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Precise repeatable setting of color characteristics for lighting applications

  • US 7,497,590 B2
  • Filed: 04/26/2005
  • Issued: 03/03/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of illuminating a subject, comprising:

  • generating a variable amount of light of a first wavelength and a variable amount of light of a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength;

    optically combining the light of the first wavelength with the light of the second wavelength;

    illuminating the subject with the combined light;

    adjusting the amount of the light of the first wavelength or the amount of the light of the second wavelength, to achieve a color characteristic of a desired illumination of the subject with the combined light;

    recording the amount of the light of the first wavelength and the amount of the light of the second wavelength contained in the combined light used to achieve the desired illumination of the subject;

    setting a lighting system to generate the recorded amount of the light of the first wavelength and to generate the recorded amount of the light of the second wavelength, wherein the setting step comprises;

    (1) setting an intensity of illumination of a source of the light of the first wavelength for the lighting system to the recorded amount of the light of the first wavelength; and

    (2) setting an intensity of illumination of a source of the light of the second wavelength for the lighting system to the recorded amount of the light of the second wavelength,wherein the sources comprise light emitting diodes of different colors;

    operating the lighting system to generate the set recorded amounts of light of the first and second wavelengths;

    optically combining the light of the first and second wavelengths generated by the lighting system to produce a combined light output corresponding to the desired illumination, wherein the step of optically combining the light of the first and second wavelengths generated by the lighting system, comprises;

    (a) diffusely reflecting the light of the first and second wavelengths generated by the lighting system within a cavity; and

    (b) emitting the light of the first and second wavelengths through an aperture of the cavity as the combined light output; and

    irradiating the subject or a similar subject with the combined light output from the lighting system, to achieve the desired illumination of the subject using the lighting system.

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