Electrically controlled glass in a lamp
First Claim
1. A lighting apparatus comprising:
- a light source positioned in the lighting apparatus;
a lens comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section each comprising smart glass, wherein the lens is configured to create a first light path from the light source that passes through the first section of the lens, but not the second section of the lens, before exiting the lighting apparatus, and a second light path from the light source that passes through the second section of the lens, but not the first section of the lens, before exiting the lighting apparatus; and
electrical circuitry, positioned in the lighting apparatus and electrically coupled to both the first section and the second section of the lens, the electrical circuitry configured to;
set a transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens to one of at least two different transparency states at a first time that the light source emits light; and
set a transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens to one of at least two different transparency states at a second time that the light source emits light;
wherein the transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens is different than the transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens during at least some time periods that the light source emits light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for generating light may be comprised of a light source with a lens interposed in a light path from the light source. The lens may be comprised of two or more sections wherein at least one section may be comprised of smart glass. Electrical circuitry may be configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass lens sections. Another embodiment may have two reflectors wherein one of the reflectors may be interposed between the light source and the other reflector and may be comprised of smart glass with a transparent state and a reflective state so that two different reflection patterns may be created. A method for illumination wherein at least one area'"'"'s illumination is controlled by a section of smart glass is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lighting apparatus comprising:
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a light source positioned in the lighting apparatus; a lens comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section each comprising smart glass, wherein the lens is configured to create a first light path from the light source that passes through the first section of the lens, but not the second section of the lens, before exiting the lighting apparatus, and a second light path from the light source that passes through the second section of the lens, but not the first section of the lens, before exiting the lighting apparatus; and electrical circuitry, positioned in the lighting apparatus and electrically coupled to both the first section and the second section of the lens, the electrical circuitry configured to; set a transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens to one of at least two different transparency states at a first time that the light source emits light; and set a transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens to one of at least two different transparency states at a second time that the light source emits light; wherein the transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens is different than the transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens during at least some time periods that the light source emits light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14)
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10. A lighting apparatus comprising:
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a light source positioned in the lighting apparatus; a first reflector, coupled to the light source and configured to create a first reflection pattern of light from the light source outside of the lighting apparatus; a second reflector, configured to create a second reflection pattern of the light from the light source outside of the lighting apparatus that is different than the first reflection pattern, interposed between the light source and the first reflector, the second reflector comprising smart glass having a reflectivity state; and electrical circuitry configured to set the reflectivity state of the smart glass; wherein if the reflectivity state of the smart glass of the second reflector is substantially transparent, the lighting apparatus is configured to shine the light from the light source through the second reflector to be reflected in the form of the first reflection pattern with the first reflector; and wherein if the reflectivity state of the smart glass of the second reflector is substantially reflective, the lighting apparatus is configured to substantially block light from the light source from reaching the first reflector and reflect the light from the light source in the form of the second reflection pattern with the second. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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15. A method of illumination comprising:
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generating light from a light source positioned in a lighting apparatus; illuminating a first area outside of the lighting apparatus by setting a reflectivity state of smart glass of a first reflector of the lighting apparatus to a substantially reflective state to reflect the light from the light source off the first reflector to the first area; and illuminating a second area outside of the lighting apparatus by setting the reflectivity state of the smart glass of the first reflector to a substantially transparent state to shine the light from the light source through the first reflector to a second reflector of the lighting apparatus to reflect the light off the second reflector to the second area. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of illumination comprising:
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generating light from a light source positioned in a lighting apparatus; setting a transparency state of smart glass in a first section of a lens of the lighting apparatus to control illumination of a first area outside of the lighting apparatus using a first light path, wherein the first light path passes from the light source, through the first section of the lens, to the first area, without passing through a second section of the lens; and setting a transparency state of smart glass in the second section of the lens of the lighting apparatus to control illumination of a second area outside of the lighting apparatus using a second light path, wherein the second light path passes from the light source, through the second section of the lens, to the second area, without passing through the first section of the lens; wherein the transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens is different than the transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens during at least some time periods that light is generated from the light source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification