ES2935908T3 - Tile lighting methods and systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mosaic lamp comprising a plurality of LEDs arranged on a board at the rear of a rectangular casing, wherein the LEDs, in operation, emit light towards a diffuser for diffusing the light from the LEDs. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Tile lighting methods and systems

priority requests

This application claims priority from the following US provisional applications:

Serial No. 60/464,185, filed April 21, 2003, entitled "Tile lighting Methods and Systems "; Serial No. 60/467,913, filed May 5, 2003, entitled "Tile Lighting Methods and Systems"; Serial No. 60/500,754, filed September 5, 2003, entitled "Tile Lighting Methods and Systems"; Serial No. 60/523,903, filed November 20, 2003, entitled "Light System Manager1"; and Serial No. 60/558,400, filed March 31, 2004, entitled "Methods and Systems for Providing Lighting components".

Background

LED-based lighting methods and systems are known, including those developed and marketed by Color Kinetics Incorporated and disclosed in patents, patent applications and other documents. There is a need for improved lighting fixtures that take full advantage of the inventive aspects of LED-based lighting methods and systems, including specially shaped lighting fixtures, including lighting fixtures that take the form of tiles.

US6498592B1 discloses a display tile structure according to the preamble of claim 1 using a grid of OLED light sources arranged on a support structure and with a protective cover over the light sources.

Summary

The invention is defined by the features of claim 1.

The methods and systems disclosed herein include those for providing a tile lighting system which may comprise a lighting system configured in a two-dimensional shape, such as a square, rectangle, circle, polygon, or other shape. Disclosed herein are methods and systems for controlling the light output from such a tile light, for mechanically constructing a tile light to provide optimum light output, for connecting tile lights together for ease of aiming and controlling such tile lights, to create effects to display with such a tile light, to supply power and data to such a tile light, and other aspects.

The methods and systems disclosed herein also encompass three-dimensional lights comprising combinations of planar circuit boards of simple geometries. For example, a substantially spherical lighting unit can be formed from circuit boards of simple polygons, such as triangles, hexagons, or pentagons. Similarly, a pyramid lighting unit may be made up of triangular lighting units. Such three-dimensional lighting units can be addressed, powered and controlled in the manner described for other lighting units herein, and effects for such lighting units can be created using methods and systems described herein.

The methods and systems disclosed herein may further comprise control protocols, which may include arranging a plurality of lighting units in a series configuration and controlling all of them via data flow to ASICs (integrated circuits). specific) of each, wherein each lighting system responds to the first unchanged data bit in the stream, modifies that data bit, and transmits the stream to the next ASIC. This protocol is described herein in some instances as a "string light" protocol or as a color protocol, such as that offered by Color Kinetics Incorporated and described in the patent applications.

The methods and systems may further include providing a lighting system communication facility, wherein the lighting system responds to data from a source external to the lighting system. The data may come from a signal source outside the lighting system. The signal source may be a wireless signal source. In embodiments, the signal source includes a sensor for detecting an environmental condition, and control of the lighting system is in response to the environmental condition. In some embodiments, the signal source generates a signal based on a lighting schedule programmed for the lighting system.

In embodiments, lighting system control is based on assigning lighting system units as objects in an object-oriented computer program. In embodiments, the computer program is an authoring system. In some embodiments, the creation system relates attributes in a system virtual with real world attributes of lighting systems. In some embodiments, the real world attributes include positions of the lighting units of the lighting system. In some embodiments, the computer program is a computer game. In other embodiments, the computer program is a music program.

In embodiments of the methods and systems provided herein, the lighting system includes a power source. In embodiments, the power supply is a power factor controlled power supply. In some embodiments, the power supply is a two-stage power supply. In embodiments, the power factor correction includes an energy storage capacitor and a DC-DC converter. In some embodiments, the PFC and energy storage capacitor are separated from the DC-DC converter by a bus.

