Tile lighting methods and systems

• US 7,358,929 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kim, Hern, Lys, Ihor A., Roberge, Brian, Piepgras, Colin, Logan, Derek, Cella, Charles H., Mueller, George G., Dowling, Kevin J., Morgan, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro; Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/828,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.3, 345/1.1, 345/3.3, 345/903
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 13/08 composed of a plurality of similar covering or lining elements, E04F13/072 takes precedence; borders, skirtings E04F19/02; of webs or fabrics E04F13/002; fixing strips E04F19/06; separate provisional spacers between adjacent tiles E04F21/0092; implements or means for setting tiles E04F21/18
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 15/02 Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements of webs E04F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2290/026 for lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/002 making direct electrical contact, e.g. by piercing F21V21/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• 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 2121/02 for fountains
• 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: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• 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 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/33 : Pulse-amplitude modulation [PAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 : Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 : Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/903 : Modular display

Abstract

A tile lighting system is provided in which an interior space of a tile is lit by LEDs, such as in a grid or edge-lit formation, and a light diffusing panel is disposed over the interior space. The tile lighting system can be combined with others to tile any surface, such as a floor, ceiling, wall, or building exterior. Lighting control signals can be supplied to generate a wide range of effects on the tile lighting units, including effects coordinated among different tile lighting units. Two- and three-dimensional embodiments are contemplated.

Claims

1. A tile lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of addressable lighting units configured in a flexible string and arranged in a grid;

a controller for controlling illumination generated by the addressable lighting units; and

at least one substantially translucent cover disposed over the grid for receiving and diffusing the illumination from the addressable lighting units.

2. The tile lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially translucent cover comprises a phosphorescent material.

3. The tile lighting system of claim 1, wherein the illumination generated by the addressable lighting units, when controlled by the controller, includes a plurality of lighting effects.

4. A tile lighting arrangement, comprising two or more systems of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lighting effects includes at least one lighting effect that is coordinated between the two or more systems.

5. The tile lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially translucent cover has a geometric shape.

6. The tile lighting system of claim 1, wherein the at least one substantially translucent cover has an irregular shape.

7. A tile lighting arrangement, comprising at least two systems of claim 1 comprising complementary-shaped substantially translucent covers and disposed in close proximity to each other.

8. The tile lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting units are controlled using a string light protocol.

9. A tile lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of addressable LED lighting units disposed on a circuit board in an array, wherein the addressable LED lighting units respond to control signals provided using a serial addressing protocol to produce mixed light of varying colors, wherein at least one of the addressable lighting units receives data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responds to data addressed to it; and

a diffuser for receiving light from the plurality of addressable lighting units.

10. The tile lighting system of claim 9, wherein the diffuser includes a phosphorescent material.

11. The tile lighting system of claim 9, wherein the diffuser is substantially translucent.

12. The tile lighting system of claim 9, wherein the diffuser has a geometric shape.

13. The tile lighting system of claim 9, wherein the diffuser has an irregular shape.

14. The tile lighting system of claim 9, wherein the mixed light of varying colors produced by the addressable LED lighting units in response to the control signals comprises a plurality of lighting effects, the system further comprising an authoring system for creating a graphical representation of at least one lighting effect of the plurality of lighting effects and converting the graphical representation of the at least one lighting effect into the control signals for the addressable LED lighting units.

15. The tile lighting system of claim 14, wherein the at least one lighting effect produced by the addressable LED lighting units corresponds to a video signal received at the authoring system.

16. The tile lighting system of claim 14, wherein the authoring system is an object-oriented authoring facility.

17. A tile light, comprising:

a plurality of LED lighting units disposed only about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing; and

a substantially translucent diffuser disposed over the housing for receiving and diffusing light from the lighting units.

18. The tile light of claim 17, wherein the diffuser includes a phosphorescent material.

20. The tile light of claim 17, wherein the housing is divided into a plurality of cells.

21. The tile light of claim 20, wherein the cells are substantially rectangular.

23. The tile light of claim 17, wherein the tile light is disposed in an architectural environment.

24. The tile light of claim 17, wherein the tile light is disposed on a building exterior.

19. A tile light comprising:

a plurality of LED lighting units disposed about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing;

a diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units; and

a reflector interior to the housing for providing a consistent level of light output to different portions of the diffuser.

22. A tile light comprising:

a plurality of LED lighting units disposed about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing;

a diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units; and

wherein the housing is divided into a plurality of cells, and wherein the cells are triangular.

25. A lighting system, comprising:

a series of LED-based addressable lighting units for producing mixed light of varying colors, wherein each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, wherein the series of lighting units is configured in a flexible string; and

a fastening facility for holding the flexible string in a predetermined configuration.

26. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the fastening facility comprises at least one substantially linear channel for holding at least a portion of the flexible string.

28. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the mixed light of varying colors produced by the addressable LED lighting units comprises a plurality of lighting effects, the system further comprising an authoring system for creating graphical representations of the lighting effects and converting the graphical representations of the lighting effects into the data addressed to the addressable LED lighting units.

29. The lighting system of claim 28, wherein the authoring system is an object-oriented authoring facility.

30. The lighting system of claim 28, wherein a lighting effect produced by the addressable LED lighting units corresponds to a video signal received at the authoring system.

33. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the fastening facility comprises a push-though assembly mechanism.

27. A lighting system comprising:

a series of LED-based lighting units configured in a flexible string, wherein each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol; and

a fastening facility for holding the flexible string in a predetermined configuration, wherein the fastening facility holds the flexible string in an array.

31. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein the array is disposed in an architectural environment.

32. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein the array is disposed on a building exterior.

