Lighting System

• US 20130057157A1
• Filed: 08/30/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Nackaerts, Axel, Nguyen, Viet Hoang
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/151
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting system uses interior and exterior light sensors for detecting lighting level and colour. A lighting unit has a controlled colour and intensity so that a colour match zone can be defined where the interior space lighting has colour temperature based on the exterior lighting conditions.

Claims

1. A lighting system for an interior space comprising:

at least one light sensor for determining the exterior lighting colour;

at least one light sensor for the interior space for determining the interior lighting level and colour;

a lighting unit having adjustable colour and intensity; and

a controller for controlling the lighting unit,

wherein the controller is adapted to;

adjust the colour and intensity of the lighting unit based on the light sensor outputs thereby to obtain a colour match zone where the interior space lighting has a colour temperature dependent on the exterior lighting, wherein the adjusting takes place during the course the day.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the colour match zone, the interior space lighting has a colour temperature matched to the colour temperature of the exterior lighting, when the exterior lighting colour temperature is within upper and lower bounds.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the colour match zone, the interior space lighting has a light intensity matched to the exterior light intensity, when the exterior light intensity is within upper and lower bounds.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a timer for providing the time of day.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the colour match zone is at least in the vicinity of a window.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of light sensors for the interior space.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lighting unit comprises LED light fixture.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is further adapted to:

adjust the colour and intensity of the lighting unit based on user input thereby to obtain a user defined colour zone, and to provide a colour gradient between the user defined colour zone and the colour match zone.

9. A method of controlling a lighting system for an interior space, comprising:

determining the exterior lighting colour;

determining the interior lighting level and colour;

controlling a lighting unit to adjust the colour and intensity based on the determined lighting colours and lighting level thereby to define a colour match zone where the interior space lighting has a colour temperature dependent on the exterior lighting, wherein the adjusting takes place during the course of the day.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the colour match zone, the interior space lighting is controlled to have a colour temperature matched to the colour temperature of the exterior lighting, when the exterior lighting colour temperature is within upper and lower bounds.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein in the colour match zone, the interior space lighting is controlled to have a light intensity matched to the exterior light intensity, when the exterior light intensity is within upper and lower bounds.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising using a timer to providing the time of day.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising:

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measuring the external light colour temperature;

calculating the spectrum difference between the external light colour temperature and a desired internal lighting colour temperature;

controlling the lighting unit to add the missing part of the spectrum thereby to change the colour temperature; and

adding light to adjust the intensity to a desired internal lighting intensity.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, comprising implementing a feedback loop for measuring the internal light colour temperature and intensity such that the controlling takes account of the actual internal light colour temperature and intensity as well as the desired light colour temperature and intensity.