In embodiments of the methods and systems provided herein, lighting systems further include arranging at least one such lighting unit in or on a building. In some embodiments, the lighting units are arranged in an array in a building. In embodiments, the array is configured to facilitate the display of at least one of a number, a word, a letter, a logo, a mark, and a symbol. In some embodiments, the matrix is configured to display a light show with time-based effects.

The methods and systems disclosed herein include methods and systems for providing a tile lighting system. The tile lighting system may include a plurality of addressable lighting units arranged in a grid, a controller for controlling lighting from the addressable lighting units, and a light diffusing cover for covering the grid. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover can include a phosphorescent material. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is substantially translucent. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is provided with a geometric shape. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is provided with an irregular pattern.

In some embodiments, the lighting system is configured to be arranged near similar lighting systems in a tile arrangement. In some embodiments, the lighting units are controlled using a string light protocol. In embodiments, the light system may further include a creation system for creating effects on the tile lighting system. In some embodiments, the lighting system is capable of coordinating effects with another similar lighting system.

In some embodiments, the lighting system is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the lighting system is arranged outside of a building.

The methods and systems described herein include providing a tile light that includes a plurality of LED lighting units arranged on a circuit board in an array, wherein the LED lighting units are responsive to control signals to produce mixed light of different colors and a diffuser to receive the light from the lighting units. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover can include a phosphorescent material. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is substantially translucent. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is provided with a geometric shape. In some embodiments, the light diffusing cover is provided with an irregular pattern.

In embodiments, the methods and systems may include a creation system for creating effects for the lighting system. In embodiments, the build system is an object-oriented build facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed on the matrix corresponds to a graphical representation of the creation facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed in the matrix corresponds to an incoming video signal. In some embodiments, the matrix is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the array is arranged outside of a building.

The methods and systems described herein include providing a tile light that includes a plurality of linear LED lighting units arranged around the perimeter of a substantially rectangular housing and a diffuser for diffusing light from the lighting units. In embodiments, the diffuser may include a phosphorescent material, may be substantially translucent, may be provided with a geometric shape, or may be provided with an irregular pattern. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include a reflector in the housing to provide a constant level of light output to different portions of the diffuser. In some embodiments to divide into a plurality of cells. In some embodiments, the cells are triangular. In embodiments, the methods and systems include a creation system for creating effects for the lighting system. In embodiments, the build system is an object-oriented build facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed on the matrix corresponds to a graphical representation of the creation facility. In some embodiments, the matrix is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the array is arranged outside of a building.

The methods and systems described herein include lighting systems that include a series of LED-based lighting units, where each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol, where the series of units of lighting is configured on a flexible chain and a clamping facility to hold the flexible chain in a predetermined configuration. In some embodiments, the clamping facility is a substantially linear channel for holding the flexible chain. In some embodiments, the clamping installation clamps the flexible chain in a matrix. In embodiments, the methods and systems include a creation system for creating effects for the lighting system. In embodiments, the build system is an object-oriented build facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed on the matrix corresponds to a graphical representation of the creation facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed in the matrix corresponds to an incoming video signal. In some embodiments, the matrix is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the array is arranged outside of a building.

The methods and systems disclosed herein include a modular component for a lighting system that includes a series of LED-based lighting units arranged in an array on a circuit board, each lighting unit configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol. The methods and systems may further include a creation system for creating effects for the lighting system. In embodiments, the build system is an object-oriented build facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed on the matrix corresponds to a graphical representation of the creation facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed in the matrix corresponds to an incoming video signal. In some embodiments, the circuit board is a flexible circuit board. In some embodiments, the circuit board is a printed circuit board. In some embodiments, the matrix is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the array is arranged outside of a building.

