Device and method for time multiplexing switchable optical elements for controllable lighting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9386637-B2
Application number	US-201314394860-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2013
Priority date	Apr 20, 2012
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

Methods and apparatus f or electrically controlling a Iuminaire to alter it s appearance and illumination effects are disclosed. A luminaire ( 100 ) having a multiplexing controller controlling one or more LED light sources ( 110 ) and one or more electrically switchable optical elements ( 150 ). The light sources are switched between at least two illumination states and the optical elements are switched between at least two optical states during an illumination period. The switching sequence is fast enough not to be detected by an observer. As a result the lighting module or luminaire is perceived to have a substantially continuous light output. The multiplexing controller rapidly time sequences the states of light sources and switchable surfaces to produce visual changes to the luminaire and/or objects illuminated by the luminaire.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing light discernible to a viewer, the apparatus comprising a lighting module, comprising:
a first illumination element producing a first color light, and
a second illumination element producing a second color light,
wherein said first color light is visually distinct from said second color light;
a switchable surface electrically switchable between a first optical state and a second optical state disposed substantially between said viewer and said lighting module; and
a multiplexing controller in electrical communication with said lighting module and said switchable surface, configured to independently control a first illumination element state, a second illumination element state, and a switchable surface state,
wherein said multiplexing controller is operable to switch each of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, and said switchable surface state at a rate of at least 10 Hz.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing controller is configured to implement switching of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, and said switchable surface state such that a color of light transmitted through said switchable surface and provided by said apparatus at an area that is remote from said apparatus appears as being different from a color of said switchable surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first optical state comprises a substantially transparent state and said second optical state comprises a substantially light scattering state.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said multiplexing controller is configured to switch said first illumination element to a first brightness level and said second illumination element to a second brightness level while said switchable surface is in said second optical state, and to switch said second illumination element to said first brightness level while said switchable surface is in said first optical state.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said multiplexing controller is configured to switch said first illumination element and second illumination element on for a substantially similar first duration while said switchable surface is in said first optical state, and to switch said first illumination element on for a second duration while said switchable surface is in said second optical state.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said switchable surface further comprises a first region) electrically switchable between said first optical state and said second optical state, and a second region electrically switchable between said first optical state and said second optical state, and wherein said first region and said second region are independently controlled by said multiplexing controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first illumination element comprises a first LED and said second illumination element comprises a second LED.

8. An apparatus for producing light discernible to a viewer comprising a lighting module, comprising:
a first illumination element producing a first color light;
a second illumination element producing a second color light; and
a third illumination element producing a third color light,
wherein said first color light, said second color light, and said third color light are visually distinct from one another;
a second switchable surface electrically switchable between a first optical state and a second optical state disposed substantially between said viewer and said lighting module; and
a first switchable surface electrically switchable between a corresponding first optical state and a corresponding second optical state disposed substantially between said second switchable surface and said lighting module; and
a multiplexing controller in electrical communication with said lighting module, said first switchable surface, and said second switchable surface, configured to independently control a first illumination element state, a second illumination element state, a third illumination element state, a first switchable surface state, and a second switchable surface state, wherein said multiplexing controller is configured to independently switch each of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, said third illumination element state, said first switchable surface state, and said second switchable surface state at a rate of at least 10 Hz.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
said first optical states of said first switchable surface and said second switchable surface comprise a substantially transparent state; and
said second optical states of said first switchable surface and said second switchable surface comprise a substantially light scattering state.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said multiplexing controller is configured to switch said first switchable surface to scatter said first color light, and to switch said second switchable surface to scatter said second color light.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said first switchable surface substantially encloses said lighting module, and said second switchable surface substantially encloses said first switchable surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
said first illumination element comprises a first LED;
said second illumination element comprises a second LED; and
said third illumination element comprises a third LED.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the multiplexing controller is configured to implement switching of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, said third illumination element state, said first switchable surface state, and said second switchable surface state such that a color of light transmitted through said second switchable surface and provided by said apparatus at an area that is remote from said apparatus appears as being different from a color of said second switchable surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the multiplexing controller is configured to implement switching of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, said third illumination element state, said first switchable surface state, and said second switchable surface state such that a color of said first switchable surface appears as being different from the color of light provided by said apparatus at the area and from the color of said second switchable surface.

15. A system for illuminating an interior space comprising:
a lighting module comprising:
a first illumination element producing a first color light; and
a second illumination element producing a second color light,
wherein said first color light is visually distinct from said second color light;

a switchable surface electrically switchable between a first optical state and a second optical state disposed substantially apart from and said lighting module, wherein said switchable surface is substantially illuminated by said lighting module; and
a multiplexing controller in electrical communication with said lighting module and said switchable surface, configured to independently control a first illumination element state, a second illumination element state, and a switchable surface state,
wherein said multiplexing controller is operable to switch each of said first illumination element state, said second illumination element state, and said switchable surface state at a rate of at least 10 Hz.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:
said first optical state comprises a substantially transparent state; and said

Assignees

• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Edwards Martin John

Classifications

• H05B47/165

  following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC] · CPC title

• F21V14/003

  by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices · CPC title

• F21S10/02

  changing colors {(F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F21V3/0615

  the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent glass · CPC title

• H05B45/20

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title