Systems and methods for synchronizing lighting effects

• US 7,449,847 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dowling, Kevin J., Schanberger, Eric K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US10/915,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 315/194, 315/291, 315/292, 315/294, 315/295, 315/312, 315/313, 315/317, 315/362, 315/360, 362/234, 362/227, 362/236, 323/235, 323/237
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• 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 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• 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 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

In one example, a lighting apparatus comprises a processor wherein the processor is configured to control a color-changing lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus; wherein the processor is further configured to monitor an operating power source; and wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the color-changing lighting effect in coordination with a parameter of the operating power source.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising a plurality of non-networked LED lighting apparatuses connected to an A.C. power source, at least two LED lighting apparatuses of the plurality of non-networked LED lighting apparatus each comprising:

a processor for monitoring at least one parameter of the A.C. power source, the at least one parameter selected from one of a periodically changing parameter of the A.C. power source and a transient signal of the A.C. power source, wherein the processor controls a lighting effect generated by the LED lighting apparatus by synchronizing the lighting effect in coordination with the at least one parameter of the power source,

whereby the lighting system coordinates light output from the at least two LED lighting apparatuses based on the at least one parameter of the A.C. power source without requiring an additional coordinating signal.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein:

the processor is configured to execute a program to control the lighting effect generated by the LED lighting apparatus; and

the processor is further configured to synchronize the execution of the program with the parameter of the power source.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the periodically changing parameter of the A.C. power source.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting effect comprises a substantially continuously color-changing lighting effect.

5. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing voltage.

6. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing frequency.

7. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing current.

8. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing power.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting effect comprises an abruptly color-changing lighting effect.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the A.C. power source is approximately 60 Hz.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the A.C. power source is approximately 50 Hz.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor the transient signal of the A.C. power source.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting effect comprises a plurality of lighting effects.

14. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the transient signal comprises a voltage transient signal.

15. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the transient signal comprises a current transient signal.

16. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the transient signal comprises a power transient signal.

17. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power source is adapted to supply power to the apparatus.

18. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least two LED lighting apparatuses comprises a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.

19. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least two LED lighting apparatuses each comprises at least two LEDs of different colors, wherein the at least two LEDs are independently controlled by the processor(s) configured to control the lighting effect(s) generated by the at least two lighting apparatuses.

20. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least two LED lighting apparatuses each comprises at least three LEDs of different colors wherein the at least three LEDs are independently controlled by the processor configured to control the lighting effects generated by the at least two lighting apparatuses.

21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the at least three colors comprise red, green, and blue.

22. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two LED lighting apparatuses comprises:

at least one movable filter wherein the filter is configured and arranged such that light from the lighting apparatus is processed by the filter,

wherein the processor is configured to position the movable filter with respect to the LED lighting apparatus.

23. The lighting system of claim 22, wherein the at least one movable filter comprises at least two differently colored filters.

24. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two LED lighting apparatuses further comprises:

a timing adjustment circuit configured to adjust a timing of the lighting effect with respect to the at least one parameter.

25. The lighting system of claim 24, wherein the timing adjustment circuit is associated with a user interface.

26. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the user interface provides a range of adjustment.

27. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the user interface provides a plurality of adjustment settings.

28. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of adjustment settings comprises a plurality of predetermined timing settings.

29. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of lighting effects is selectable through a user interface.

30. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 90-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

31. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 180-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

32. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 270-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

33. The lighting system of claim 29, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize a selected lighting effect of the plurality of lighting effects with the parameter of the A.C. power source.

34. A method of generating a lighting effect, comprising steps of:

monitoring at least one parameter of an A.C. power source provided to a plurality of non-networked LED lighting apparatus configured to generate the lighting effect, the at least one parameter being selected from one of a periodic changing parameter of the A.C. power source and a transient signal of the A.C. power source; and

generating the lighting effect in synchronization with the at least one parameter whereby light output from the plurality of non-networked LED lighting apparatuses is coordinated based on the at least one parameter of the A.C. power source without requiring an additional coordinating signal.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing frequency.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the transient signal comprises a transient voltage signal.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the transient signal comprises a transient current signal.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the transient signal comprises a transient power signal.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the synchronization of the generation of the lighting effect with the at least one parameter.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the lighting effect comprises a color changing lighting effect.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing current.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing voltage.