The methods and systems disclosed herein include methods and systems for providing a lighting system that includes a plurality of modular components, wherein each modular component includes a plurality of LED-based lighting units arranged in an array on a motherboard. circuit, wherein each lighting unit is configured to respond to data addressed to it in a serial addressing protocol. In some embodiments, the modular components are arranged adjacent to one another to form a large array of modular components. The methods and systems may further include a creation system for creating effects for the lighting system. In embodiments, the build system is an object-oriented build facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed on the large matrix corresponds to a graphical representation of the creation facility. In some embodiments, an effect displayed in the matrix corresponds to an incoming video signal. In some embodiments, the matrix is arranged in an architectural environment. In some embodiments, the array is arranged outside of a building.

The method and systems disclosed herein include networked or non-networked controlled lighting devices. Fundamental building blocks include semiconductor-based lighting devices, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are used to illuminate surfaces. Systems and methods are included for creating surfaces that can provide color patterns and the ability to change color at a variety of scales. The devices, in many embodiments, can be incorporated into any 2D or 3D surface. In embodiments, the illuminated surfaces include geometries to maximize light output, smooth and diffuse light output, and shape light output. The exposed surfaces incorporate 2D or 3D shapes and textures to guide and direct light towards the viewer.

A variety of attachment methods for mounting and connecting devices onto or into surfaces are also described.

As used herein for the purposes of this disclosure, the term "LED" should be understood to include any light emitting diode or other type of carrier junction/injection based system that is capable of generating radiation in response to an electrical signal. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures that emit light in response to current, light-emitting polymers, light-emitting strips, electroluminescent strips, and the like.

In particular, the term LED refers to light-emitting diodes of all types (including organic and semiconductor light-emitting diodes) that can be configured to generate radiation in one or more of the infrared spectrum, the ultraviolet spectrum, and various portions of the spectrum. visible (which generally include radiation wavelengths from about 400 nanometers to about 700 nanometers). Some examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs, and white LEDs (discussed below). It should also be appreciated that LEDs can be configured to generate radiation having various bandwidths for a given spectrum (eg, narrow bandwidth, wide bandwidth).

It should be noted that the LED(s) in systems according to the present invention could be of any colour, including white, ultraviolet, infrared or other colors within the electromagnetic spectrum. As used herein, the term "LED" should be further understood to include, without limitation, light-emitting diodes of all types, light-emitting polymers, semiconductor wafers that produce light in response to current, organic LEDs, electroluminescent strips and other systems of this type. In one embodiment, an "LED" can refer to a single light-emitting diode that has multiple semiconductor chips that are individually controlled.

It should also be understood that the term "LED" does not restrict the type of packaging of the LED. The term "LED" includes encapsulated LEDs, non-encapsulated LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, and LEDs of all other configurations.

The term "LED" also includes LEDs encapsulated or associated with material (eg, a phosphor) where the material can convert the energy from the LED to a different wavelength.

For example, an implementation of an LED configured to generate essentially white light (eg, a white LED) may include a number of wafers that respectively emit different luminescence spectra that, in combination, mix to form essentially white light. In another implementation, a white light LED can be associated with a phosphor material that converts luminescence having a first spectrum to a different second spectrum. In one example of this implementation, luminescence having a relatively short wavelength and narrow bandwidth spectrum "pumps" the luminophore material, which in turn radiates longer wavelength radiation having a somewhat narrow spectrum. wider.

It should also be understood that the term LED does not limit the type of physical and/or electrical packaging of an LED. For example, as discussed above, an LED can refer to a single light-emitting device that has multiple chips that are configured to respectively emit different spectrums of radiation (eg, that may or may not be individually controlled). Also, an LED can be associated with a phosphorescent substance that is considered to be an integral part of the LED (for example, some types of white LEDs). In general, the term LED can refer to packaged LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-board LEDs, radial package LEDs, power package LEDs, LEDs that include some type of coating, and/or or optical element (for example, a diffusing lens), etc.