34. A modular component for a lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units disposed in an array on a circuit board, wherein each addressable lighting unit of the plurality of addressable lighting units is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, by receiving data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responding to data addressed to it.

35. The component of claim 34, wherein the circuit board is flexible.

36. The component of claim 34, wherein the circuit board is a printed circuit board.

37. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of modular components, wherein each modular component includes a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units disposed in an array on a circuit board, wherein each addressable lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, by receiving data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responding to data addressed to it.

38. The system of claim 37, comprising at least two modular components of the plurality of modular components disposed adjacent to each other.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the addressable LED-based lighting units are configured to produce mixed light of varying colors comprising a plurality of lighting effects, the system further comprising an authoring system for creating a graphical representation of at least one lighting effect of the plurality of lighting effects and converting the graphical representation of the at least one lighting effect into the data addressed to the addressable LED lighting units.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the addressable LED lighting units of at least two modular components of the plurality of modular components are configured to generate at least one lighting effect of the plurality of lighting effects that is coordinated between the at least two modular components.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the authoring system is an object-oriented authoring facility.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the at least one lighting effect produced by the addressable LED lighting units corresponds to a video signal received at the authoring system.

43. The system of claim 39, wherein the array is disposed in an architectural environment.

44. The system of claim 39, wherein the array is disposed on a building exterior.

45. A method of providing illumination, comprising:

arranging a flexible string of addressable LED lighting units in a grid;

controlling illumination generated by the addressable lighting units; and

covering the grid with a light diffusing cover.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the light diffusing cover comprises a phosphorescent material.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the light diffusing cover is substantially translucent.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the light diffusing cover has a geometric shape.

49. The method of claim 45, wherein the light diffusing cover has an irregular shape.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the lighting units are controlled using a string light protocol.

51. The method of claim 45, wherein the addressable LED-based lighting units are configured to produce mixed light of varying colors comprising a plurality of lighting effects, the method further comprising:

creating a graphical representation of at least one lighting effect; and

converting the graphical representation of the at least one lighting effect into control signals for controlling the addressable LED lighting units.

52. A method of providing a tile lighting system, comprising:

providing a plurality of addressable LED lighting units disposed on a circuit board in an array, wherein the addressable LED lighting units respond to control signals provided using a serial addressing protocol to produce mixed light of varying colors, wherein at least one of the addressable lighting units receives data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responds to data addressed to it; and

providing a diffuser for receiving light from the plurality of addressable lighting units.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the diffuser comprises a phosphorescent material.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the diffuser is substantially translucent.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the diffuser has a geometric shape.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the diffuser has an irregular shape.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein the addressable LED-based lighting units are configured to produce mixed light of varying colors comprising a plurality of lighting effects, the method further comprising:

creating a graphical representation of at least one lighting effect; and

converting the graphical representation of the at least one lighting effect into the control signals for controlling the addressable LED lighting units.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one lighting effect produced by the addressable LED lighting units corresponds to a video signal.

59. A method of providing a tile light, comprising:

providing a plurality of LED lighting units disposed only about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing; and

providing a substantially translucent diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the diffuser comprises a phosphorescent material.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the diffuser has a geometric shape.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein the diffuser has an irregular shape.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the housing is divided into a plurality of cells.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the cells are rectangular.

63. A method of providing a tile light, comprising:

providing a plurality of LED lighting units disposed about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing;

providing a diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units; and

providing a reflector interior to the housing for providing a consistent level of light output to different portions of the diffuser.

66. A method of providing a tile light comprising:

providing a plurality of LED lighting units disposed about a perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing;

providing a diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units; and

wherein the housing is divided into a plurality of cells, and wherein the cells are triangular.

67. A method of providing lighting, comprising:

arranging a series of LED-based lighting units in a flexible string, wherein each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol; and

fastening the flexible string in a predetermined configuration.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the flexible string is held in a channel shaped in the predetermined configuration.

69. A method of providing lighting, comprising:

providing a series of LED-based lighting units, wherein each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, wherein the series of lighting units is configured in a flexible string;

providing a fastening facility for holding the flexible string in a predetermined configuration; and

wherein the fastening facility holds the flexible string in an array.

70. A method of providing a modular component for a lighting system, comprising:

disposing a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units in an array on a circuit board, wherein each addressable lighting unit of the plurality of addressable lighting units is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, by receiving data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responding to data addressed to it.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the circuit board is flexible.

72. The method of claim 70, wherein the circuit board is a printed circuit board.

73. A method of providing a lighting system, comprising:

providing a plurality of modular components, wherein each modular component includes a plurality of addressable LED-based lighting units disposed in an array on a circuit board, wherein each addressable lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, by receiving data intended for at least two lighting units of the plurality of addressable lighting units and selectively responding to data addressed to it.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the modular components are disposed adjacent to each other to form a large array of modular components.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising an authoring system for authoring effects for the lighting system.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein the array is disposed on a building exterior.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the authoring system is an object-oriented authoring facility.

78. The method of claim 75, wherein an effect displayed on the large array corresponds to a graphical representation of the authoring facility.

79. The method of claim 75, wherein an effect displayed on the array corresponds to an incoming video signal.

80. The method of claim 75, wherein the array is disposed in an architectural environment.

81. A method for providing illumination, comprising:

arranging a first flexible string of addressable lighting units in a first grid;

covering the first grid with a first light diffusing cover;

arranging a second flexible string of addressable lighting units in a second grid;

covering the second grid with a second light diffusing cover, wherein the first and second light diffusing covers are complementary shaped;

disposing the first grid in close proximity to the second grid such that the first light diffusing cover is adjacent to the second light diffusing cover; and

controlling the illumination from the first and second strings of addressable lighting units.