Method and system for providing a dynamic lighting effect to specular and refractive objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295672-A1
Application number	US-201415037413-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lighting system ( 10 ) is provided that enhances the perceived surface lighting effects on specular and refractive objects ( 14 ). Light sources ( 12 ) are arranged in spatial distribution to one another above, below, or in at least partially surrounding relation to the specular and/or refractive object to be illuminated. A controller ( 16 ) is configured, programmed and/or structured to drive each light source with a temporal variation in a lighting parameter ( 18 ), such as the intensity, color, or spectral content of each light source, while maintaining a uniform level of illuminance at the object's surface. The geometric arrangement of the light sources coupled with the controller produces a visually perceptible sparkle at the surface of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lighting system for providing a predetermined level of illuminance to at least one object, the system comprising
a plurality of light sources in spaced relation to the object, said system is characterized by further comprising: a controller operably connected to said plurality of light sources, wherein said controller is configured, programmed and/or structured to simultaneously vary a predetermined parameter of at least two of said plurality of light sources over a time period and to maintain substantial uniformity in the predetermined level of illuminance during said time period, wherein the object is specular and/or refractive and whereby a visually perceivable lighting effect caused by the interaction of light with the specular and/or refractive nature of the object at a surface of the object occurs over said time period, wherein the plurality of light sources are adapted for positioning in spatially distributed relation to one another and wherein each of the light sources are configured such that a ratio of an exit window of the light source to a distance to a nearest light source of the plurality of light sources is at most 1/2.

2 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured, programmed and/or structured to temporally vary said predetermined parameter of said plurality of light sources according to a predetermined temporal pattern that is triggered over time.

3 . The lighting system according to claim 2 , wherein said predetermined pattern is a Gaussian pattern, a saw tooth pattern or a square-wave pattern.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The lighting system according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined temporal pattern is triggered according to a temporally periodic pattern, or a temporally randomized pattern.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , further comprising a user interface connected to said controller.

10 . The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein said user interface is configured, programmed and/or structured to permit selective user input of a percentage level that is output to said controller, whereby said controller will vary said predetermined level of illuminance according to said percentage level.

11 . The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein said user interface is configured, programmed and/or structured to permit selective user input of a percentage level that is output to said controller, whereby said controller will vary the amount of temporal variation of a predetermined parameter according to said percentage level.

12 . The lighting system according to claim 9 , wherein said user interface is configured, programmed and/or structured to permit selective user input of a predetermined temporal pattern that is output to said controller, whereby said controller will vary said predetermined parameter according to said percentage pattern.

13 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined parameter of said light sources is any of said light sources' intensity, color, and/or spectral content, or any combination thereof.

14 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of light sources is spatially separated from one another along a longitudinal axis, or is interconnected to one another in a flexible mesh.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter includes a spectral content of the light emitted by the at least two of said plurality of light sources.

22 . The lighting system of claim 2 , wherein the temporal variation of the predetermined parameter is in substantial conformance with a season, with a daily cycle, or with an hourly cycle.

23 . (canceled)

24 . (canceled)

25 . The lighting system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined parameter is varied at least once per unit measure of time, the unit measure of time being substantially within a range between one-half second and a minute.

26 . A method for controlling at least two light sources each positioned in spaced relation to one another and to an object, wherein said method is characterized by comprising the steps of:
varying a predetermined parameter of said at least two light sources over a time period such that a visual perception of a surface of the object varies over said time period, wherein the object is spectral and/or refractive, wherein the visual perception is dependent upon the interaction of light with the reflective and/or refractive properties of the object and wherein the at least two light sources provide a predetermined level of illuminance present at the surface of the object; and controlling the variation in the predetermined parameter of each of said at least two light sources such that the predetermined level of illuminance remains constant over said time period, wherein each of the at least two light sources are configured such that a ratio of an exit window of the light source to a distance to a nearest light source of the at least two light sources is at most 1/2.

27 . The method according to claim 26 , comprising the further step of selectively altering the percentage change of said predetermined parameter.

28 . The method according to claim 26 , comprising the further step of selecting the duration of said time period.

29 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein plurality of light sources comprises a lighting system for providing a predetermined level of illuminance to at least one specular and/or refractive object, comprising:
a first group of light sources adapted for positioning in spatially distributed relation to one another and in spaced relation to the object and a second group of light sources adapted for positioning in spatially distributed relation to one another and in spaced relation to said first group of light sources and the object the controller includes a first controller operably connected to said first group of light sources, wherein said first controller element is configured, programmed and/or structured to simultaneously vary the predetermined parameter of at least one light source in said first group over said time period, and includes a second controller element operably connected to said second group of light sources, wherein said second controller element is configured, programmed and/or structured to simultaneously vary the predetermined parameter of at least one light source in said second group over said time period; and wherein, said first controller element and said second controller element are each configured, programmed and/or structured to maintain substantial uniformity in the predetermined level of illuminance during said time period.

30 . The lighting system according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second controller elements are interconnected in a network configuration.

31 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein said ratio is at most 1/10.

32 . The method according to claim 26 , wherein said ratio is at most 1/10.

Assignees

• Philips Lighting Holding Bv

Inventors

• Murdoch Michael John
• Sekulovski Dragan
• Plasschaert Helena Bernadette Jos

Classifications

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• H05B47/175

  by remote control · CPC title

• H05B47/1985

  Creation of lighting zones or scenes · CPC title

• H05B47/196

  characterised by user interface arrangements · CPC title