Control device for controlling the color of light emitted from a light source

• US 7,980,726 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Joosen, Bram F., Bergman, Anthonie H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso; Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/282,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/230, 362/23, 362/29, 362/85, 362/235, 362/246, 362/249.05, 362/249.12, 362/249.13, 362/295, 362/394
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (1) for controlling the color of light (L) emitted from a light source (2). The control device comprises color variation means (24) for varying the color of said light emitted from said light source and one or more light-emitting elements (26) arranged to indicate an available color variation range for the color of said light emitted from said light source upon operation of said color variation means. The control device 1 further comprises control means (23) capable of controlling at least one color of the light emitted by said light-emitting elements in dependence on said available color variation range for said light emitted by said light source.

Claims

1. A control device for controlling the color of light emitted by a light source, wherein said control device comprises:

a color variation selector to display and select variations of the color of light emitted by a light source including a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged to indicate a color variation range for the color of said light emitted by said light source;

wherein said color variation range is available through operation of said color variation selector;

a controller capable of controlling at least one color of the light emitted by said light-emitting elements in dependence on said available color variation range for said light emitted by said light source;

a hue variation selector to display and select the hue of said light emitted by said light source wherein said controller is further capable of controlling the hue of said light emitted by said light-emitting elements to indicate an available variation range in dependence on said selected hue;

wherein said hue is a continuous ring-shaped display and touch sensor having a plurality of LEDs for displaying the range of hues available for said light by said light source.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting elements comprise one or more light-emitting diodes.

3. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a diffuser plate arranged over said color variation selector.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control device further comprises a brightness variation selector.

5. A hand held control device for controlling the color of light emitted by a light source comprising:

a vertically oriented color variation display and selector to display a variation of colors available for display by said light source which includes a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged to indicate a color variation range for the color of said light emitted by said light source, wherein said range is available for selection by a user touch selection of said color variation display and selector;

an annular hue variation display and selector to display a variation of hues available for display by said light source which includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to indicate a hue variation range for the hue of said light emitted by said light source, wherein said hue variation range is available for selection by a user touch selection of said hue variation display and selector;

a light controller mechanism controlling said light emitting elements of said annular hue variation display and selector and said light emitting elements of said vertically oriented color variation display and selector;

a diffuser plate positioned said light-emitting elements of said color variation and selector diffuse light from said light emitting elements thereby appearing to produce a full range of saturation for said light of said light source.