Light emitting diode based products

• US 7,161,313 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• 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 A., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M., Piepgras, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene; Haissa
• Application Number:
  US11/106,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 315/292, 315/294, 315/295, 315/297, 315/312, 315/316, 315/318, 315/76, 362/601, 362/605, 362/606, 362/612, 362/615, 362/609, 362/628, 362/620, 362/800, 362/516, 362/230, 362/231, 362/293, 362/236, 362/543, 345/102, 349/61
• US Class Current: 315/318
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/22 Optical, colour, or shadow toys puzzles with optical elements A63F9/0613; kaleidoscopes G02B27/08
• 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 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/406 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission

Abstract

Various exemplary implementations of light emitting diode (LED) based illumination products and methods are disclosed including, but not limited to, glow sticks, key chains, toys, balls, various game accessories, light bulbs, night lights, wall lights, wall switches, wall sockets, wall panels, modular lights, flexible lights, automotive lights, wearable accessories, light ropes, decorative lights such as icicles and icicle strings, light tubes, insect control lights and methods, and lighted air fresheners/scent dispensers. Any of the foregoing devices may be equipped with various types of user interfaces (both “local” and “remote”) to control light generated from the device. Additionally, devices may be controlled via light control information or programs stored in device memory and/or transmitted or downloaded to the devices (e.g., devices may be controlled individually or collectively in groups via a network, glow sticks or other products may be downloaded with programming information that is stored in memory, etc.). Devices also may include sensors so that the generated light may change in response to various operating and/or environmental conditions or a user input. Various optical processing devices which may be used with any of the devices (e.g., reflectors, diffusers, etc.) also are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating first radiation having a first spectrum representing a first color temperature from a first plurality of first white LEDs;

generating second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum from a second plurality of second LEDs;

passing at least some of the first radiation and at least some of the second radiation, when generated, though an elongated optic to provide visible radiation to an observer; and

controlling a resulting color or a resulting color temperature of the visible radiation as perceived by the observer.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a first plurality of first white LEDs configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum representing a first color temperature;

a second plurality of second LEDs configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

an elongated optic arranged with respect to the first plurality of first white LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs such that at least some of the first radiation and at least some of the second radiation, when generated, pass through the elongated optic to provide visible radiation to an observer; and

at least one controller coupled to the first plurality of first white LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs, and configured to control a resulting color or a resulting color temperature of the visible radiation as perceived by the observer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of first white LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs are disposed collectively in a substantially linear arrangement.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least some of the first plurality of first white LEDs and at least some of the second plurality of second LEDs are arranged at one end of the elongated optic.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least some of the first plurality of first white LEDs and at least some of the second plurality of second LEDs are arranged at both ends of the elongated optic.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first white LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as a single, substantially uniform color or color temperature.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first white LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as essentially white light.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first white LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation emanating from different portions of the elongated optic is perceived as different colors or different color temperatures.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first white LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as at least one dynamic lighting effect.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated optic is formed from a semitransparent or translucent material.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated optic is configured such that the visible light is perceived as substantially uniform along the elongated optic.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated optic includes a reflective material embedded in the elongated optic.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elongated optic has a tapered shape.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller to receive at least one control signal from a network.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of second LEDs includes a second plurality of second white LEDs.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first plurality of first white LEDs and the second plurality of second white LEDs are disposed collectively in a substantially linear arrangement.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one controller includes at least one microprocessor.

18. A system comprising at least two apparatus according to claim 14 coupled to the network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the at least two apparatus includes a microprocessor.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

a first plurality of first white LEDs configured to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a second plurality of second LEDs configured to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum;

an elongated optic arranged with respect to the first plurality of first LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs such that at least some of the first radiation and at least some of the second radiation, when generated, passes through the elongated optic to provide visible radiation to an observer; and

at least one controller including at least one microprocessor coupled to the first plurality of first LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs, the at least one controller configured to control a resulting color or a resulting color temperature of the visible radiation as perceived by the observer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the elongated optic has a tapered shape.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller is configured as an addressable controller to receive at least one control signal from a network.

23. A system comprising at least two apparatus according to claim 22 coupled to the network.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the elongated optic includes a reflective material embedded in the elongated optic.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first plurality of first LEDs and the second plurality of second LEDs are disposed collectively in a substantially linear arrangement.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least some of the first plurality of first LEDs and at least some of the second plurality of second LEDs are arranged at one end of the elongated optic.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least some of the first plurality of first LEDs and at least some of the second plurality of second LEDs are arranged at both ends of the elongated optic.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as a single, substantially uniform color or color temperature.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as essentially white light.

30. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation emanating from different portions of the elongated optic is perceived as different colors or different color temperatures.

31. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one controller is configured to selectively control the first plurality of the first LEDs and the second plurality of the second LEDs such that the visible radiation is perceived as at least one dynamic lighting effect.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the elongated optic is formed from a semitransparent or translucent material.

33. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the elongated optic is configured such that the visible light is perceived as substantially uniform along the elongated optic.