Controlled lighting methods and apparatus

• US 20040160199A1
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor A., Roberge, Brian, Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M., Chemel, Brian, Blackwell, Michael K., Warwick, John, Hyer, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,202,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/04 Attracting insects by using illumination or colours A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/004 mounted on the exterior of houses or other buildings to illuminate parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2014 by modulation of the duration of a single pulse during which the logic level remains constant
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/355 Power factor correction [PFC]; Reactive power compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

Described herein are lighting units of a variety of types and configurations, including linear lighting units suitable for lighting large spaces, such as building exteriors and interiors. Also provided herein are methods and systems for powering lighting units, controlling lighting units, authoring displays for lighting units, and addressing control data for lighting units.

Claims

1. A method of providing a lighting system, comprising:

providing a substantially linear circuit board;

disposing a plurality of light sources along the circuit board;

disposing the circuit board and the light sources in a substantially linear housing;

providing a light-transmissive cover for the housing; and

providing a connection facility of the housing that allows a first unit of the lighting system to connect end to end with a second unit of the lighting system without a gap between the housings.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the light sources are LEDs.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the processor and the LEDs are on the same circuit board.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the connection facility is a hole that allows cables to exit the housing at a location other than the end of the housing.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the processor is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

6. A method of claim 5, wherein the ASIC is configured to receive and transmit a data stream.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the ASIC responds to data addressed to it, modifies at least one bit of the data stream, and transmits the modified data stream.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a plurality of lighting systems in a serial configuration and controlling all of them by a stream of data to respective ASICs of each of them, wherein each lighting system responds to the first unmodified bit of data in the stream, modifies that bit of data, and transmits the stream to the next ASIC.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to resemble at least one of a fluorescent light and a neon light.

10. A method of claim 1 wherein the housing is curved.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured in a bent configuration.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured in a branched configuration.

13. A method of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured in a T configuration.

14. A method of claim 1, further comprising providing a communication facility of the lighting system, wherein the lighting system responds to data from a source exterior to the lighting system.

15. A method of claim 14, wherein the data is from a signal source exterior to the lighting system.

16. A method of claim 15, wherein the signal source is a wireless signal source.

17. A method of claim 15, wherein the signal source includes a sensor for sensing an environmental condition, and the control of the lighting system is in response to the environmental condition.

18. A method of claim 15, wherein the signal source generates a signal based on a scripted lighting program for the lighting system.

19. A method of claim 1, wherein the control of the lighting system is based on assignment of lighting system units as objects in an object-oriented computer program.

20. A method of claim 19, wherein the computer program is an authoring system.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein the authoring system relates attributes in a virtual system to real world attributes of lighting systems.

22. A method of claim 21, wherein the real world attributes include positions of lighting units of the lighting system.

23. A method of claim 20, wherein the computer program is a computer game.

24. A method of claim 20, wherein the computer program is a music program.

25. A method of claim 1, wherein the lighting system includes a power supply.

26. A method of claim 25, wherein the power supply is a power-factor-controlled power supply.

27. A method of claim 25, wherein the power supply is a two-stage power supply.

28. A method of claim 27, wherein power factor correction includes an energy storage capacitor and a DC-DC converter.

29. A method of claim 28, wherein the power factor correction and energy storage capacitor are separated from the DC-DC converter by a high voltage bus.

30. A method of claim 1, further comprising disposing at least one such lighting unit on a building.

31. A method of claim 30, wherein the lighting units are disposed in an array on a building.

32. A method of claim 31, wherein the array is configured to facilitate displaying at least one of a number, a word, a letter, a logo, a brand, and a symbol.

33. A method of claim 31, wherein the array is configured to display a light show with time-based effects.

34. A method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a lighting unit on at least one of a vehicle, an automobile, a boat, a mast, a sail, an airplane, a wing, a fountain, and a waterfall.

35. A method of claim 1, further comprising disposing a lighting unit on at least one of a deck, a stairway, a door, a window, a roofline, a gazebo, a jungle gym, a swing set, a slide, a tree house, a club house, a garage, a shed, a pool, a spa, furniture, an umbrella, a counter, a cabinet, a pond, a walkway, a tree, a fence, a light pole, and a statue.

36. A method of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is configured to be recessed in an alcove.

37. A lighting system, comprising:

a substantially linear circuit board;

a plurality of light sources along the circuit board, wherein the circuit board and the light sources are disposed in a substantially linear housing;

a light-transmissive cover for the housing; and

a connection facility of the housing that allows a first unit of the lighting system to connect end to end with a second unit of the lighting system without a gap between the housings.

38. A system of claim 37, wherein the light sources are LEDs.

39. A system of claim 37, wherein the processor and the LEDs are on the same circuit board.

40. A system of claim 37, wherein the connection facility is a hole that allows cables to exit the housing at a location other than the end of the housing.

