Light Replicating Luminaire Spectral Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light sources, such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes, have limited spectral characteristics, making it difficult to accurately reproduce the spectral characteristics of natural sunlight or other desired light sources, especially for dynamic lighting conditions, and lack user control over specific wavelengths, which affects applications like sleep research, agriculture, and medical photography.
Innovation Solution
A light replicating luminaire that uses a method to optimize light output by determining a best approximation of a target light spectrum based on user-defined weights for its characteristics, adjusting the driving conditions of primary light sources through amplitude modulation or pulse width modulation, allowing for precise control over the spectral characteristics of the output light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional light sources (incandescent bulbs, fluorescent tubes) are used, then they provide basic illumination, but they have limited and fixed spectral characteristics that cannot accurately reproduce target spectra
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spectrum into multiple wavelength regions, each controlled by separate LED channels with distinct spectral characteristics. This allows independent adjustment of each spectral component to accurately reconstruct target spectra, resolving the contradiction between spectral accuracy and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes spectral parameters by adjusting the intensity of each LED channel through amplitude modulation and pulse width modulation. This enables continuous variation of spectral characteristics to match different target spectra, achieving both high spectral accuracy and adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If filters are used to change spectral characteristics, then some spectral adjustment is possible, but energy efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using filters to remove unwanted wavelengths, the system extracts only the necessary spectral components by selectively activating specific LED channels. This direct generation approach eliminates the energy waste associated with filtering out unwanted wavelengths, maintaining high energy efficiency while providing spectral adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes spectral parameters by adjusting LED channel intensities rather than using physical filters. This electronic control method modifies the spectral output without the energy losses inherent in optical filtering, resolving the contradiction between spectral adjustment capability and energy efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If multiple LED channels are used to expand spectral range, then spectral coverage improves, but determining the best combination becomes computationally complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of each LED channel's spectral output during manufacturing or initialization. This pre-stored spectral data enables rapid computation of optimal channel combinations during operation, reducing real-time computational complexity while maintaining comprehensive spectral coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital model (copy) of the target spectrum and compares it with the available LED channel combinations. By working with digital representations rather than direct physical optimization, the system simplifies the computation of optimal spectral reconstruction while achieving accurate spectral coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of utilizing a light replication luminaire to match the spectral characteristics of light that is output from the luminaire to the spectral characteristics of a target light spectrum is provided. In one example, the method permits the user to assign a weight to one or more characteristics of the target light spectrum to be replicated. A best approximation of the target light spectrum is then determined, taking into account the weight assigned to each characteristic. In another example, the target light spectrum is provided to the luminaire by the user through the specification of various characteristics of the target light spectrum.