Patent · US Expired

Multicolored LED lighting method and apparatus

US6806659B1 · kind B1 · utility

537Cited by
173References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 2000
Grant dateOct 19, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/30
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Illumination apparatus and networks of the same including a number of different embodiments. In one embodiment, the illumination apparatus comprises a plurality of LEDs including at least two different colors; a switching device, interposed between the LEDs and a common potential reference, including at least two switches corresponding to current paths of the two different color LEDs; a controller that opens and closes the switches according to a predetermined duty cycle; and a hand-held housing with a compartment for containing a power source and the common reference potential, as well as a lens assembly for reflecting light from the LEDs. Another embodiment is directed to a lighting network including a controller and a plurality of uniquely-addressable illumination units, each including two different color LEDs. Each illumination unit includes a network interface that receives from the controller data comprising LED intensity values, a memory that stores the intensity values, a controller that generates pulse width modulated signals having duty cycles corresponding to the intensity values and a switch that directs current to the LEDs based on the pulse width modulated signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.