Electrically Controlled Glass in a Lamp

• US 20120013238A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Greenwave Reality, Inc.
• Inventors: Jonsson, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,820,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/110
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/02 Combinations of only two kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/003 by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/163 Operation of electrochromic cells, e.g. electrodeposition cells; Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/025 Associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/40 by light filters; by coloured coatings in or on the envelope
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/56 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/26 Screens; Filters associated with envelope H01K1/28
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/30 incorporating lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/62 One or more circuit elements structurally associated with the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a lens interposed in a light path from the light source, the lens comprised of a first section and a second section, the second section comprised of smart glass; and

electrical circuitry configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass of the second section of the lens.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is configured to illuminate a first area through the first section of the lens and the light source is configured to illuminate a second area through the second section of the lens.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first area and the second area are partially overlapping.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is one or more LEDs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrical circuitry is further configured to control a color filtering state of the smart glass.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first section of the lens is comprised of smart glass and the electrical circuitry is further configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass of the first section of the lens.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the lens further comprising a third section wherein the third section of the lens is comprised of smart glass and the electrical circuitry is further configured to control a transparency state of the smart glass of the third section of the lens.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the electrical circuitry comprising:

a controller coupled to the smart glass; and

network circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to receive data from a network;

wherein

the controller is configured to receive network data from the network circuitry and control the transparency state of the smart glass based on the network data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an enclosure at least partially surrounding the light source and the electrical circuitry; and

an electrical connection for receiving power.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the enclosure is substantially the same size and shape as a typical incandescent light bulb and the electrical connection comprises an Edison screw fitting base.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a light source;

a first reflector for reflecting light from the light source, the first reflector having a first reflection pattern of the light from the light source;

a second reflector for reflecting light from the light source interposed between the light source and the first reflector, the second reflector comprised of smart glass, the smart glass having a substantially transparent state and a substantially reflective state; and

electrical circuitry configured to control the state of the smart glass;

wherein

if the smart glass of the second reflector is in the substantially transparent state, the second reflector is configured to allow the light from the light source to pass through the second reflector and be reflected by the first reflector; and

if the smart glass of the second reflector is in the substantially reflective state, the second reflector configured to substantially block light from the light source from reaching the first reflector by reflecting the light from the light source and having a second reflection pattern of the light from the light source.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the light source is one or more LEDs.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

an enclosure at least partially surrounding the light source and the electrical circuitry; and

an electrical connection for receiving power.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the enclosure is substantially the same size and shape as a typical incandescent light bulb and the electrical connection comprises an Edison screw fitting base.

15. A method of illumination comprising:

generating light;

illuminating a first area with the light passing through a first section of a lens; and

illuminating a second area with the light passing through a second section of the lens, wherein the second section of the lens is comprised of smart glass configured to be in a substantially transparent state.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein generating light is comprised of powering one or more LEDs.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring the smart glass to be in a substantially opaque state, wherein the second area is not illuminated by the light.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising receiving a command and controlling the transparency state of the smart glass.

19. A method of illumination comprising:

generating light;

creating a first reflection pattern of the light using a first reflector comprised of smart glass, wherein the smart glass is in a substantially reflective state; and

creating a second reflection pattern of the light using a second reflector wherein the smart glass of the first reflector is in a substantially transparent state and the light passes through the substantially transparent smart glass of the first reflector before being reflected by the second reflector.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving a command and controlling the state of the smart glass of the first reflector.