Intelligent solid state lighting

• US 7,939,794 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rains, Jack C. Jr., May, Don F., Ramer, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ko; Tony
• Application Number:
  US12/775,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/228, 356/236, 356/257, 362/234, 362/235, 362/3, 362/16, 362/6, 362/256, 362/317
• US Class Current: 250/228
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/10 of iris type
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/13 the light being emitted at the end of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0216 : using light concentrators or collectors or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 : using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0254 : Spectrometers, other than colorimeters, making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 : Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 : Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0286 : Constructional arrangements for compensating for fluctuations caused by temperature, humidity or pressure, or using cooling or temperature stabilization of parts of the device; Controlling the atmosphere inside a spectrometer, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 : Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/50 : using electric radiation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/501 : Colorimeters using spectrally-selective light sources, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 : using holographic or diffractive means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 : used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0284 : used in reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 : the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/06 : Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 : the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/06 : using individual cut-out symbols or cut-out silhouettes, e.g. perforated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 : Arrangements of reflectors therein
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 : electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 : Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 : Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 : using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A light fixture, using one or more solid state light emitting elements utilizes a diffusely reflect chamber to provide a virtual source of uniform output light, at an aperture or at a downstream optical processing element of the system. Systems disclosed herein also include a detector, which detects electromagnetic energy from the area intended to be illuminated by the system, of a wavelength absent from a spectrum of the combined light system output. A system controller is responsive to the signal from the detector. The controller typically may control one or more aspects of operation of the solid state light emitter(s), such as system ON-OFF state or system output intensity or color. Examples are also discussed that use the detection signal for other purposes, e.g. to capture data that may be carried on electromagnetic energy of the wavelength sensed by the detector.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

an optical integrating chamber comprising a base, a mask separated from the base, and a cavity formed in at least one of the base and the mask, wherein;

opposing surfaces of the base and mask are reflective, at least one of the opposing reflective surfaces exhibits a diffuse reflectivity, and the mask is sized and positioned relative to the base so as to constructively occlude an active area of the base with respect to a region to be illuminated by reflected light emerging from the chamber between the base and mask;

at least one solid state light emitting element for emitting visible light, each solid state light emitting element being coupled to supply visible light to enter the optical integrating chamber in such a manner that substantially all light emitted from each solid state light emitting element reflects diffusely at least once within the interior of the optical integrating chamber before emission from the chamber toward the region;

a detector for detecting electromagnetic energy from the region of a wavelength at least substantially absent from a spectrum of the reflected light; and

a controller for controlling an amount of visible light supplied to the cavity by the at least one solid state light emitting element,

wherein the controller receives a detection signal from the detector.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein:

the cavity is formed in the base; and

an aperture of the cavity forms the active area of the base.

3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the detector is coupled to the optical integrating chamber to receive the electromagnetic energy from the region of said wavelength after reflection thereof within the optical integrating chamber.

4. The lighting system of claim 3, further comprising:

a source for illuminating at least a portion of the region with electromagnetic energy of said wavelength without reflection thereof within the optical integrating chamber,

wherein the detector detects electromagnetic energy of said wavelength reflected from within the region.

5. The lighting system of claim 4, further comprising:

another optical integrating chamber having a reflective interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface of the other optical integrating chamber having a diffuse reflectivity;

wherein the source is coupled to supply electromagnetic energy of said wavelength into the interior surface of the other optical integrating chamber; and

an optical aperture through which electromagnetic energy of said wavelength reflected within the other optical integrating chamber emerges to illuminate at least the portion of the region.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein:

the other optical integrating chamber comprises a portion of the mask serving as another base, another mask separated from the other base, and another cavity formed in at least one of the other base and mask,

opposing surfaces of the other base and mask are reflective,

at least one of the opposing reflective surfaces of the other base and mask exhibits a diffuse reflectivity, and

the other mask is sized and positioned relative to the other base so as to constructively occlude an active area of the other base with respect to at least the portion of the region to be illuminated by electromagnetic energy of said wavelength.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein:

the other cavity is formed in the other base; and

an aperture of the other cavity forms the active area of the other base.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a source for supplying electromagnetic energy of said wavelength for reflection within the optical integrating chamber and illumination of the region with electromagnetic energy of said wavelength via the optical aperture,

wherein the detector detects electromagnetic energy of said wavelength reflected from within the region.

9. The lighting system of claim 8, further comprising:

another optical integrating chamber having a reflective interior smfac6, at least a portion of the interior surface of the other optical integrating chamber having a diffuse reflectivity; and

an optical aperture of the other optical integrating chamber through which electromagnetic energy of said wavelength reflected from the region enters other optical integrating chamber,

wherein the detector is coupled to receive the reflected electromagnetic energy of said wavelength from the region after diffuse reflection thereof within the other optical integrating chamber.

10. The lighting system of claim 8, wherein:

the other optical integrating chamber comprises a portion of the mask serving as another base, another mask separated from the other base, and another cavity formed in at least one of the other base and mask,

opposing surfaces of the other base and mask are reflective,

at least one of the opposing reflective surfaces of the other base and mask exhibits a diffuse reflectivity, and

the other mask is sized and positioned relative to the other base so as to constructively occlude an active area of the other base with respect to the region.

11. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein:

the other cavity is formed in the other base; and

an aperture of the other cavity forms the active area of the other base.

12. The lighting system of claim 2, further comprising:

a source for illuminating at least a portion of the region with electromagnetic energy of another wavelength at least substantially absent from the spectrum of the reflected light.