25584results about "Electric lighting" patented technology

An illuminating device coupled with sensors or an image acquisition device and a logical controller allows illumination intensity and spectrum to be varied according to changing user needs. The system provides illumination to areas according to the principles of correct lighting practice for the optimal performance of visual tasks in the most efficient, cost effective manner. Aspects of the invention include: lighting fixtures which adapt to ambient lighting, movement, visual tasks being performed, and environmental and personal conditions affecting illumination requirements at any given instant. Lighting fixtures having spatial distribution of spectrum and intensity, providing both “background” room lighting, and “task” lighting.

High-brightness LEDs, combined with a processor for control, can produce a variety of pleasing effects for display and illumination. A system disclosed herein uses high-brightness, processor-controlled LEDs in combination with diffuse materials to produce color-changing effects. The systems described herein may be usefully employed to bring autonomous color-changing ability and effects to a variety of consumer products and other household items. The system may also include sensors so that the illumination of the LEDs might change in response to environmental conditions or a user input. Additionally, the system may include an interface to a network, so that the illumination of the LEDs may be controlled via the network.

Methods and systems are provided for lighting systems, including high output linear lighting systems for various environments. The linear lighting systems may include power systems for driving light sources in high-voltage environments.

A method and a circuit for driving light emitting diodes (LEDs) in multiphase are provided. A string of LEDs divided into groups connected to each other in series is provided. Each group is coupled to ground through separate conductive paths. A phase switch is provided in each conductive path. Increasing the input voltage turn on the string of LEDs, group by group in the sequence downstream the string. To reduce power dissipation, the phase switch of an upstream group is turned off when next downstream group is turned on.

An energy saving device for an LED lamp mounted to an existing fixture for a fluorescent lamp where the ballast is removed or bypassed. The LEDs are positioned within a tube and electrical power is delivered from a power source to the LEDs. The LED lamp includes means for controlling the delivery of the electrical power from the power source to the LEDs, wherein the use of electrical power can be reduced or eliminated automatically during periods of non-use. Such means for controlling includes means for detecting the level of daylight in the illumination area of said least one LED, in particular a light level photosensor, and means for transmitting to the means for controlling relating to the detected level of daylight from the photosensor. The photosensor can be used in operative association with an on-off switch in power connection to the LEDs, a timer, or with a computer or logic gate array in operative association with a switch, timer, or dimmer that regulates the power to the LEDs. An occupancy sensor that detects motion or a person in the illumination area of the LEDs can be also be used in association with the photosensor and the computer, switch, timer, or dimmer, or in solo operation by itself. Two or more such LED lamps with a computer or logic gate array used with at least one of the lamps can be in network communication with at least one photosensor and/or at least one occupancy sensor to control the power to all the LEDs.

Linear lighting systems and methods. In one example, two or more lighting elements having an essentially linear or curvilinear shape are coupled together to form a lighting system. Each lighting element includes a group of LEDs arranged so as to illuminate the essentially linear or curvilinear shape of the lighting element. Each element may include LEDs to generate the same color light, and/or LEDs to generate light of different colors. Additionally, each element may include one or more controllers to control the LEDs so as to create a variety of temporal and/or color-oriented lighting effects. The controller(s) may employ one or more of a variety of control techniques to control the LEDs, such as those involving analog control signals or pulse-width modulated (PWM) control signals. The lighting elements of the system may each be configured as a “stand alone” unit working within the system, producing respective lighting effects that may or may not be coordinated with each other. Alternatively, two or more elements of the system may be configured as addressable lighting elements to facilitate coordination of the elements as a networked lighting system. Any of the foregoing linear lighting systems may be used in a variety of interior or exterior, as well as direct or indirect, lighting applications. In one example, such lighting systems are particularly well-suited as replacements or substitutes for neon lighting installations.

A modular illumination system includes light emitting tile modules, each module comprising a light guide substrate, at least one source of illumination optically coupled to a light guiding substrate and interconnection means to connect one light emitting tile module to another light emitting tile module. The interconnection means may include mechanical and/or electrical elements. A plurality of modules may be connected to create an extended continuous extended illuminating system without significant gaps or seams. In one embodiment, the light guiding substrate of one module extends over the source of illumination of an adjacent module. In a further embodiment, the light guiding substrate may be textured to create a patterned area with higher light extraction. In a further embodiment, the source of illumination may be included in a separate electrical member. The illumination sources may include LEDs directed into an edge of the light guiding substrate.