The term "light source" should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources as defined above, incandescent sources (e.g., lamps, incandescent, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (for example, sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of light sources, electroluminescent sources, pyroluminescent sources ( flames), luminescent sources from candles (for example, gas sleeves, carbon arc radiation sources), photoluminescent sources (for example, gas discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic saturation, galvanoluminescents, crystalloluminescent sources, kineticoluminescent sources, thermoluminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources and luminescent polymers.

A given light source can be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Therefore, the terms "light" and "radiation" are used interchangeably in this document. Additionally, a light source may include as an integral component one or more filters (eg, color filters), lenses, or other optical components. Likewise, it should be understood that the light sources can be configured for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, indication and/or illumination. A "light source" is a light source that is particularly configured to generate radiation that is of sufficient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior space.

An LED system is a type of lighting source. As used herein, "light source" should be understood to include all lighting sources, including LED systems, as well as incandescent sources, including filament lamps, pyroluminescent sources, such as flames, candle luminescent sources , such as glow sleeves for gas and carbon arc radiation sources, as well as photoluminescent sources, including gaseous discharges, fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, lasers, electroluminescent sources, such as electroluminescent lamps, light-emitting diodes and luminescent sources of cathode using electronic saturation, as well as various luminescent sources including galvanoluminescent sources, crystalloluminescent sources, kineticoluminescent sources, thermoluminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, and radioluminescent sources. Illumination sources can also include luminescent polymers capable of producing primary colors.

The term "illuminate" should be understood to refer to the production of a radiation frequency by an illumination source. The term "color" should be understood to refer to any radiation frequency within a spectrum; that is, a "color", as used herein, should be understood to encompass frequencies not only of the visible spectrum, but also frequencies in the infrared and ultraviolet areas of the spectrum, and in other areas of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The term "spectrum" should be understood to refer to any one or more frequencies (or wavelengths) of radiation produced by one or more light sources. Accordingly, the term "spectrum" refers to frequencies (or wavelengths) not only in the visible range, but also frequencies (or wavelengths) in the infrared, ultraviolet, and other areas of the global electromagnetic spectrum. Likewise, a given spectrum may have a relatively narrow bandwidth (essentially few frequency or wavelength components) or a relatively broad bandwidth (several frequency or wavelength components having various relative intensities). It should also be appreciated that a given spectrum may be the result of a mixture of two or more other spectra (eg a mixture of radiation respectively emitted from multiple light sources).

For purposes of this disclosure, the term "color" is used interchangeably with the term "spectrum." However, the term "color" is generally used to refer primarily to a property of radiation that is perceptible by an observer (although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term). Accordingly, the terms "different colors" implicitly refer to different spectra having different wavelength components and/or bandwidths. It should also be appreciated that the term "color" can be used in connection with white and non-white light.

The term "color temperature" is generally used herein in connection with white light, although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term. Color temperature essentially refers to a particular color or tone content (eg reddish, bluish) of white light. The color temperature of a given radiation sample is conventionally characterized according to the temperature in Kelvin (K) of a blackbody radiator that radiates essentially the same spectrum as the radiation sample in question. The color temperature of white light generally falls within a range of about 700 K (generally considered the first visible to the human eye) to over 10,000 K.

Lower color temperatures generally indicate white light that has a more significant red component or a "warmer feel," while higher color temperatures generally indicate white light that has a more significant blue component or "warmer feel." cold". As an example, a wood fire has a color temperature of approximately 1,800 K, a conventional incandescent light bulb has a color temperature of approximately 2,848 K, early morning daylight has a color temperature of approximately 3,000 K, and cloudy skies at noon have a color temperature of about 10,000 K. A color image viewed under white light that has a color temperature of about 3,000 K has a relatively reddish hue, while the same color image viewed under white light having a color temperature of about 10,000 K it has a relatively bluish cast.

The terms "lighting unit" and "lighting fixture" are used interchangeably herein to refer to an apparatus that includes one or more light sources of the same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit may optionally be associated with (eg, include, be coupled to, and/or be encapsulated together with) various other components (eg, control circuitry) related to the operation of the source(s). (s) of light. An "LED-based lighting unit" refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as discussed above, alone or in combination with other non-LED-based light sources.

