.
  - 21. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, polyurethane, PVC material, rubber, plastic, a metal, and an alloy.
  - 22. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is made from a hybrid of a plurality of materials.
  - 23. A system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is filled with a fluid.
  - 24. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid is a gas.
  - 25. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid is a liquid.
  - 26. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid is a vapor.
  - 27. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid transmits the light.
  - 28. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid refracts the light.
  - 29. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid contains particles that reflect the light.
  - 30. A system of claim 23, wherein the fluid contains particles that refract the light.

31. A lighting system, comprising:
- an elastomeric conduit having an at least partially transparent outer surface, a first end, and a second end; and
  
  at least one light engine having a light source and a controller and being disposed proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the conduit, and the at least one light engine being configured to generate light within and along a length of the conduit, such that at least some of the light passes though the outer surface along the length of and around a perimeter of the conduit;
  
  wherein the light source comprises LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, and UV LEDs;
  
  wherein the light engine is an addressable light engine.
- View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
- - 32. A system of claim 31, wherein the light source is configured in a linear configuration.
  - 33. A system of claim 31, wherein the light source is configured as an array.
  - 34. A system of claim 31, wherein the light source is configured in a curvilinear configuration.
  - 35. A system of claim 31, wherein the light source includes a plurality of LEDs arranged into at least one group.
  - 36. A system of claim 35, wherein each LED of the at least one group generates radiation having a different wavelength than each other LED of the at least one group.
  - 37. A system of claim 35, wherein the group includes a triad of LEDs.
  - 38. A system of claim 35, wherein the group includes a quadruplet of LEDs.
  - 39. A system of claim 35, wherein the group includes a quintuplet of LEDs.
  - 40. A system of claim 35, wherein the plurality of LEDs is configured to fit a lighting fixture.
  - 41. A system of claim 40, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to resemble at least one of an incandescent fixture, a halogen fixture and a fluorescent fixture.
  - 42. A system of claim 31, further comprising a mounting surface in proximity to the light engine.
  - 43. A system of claim 42, wherein the conduit is attached to the mounting surface by an attachment facility.
  - 44. A system of claim 43, wherein the attachment facility is at least one of a fastener, a screw, a clip and a bolt.
  - 45. A system of claim 43, wherein the attachment facility is a standoff mechanism for holding the conduit a fixed distance from the mounting surface.
  - 46. A system of claim 42, wherein the mounting surface is a surface of a sign.
  - 47. A system of claim 31, further comprising a mounting facility for the conduit.
  - 48. A system of claim 47, wherein the mounting facility serves as a light shield.
  - 49. A system of claim 47, wherein the mounting facility rests on a light pipe.
  - 50. A system of claim 49, wherein the light pipe collects the light generated by the light engine and delivers the light into the conduit.
  - 51. A system of claim 49, wherein the light pipe guides the light into a receiving portion of the conduit, so that the conduit glows with a color of the light from the light engine.
  - 52. A system of claim 31, wherein the light engine is configured to resemble a halogen lamp.
  - 53. A system of claim 52, wherein the light engine is an MR-16 fixture.
  - 54. A system of claim 52, wherein the light engine is configured to be suitable for insertion into a conventional halogen socket.
  - 55. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller controls the light source such that a color of the light varies over time to produce a dynamic lighting effect.
  - 56. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller includes a user interface.
  - 57. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller includes a data facility.
  - 58. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller includes a communication facility.
  - 59. A system of claim 58, wherein the communication facility comprises a network.
  - 60. A system of claim 58, wherein the communication facility comprises a wireless facility.
  - 61. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller includes an algorithm facility.
  - 62. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller is a general purpose computer.
  - 63. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller is integrated with other system elements in an environment of the light engine.
  - 64. A system of claim 63, wherein the other system elements are selected from the group consisting of a maintenance system, an entertainment system, a sound system, a navigation system, and a security system.
  - 65. A system of claim 31, wherein the light engine includes a processor.
  - 66. A system of claim 65, wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a circuit, an application specific integrated circuit, a microchip, a chip residing on a circuit board, a chipset, a circuit board, a programmable digital signal processor, a biological circuit, a programmable gate array, a programmable array logic device, a programmable logic device, a digital signal processor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, discrete circuitry, passive analog components, active analog components, a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a transistor, an operational amplifiers, a discrete digital component, a shift register, and a latch.
