Systems and methods for synchronizing lighting effects

• US 6,801,003 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Schanberger, Eric K., Dowling, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V.
• Application Number:
  US10/143,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 315/194, 315/291, 315/312, 315/317, 315/292, 315/294, 315/295, 315/313, 362/234, 323/235, 323/237
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 2310/0272 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers communicating data to the pixels by means of a current
• 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: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• 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 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

In one example, a lighting apparatus comprises a processor wherein the processor is configured to control a color-changing lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus; wherein the processor is further configured to monitor an operating power source; and wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the color-changing lighting effect in coordination with a parameter of the operating power source.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

a processor wherein the processor is configured to control a color-changing lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus;

wherein the processor is further configured to monitor an operating power source; and

wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the color-changing lighting effect in coordination with a parameter of the operating power source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter comprises a periodically changing parameter of the operating power source.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises periodically changing voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises periodically changing frequency.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises periodically changing current.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises periodically changing power.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises an A.C. power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the frequency of the A.C. power source is approximately 60 Hz.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the frequency of the A.C. power source is approximately 50 Hz.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a momentarily changing parameter of the operating power source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the momentary changing parameter comprises a transient.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transient comprises a voltage transient.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transient comprises a current transient.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transient comprises a power transient.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source supplies power to the lighting apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises a red, green, blue lighting apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises an LED lighting apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the LED lighting apparatus further comprises at least two LEDs of different colors wherein the at least two LEDs are independently controlled by the processor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the LED lighting apparatus further comprises at least three LEDs of different colors wherein the at least three LEDs are independently controlled by the processor.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the at least three colors comprise red, green, and blue.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source;

at least one movable filter wherein the filter is associated with the light source such that filtered light is projected from the lighting apparatus; and

wherein the processor is further configured to position the movable filter with respect to the light source.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the at least one movable filter comprises at least two different colored filters.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a timing adjustment circuit wherein the timing adjustment circuit is configured to adjust the timing of the generation of the color-changing lighting effect with respect to the parameter.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the timing adjustment circuit is associated with a user interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the user interface provides a range of adjustment.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the user interface provides a plurality of settings of adjustment.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the plurality of settings comprises a plurality of predetermined timing settings.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the power source is an A.C. power source.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 90-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 180-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the predetermined timing settings comprises a 270-degree phase shift from the phase of the A.C. power source.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the color-changing lighting effect comprises a substantially continuously color-changing lighting effect.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the color-changing lighting effect comprises an abruptly color-changing lighting effect.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus further comprises a plurality of lighting effects.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of lighting effects is selectable through a user interface.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize a selected lighting effect in coordination with the parameter.

37. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

a processor wherein the processor is configured to execute a program to control a lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus;

the processor is further configured to monitor an operating power source; and

the processor is further configured to synchronize the execution of the program in coordination with a parameter of the operating power source.

38. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

a processor wherein the processor is configured to control a lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus;

the processor is further configured to monitor a parameter of an operating power source; and

the processor is further configured to synchronize the generation of the lighting effect in coordination with the parameter.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the parameter comprises a periodic parameter.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the periodic parameter comprises a frequency of the power supplied by the power source.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the periodic parameter comprises a periodic voltage supplied by the power source.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the periodic parameter comprises a periodic current supplied by the power source.

43. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the parameter comprises a momentary parameter.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein the momentary parameter comprises a transient parameter.

45. A method of generating a lighting effect, comprising the steps of:

providing a lighting apparatus;

providing power to the lighting apparatus;

causing the lighting apparatus to monitor at least one parameter of the power provided to the lighting apparatus; and

causing the lighting apparatus to generate a lighting effect in sync with the at least one parameter.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the lighting effect comprises a color changing lighting effect.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the at least one parameter comprises a periodically changing parameter.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing voltage.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing current.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the periodically changing parameter comprises a periodically changing frequency.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein the at least one parameter comprises a momentarily changing parameter.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the momentarily changing parameter comprises a transient.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the transient comprises a transient voltage.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the transient comprises a transient current.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein the transient comprises a transient power.

56. The method of claim 45, further comprising the steps of:

providing an adjustment circuit to adjust the synchronization of the generation of the lighting effect with the at least one parameter.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising the steps of:

adjusting the adjustment circuit.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to provide a substantially continuous range of adjustment.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein the adjustment circuit is configured to provide a plurality of adjustment settings.

60. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

a processor wherein the processor is configured to execute a program to control a lighting effect generated by the lighting apparatus;

the processor is further configured to receive a synchronizing signal from an external source; and

the processor is further configured to synchronize the execution of the program in coordination the synchronizing signal.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the processor is associated with memory wherein the program is stored.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the memory is internal to the lighting apparatus.

63. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the external source is another lighting apparatus.

64. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the external source is a clock generator.

65. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the processor is configured to receive the synchronizing signal through wired communication.

66. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the processor is configured to receive the synchronizing signal through wireless communication.

67. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the processor is configured to receive the synchronizing signal through a power system.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the power system provides power to the lighting apparatus.

69. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein the lighting apparatus comprises an LED lighting apparatus.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the LED lighting apparatus is configured to produce controlled colored lighting.