Precision illumination methods and systems

• US 6,459,919 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Lys, Ihor, Mueller, George G., Morgan, Frederick Marshall
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US09/213,189
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/476, 315/291, 315/292, 315/302, 315/307, 315/312, 315/324, 315/300, 315/316, 315/362, 362/234, 362/253
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• 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 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/08 for handles or handrails
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 7/08 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/06 Passive matrix structure, i.e. with direct application of both column and row voltages to the light emitting or modulating elements, other than LCD or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• 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: G09G 3/3283 in which the data driver supplies a variable data current for setting the current through, or the voltage across, the light-emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 : Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 : using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/397 : Current mirror circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 : having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
• 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

Methods and systems are provided for illuminating a material using an LED system, a processor for controlling the LED system and a positioning system for positioning the LED system in a spatial relationship with the material being illuminated. Furthermore, these methods and systems are available for producing certain color characteristics in an illuminated material or environment. These methods and systems can be applied to a plurality of materials, including biological entities. These methods and systems can be adapted for use in a medical applications, and are advantageously employed for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Claims

1. A system for illuminating a material, comprising:

an LED system to generate a range of colors within a color spectrum;

a processor to control an electrical current supplied to the LED system, the processor being configured to provide a particular amount of current to the LED system to generate a corresponding color within the color spectrum, the processor being further configured to respond to a signal relating to a feature of the material; and

a positioning system capable of positioning the LED system in a spatial relationship with the material whereby the LED system illuminates the material.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to generate the signal relating to the feature.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the sensor and the processor is configured to communicate the signal through wireless transmission.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the sensor and the processor is configured to communicate the signal through wired transmission.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compare the signal to known light parameters.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the material.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the material is a body part, and wherein the known light parameters relate to a pathological condition of the body part.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the material comprises a biological entity, and wherein the known light parameters relate to a condition of the biological entity.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the material is a living organism, and wherein the known light parameters relate to a condition of the living organism.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the material is an inanimate entity, and wherein the known light parameters relate to a condition of the inanimate entity.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the positioning system is configured such that the illumination of the material comprises trans-illumination of the material.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the material is living tissue, and wherein the known light parameters relate to a condition of the living tissue.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the positioning system is configured as a medical instrument.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the positioning system comprises a handheld positioning system.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the positioning system is configured for insertion within a body cavity.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an image capture system configured to capture an image of the material.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the image capture system is configured to record the image of the material.

18. A system for illuminating a material, comprising:

an LED system to generate a range of colors within a color spectrum;

a processor to control an electrical current supplied to the LED system, the processor being configured to provide a particular amount of current to the LED system to generate a corresponding color within the color spectrum; and

a positioning system capable of positioning the LED system in a spatial relationship with the material whereby the LED system illuminates the material, the positioning system comprising a remote control system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote control system is configured to be operated through wireless control.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the remote control system is configured to operated through wired control.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising an image capture system configured to capture an image of the material.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the image capture system is configured to record an image of the material.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a sensor configured to communicate a signal to the processor.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the sensor signal relates to a feature of the material.

25. A method using an apparatus including an LED system to illuminate a material, the method comprising acts of:

a) controlling an electrical current supplied to the LED system, based on a feature of the material, to generate at least one color within a color spectrum; and

b) positioning the LED system in a spatial relationship with the material whereby the LED system illuminates the material.

26. The method of claim 25;

wherein the act a) includes acts of;

a1) controlling the electrical current supplied to the LED system to generate a range of colors within a color spectrum; and

a2) providing a particular amount of current to the LED system to generate the corresponding color within the color spectrum based on the feature of the material.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising an act of:

generating a signal relating to the feature of the material.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising an act of:

communicating the signal to the LED system through wireless transmission.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising an act of:

communicating the signal to the LED system through wired transmission.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising an act of:

comparing the signal to known light parameters.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the material, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the abnormal feature of the material.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the material is a body part, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the body part, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the abnormal feature of the body part.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the known light parameters relate to a pathological condition of the body part, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the pathological condition of the body part.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the material comprises a biological entity, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the biological entity, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the abnormal feature of the biological entity.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the material is a living organism, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the living organism, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the abnormal feature of the living organism.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the material is an inanimate entity, wherein the known light parameters relate to an abnormal feature of the inanimate entity, and wherein the act of comparing includes an act of comparing the signal to parameters that relate to the abnormal feature of the inanimate entity.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the act b) includes an act of inserting the LED system within a body cavity.

38. The method of claim 25, wherein the act b) includes an act of positioning the LED system so as to trans-illuminate the material.

39. The method of claim 25, further comprising an act of capturing an image of the material.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the act of capturing an image includes an act of recording the image of the material.

41. A method using an apparatus including an LED system to illuminate a material, the method comprising acts of:

a) controlling an electrical current supplied to the LED system to generate at least one color within a color spectrum; and

b) remotely controlling a position of the LED system in a spatial relationship with the material whereby the LED system illuminates the material.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the act a) includes acts of:

a1) controlling the electrical current supplied to the LED system to generate a range of colors within a color spectrum; and

a2) providing a particular amount of current to the LED system to generate the corresponding color within the color spectrum based on a feature of the material.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the act a2) comprises an act of communicating to the LED system a signal related to a feature of the material.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the act b) includes an act of remotely controlling the position of the LED system through wireless control.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the act b) includes an act of remotely controlling the position of the LED system through wired control.

46. The method of claim 41, further comprising an act of capturing an image of the material.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the act of capturing includes an act of recording the image of the material.