Step-wise intensity control of a solid state lighting system
US8294074B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21Y2115/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A solid state lighting system controls overall light output level in a step-wise manner by discretely controlling the ON/OFF state of its light emitters. Solid state emitters that are ON at a given time are set and kept at a level intended to produce a desired output characteristic, e.g. at a level to produce a described color of light. The system utilizes optical processing of the generated light, for example by diffuse reflection in an optical integrating cavity, sufficient to convert the point source output(s) from the emitting elements into a uniform virtual source output. The virtual source output appears uniform regardless of how many emitters are ON or OFF, and only the perceptible intensity of the light output changes with the number of emitters that the system has ON.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.