  - 67. A system of claim 31, further comprising a communication facility, wherein the communication facility comprises at least one of a wire-based facility, a wireless facility, a network, an interface card, a circuit, a router, a switch, a software interface, a wire, a cable, a connector, an IF facility, an JR facility, a serial port, a parallel port, a USB facility, a firewire facility, a copper wire, a modem, a Bluetooth facility, an 802.11 facility, a DSL modem, an antenna, a satellite communications facility, and a telecommunications facility.
  - 68. A system of claim 31, wherein the controller is connected to the light source by a bus that provides two-way communication between the controller and the light source.
  - 69. A system of claim 31, wherein the conduit comprises modular sub-elements that can be fitted together to form shapes.
  - 70. A system of claim 69, wherein the sub-elements are selected from the group consisting of V-shaped elements, L-shaped elements, T-shaped elements, curved elements, and straight elements.
  - 71. A system of claim 69, wherein the sub-elements are fitted together in combinations.
  - 72. A system of claim 69, wherein the sub-elements are provided in a kit with the light system.
  - 73. A system of claim 69, wherein a user can shape the sub-elements into a desired shape.
  - 74. A system of claim 31, wherein the light system includes a plurality of light engines.
  - 75. A system of claim 74, wherein the plurality of light engines are provided with a communication facility.
  - 76. A system of claim 74, wherein the plurality of light engines are configured so as to generate the light in synchronous fashion.
  - 77. A system of claim 74, wherein the plurality of light engines change colors in concert.
  - 78. A system of claim 74, wherein the plurality of light engines communicate via a flexible facility selected from the group consisting of a flexible wire, a bus, and a cable.
  - 79. A system of claim 78, wherein the flexible facility serves as a semi-rigid element for holding the conduit in a selected configuration.
  - 80. A system of claim 74, further comprising a semi-rigid element.
  - 81. A system of claim 80, wherein the semi-rigid element is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, and a plastic.
  - 82. A system of claim 80, wherein the semi-rigid element holds shape when bent.
  - 83. A system of claim 74, wherein light system of the plurality of light engines has an optical receiver facility for receiving optical data and an optical modulator facility for modulating a portion of the light, so that the a first light engine of the plurality of light engines communicates to at least one second light engine of the plurality of light engines.
  - 84. A system of claim 83, wherein the first light engine communicates to the second light engine using the light.
  - 85. A system of claim 83, wherein the first light engine communicates to the second light engine using a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  - 86. A system of claim 83, wherein the first light engine communicates ongoing data to continually update the second light engine.
  - 87. A system of claim 83, wherein the first light engine sends instructions to the second light engine to execute a stored lighting program.
  - 88. A system of claim 87, wherein the instructions comprise clock data, such that the second light engine can execute the stored lighting program and the first light engine can execute the same stored lighting program or an additional stored lighting program in coordination with each other and the clock data.
  - 89. A system of claim 31, wherein the light system includes two light engines respectively disposed proximate to the first end and the second end.
  - 90. A system of claim 31, wherein the conduit is configured to form a sign with lettering.
  - 91. A system of claim 90, wherein the light system includes a plurality of light engines that are disposed throughout the sign to generate the light.
  - 92. A system of claim 90, wherein the sign is configured to resemble a conventional neon sign.
  - 93. A system of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of second light engines spaced apart from each other along the length of the conduit.

94. A lighting system, comprising:
- an elastomeric conduit having an at least partially transparent outer surface, a first end, and a second end;
  
  at least one light engine having a light source and a controller and being disposed proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the conduit, and the at least one light engine being configured to generate light within and along a length of the conduit, such that at least some of the light passes though the outer surface along the length of and around a perimeter of the conduit;
  
  wherein the light source comprises LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, and UV LEDs; and
  
  an interface for delivering a control signal to the controller.
- View Dependent Claims (95, 96)
- - 95. A system of claim 94, wherein the interface includes at least one of a wire, a cable, a network, a bus, a circuit, and a wireless interface.
  - 96. A system of claim 95, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a user interface, a power-cycle-based interface, a general purpose computer interface, a keyboard, a mouse, a voice- or image-recognition interface, a programming interface, a software authoring tool interface, a light show player interface, a touchpad interface, a wireless interface, an interface for a conventional lighting system, an entertainment system interface, a communications system interface, a maintenance system interface, and a navigation system interface.

