Lighting device with defined spectral power distribution

• US 8,258,722 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swoboda, Charles M., Van De Ven, Antony Paul, Negley, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US12/566,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/297, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312
• US Class Current: 315/308
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/233 specially adapted for generating a spot light distribution, e.g. for substitution of reflector lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• 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: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters

Abstract

Solid state lighting devices and illumination methods involve use of multiple solid state emitters of different colored outputs (optionally including at least one white or near-white emitter). Operation of the solid state emitters is controlled with at least one circuit element to emphasize and/or deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface based upon a reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface. At least one emitter may have an associated passive or active filter; the filterable emitter and/or active filter may be operated to deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface. Activation and/or alteration of emphasis or deemphasis of perception of color of a target surface may be selected by a user or automatically controlled.

Claims

1. A lighting device adapted to emphasize and/or deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface having a characteristic reflectance spectral distribution and being separate from the lighting device, the lighting device comprising:

a plurality of solid state emitters including a first solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a first wavelength, and including a second solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength; and

at least one circuit element adapted to control operation of the plurality of solid state emitters to output an aggregated spectral power distribution selected to emphasize and/or deemphasize perception of at least one color of a target surface based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the aggregated spectral power distribution comprises white light.

3. The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising at least one lumiphoric material arranged to convert at least some emissions from any of the first solid state emitter and the second solid state emitter.

4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of solid state emitters includes a third solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a third wavelength that differs from the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

5. The lighting device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of solid state emitters includes a fourth solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a fourth wavelength that differs from the first wavelength, the second wavelength, and the third wavelength.

6. The lighting device of claim 5, wherein the first solid state emitter comprises a principally red solid state emitter, the second solid state emitter comprises a principally blue solid state emitter, the third solid state emitter comprises a principally green solid state emitter, and the fourth solid state emitter comprises at least one emitter operatively coupled with a lumiphoric material to output white or near-white light.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit element is adjustable by a user to control operation of the plurality of solid state emitters to output an aggregated spectral power distribution to alter emphasis and/or deemphasis of perception of at least one color of the target surface.

8. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit element includes a plurality of predetermined settings to control operation of the plurality of solid state emitters, wherein at least one setting of the plurality of predetermined settings causes the plurality of solid state emitters to output an aggregated spectral power distribution selected to emphasize and/or deemphasize perception of at least one color of the target surface.

9. The lighting device of claim 1, comprising a user input element operatively coupled to the at least one circuit element, wherein each setting of the plurality of predetermined settings is selectable via the user input element.

10. The lighting device of claim 1, comprising a wireless receiver operatively coupled to the at least one circuit element, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive an input signal to effectuate alteration of emphasis and/or deemphasis of perception of at least one color of a target surface.

11. The lighting device of claim 1, comprising an output element adapted to generate a user-perceptible signal indicative of operating mode or operating status of the lighting device.

12. The lighting device of claim 1, adapted to automatically switch between multiple settings of the plurality of settings.

13. The lighting device of claim 1, adapted to emphasize perception of a color of the target surface.

14. The lighting device of claim 1, adapted to deemphasize perception of a color of the target surface.

15. The lighting device of claim 1, adapted to emphasize perception of a first color of the target surface, and to simultaneously deemphasize perception of a second color of the target surface.

16. The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following elements (a) to (c):

(a) a common leadframe including a plurality of conductive leads arranged to supply current to the plurality of solid state emitters;

(b) a common substrate arranged to structurally support the plurality of solid state emitters; and

(c) a common reflector arranged to reflect light emissions of each solid state emitter of the plurality of solid state emitters.

17. The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising at least one filtering element arranged to interact with at least one solid state emitter of the plurality of solid state emitters.

18. The lighting device of claim 17, wherein the at least one filtering element comprises a liquid crystal element.

19. A self-ballasted lamp or light fixture comprising the lighting device of claim 1.

20. The lighting device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor arranged to sense reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface or reflected spectral power distribution of the target surface.

21. A method comprising:

identifying a color associated with a target surface to be emphasized or deemphasized, the target surface having a characteristic reflectance spectral distribution and being separate from the lighting device;

selecting a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters, or selecting an operating mode of a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters, to output an aggregated spectral power distribution adapted to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface, wherein the plurality of solid state emitters includes a first solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a first wavelength, and a second solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength; and

illuminating the target surface with an aggregated spectral power distribution output by the plurality of solid state emitters to emphasize or deemphasize perception of the identified color.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising selecting a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters to output an aggregated spectral power distribution adapted to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

23. The method of claim 21, comprising selecting an operating mode of a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters, to output an aggregated spectral power distribution adapted to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising receiving a user input and responsively adjusting operation the plurality of solid state emitters to output an aggregated spectral power distribution to alter emphasis and/or deemphasis of perception of at least one color of the target surface.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the user input is received via wireless transmission.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said identifying includes use of at least one sensor to sense reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface or reflected spectral power distribution of the target surface.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising automatically recommending, for approval by a user, one or more operating settings of the plurality of emitters to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color responsive to the sensing of reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface or reflected spectral power distribution of the target surface.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising automatically selecting one or more operating settings of the plurality of emitters to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color responsive to the sensing of reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface or reflected spectral power distribution of the target surface.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising regulating aggregated lumen output or perceived aggregated lumen output of the plurality of solid state emitters to maintain a substantially constant value while lighting device is subjected to a change in operating mode to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color responsive to the sensing of reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface or reflected spectral power distribution of the target surface.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of solid state emitters includes a third solid state emitter having peak output emissions at a third wavelength that differs from both the first wavelength and the second wavelength.

31. The method of claim 21, comprising selecting an operating mode of a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters to illuminate the target surface with an aggregated spectral power distribution output by the plurality of solid state emitters to emphasize perception of the identified color.

32. The method of claim 21, comprising selecting an operating mode of a lighting device comprising a plurality of solid state emitters to illuminate the target surface with an aggregated spectral power distribution output by the plurality of solid state emitters to deemphasize perception of the identified color.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the lighting device has a plurality of predefined or user-defined operating modes to output an aggregated spectral power distribution adapted to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface, and the method comprises automatically cycling between different modes of the plurality of operating modes.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one active filtering element arranged to interact with at least one solid state emitter of the plurality of solid state emitters, and the method further comprises controlling the at least one active filtering element to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one passive filtering element arranged to interact with at least one filterable solid state emitter of the plurality of solid state emitters, and the method further comprises selectively operating the at least one filterable solid state emitter to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

36. The method of claim 21, comprising generating a user-perceptible signal indicative of operating mode or operating status of the lighting device.

37. The method of claim 21, comprising storing, in a memory associated with the lighting device, settings for at least one operating mode adapted to output an aggregated spectral power distribution adapted to emphasize or deemphasize the identified color based upon the reflectance spectral distribution of the target surface.

38. The method of claim 21, wherein the aggregated spectral power distribution comprises white light.