LED-based light with addressed LEDs

• US 9,574,717 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Scapa, James R., Ivey, John, Amrine, James M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/598,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20150204487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/023 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3578 Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An LED-based replacement light comprises multiple LEDs, the LEDs having different logical control addresses associated among them, with each logical control address subjecting one or more of the LEDs associated therewith to individual control; a controller in communication with the LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that individually control the operating states of the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address; a housing for the LEDs; and a connector disposed at an end of the housing, the connector shaped for connection with a light socket.

Claims

1. An LED-based replacement light, comprising:

multiple LEDs, the LEDs having different logical control addresses associated among them, with each logical control address subjecting one or more of the LEDs associated therewith to individual control, wherein the multiple LEDs comprise;

one or more first LEDs associated with a first logical control address, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more first LEDs according to a first spatial distribution profile, and

one or more second LEDs associated with a second logical control address different from the first logical control address, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more second LEDs according to a second spatial distribution profile different from the first spatial distribution profile;

one or more first optical devices associated with the first logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more first LEDs in a first way; and

one or more second optical devices associated with the second logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more second LEDs in a second way different from the first way;

a controller in communication with the LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that individually control operating states of the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address;

a housing for the LEDs; and

a connector disposed at an end of the housing, the connector shaped for connection with a light socket.

2. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the generated signals individually control the operating states of the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address in multiple combinations, each combination resulting in a different lighting outcome for the LED-based light.

3. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the generated signals individually control the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address to one of an OFF state or an ON state.

4. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the generated signals individually control the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address to one of an OFF state or one of a plurality of intensities in an ON state.

5. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple LEDs is configured to emit the same color of light when controlled to an ON state.

6. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the one or more first LEDs are configured to emit light of a first color when controlled to an ON state, and

the one or more second LEDs are configured to emit light of a second color different from the first color when controlled to an ON state.

7. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the one or more first LEDs are configured to emit light of a first color temperature when controlled to an ON state, and

the one or more second LEDs are configured to emit light of a second color temperature different from the first color temperature when controlled to an ON state.

8. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first optical devices is configured to direct light in a first common direction, and wherein each of the one or more second optical devices is configured to direct light in a second common direction different than the first common direction.

9. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first optical devices comprises a respective first over mold configured to direct light in a first common direction, and wherein each of the one or more second optical devices comprises a respective second over mold configured to direct light in a second common direction different than the first common direction.

10. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first optical devices comprises a respective first lens configured to direct light in a first common direction, and wherein each of the one or more second optical devices comprises a respective second lens configured to direct light in a second common direction different than the first common direction.

11. The LED-based light of claim 1, wherein the one or more first LEDs are in optical communication with the one or more first optical devices, and not in optical communication with the one or more second optical devices, and

wherein the one or more second LEDs are in optical communication with the one or more second optical devices, and not in optical communication with the one or more first optical devices.

12. An LED-based replacement light, comprising:

one or more first LEDs, the one or more first LEDs associated with a first logical control address subjecting them to individual control, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more first LEDs according to a first spatial distribution profile when the one or more first LEDs are controlled to an ON state;

one or more second LEDs, the one or more second LEDs associated with a second logical control address subjecting them to individual control, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more second LEDs according to a second spatial distribution profile different from the first spatial distribution profile when the one or more second LEDs are controlled to an ON state, wherein the second logical control address is different from the first logical control address;

one or more first optical devices associated with the first logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more first LEDs in a first way; and

one or more second optical devices associated with the second logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more second LEDs in a second way different from the first way;

a housing for the one or more first LEDs and the one or more second LEDs; and

a connector disposed at an end of the housing, the connector shaped for connection with a light socket.

13. The LED-based light of claim 12, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the one or more first LEDs and the one or more second LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that control the one or more first LEDs to an ON state and the one or more second LEDs to an OFF state to achieve the first spatial distribution profile.

14. The LED-based light of claim 12, further comprising:

a controller in communication with the one or more first LEDs and the one or more second LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that control the one or more first LEDs to an OFF state and the one or more second LEDs to an ON state to achieve the second spatial distribution profile.

15. The LED-based light of claim 12, wherein the first spatial distribution profile is centered on an axis, and the second spatial distribution profile is off-center from the axis.

16. The LED-based light of claim 12, wherein the one or more first optical devices are over molds disposed on the one or more first LEDs.

17. The LED-based light of claim 12, wherein the one or more first optical devices are one or more lenses defined by the housing and opposing the one or more first LEDs.

18. The LED-based light of claim 12, wherein the one or more first LEDs and the one or more second LEDs are configured to emit the same color of light when controlled to an ON state.

19. An LED-based replacement light, comprising:

an elongate circuit board;

multiple LEDs mounted along the length of the circuit board, the LEDs having different logical control addresses associated among them, with each logical control address subjecting one or more LEDs associated therewith to individual control, wherein the multiple LEDs comprises;

one or more first LEDs associated with a first logical control address, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more first LEDs according to a first spatial distribution profile, and

one or more second LEDs associated with a second logical control address different from the first logical control address, the LED-based replacement light being configured to emanate light emitted by the one or more second LEDs according to a second spatial distribution profile different from the first spatial distribution profile;

one or more first optical devices associated with the first logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more first LEDs in a first way; and

one or more second optical devices associated with the second logical control address and configured to distribute light emanating from the one or more second LEDs in a second way different from the first way;

a controller in communication with the LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that individually control operating states of the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address;

an elongate housing for the circuit board and the LEDs; and

a pair of end caps disposed at opposing ends of the housing, each including a connector shaped for connection with a fluorescent light socket.

20. The LED-based light of claim 19, wherein:

the one or more first LEDs are positioned toward the middle of the LED-based light in a direction of its length, and the one or more second LEDs are positioned toward one or both of the ends of LED-based light in the direction of its length; and

the controller is configured to generate signals that control the one or more first LEDs to an ON state at a first intensity and the one or more second LEDs to an ON state at a second intensity higher than the first intensity, resulting in at least a partial dog-boned shaped lighting gradient from the LED-based light in a plane normal to the circuit board.