Methods and systems are provided for illuminating various materials using an LED system. These methods and systems can be applied to a plurality of materials, including biological entities, and may be employed to effect one or more changes in the illuminated material. Exemplary systems may be particularly configured and suitable for use in medical applications, including diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

A first lighting device comprises at least one plural cavity element and a plurality of solid state light emitters. A second lighting device comprises at least one plural cavity element, a plurality of solid state light emitters and at least one encapsulant region, at least a portion of the plural cavity element being surrounded by the encapsulant region. Each plural cavity element has at least two optical cavities. Each optical cavity comprises a concave region in the plural cavity element. At least one solid state light emitter is present in each of at least two of the optical cavities.

One or more light emitting diode diodes (LEDs) are attached to a printed circuit board. The attached LEDs are connectable with a power source via circuitry of the printed circuit board. An overmolding material is insert molded an over at least portions of the printed circuit board proximate to the LEDs to form a free standing high thermal conductivity material overmolding that covers at least portions of the printed circuit board proximate to the LEDs. The free standing high thermal conductivity material has a melting temperature greater than about 100° C. and has a thermal conductivity greater than or about 1 W/m·K. In some embodiments, the free standing high thermal conductivity material is a thermoplastic material.

A vehicle headlight including a common light distribution unit and a variable light distribution unit and a headlight system including the headlight can form a common light distribution pattern and a variable light distribution pattern using the common and the variable light distribution units. The variable distribution unit can include a light source, a phosphor panel, a mirror reflecting/scanning light emitted from the light source onto the phosphor panel and a projector lens projecting the scanning light adjacent the common light distribution pattern. The headlight system can include a front sensor detecting a surrounding condition, and can control the common and the variable light distribution units to form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can provide a headlight system including a headlight that can form an optimum light distribution pattern in accordance with surrounding conditions and can have a simple structure.

The systems and methods disclosed herein relate to sources of diffuse illumination for providing substantially uniform illumination to a surface. The diffuse illumination arises from varying the diffusion angle of light generated by an LED system. To vary the diffusion angle, a translucent member is placed between the LED system and the surface. Light emitted from the LED system across the translucent member can subsequently can uniformly cover the surface.

A LED-based replacement light for a fluorescent socket is constructed such that a tubular housing has a D-shaped cross section with a flat base with opposing longitudinal edges, opposing sides extending generally perpendicular to the flat base from the opposing longitudinal edges, and a curved surface spanning the opposing sides opposite the flat base. A circuit board structure defines a LED-mounting side with multiple LEDs mounted on the LED-mounting side at predetermined intervals along a length of the circuit board, with at least areas of a primary heat transferring side directly underlying the respective LEDs in thermally conductive relation with the tubular housing for highly electrically insulated thermal transmission of heat generated by the multiple LEDs from the circuit board to an ambient environment surrounding an exterior of the tubular housing. At least one electrical connector is at a longitudinal end of the housing in electrical communication with the circuit board.

An electronic apparatus that includes a housing, a holder provided in the housing and a light-emitting portion provided in the housing. The holder is made of a resin and supports components. The holder includes an optical guide that guides light emitted from the light-emitting portion to outside of the housing, and the optical guide is formed integral with the holder.

Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating white light illumination conditions. Examples of applications in which such methods and apparatus may be implemented include retail environments (e.g., food, clothing, jewelry, paint, furniture, fabrics, etc.) or service environments (e.g., cosmetics, hair and beauty salons and spas, photography, etc.) where visible aspects of the products/services being offered are significant in attracting sales of the products/services. Other applications include theatre and cinema, medical and dental implementations, as well as vehicle-based (automotive) implementations. In another example, a personal grooming apparatus includes one or more light sources disposed in proximity to a mirror and configured to generate variable color light, including essentially white light, whose color temperature may be controlled by a user.

A system for focusing light on an illumination area. The system includes a reflector having a focusing reflective surface and a focal region and an LED array having a plurality of LEDs located within the focal region. Each of the plurality of LEDs in the LED array is positioned to emit light toward the focusing reflective surface. The focusing reflective surface reflects light from each of the plurality of LEDs of the LED array toward the illumination area.

Various embodiments described herein comprise illuminators comprising a phosphor color wheel for producing colored light. Light of a first wavelength emitted by a light source is incident on a phosphor color wheel comprising a plurality of different regions, where at least one of these regions comprises a phosphor that fluoresces at a second wavelength when illuminated with light of the first wavelength. The light from the light source and the different regions of the phosphor color wheel are movable with respect to each other such that as the different regions are illuminated by the light, different colors are produced.