The terms "processor" or "controller" are used interchangeably herein to describe various apparatus related to the operation of one or more light sources. A processor or controller can be implemented in numerous ways, such as with dedicated hardware, using one or more microprocessors that are programmed using software (for example, microcode or firmware) to perform the various functions discussed herein, or as a combination. dedicated hardware to perform some functions and programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry to perform other functions. Among other things, the processor may include an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit.

In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (generically referred to herein as "memory", for example, volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at least some of the functions discussed herein. Various storage media may be affixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable such that the one or more programs stored therein may be loaded onto a processor or controller to implement various aspects of the present invention discussed in the present document. The terms "program" or "computer program" are used in this document in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (for example, software or microcode) that can be used to program one or more processors or controllers, which includes by retrieving stored instruction sequences.

The term "addressable" is used herein to refer to a device (for example, a light source in general, a lighting unit or fixture, a controller or processor associated with one or more light sources or lighting units). , other non-lighting related devices, etc.) that is configured to receive information (eg, data) intended for multiple devices, including itself, and to selectively respond to particular information intended for it. The term "addressable" is often used in connection with a networked environment (or a "network," discussed later), in which multiple devices are coupled together. through some means or means of communication.

In one implementation, one or more devices attached to a network may serve as a controller for one or more other devices attached to the network (eg, in a master/slave relationship). In another implementation, a networked environment may include one or more dedicated controllers that are configured to control one or more devices attached to the network. In general, multiple devices attached to the network may each have access to data that is present on the communication medium(s); however, a given device may be "addressable" in that it is configured to selectively exchange data with (that is, receive data from and/or transmit data to) the network, based, for example, on one or more particular identifiers ( for example, "addresses") assigned to it. In another implementation, the devices can be configured to receive data in a certain order or along a certain path, such as by being placed along a line or string. In such an implementation, data may be directed to a particular lighting unit according to its ordinal position in the chain. Therefore, the first unit responds to the first data packet, the second unit responds to the second data packet, and so on. This can be achieved, for example, by having each lighting unit modify the data packet addressed to it (such as by placing a "1" in the first position of a data byte) and by having each lighting unit respond to the first unchanged data packet. This and other implementations that are based on the ordinal position of lighting units along a chain of lighting units are referred to herein as "chain light" protocols.

The term "network" as used herein refers to any interconnection of two or more devices (including controllers or processors) that facilitates the transport of information (for example, for device control, data storage, etc.) , data exchange, etc.) between any two or more devices and/or between multiple devices attached to the network. As should be readily appreciated, various network implementations suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and employ any of a variety of communication protocols. Additionally, in various networks in accordance with the present invention, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between the two systems or, alternatively, a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information intended for both devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information not necessarily intended for either device (eg, an open network connection). Furthermore, it should be readily appreciated that various networks of devices, as discussed herein, may employ one or more wireless, wire/cable, and/or fiber optic links to facilitate the transport of information throughout the network.

The lighting systems described herein may also include a user interface used to change and/or select the lighting effects displayed by the lighting system. Communication between the user interface and the processor can be done through wired or wireless transmission. The term "user interface", as used herein, refers to an interface between a human user or operator and one or more devices that enables communication between the user and the device(s). Examples of user interfaces that may be employed in various implementations of the present invention include, but are not limited to, switches, human-machine interfaces, operator interfaces, potentiometers, buttons, dials, sliders, a mouse, keyboard, numeric keypad. , various types of game controllers (for example, joysticks), trackballs, display screens, various types of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), touch screens, microphones, and other types of sensors that can receive some form of human-generated stimulus and generate a signal in response to this.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a lighting unit that can serve as a fixture in a lighting environment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a lighting system with a plurality of lighting units and a central controller.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram for a programming device for programming a lighting unit in accordance with the principles of the invention.