97. A lighting system, comprising:
- an elastomeric conduit having an at least partially transparent outer surface, a first end, and a second end; and
  
  at least one light engine having a light source and a controller and being disposed proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the conduit, and the at least one light engine being configured to generate light within and along a length of the conduit, such that at least some of the light passes through the outer surface along the length of and around a perimeter of the conduit;
  
  wherein the light source comprises LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, and UV LEDs;
  
  wherein the controller includes a data facility for storing data for the light engine.
- View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102)
- - 98. A system of claim 97, wherein the data facility comprises at least one of a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory, a random access memory, a dynamic random access memory, a double data rate random access memory, a Rambus direct random access memory, and a flash memory.
  - 99. A system of claim 97, wherein the data facility is at least one of a general purpose computer system, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk memory, a diskette, a zip drive, a jump drive, a database, a SQL database, a TCL database, an Oracle database, an Access database, a data facility of an entertainment system, a data facility of a maintenance system, a data facility of a safety system and a combination of more than one type of data facility.
  - 100. A system of claim 97, wherein the data for the light engine resides in a plurality of systems.
  - 101. A system of claim 100, wherein at least one first system of the plurality of systems is a safety system and at least one second system of the plurality of systems is an entertainment system.
  - 102. A system of claim 100, wherein at least first system of the plurality of systems is a lighting controller and at least one second system of the plurality of systems is an entertainment system.

103. A lighting system comprising:
- at least one conduit lit by a firt color-changing illumination from a first light engine having a first controller and at least on first LED; and
  
  at least one element lit by a second color-changing illumination from a second light engine having a second controller and at least one second LED;
  
  wherein the at least one conduit is placed in viewing proximity to the at least one element so as to produce coordinated layered illumination effects that represent the combination of the at least one conduit and the least one element.
- View Dependent Claims (104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
- - 104. A system of claim 103, wherein a first color of the first color-changing illumination is the same as a second color of the second color-changing illumination.
  - 105. A system of claim 103, wherein a first color of the first color-changing illumination is complementary to a second color of the second color-changing illumination.
  - 106. A system of claim 105, wherein the first and second colors are generated in complimentary color pairs.
  - 107. A system of claim 106, wherein the complimentary color pairs are selected from the group consisting of a red/greem pair, a blue/orange pair, and a yellow/purple pair.
  - 108. A system of claim 103, wherein the element comprises a lit background.
  - 109. A system of claim 108, wherein the lit background is edge-lit by a linear array of light engines including the second light engine.
  - 110. A system of claim 108, wherein the conduit is a sign, and the sign is lit in coordination with the lit background.

111. A method of lighting an assembly comprised of a plurality of conduits each having an at least partially transparent outer surface and each being configured to be connected together in a modular fashion to form the assembly, the method comprising:
- generating light by a plurality of light engines spaced apart from each other within the assembly so that the generated light travels within and along a length of at least one conduit of the assembly; and
  
  passing at least some of the generated light from light system of the plurality of light engines though the outer surface of the at least one conduit along the length of and around a perimeter of the at least one conduit;
  