41. A system of claim 37, wherein the processor is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

42. A system of claim 41, wherein the ASIC is configured to receive and transmit a data stream.

43. A system of claim 41, wherein the ASIC responds to data addressed to it, modifies at least one bit of the data stream, and transmits the modified data stream.

44. A system of claim 37, further comprising a plurality of lighting systems in a serial configuration that are controlled by a stream of data to respective ASICs of each of them, wherein each lighting system responds to the first unmodified bit of data in the stream, modifies that bit of data, and transmits the stream to the next ASIC.

45. A system of claim 37, wherein the housing is configured to resemble a fluorescent light.

46. A system of claim 37, wherein the housing is curved.

47. A system of claim 37, wherein the housing is configured in a bent configuration.

48. A system of claim 37, wherein the housing is configured in a branched configuration.

49. A system of claim 37, wherein the housing is configured in a T configuration.

50. A system of claim 37, further comprising a communication facility of the lighting system, wherein the lighting system responds to data from a source exterior to the lighting system.

51. A system of claim 50, wherein the data is from a signal source exterior to the lighting system.

52. A system of claim 51, wherein the signal source is a wireless signal source.

53. A system of claim 51, wherein the signal source includes a sensor for sensing an environmental condition, and the control of the lighting system is in response to the environmental condition.

54. A system of claim 51, wherein the signal source generates a signal based on a scripted lighting program for the lighting system.

55. A system of claim 37, wherein the control of the lighting system is based on assignment of lighting system units as objects in an object-oriented computer program.

56. A system of claim 55, wherein the computer program is an authoring system.

57. A system of claim 56, wherein the authoring system relates attributes in a virtual system to real world attributes of lighting systems.

58. A system of claim 57, wherein the real world attributes include positions of lighting units of the lighting system.

59. A system of claim 55, wherein the computer program is a computer game.

60. A system of claim 55, wherein the computer program is a music program.

61. A system of claim 37, wherein the lighting system includes a power supply.

62. A system of claim 61, wherein the power supply is a power-factor-controlled power supply.

63. A system of claim 61, wherein the power supply is a two-stage power supply.

64. A system of claim 61, wherein power factor correction includes an energy storage capacitor and a DC-DC converter

65. A system of claim 61, wherein the power factor correction and energy storage capacitor are separated from the DC-DC converter by a bus.

66. A system of claim 37, further comprising at least one such lighting unit on a building.

67. A system of claim 66, wherein the lighting units are disposed in an array on a building.

68. A system of claim 66, wherein the array is configured to facilitate displaying at least one of a number, a word, a letter, a logo, a brand, and a symbol.

69. A system of claim 67, wherein the array is configured to display a light show with time-based effects.

70. A system of claim 37, further comprising a lighting unit on at least one of a vehicle, an automobile, a boat, a mast, a sail, an airplane, a wing, a fountain, and a waterfall.

71. A system of claim 37, further comprising a lighting unit on at least one of a deck, a stairway, a door, a window, a roofline, a gazebo, a jungle gym, a swing set, a slide, a tree house, a club house, a garage, a shed, a pool, a spa, furniture, an umbrella, a counter, a cabinet, a pond, a walkway, a tree, a fence, a light pole, and a statue.

72. A system of claim 37, wherein the lighting unit is configured to be recessed in an alcove.

73. A lighting system, comprising:

a linear platform, the platform comprising a circuit board, wherein the circuit board comprises at least one circuit;

an illumination source, wherein the illumination source is associated with the platform, wherein the illumination source comprises a row of LEDs; and

a conductor, including at least one power conductor and at least one data conductor.

74. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the LEDs include mullti-colored LEDs.

75. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the illumination source is mounted on the circuit board.

76. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the illumination source is associated with the at least one circuit.

77. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the conductor is at least one of a wire, a bus, a conductor, and a plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of conductors comprise at least one data conductor and at least one power conductor.

78. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the conductor is electrically associated with the through an insulation displacement system.

79. A plurality of lighting systems according to claim 73, wherein the plurality of lighting systems are electrically associated.

80. A lighting system of claim 79, wherein the electrical association comprises at least one conductor, wherein the conductor is associated with each of the plurality of lighting systems through an insulation displacement system.

81. A lighting system of claim 73, wherein the plurality of lighting systems is associated with an optic.

82. A lighting system of claim 81, wherein the association with the optic comprises an optical association.

83. A lighting system of claim 81, wherein the association with the optic comprises a mechanical association.

84. A lighting system of claim 81, wherein the optic comprises an extruded material.

85. A lighting system of claim 84, wherein the material comprises polycarbonate.

86. A lighting system of claim 85, wherein the polycarbonate is translucent.

87. A lighting system of claim 81, wherein the optic further comprises a guide feature and the platform is mechanically associated with the guide feature.