Figure 4 represents various configurations of lighting units for the invention.

Figure 5 represents a tile lighting fixture according to the invention.

Figure 6 depicts wall mounting methods and systems for a tile light embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 represents a wall mounting rail system for a tile lighting system. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an electrical and mechanical connection between units of a tile lighting system.

Figure 9 illustrates a magnetic connection between two tile light units.

Figure 10 illustrates a support system for connecting tile lighting units.

Figure 11 illustrates a portion of a lighting unit controller including a power sensing module for one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 shows an example of a circuit implementation of a lighting unit controller including a power sensing module for an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13 illustrates a support system for connecting tile lighting units and for attaching the units. lighting tile to a wall or other surface.

Figure 14 illustrates a system for creating a halo effect around a tile lighting unit. Figure 15 illustrates an edge-illuminated embodiment of the interior of a tile light, as well as the illuminated outer shell of the tile light.

Figure 16 illustrates embodiments of the exterior of a diffusion panel for a tile lighting unit. Figure 17 illustrates further embodiments of the exterior of a diffusion panel of a tile lighting unit.

Figure 18 illustrates a tile lighting unit designed to sit flush with a flat surface. Figure 19 illustrates additional form factors for a tile lighting unit that is designed to sit flush on a flat surface.

Figure 20 depicts a matrix or grid of addressable lighting units that may form the interior of a tile lighting unit.

Figure 21 depicts another embodiment of a matrix or grid of addressable lighting units for the interior of a tile lighting unit. Figure 22 depicts one embodiment of a diffusing element disposed proximal to an LED lighting unit for diffusing light in a tile lighting unit.

Figure 23 represents a Penrose tile configuration for a lighting unit.

Figure 24 is a schematic diagram showing elements for creating a lighting control signal. Fig. 25 is a schematic diagram showing elements for generating a lighting control signal from an animation facility and a light management facility.

Figure 26 illustrates a configuration file for data related to light systems in an environment. Figure 27 illustrates a virtual representation of an environment using a computer screen.

Figure 28 is a representation of an environment with light systems casting light onto portions of the environment.

Figure 29 is a schematic diagram showing the propagation of an effect through a light system. Figure 30 is a flowchart showing steps for using an image capture device to determine the positions of a plurality of light systems in an environment.

Figure 31 is a flowchart showing steps to interact with a graphical user interface to generate a lighting effect in an environment,

Figure 32 is a schematic diagram representing light systems that transmit data generated by a network transmitter.

Figure 33 is a flowchart showing steps for generating a control signal for a light system using an object-oriented programming technique.

Figure 34 shows a configuration of multiple tile lighting units in a self-configuring network. Fig. 35 shows a substantially spherical lighting unit formed by a plurality of flat circuit board lighting units.

Figure 36 shows a close-up view of elements of the Figure 35 embodiment.

Figure 37 shows a substantially triangular circuit board element designed to interlock with other circuit board elements to form the substantially spherical lighting unit of Figure 35.

Figure 38 shows Platonic solids that can be formed from polygons and that can comprise lighting unit configurations for principles of the invention.

Figure 39 shows a network configuration for a plurality of lighting units.

Figure 40 shows a plurality of tile lights connected by a very high speed serial bus.

Figure 41 shows an array of LEDs placed with varying proximity to a diffuser.

Figure 42 shows a direct view of an LED board with a plurality of lighting elements arranged thereon.

Figure 43 shows an LED board with a diffuser arranged close to it at an angle relative to the board surface. Figure 44 shows embodiments of different shapes and types of materials that can be used as diffusers.

Figure 45 shows examples of fixing facilities for light nodes of the methods and systems described herein.

Figure 46 shows a push-lock mechanism for a light node.

Figure 47 shows a complex three-dimensional surface of a diffuser.

Figure 48 shows a hemispherical diffuser with a graphic element included therein.

Figure 49 shows the overlay of materials on top of an array of light nodes, including transparent and translucent materials.

