Lighting system for creating a biological effect

• US 8,378,574 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Schlangen, Lucas Josef Maria, Kok, Gregorius Wilhelmus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/600,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 315/50, 315/51, 315/35, 315/294, 315/152, 315/312, 315/313, 313/485, 313/487, 362/231, 345/102
• US Class Current: 315/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting system for creating a biological effect induced by light. The biological effect is a different effect than vision. The lighting system comprises a light source (1) to generate light with a varying spectrum, and a driver (2) to drive the light source (1) to successively in time: (i) generate a first spectrum (S1) during a first period in time (T1), (ii) change the first spectrum (S1) into a second spectrum (S2) during a second period in time (T2), wherein the second spectrum (S2) has the biological effect, and (iii) maintain the second spectrum (S2) during a third period in time (T3). The duration of the second period in time (T2) is selected in a range from 5 seconds to 30 minutes. The first spectrum (S1) may not have the biological effect or may have the biological effect to a smaller extent than the second spectrum (S2).

Claims

1. A lighting system for creating a biological effect induced by light, the biological effect being a different effect than vision, and the lighting system comprising:

at least one light source for generating light with a varying spectrum, and

at least one driver for driving the lighting system to, successively in time;

generate a first spectrum (S1) during a first period in time (T1),

change the first spectrum (S1) into a second spectrum (S2) during a second period in time (T2), the second spectrum (S2) having the biological effect, and

continue the second spectrum (S2) during a third period in time (T3), wherein a duration of the second period in time (T2) is selected in a range from 5 seconds to 30 minutes;

said light of said first spectrum having a red color and said light of said second spectrum having a blue color;

said first spectrum being a wavelength of about 600 nm to about 760 nm and said second spectrum being a wavelength of about 440 nm to about 520 nm.

2. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third spectrum selected for masking a transition from the first spectrum (S1) into the second spectrum (S2) during at least part of the second period in time (T2).

3. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first spectrum (S1) has a dominant component at a wavelength of 680 nm and the second spectrum (S2) has a dominant component at a wavelength of 480 nm.

4. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver (2) is constructed for further repeating the sequence of the first period in time (T1), the second period in time (T2), and the third period in time (T3) a predetermined number of times.

5. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver (2) is constructed for further repeating the sequence of the first period in time (T1) and the third period in time (T3).

6. A lighting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driver (2) is constructed for gradually decreasing an intensity (IN) of the first spectrum (S1) and gradually increasing an intensity (IN) of the second spectrum (S2).

7. A lighting system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the driver (2) is constructed for keeping a total luminance or a total brightness of the first spectrum (S1) and the second spectrum (S2) constant during the second period in time (T2).

8. A method of driving a light source (1), the method comprising successively the steps of:

generating a first spectrum (S1) during a first period in time (T1),

changing the first spectrum (S1) into a second spectrum (S2) during a second period in time (T2), the second spectrum (S2) having a biological effect induced by light generated by the light source, the biological effect being a different effect than vision, and

continuing the second spectrum (S2) during a third period in time (T3), wherein a duration of the second period in time (T2) is selected in a range from 5 seconds to 30 minutes;

said light generated in said first spectrum having a red color and said light generated in said second spectrum having a blue color;

limiting said first spectrum light to a wavelength in a range of about 600 nm to about 760 nm;

limiting said second spectrum light to a wavelength in a range of about 440 nm to about 520 nm.

9. A method of driving a light source, the method comprising:

gradually increasing light output from a first light source to a defined output of a first spectrum during a first period in time to substantially emit said light of said first spectrum;

gradually decreasing said light output from said first light source during a second period of time;

during said second period of time, gradually increasing light output from a second light source having a second spectrum to a defined light output of said second light source;

wherein said first spectrum is a red color and said light output of said first light source is maintained between a wavelength of about 600 nm to about 760 nm and said second spectrum is a blue color and said light output of said second light source is maintained between a wavelength of about 440 nm to about 520 nm;

during a third period of time, maintaining said light output from said second light source at said second spectrum while maintaining said light output of said first light source to near zero to substantially emit said blue color;

said second spectrum having a biological effect induced by light generated by said second light source, said biological effect being a different effect than vision; and

continuing said second spectrum during said third period in time, wherein a duration of the second period in time is selected in a range of from about 5 seconds to about 30 minutes.