Apparatus and a method comprising illumination lighting fixture and sensor

• US 8,193,713 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Science Fund, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Tegreene, Clarence T., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US12/291,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 315/158, 315160-162, 315/164, 362/5, 362/11, 362/249.02, 700/56, 700 59- 60
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback

Abstract

One aspect relates to combining an at least one primary general illumination lighting with an at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises sensing an at least one sensed electric characteristics used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting. The aspect further comprises controlling an optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one sensed electric characteristics used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture which, when electrically connected with at least one primary general illumination lighting source, is configured to emit at least one primary general illumination lighting;

at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture that when electrically connected with at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source is configured to emit at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting;

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source; and

at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

electrical circuitry configured to determine at least one of a determined characteristic of the at least one general primary general illumination lighting fixture of the at least one primary general lighting source; and

wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source, includes;

at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the at least one determined electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source, electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined characteristic and;

wherein the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting is responsive to the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one determined electric characteristic is substantially the same as the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured to determine at least partially based on determined Fourier components of the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured at least partially based on a determined phase difference between two or more sensed electrical characteristics of the sensed electrical characteristics.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured at least partially based on filtering of at least part of the at least one sensed electrical characteristic.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured at least partially based on a determined real or imaginary impedance components of the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured at least partially based on a determined capacitance components of the at least one sensed electric characteristics.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electrical circuitry configured to determine the at least one determined electric characteristic is configured at least partially based on a determined inductance components of the at least one sensed electric characteristics.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit models at least one optical characteristic of the primary general illumination lighting as a function of the at least one electric characteristic.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit models at least one optical characteristic of the primary general illumination lighting as a function of a deviation of the at least one electric characteristic from a reference electrical characteristic.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to directly sense the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to remotely sense the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensed electrical characteristic is a current.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensed electrical characteristic is a voltage.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensed electrical characteristic is at least one of a capacitance, an inductance, a resistance, a real impedance, an imaginary impedance, or a complex impedance.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to capacitively sense the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to inductively sense the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source over a frequency band.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture and the at least one sensor are included in a modular unit.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one primary general illumination lighting component that includes the at least one primary general illumination lighting and the at least one primary general illumination lighting source.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture, the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture, and the at least one sensor are included in a modular unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture, and the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit are included in a modular unit.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture, the at least one sensor, and the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit are included in a modular unit.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture, the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture, the at least one sensor, and the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit are included in a modular unit.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting component that includes the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture and the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense one or more sensed optical characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture which, when electrically connected with at least one primary general illumination lighting source, is configured to emit at least one primary general illumination lighting;

at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting fixture that when electrically connected with at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting source is configured to emit at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting;

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source; and

at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the at least one sensed electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting fixture or the at least one primary general illumination lighting source and at least partially responsive to at least one general illumination lighting target.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a color of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting in such a manner so at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches an intensity of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting in such a manner so at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a spectral intensity of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control the at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially corresponds to a function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target comprises one or more color characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target comprises one or more intensity characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the function of one or more optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target comprises one or more spectral intensity characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

44. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

45. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

46. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one controlled optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting, comprises:

the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit configured to control at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting target is configured to substantially correspond to the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

49. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting target is configured to substantially correspond to the at least one primary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

50. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one general illumination lighting target is configured to substantially correspond to the at least one alternate general illumination lighting.

51. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit has an onboard memory storing one or more controlled optical characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

52. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the at least one targeting general illumination lighting control circuit has a receiver configured to acquire one or more characteristics of the at least one general illumination lighting target.

53. A method, comprising:

combining at least one primary general illumination lighting with at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting;

sensing at least one sensed electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting; and

controlling optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one sensed electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one sensed electric characteristic comprises:

controlling an optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to deriving at least one derived electric characteristic and wherein the deriving the at least one derived electrical characteristic is performed in response to the sensing the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

57. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

58. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a time averaged optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a color of at least one general illumination lighting target.

60. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling an intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches intensity of at least one general illumination lighting target.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a spectral intensity of at least one general illumination lighting target.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one color of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a function of one or more optical characteristics of at least one general illumination lighting target.

63. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling an intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a function of one or more optical characteristics of at least one general illumination lighting target.

64. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling a spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral intensity of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting substantially matches a function of one or more optical characteristics of at least one general illumination lighting target.

65. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting is enhanced relative to that of at least one general illumination lighting target.

66. The method of claim 53, wherein the controlling at least one optical characteristic of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting at least partially responsive to the sensing the at least one electric characteristic used to produce the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

controlling the optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting so at least one spectral feature of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting is limited relative to that of at least one general illumination lighting target.

67. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensing the at least one electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing a voltage associated with a primary general illumination component.

68. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensing the at least one electric characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing a current associated with a primary general illumination component.

69. The method of claim 53, wherein the sensing the at least one electric characteristic of the at least one primary general illumination lighting comprises:

sensing at least one of a capacitance, an inductance, a resistance, a real impedance, an imaginary impedance, or a complex impedance associated with a primary general illumination component.

70. The method of claim 53, wherein the deriving the at least one derived electrical characteristic comprises:

computing the least one derived electrical characteristic in response to the sensing the at least one sensed electric characteristics.

71. The method of claim 53, wherein the deriving the at least one derived electrical characteristic is at least partially based on one or more determined Fourier components of the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

72. The method of claim 53, wherein the deriving the at least one derived electrical characteristic is at least partially based on filtering of at least part of the at least one sensed electric characteristic.

73. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

sensing one or more optical characteristics of the at least one primary general illumination lighting.

74. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

sensing one or more optical characteristics of at least one general illumination lighting target.

75. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

sensing one or more optical characteristics of the at least one LED-based secondary general illumination lighting as combined with the at least one primary general illumination lighting.