  wherein the light system includes at least one light source and at least one controller to control the at least one light source, such that the generated light has at least one controllable characteristic.
- View Dependent Claims (112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140)
- - 112. A method of claim 111, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a color, an intensity, a saturation, and a color temperature of the light.
  - 113. A method of claim 111, wherein the controller includes an interface.
  - 114. A method of claim 111, wherein the light source comprises at least one LED.
  - 115. A method of claim 111, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs of different colors.
  - 116. A method of claim 115, wherein the generated light is white light produced by combining radiation generated by more than one of the plurality of LEDs, and each LED of the plurality of LEDs is selected from the group consisting of red, green, yellow, blue, amber, white, and orange LEDs.
  - 117. A method of claim 111, wherein the light source comprises LEDs configured such that the generated light from the light engine comprises different color temperatures of white light.
  - 118. A method of claim 117, wherein the a color temperature of the white light is adjusted by mixing different amounts of the radiation from the more than one of the plurality of LEDs.
  - 119. A method of claim 111, wherein the light engine operates in a white color mode at some times and in a non-white color mode at other times.
  - 120. A method of claim 111, wherein the controller is a processor.
  - 121. A method of claim 111, wherein the assembly is configured such that the generated light passes substantially unobstructed from a first inner portion of one conduit of the assembly to an adjacent inner portion of an adjacent conduit of the assembly.
  - 122. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one conduit of the plurality of conduits is made of an elastic material suitable for receiving and retransmitting the light.
  - 123. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is a flexible conduit.
  - 124. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is transparent.
  - 125. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is semi-opaque.
  - 126. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is translucent.
  - 127. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is reflective.
  - 128. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is refractive.
  - 129. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is a transparent elastic material.
  - 130. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is elastomeric vinyl acetate.
  - 131. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, polyurethane, PVC material, rubber, plastic, a metal, and an alloy.
  - 132. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is made from a hybrid of a plurality of materials.
  - 133. A method of claim 111, wherein at least one of the plurality of conduits is filled with a fluid.
  - 134. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid is a gas.
  - 135. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid is a liquid.
  - 136. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid is a vapor.
  - 137. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid transmits the generated light.
  - 138. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid refracts the generated light.
  - 139. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid contains particles that reflect the generated light.
  - 140. A method of claim 133, wherein the fluid contains particles that refract the generated light.

141. A method of lighting an elastomeric conduit having an at least partially transparent outer surface, a first end, and a second end, the method comprising:
- generating light by light system having a controller and a light source and being disposed proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the conduit, wherein the light system is configured such that the generated light travels within and along a length of the conduit; and
  
  passing at least some of the generated light through the outer surface of the conduit along the length of and around a perimeter of the conduit;
  
  wherein the light source comprises LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, and UV LEDs;
  