Figure 50 shows the overlay of a logo or other graphic element on an array of light nodes. Figure 51 shows a regular, flat array of LEDs on a board.

Figure 52 shows an irregular pattern of LEDs in a matrix.

Figure 53 shows a three-dimensional Mobius strip pattern of an LED array.

Figure 54 shows a grid to contain light nodes.

Figure 55 shows an embodiment of a grid containing light nodes configured to represent an image.

Figure 56 shows a string light node with a short lens cap.

Figure 57 shows a string light node with an elongated lens cap.

Figure 58 shows a string light node without a lens cap.

Figure 59 shows a CAD drawing of a string light node.

Figure 60 shows a CAD drawing of a string light node in a lensless embodiment.

Figure 61 shows a tile light with a detection user interface.

Figure 62 shows surfaces on which a tile lighting unit can be arranged or in which it can be integrated.

Figure 63 shows one embodiment of a tile light for illuminating a water environment.

Figure 64 shows a circuit board with a matrix of light sources according to the invention.

Figure 65 shows another embodiment of a circuit board with an array of light sources.

Figure 66 shows a rear view of the printed circuit board of figures 64 and 65.

Figure 67 shows additional configurations for lighting units.

Figure 68 shows a matrix created from a plurality of nodes.

Figures 69A-B show a light system manager installation.

Figure 70 shows an embodiment of a network light system manager installation.

Figure 71 shows an embodiment of a light system manager where control instructions are relayed as XML scripts.

Detailed description

The description below refers to some illustrative embodiments and to that of the invention.

Various embodiments are described below, including certain embodiments relating particularly to LED-based light sources. However, it should be appreciated that the present invention is limited by the scope of the appended claims, and that the various embodiments explicitly discussed herein are primarily for purposes of illustration. For example, the various concepts discussed herein can be appropriately implemented in a variety of environments involving LED-based light sources, other types of non-LED light sources, environments involving both LEDs and other types of sources. lighting in combination, and environments involving non-lighting devices in combination with various types of light sources.

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a lighting unit 100 that can serve as a fixture in a lighting environment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Some examples of LED-based lighting units similar to those described below in connection with Figure 1 can be found, for example, in US Patent No. 6,016,038, issued January 18 of 2000 to Mueller et al., entitled "Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus", and US Patent No. 6,211,626, issued April 3, 2001 to Lys et al., entitled "Illumination Components ".

In various embodiments of the lighting unit 100 shown in Figure 1, it may be used alone or in conjunction with other similar lighting units in a lighting unit system (for example, as discussed below in connection with Figure 2). . Used alone or in combination with other lighting units, the lighting unit 100 can be used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, general indoor or outdoor lighting, direct or indirect lighting of objects or spaces, lighting theatrical or other entertainment/special effects based, decorative lighting, security oriented lighting, vehicular lighting, display and/or merchandise lighting (for example, for advertising and/or in retail/consumer settings), combination lighting systems and communication, etc., as well as for various indications and informational purposes.

Additionally, one or more lighting units similar to those described in connection with Figure 1 may be implemented in a variety of products including, but not limited to, various forms of lighting fixtures, various forms of light modules, or bulbs having various forms and arrangements of electrical/mechanical coupling (including replacement or "retrofit" bulbs or modules adapted for use in conventional sockets or fixtures), as well as a variety of consumer and/or household products (for example, night lights, toys, games or game components, entertainment components or systems, utensils, electrical appliances, kitchen aids, cleaning products, etc.).

In one embodiment, the lighting unit 100 shown in Figure 1 may include one or more light sources 104, such as the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C and 104D of Figure 1, where one or more of the sources The light source may be an LED-based light source that includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In one aspect of this embodiment, any two or more of the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D can be adapted to generate radiation of different colors (eg, red, green, and blue, respectively). Although Figure 1 shows four light sources 104A, 104B, 104C and 104D, it should be appreciated that the lighting unit is not limited in this respect, since different numbers and various types of light sources (all light sources LED-based, LED-based and non-LED-based light sources in combination, etc.) adapted to generate radiation of a variety of different colors, including essentially white light, may be employed in lighting unit 100, as discussed later.

