LED lighting system
First Claim
1. A system to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the system comprising:
- a plurality of lighting element channels selectively operable to generate broad spectrum white light of color temperatures from 1800K to 6500K;
at least two light sensors that detect a composite light emitted from the plurality of lighting element channels and generate respective signals representative of the detected composite light; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the at least two light sensors to receive the respective signals representative of the detected composite light and communicatively coupled to the plurality of lighting element channels to automatically provide respective drive signals that are based at least in part on a color match algorithm and that automatically vary a brightness level and a color level for respective ones of the plurality of lighting element channels to produce the composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method involving lighting fixtures, a control network, a controller and other devices such as light sensors, input devices and network adapters for coordinating precise brightness and color schedules among the lighting fixtures while maintaining a high color reliability including provisions for managing a plurality of lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures contain lighting elements selected such that when controlled properly, operating along a daytime locus, the resultant light output closely resembles sunlight on a cloudless day in spectral characteristics, and wherein the total flux of blue light can be adjusted from a relative level of 1-100% the maximum blue flux of the lighting fixture by controlling individual lighting elements.
82 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of lighting element channels selectively operable to generate broad spectrum white light of color temperatures from 1800K to 6500K; at least two light sensors that detect a composite light emitted from the plurality of lighting element channels and generate respective signals representative of the detected composite light; and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least two light sensors to receive the respective signals representative of the detected composite light and communicatively coupled to the plurality of lighting element channels to automatically provide respective drive signals that are based at least in part on a color match algorithm and that automatically vary a brightness level and a color level for respective ones of the plurality of lighting element channels to produce the composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of operation in a lighting system to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting element channels selectively operable to generate broad spectrum white light of color temperatures from 1800K to 6500K, at least two light sensors, and a controller communicatively coupled to the at least two light sensors and communicatively coupled to the plurality of lighting element channels, the method comprising:
-
detecting, by the at least two light sensors, a composite light emitted from the plurality of lighting element channels; generating, by the at least two light sensors, respective signals representative of the detected composite light; receiving, by the controller from the at least two light sensors, the respective signals representative of the detected composite light; and generating, by the controller, respective drive signals that are based at least in part on a color match algorithm and that automatically vary a brightness level and a color level for respective ones of the plurality of lighting element channels to produce the composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the method comprising:
-
activating a plurality of channels of lighting elements to generate a composite light, the plurality of channels of lighting elements selectively operable to generate broad spectrum white light of color temperatures from 1800K to 6500K; generating, by at least two light sensors, respective signals representative of the composite light detected at the at least two light sensors; activating, by a controller physically coupled to the at least two light sensors, a color match algorithm to automatically create respective drive signals for the plurality of channels of lighting elements based at least in part on the respective signals representative of the composite light detected at the at least two light sensors; and automatically providing, by the controller, the respective drive signals to the plurality of channels of lighting elements to automatically vary a brightness level and color level of respective ones of the plurality of channels of lighting elements to produce the composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus.
-
-
21. A method to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the method comprising:
-
sequentially individually activating each of a plurality of channels of lighting elements, generating, by each of at least two light sensors, respective signals representative of detected light for each of the plurality of channels of lighting elements; automatically creating, by at least one controller, a calibrated setpoint for each of the plurality of channels of lighting elements based at least in part on the respective signals generated for such channel of lighting elements by the at least two light sensors; automatically creating, by the at least one controller, respective drive signals for each of the plurality of channels of lighting elements based at least in part on the calibrated setpoint for such channel of lighting element; and automatically providing, by the controller, the respective drive signals to the plurality of channels of lighting elements to automatically vary a brightness level and color level of respective ones of the plurality of channels of lighting elements to produce a composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus.
-
-
22. A method to generate artificial sunlight with spectral characteristics that resemble natural sunlight, the method comprising:
-
providing a user interface to receive user input that adjusts a time-color profile that specifies values of one or more of brightness and color temperature versus time, wherein the user interface displays time on a first axis, available values for one or more of brightness and color temperature on a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, and a plot of the values for one or more of brightness and color temperature versus time; activating a plurality of channels of lighting elements to generate a composite light, the plurality of channels of lighting elements selectively operable to generate broad spectrum white light of color temperatures from 1800K to 6500K; generating, by at least two light sensors, respective signals representative of the composite light detected at the at least two light sensors; activating, by a controller physically coupled to the at least two light sensors, a color match algorithm to automatically create respective drive signals for the plurality of channels of lighting elements based at least in part on the time-color profile and the respective signals representative of the composite light detected at the at least two light sensors; and automatically providing, by the controller, the respective drive signals to the plurality of channels of lighting elements to automatically vary a brightness level and color level of respective ones of the plurality of channels of lighting elements to produce the composite light along at least a portion of a daylight locus that corresponds to values specified by the time-color profile for a current time.
-
Specification