Lighting Fixture Spectral Output Control at Target Chromaticity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for controlling the spectral content of lighting fixtures require manual adjustment of light source intensities, which is inefficient and unintuitive for users, especially when replicating colors with similar spectral power distributions, and lack the ability to operate at desired colors similar to known spectral power distributions.

Innovation Solution

Methods for operating a lighting fixture with a plurality of light sources at a target chromaticity with a target output spectral power distribution, involving distance measurements in color spaces and scaling or multiplying spectral power distributions to achieve the desired output, using equations such as EQN. 1, EQN. 2, and EQN. 3, to drive the light sources accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual adjustment of light source intensities is used to control spectral content, then users can individually adjust output intensity values, but the process becomes inefficient and unintuitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of spectral controlVSAvoidefficiency of spectral adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy or representation of the desired spectral power distribution and uses this to automatically determine the intensity settings for multiple light sources. This eliminates manual adjustment by copying the target spectral characteristics and translating them into control parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameter from individual light source intensities to desired spectral power distribution characteristics. By specifying the target spectral parameters, the system automatically calculates the corresponding light source intensity values, making the control process more intuitive and efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If conventional color control methods (HSI, RGB) are used, then target color output can be achieved, but precise spectral content control is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of spectral controlVSAvoidcolor control capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system adds a new dimension to color control by incorporating spectral power distribution information beyond traditional color coordinates. Instead of controlling only chromaticity (x, y coordinates), the system now controls the full spectral characteristics, providing precise spectral content control while maintaining color accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Illumination intensity

If physical filters are used to achieve specific spectral compositions, then desired colors can be produced, but energy is lost as heat from absorbed wavelengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral composition qualityVSAvoidenergy loss from absorption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical/optical filter system with an electronic control system using multiple light sources. Instead of using physical filters that absorb and waste energy, the system electronically adjusts the intensity of individual light sources to achieve the desired spectral composition, eliminating energy loss from absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light sources are used to produce wide gamut colors, then color versatility is improved, but precise spectral control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor gamut rangeVSAvoidcomplexity of spectral control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a lookup table that stores pre-calculated intensity combinations for multiple light sources corresponding to desired spectral power distributions. This copying approach allows the system to maintain color gamut versatility while simplifying control by retrieving pre-computed settings rather than calculating them in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12588119B2Systems, methods, and devices for creating a custom output spectral power distribution

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 ELECTRONIC THEATRE CONTROLS INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and devices described herein provide for operating a lighting fixture with a plurality of light sources at a target chromaticity with a target output spectral power distribution. The methods include multiplying a first spectral power distribution by a second spectral power distribution to determine a product spectral power distribution, multiplying the product spectral power distribution by an illuminant spectral power distribution to determine the target output spectral power distribution at the target chromaticity, and driving the plurality of light sources at intensities corresponding to the target output spectral power distribution.