  wherein the light engine is an addressable light engine.
- View Dependent Claims (142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210)
- - 142. A method of claim 141, wherein the light source is configured in a linear configuration.
  - 143. A method of claim 141, wherein the light source is configured as an array.
  - 144. A method of claim 141, wherein the light source is configured in a curvilinear configuration.
  - 145. A method of claim 141, wherein the light source includes a plurality of LEDs arranged into at least one group.
  - 146. A method of claim 145, wherein each LED of the at least one group generates radiation having a different wavelength than each other LED of the at least one group.
  - 147. A method of claim 145, wherein the group includes a triad of LEDs.
  - 148. A method of claim 145, wherein the group includes a quadruplet of LEDs.
  - 149. A method of claim 145, wherein the group includes a quintuplet of LEDs.
  - 150. A method of claim 145, wherein the group includes a sextuplet of LEDs.
  - 151. A method of claim 145, wherein the plurality of LEDs is configured to fit a lighting fixture.
  - 152. A method of claim 151, wherein the lighting fixture is configured to resemble at least one of an incandescent fixture, a halogen fixture and a fluorescent fixture.
  - 153. A method of claim 145, wherein the conduit is attached to a mounting surface in proximity to the light engine.
  - 154. A method of claim 153, wherein the conduit is attached to the mounting surface by an attachment facility.
  - 155. A method of claim 154, wherein the attachment facility is at least one of a fastener, a screw, a clip and a bolt.
  - 156. A method of claim 154, wherein the attachment facility is a standoff mechanism for holding the conduit a fixed distance from the mounting surface.
  - 157. A method of claim 153, wherein the mounting surface is a surface of a sign.
  - 158. A method of claim 145, wherein the conduit is mounted on a mounting facility.
  - 159. A method of claim 158, wherein the mounting facility serves as a light shield.
  - 160. A method of claim 158, wherein the mounting facility rests on a light pipe.
  - 161. A method of claim 160, wherein the light pipe collects the generated light and delivers the generated light into the conduit.
  - 162. A method of claim 161, wherein the light pipe guides the generated light into a receiving portion of the conduit, so that the conduit glows with a color of the generated light.
  - 163. A method of claim 145, wherein the light engine is configured to resemble a halogen lamp.
  - 164. A method of claim 163, wherein the light engine is an MR-16 fixture.
  - 165. A method of claim 163, wherein the light engine is configured to be suitable for insertion into a conventional halogen socket.
  - 166. A method of claim 145, wherein the controller controls the light source such that a color of the light varies over time to produce a dynamic lighting effect.
  - 167. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller includes a user interface.
  - 168. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller includes a data facility.
  - 169. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller includes a communication facility.
  - 170. A method of claim 169, wherein the communication facility comprises a network.
  - 171. A method of claim 169, wherein the communication facility comprises a wireless facility.
  - 172. A method of claim 169, wherein the communication facility comprises at least one of a wire-based facility, a wireless facility, a network, an interface card, a circuit, a router, a switch, a software interface, a wire, a cable, a connector, an RF facility, an IR facility, a serial port, a parallel port, a USB facility, a firewire facility, a copper wire, a modem, a Bluetooth facility, an 802.11 facility, a DSL modem, an antenna, a satellite communications facility, and a telecommunications facility.
  - 173. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller includes an algorithm facility.
  - 174. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller is a general purpose computer.
  - 175. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller is integrated with other system elements in an environment of the light engine.
  - 176. A method of claim 175, wherein the other system elements are selected from the group consisting of a maintenance system, an entertainment system, a sound system, a navigation system, and a security system.
  - 177. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller includes a data facility for storing data for the light engine.
  - 178. A method of claim 177, wherein the data facility comprises at least one of a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory, a random access memory, a dynamic random access memory, a double data rate random access memory, a Rambus direct random access memory, and a flash memory.
  - 179. A method of claim 177, wherein the data facility is at least one of a general purpose computer system, a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk memory, a diskette, a zip drive, a jump drive, a database, a SQL database, a TCL database, an Oracle database, an Access database, a data facility of an entertainment system, a data facility of a maintenance system, a data facility of a safety system and a combination of more than one type of data facility.
  - 180. A method of claim 177, wherein the data for the light engine resides in a plurality of systems.
  - 181. A method of claim 180, wherein at least one first system of the plurality of systems is a safety system and at least one second system of the plurality of systems is an entertainment system.
  - 182. A method of claim 180, wherein at least one first system of the plurality of systems is a lighting controller and at least one second system of the plurality of systems is an entertainment system.
  - 183. A method of claim 166, wherein the controller is connected to the light source by a bus that provides two-way communication between the controller and the light source.
  - 184. A method of claim 145, wherein the light engine includes a processor.
  - 185. A method of claim 184, wherein the processor is selected from the group consisting of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a circuit, an application specific integrated circuit, a microchip, a chip residing on a circuit board, a chipset, a circuit board, a programmable digital signal processor, a biological circuit, a programmable gate array, a programmable array logic device, a programmable logic device, a digital signal processor, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, discrete circuitry, passive analog components, active analog components, a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a transistor, an operational amplifiers, a discrete digital component, a shift register, and a latch.
  - 186. A method of claim 145, wherein the conduit comprises modular sub-elements that can be fitted together to form shapes.
  - 187. A method of claim 145, wherein the sub-elements are selected from the group consisting of V-shaped elements, L-shaped elements, T-shaped elements, curved elements, and straight elements.
  - 188. A method of claim 145, wherein the sub-elements are fitted together in combinations.
  - 189. A method of claim 145, wherein the sub-elements are provided in a kit with the light system.
  - 190. A method of claim 145, wherein a user can shape the sub-elements into a desired shape.
  - 191. A method of claim 145, wherein the light system includes a plurality of light engines.
  - 192. A method of claim 191, wherein the plurality of light engines are provided with a communication facility.
  - 193. A method of claim 191, wherein the plurality of light engines are configured so as to generate the generated light in synchronous fashion.
  - 194. A method of claim 191, wherein the plurality of light engines change colors in concert.
  - 195. A method of claim 191, wherein the plurality of light engines communicate via a flexible facility selected from the group consisting of a flexible wire, a bus, and a cable.
  - 196. A method of claim 195, wherein the flexible facility serves as a semi-rigid element for holding the conduit in a selected configuration.
  - 197. A method of claim 191, wherein light system of the plurality of light engines has an optical receiver facility for receiving optical data and an optical modulator facility for modulating a portion of the generated light, so that a first light engine of the plurality of light engines communicates to at least one second light engine of the plurality of light engines.
  - 198. A method of claim 197, wherein the first light engine communicates to the second light engine using the generated light.
  - 199. A method of claim 191, wherein the first light engine communicates to the second light engine using a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
  - 200. A method of claim 191, wherein the first light engine communicates ongoing data to continually update the second light engine.
  - 201. A method of claim 191, wherein the first light engine sends instructions to the second light engine to execute a stored lighting program.
  - 202. A method of claim 201, wherein the instructions comprise clock data, such that the second light engine can execute the stored lighting program and the first light engine can execute the same stored lighting program or an additional stored lighting program in coordination with each other and the clock data.
  - 203. A method of claim 145, wherein the conduit includes a semi-rigid element.
  - 204. A method of claim 203, wherein the semi-rigid element is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, a polymer, and a plastic.
  - 205. A method of claim 203, wherein the semi-rigid element holds shape when bent.
  - 206. A method of claim 145, wherein the conduit is configured to form a sign with lettering.
  - 207. A method of claim 206, wherein the at least one light engine includes a plurality of light engines that are disposed throughout the sign to generate the generated light.
  - 208. A method of claim 206, wherein the sign is configured to resemble a conventional neon sign.
  - 209. A method of claim 141, wherein the at least one light engine includes two light engines respectively disposed proximate to the first end and the second end.
  - 210. A method of claim 141, wherein light engines from a plurality of second light engines are spaced apart from each other along the length of the conduit.

