Lighting unit with multiple light sources to emit functional light or dynamic lighting effect

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10085318-B2
Application number	US-201515529496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2015
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

Lighting units, lighting unit controls and lighting control methods are described herein. In various embodiments, a lighting unit ( 100, 500, 600, 700 ) may include a first light source ( 106, 06, 606, 706 ) that is adjustable to emit first light having a range of levels of a particular lighting property, such as brightness, saturation or hue. The lighting unit may further include a second light source ( 108, 508, 608, 708 ) that automatically, and independently of the first light source, transitions between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of levels of the particular lighting property that collectively form a dynamic effect.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting unit comprising:
a housing;
a first light source contained within the housing that is adjustable to emit first light at a range of brightness levels;
a second light source contained within the housing; and
a flicker modulator to automatically transition second light source between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect,
wherein the flicker modulator transitions the second light source between the plurality of states independently of how the first light source is adjusted,
wherein the housing forms a dome-shaped light guide, and at least some of the first light is emitted along a wall of the dome-shaped light guide to be guided generally perpendicular to a surface of the housing,
wherein the first light source is dimmable, and
wherein the first light source stops emitting the first light in response to being dimmed below a floor brightness level.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first light source and the second light source includes one or more light-emitting diodes.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of states comprise at least one of a fully energized state, a half energized state, and a not energized state.

4. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are powered by an AC power source, and the lighting unit further comprises an AC/DC convertor to convert AC power from the AC power source to a constant voltage for the flicker modulator.

5. The lighting unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second light sources are independently adjustable to alter a hue, saturation or color temperature of the first and second lights, respectively.

6. A lighting unit comprising:
a housing;
a first light source contained within the housing that is adjustable to emit first light at a range of brightness levels;
a second light source contained within the housing; and
a flicker modulator to automatically transition second light source between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect,
wherein the flicker modulator transitions the second light source between the plurality of states independently of how the first light source is adjusted,
wherein the housing forms a dome-shaped light guide, and at least some of the first light is emitted along a wall of the dome-shaped light guide to be guided generally perpendicular to a surface of the housing, and
wherein the second light source responds to a request from a control lighting interface comprising lighting scene selection buttons to emit a particular lighting scene in different ways depending on a brightness level of the first light.

7. A lighting control method, comprising:
adjusting a first light source of a lighting unit to emit first light at one of a range of brightness levels; and
automatically transitioning a second light source of the lighting unit between a plurality of states in which the second light source emits second light at a plurality of brightness levels that collectively form a dynamic effect;
wherein the second light is visible while the first light source is adjusted to emit light below a particular brightness level; and
wherein the second light is invisible while the first light source is adjusted to emit light above the particular brightness level,
the lighting control method further comprising:
receiving a request from a control lighting interface comprising lighting scene selection buttons to emit a particular lighting scene;
energizing the second light source to emit light having a first property when the first light has a first level of brightness; and
energizing the second light source to emit light having a first property when the first light has a first level of brightness; and
energizing the second light source to emit light having a second property that is different than the first property when the first light has a second level of brightness.

Assignees

• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Clout Ramon Antoine Wiro
• Aliakseyeu Dzmitry Viktorovich
• Van De Sluis Bartel Marinus
• Dekker Tim

Classifications

• F21V21/00

  Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices (F21V17/00, F21V19/00 take precedence; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q, stands for supporting apparatus or articles in general F16M11/00); Hand grips · CPC title

• F21V3/00

  Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses (with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506) · CPC title

• F21V2200/00

  Use of light guides, e.g. fibre optic devices, in lighting devices or systems · CPC title

• F21S10/00

  Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect · CPC title

• F21V35/00

  Candle holders · CPC title