Multi-channel lamp system and method with mixed spectrum

• US 9,974,138 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Allen, Gary Robert, Chowdhury, Ashfaqul I., Dudik, David C., Vick, Kevin James, Boyle, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELAHOUSSAYE, KEITH G
• Application Number:
  US14/757,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20160316527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 362231, 362235
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means

Abstract

Composite light sources and methods use a low-blue component light source emitting first substantially white light and a high-blue component light source emitting second substantially white light. The second substantially white light has a greater correlated color temperature than the first substantially white light. The first and second substantially white light combine to provide substantially intermediate warm-white light.

Claims

1. A composite light source, comprising:

a low-blue component light source emitting first substantially white light; and

a high-blue component light source emitting second substantially white light, the second substantially white light having a greater correlated color temperature than the first substantially white light, wherein at least one of the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light source comprises a narrow-band red emitter,

wherein the first and second substantially white light combine to provide a combined substantially white light having an intermediate correlated color temperature, wherein the combined substantially white light comprises a standard red color chip (R₉) value of at least 51 and has a correlated color temperature that is at least 2500 K and no more than 3200 K and that has a Duv value of at least −

0.025 and no more than −

0.005.

2. The composite light source of claim 1, wherein the combined substantially white light has a color correlated temperature that is at least 2700 K and no more than 3000 K and that has a Duv value of at least −

0.015 and that lies on or below a white body locus.

3. The composite light source of claim 1, further comprising

a switch configured to be actuated to a first state to cause the low-blue component light source to emit the first substantially white light while the high-blue component light source does not emit the second substantially white light, the switch further configured to be actuated to a different, second state to cause the low-blue component light source to not emit the first substantially white light while the high-blue component light source does emit the second substantially white light,

the switch yet further configured to be actuated to a different, third state to cause the low-blue component light source to emit the first substantially white light while the high-blue component light source emits the second substantially white light to provide the combined substantially intermediate light.

4. The composite light source of claim 1, further comprising a timer that controls the ratio and the total light flux of the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light sources at different times of a day.

5. The composite light source of claim 4, wherein the timer activates the low-blue component light source to emit the first substantially white light and deactivates the high-blue component light source during a pre-sleep time period, the timer activates the high-blue component light source to emit the second substantially white light and deactivates the low-blue component light source during a post-sleep time period, and the timer activates the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light source during a time period subsequent to the post-sleep time period and prior to the pre-sleep time period.

6. The composite light source of claim 1, wherein the narrow-band red emitter is a phosphor.

7. The composite light source of claim 6, wherein the phosphor is formed from potassium fluoro-silicate.

8. The composite light source of 6, wherein the substantially intermediate light includes one or more of a standard red color chip (R₉) value of at least 80, a gamut area index value of at least 80, and a lighting preference index of at least 110.

9. A method comprising:

emitting first substantially white light from a low-blue component light source of a composite light source during a first time period; and

emitting second substantially white light from a high-blue component light source during a different, second time period, the second substantially white light having a greater correlated color temperature than the first substantially white light;

wherein at least one of the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light source comprises a narrow-band red emitter; and

wherein the method further comprises concurrently emitting the first substantially white light and emitting the second substantially white light during a different, third time period, wherein the first and second substantially white light combine to provide combined substantially intermediate light;

wherein the combined substantially white light has a color correlated temperature that is at least 2500 K and no more than 3200 K and that has a Duv value of at least −

0.025 and no more than −

0.005.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the combined substantially white light has a color correlated temperature that is at least 2700 K and no more than 3000 K and that has a Duv value of at least −

0.015 and that lies on or below a white body locus.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising one or more of:

switching from emitting the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source to emitting the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source responsive to actuation of a switch of the composite light source;

switching from emitting the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source to emitting the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source responsive to actuation of the switch; and

switching from emitting only the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source or emitting only the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source to concurrently emitting both the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source and the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source responsive to actuation of the switch.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising one or more of:

autonomously switching from emitting the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source to emitting the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source based on a time of day;

autonomously switching from emitting the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source to emitting the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source based on the time of day; and

autonomously switching from emitting only the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source or emitting only the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source to concurrently emitting both the first substantially white light from the low-blue component light source and the second substantially white light from the high-blue component light source responsive to actuation of the switch based on the time of day.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

activating the low-blue component light source to emit the first substantially white light and deactivating the high-blue component light source during a pre-sleep time period;

activating the high-blue component light source to emit the second substantially white light and deactivating the low-blue component light source during a post-sleep time period; and

activating the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light source during a time period subsequent to the post-sleep time period and prior to the pre-sleep time period.

14. A composite light source, comprising:

a low-blue component light source emitting first substantially white light; and

a high-blue component light source emitting second substantially white light, the second substantially white light having a greater correlated color temperature than the first substantially white light, wherein both the low-blue component light source and the high-blue component light source comprises a narrow-band red phosphor emitter,

wherein the first and second substantially white light combine to provide a combined substantially white light having an intermediate correlated color temperature with an R9 value of at least 80 and a Duv value of at least −

0.025 and no more than −

0.005.