Kinetic illumination system and methods

• US 7,038,398 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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., Blackwell, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US09/213,581
• Time in Patent Office: 2,693 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-295, 315/312, 315/314, 315/316, 315/318, 315/324, 315/360, 362/103, 362/800, 324/115, 324/96, 324/120, 324/132
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• 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 45/28 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of creating eye-catching displays by taking advantage of color-changing illumination provided by LED systems disclosed herein. Displays can be made to appear to change color or to move simply by changing the color of the light illuminating them. Also, the use of such light in projected is described. A vending machine, an article of clothing, and a container lit by these LED systems are specifically provided.

Claims

1. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

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

placing the LED system to affect an object with the light, the object being selected from the group consisting of a display case, a vending machine, a beverage container, and an advertising display;

generating the light so as to illuminate at least a portion of the object; and

varying the color of the generated light over a period of time so that an observer perceives a change in color associated with the object being affected by the generated light due to a selective color interaction between the generated light and the object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a display case, wherein the display case includes a retail display, and wherein the act of placing the LED system to affect an object with the light includes an act of:

placing the LED system to project the light, when generated, onto the retail display such that the observer sees at least some of the light substantially indirectly via the retail display, and not directly from the LED system.

4. The method of claim 3, further including an act of providing a processor for controlling an amount of electrical current supplied to the LED system, so that a particular amount of current supplied thereto generates light of a corresponding color within the color spectrum.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of placing includes positioning the LED system to affect a non-opaque object within the retail display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the retail display is substantially transparent and comprises glass, ice, crystal, or plastic.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the act of placing includes positioning the LED system to affect a non-opaque container within the retail display, the non-opaque container containing a non-opaque substance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the container and the substance are substantially transparent.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the container is a beverage container and the substance is a beverage.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein positioning includes disposing the LED system on a coaster holding the object.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of placing includes positioning the LED system to affect a display sign within the retail display.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the act of placing includes positioning the LED system to affect an informational board within the retail display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the informational board is selected from the group consisting of traffic information signs, silent radios, scoreboards, price boards, and advertisement boards.

14. The method of claim 4, further comprising an act of varying the color of the generated light over a period of time so that the observer perceives an illusion of motion in a design on the retail display being affected by the generated light.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the retail display is at least one of a picture, photograph, image, display sign, informational board, or advertisement display.

16. The method of claim 4, wherein the generated light changes color over a period of time so as to permit an observer to perceive an illusion of motion of the retail display being affected by the generated light.

17. The method of claim 14 or 16, wherein the retail display being affected by the light comprises at least one display used for advertising purposes.

18. The method of claim 14 or 16, wherein the generated light changes color over a period of time in a pre-programmed sequence.

19. The method of claim 14 or 16, wherein the generated light changes color over a period of time in response to external conditions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the external conditions represent at least one of proximity of people, ambient light, time of day, and location.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is a display case, wherein the display case includes a retail display, and wherein the act of providing includes an act of:

providing an LED system that generates light of a range of colors within a color spectrum in response to an activation signal;

and wherein the act of placing includes an act of;

directing the light toward the retail display; and

wherein the method further includes an act of;

controlling the activation signal to vary the range of colors of the light over time, whereby the retail display is affected with color-changing illumination.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the LED system includes at least one red LED, at least one blue LED, and at least one green LED.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the LED system comprises a plurality of LEDs having a plurality of colors, a processor that receives inputs and controls the activation signal in response to the received inputs.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the activation signal includes a pulse-width modulated signal, an intensity of a color of the LED system being responsive to a duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated signal.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the activation signal is controlled in response to a user input.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the activation signal is controlled in response to an external condition.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of providing includes providing an LED system comprising a plurality of LEDs and an addressable controller for controlling light generated by the plurality of LEDs.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises more than one color, and wherein the method further comprises an act of varying the color of the generated light over a period of time so that the observer perceives a change in color of the object being affected by the generated light.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises more than one color, and wherein the method further comprises an act of varying the color of the generated light over a period of time so that the observer perceives an illusion of motion in a design on the object being affected by the generated light.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of placing includes an act of:

placing the LED system to project the light, when generated, onto the object such that the observer sees at least some of the light substantially indirectly via the object, and not directly from the LED system.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the object is a display case.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the object is a vending machine.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the object is a beverage container.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the object is an advertising display.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the act of providing includes providing an LED system comprising a plurality of LEDs and an addressable controller for controlling light generated by the plurality of LEDs.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of placing includes an act of:

placing the LED system to project the light, when generated, onto the object so as to illuminate the object, the LED system being positioned such that at least some of the projected light, upon illumination of the object, is directed to an observer so that the observer sees at least some of the projected light substantially indirectly via the object, and not directly from the LED system.

2. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

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

placing the LED system to affect an object with the light, the object being selected from the group consisting of a display case, a vending machine, a beverage container, and an advertising display;

generating the light so as to illuminate the object; and

varying the color of the generated light over a period of time so that the observer perceives an illusion of motion in at least a portion of the object being affected by the generated light due to a selective color interaction between the generated light and the object.