211. A method of lighting an elastomeric conduit having an at least partially transparent outer surface, a first end, and a second end, the method comprising:
- generating light by at least one light engine having a controller and a light source and being disposed proximate to at least one of the first end and the second end of the conduit, wherein the at least one light engine is configured such that the generated light travels within and along a length of the conduit; and
  
  passing at least some of the generated light through the outer surface of the conduit along the length of and around a perimeter of the conduit;
  
  wherein the light source comprises LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, and UV LEDs; and
  
  using an interface to deliver a control signal to the controller.
- View Dependent Claims (212, 213)
- - 212. A method of claim 211, wherein the interface includes at least one of a wire, a cable, a network, a bus, a circuit, and a wireless interface.
  - 213. A method of claim 211, wherein the interface comprises at least one of a user interface, a power-cycle-based interface, a general purpose computer interface, a keyboard, a mouse, a voice- or image-recognition interface, a programming interface, a software authoring tool interface, a light show player interface, a touchpad interface, a wireless interface, an interface for a conventional lighting system, an entertainment system interface, a communications system interface, a maintenance system interface, and a navigation system interface.

214. A method of lighting a system, the method comprising:
- lighting at least one conduit by a first color-changing illumination from a first light engine having a first controller and at least one first LED; and
  
  lighting at least one element by a second color-changing illumination from a second light engine having a second controller and at least one second LED, wherein the at least one conduit is placed in viewing proximity to at least one element so as to produce coordinated layered illumination effects that represent the combination of the at least one conduit and the at least one element.
- View Dependent Claims (215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221)
- - 215. A method of claim 214, wherein a first color of the first color-changing illumination is the same as a second color of the second color-changing illumination.
  - 216. A method of claim 214, wherein a first color of the first color-changing illumination is complementary to a second color of the second color-changing illumination.
  - 217. A method of claim 216, wherein the first and second colors are generated in complementary color pairs.
  - 218. A method of claim 217, wherein the complementary color pairs are selected from the group consisting of a red/green pair, a blue/orange pair, and a yellow/purple pair.
  - 219. A method of claim 214, wherein the at least one element comprises a lit background.
  - 220. A method of claim 219, wherein the lit background is edge-lit by a linear array of light engines including the second light engine.
  - 221. A method of claim 219, wherein the conduit is a sign, and the sign is lit in coordination with the lit background.

Specification

Resources

Litigation Campaign Assessment

Current Assignee
Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
Original Assignee
Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
Inventors
Lys, Ihor A., Cella, Charles H., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J.
Primary Examiner(s)
Phan; Tho
Assistant Examiner(s)
Tran; Chuc

Application Number

US10/678,971
Publication Number

US 20040130909A1
Time in Patent Office

1,516 Days
Field of Search

315/291, 250/214, 250/226, 250/205, 250/238, 362217-218, 362223-225, 405/45, 405/47
US Class Current

362/555
CPC Class Codes

A01M 1/04   Attracting insects by using...

H05B 45/20   Controlling the colour of t...

H05B 47/175   by remote control

Methods and apparatus for illuminating environments

First Claim

4 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

505 Citations

221 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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Methods and apparatus for illuminating environments

First Claim

4 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

505 Citations

221 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links