88. A lighting system of claim 87, wherein the guide feature is on an interior surface of the optic;

wherein the plurality of lighting systems are mechanically associated with the guide feature.

89. A lighting system comprising:

an LED illumination system; and

an extruded optic, wherein the optic comprises platform guides for holding a platform containing light sources.

90. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein the optic is at least one of an extruded optic, a polycarbonate optic, a double lobe optic, an upper and lower lobe, a translucent optic, and a transparent optic.

91. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein the illumination system includes at least one of an LED, an LED color controllable system, two LEDs, two rows of LEDs, two rows of multicolored LEDs, and LEDs associated with a platform.

92. A lighting system of claim 89, further comprising an addressable controller for the lighting system.

93. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein the LED illumination system is optically associated with the optic.

94. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein a plurality of LED illumination systems are associated with the optic.

95. A lighting system of claim 94, wherein the plurality of LED illumination systems are independently controlled.

96. A lighting system of claim 94, wherein the plurality of LED illumination systems are multi-colored illumination systems.

97. A lighting system of claim 94, wherein the optical association provides substantially uniform illumination of at least a portion of the optic.

98. A lighting system of claim 97, wherein the portion is at least a portion of the upper lobe.

99. A lighting system of claim 97, wherein the at least a portion of the optic is the upper lobe.

100. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein the LED illumination system projects a substantial portion of light within a beam angle.

101. A lighting system of claim 100, wherein the beam angle is formed by the light emitted by the two rows of LEDs.

102. A lighting system of claim 100, wherein the beam angle is aligned to project light onto the interior surface of the optic.

103. A lighting system of claim 102, wherein the alignment is optimized to generate substantially uniform illumination of the upper lobe of the optic.

104. A lighting system of claim 89, further comprising a ridged member.

105. A lighting system of claim 104, wherein the ridged member comprises at least one of a metal, a plastic, and a ceramic.

106. A lighting system of claim 104, wherein the ridged member is mechanically associated with the optic.

107. A lighting system of claim 106, wherein the ridged member is associated with the lower lobe to provide rigidity to the lighting system.

108. A lighting system of claim 104, wherein the ridged member is adapted to couple to an attachment device.

109. A lighting system of claim 108, wherein the attachment device is adapted to attach the lighting system to another system.

110. A lighting system of claim 109, wherein the other system comprises at least one of a wall, a building, and an exterior of the building.

111. A lighting system of claim 89, wherein the lighting system comprises at least one end cap.

112. A lighting system of claim 111, wherein the lighting system comprises a first end cap associated with a first end of the optic and a second end cap associated with the second end of the optic.

113. A lighting system of claim 112, wherein the first and second end caps are hermetically sealed to the optic to form a water resistant lighting assembly.

114. A lighting system of claim 113, wherein the end cap comprises platform guides on an interior surface, and the platform is associated with the platform guides.

115. A lighting system of claim 113, wherein at least one of the first and second end caps comprises a gas exchange port.

116. A lighting system of claim 113, wherein at least one of the first and second end caps further comprises an expansion facility.

117. A lighting system of claim 116, wherein the expansion facility is adapted to capture the ridged member and allow for expansion differences between the ridged member and at least one of the optic and the end cap.

118. A lighting system of claim 111, wherein the end cap is comprises a cable sealing portion.

119. A lighting system of claim 118, wherein the cable sealing portion is adapted to pass wires to the interior of the lighting system.

120. A lighting system of claim 118, wherein the cable sealing portion is hermetically sealed.

121. A lighting system of claim 118, wherein the cable sealing system further comprises a wire strain relief system.

122. A lighting system of claim 111, wherein the end cap comprises at least one of a transparent material, a polycarbonate material, and a translucent material.

123. A lighting system of claim 111, wherein the end cap comprises substantially the same material as the optic.

124. A lighting system of claim 90, wherein the lighting system is adapted to provide substantially uniform illumination of the upper lobe and at least an upper portion of the end caps such that a second lighting system can be aligned with the lighting system to form a substantially uniform interconnection of illumination.

125. A method of providing a self-healing lighting system, comprising:

providing a plurality of lighting units in a system, each having a plurality of light sources;

providing at least one processor associated with at least some of the lighting units for controlling the lighting units;

providing a network facility for addressing data to each of the lighting units;

providing a diagnostic facility for identifying a problem with a lighting unit;

providing a healing facility for modifying the actions of at least one processor to automatically correct the problem identified by the diagnostic facility.

126. A method of powering a lighting unit, comprising:

providing a two-stage power-factor-controlled power supply for the lighting unit;

providing an energy storage capacitor;

providing a DC-DC converter; and

separating the energy storage capacitor and the DC-DC converter by a high voltage bus.

127. A method of claim 126, further comprising:

locating at least a portion of the power supply on board the lighting unit.