As shown in Figure 1, lighting unit 100 may also include a processor 102 that is configured to output one or more control signals to drive light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D to generate various light intensities from the light sources. For example, in one implementation, processor 102 can be configured to issue at least one control signal for each light source to independently control the intensity of light generated by each light source. Some examples of control signals that can be generated by the processor to control light sources include, but are not limited to, pulse-modulated signals, pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signals, pulse-width-modulated (PAM) signals, pulse-shift modulated signals, analog control signals (eg, current control signals, voltage control signals), combinations and/or modulations of the above signals, or other control signals. In one aspect, processor 102 may control another dedicated circuitry (not shown in Figure 1), which in turn controls the light sources to vary their respective intensities.

Lighting systems according to this specification can operate LEDs efficiently. The typical performance characteristics of LEDs depend on the amount of current drawn by the LED. Optimum efficiency can be obtained at a current lower than the level where maximum brightness occurs. LEDs are typically driven well above their most efficient operating current to increase the brightness delivered by the LED while maintaining a reasonable lifetime. As a result, higher efficiency can be provided when the maximum current value of the PWM signal can be variable. For example, if the desired light output is less than the required maximum output, the maximum current and/or PWM signal width can be reduced. This can result in Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), for example; however, the width and amplitude of the current used to drive the ^l E ^d can be varied to optimize the performance of the LEDs. In one embodiment, a lighting system can also be adapted to provide only amplitude control of the current through the LED. Although many of the embodiments provided herein describe the use of PWM and PAM to drive LEDs, one skilled in the art would appreciate that there are many techniques for achieving the LED control described herein, and in this regard, the Scope of the present invention is not limited by any control technique. In embodiments, it is possible to use other techniques, such as pulse frequency modulation (PFM) or pulse displacement modulation (PDM), such as in combination with one or both of PWM and PAM.

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) involves supplying a substantially constant current to the LEDs for particular periods of time. The shorter the time, or pulse width, the less brightness an observer will see in the resulting light. The human eye integrates the light it receives over a period of time, and although the current through the LED can generate the same level of light regardless of the duration of the pulse, short pulses will be perceived by the eye as "dimmer" than longer pulses. long. The PWM technique is considered one of the preferred techniques for driving LEDs, although the present invention is not limited to such control techniques. When two or more colored LEDs are provided in a lighting system, colors can be mixed and many color variations can be generated by changing the intensity, or perceived intensity, of the LEDs. In one embodiment, three colors of LEDs (eg, red, green, and blue) are displayed, and each of the colors is PWM driven to vary its apparent intensity. This system allows the generation of millions of colors (for example, 16.7 million colors when using 8-bit control on each of the PWM channels).

In one embodiment, the LEDs are modulated with PWM, as well as by modulating the amplitude of the current driving the LEDs (pulse width modulation or PAM). The efficiency of the LEDs increases to a maximum followed by the decrease in efficiency as a function of current. LEDs are typically driven at a current level beyond their maximum efficiency to achieve higher brightness while maintaining an acceptable life expectancy. The goal is usually to maximize the light output of the LED while maintaining an acceptable lifespan. In one embodiment, the LEDs can be driven with a lower peak current when lower intensities are desired. PWM can still be used, but the maximum current intensity can also vary depending on the desired light output. For example, to decrease the intensity of the light output from a maximum operating point, the amplitude of the current can be decreased until maximum efficiency is achieved. If further reductions in LED brightness are desired, the PWM drive can be reduced to reduce apparent brightness.

In one embodiment of lighting unit 100, one or more of the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D shown in Figure 1 may include a group of multiple LEDs or other types of light sources (eg, various parallel and/or series connections of LEDs or other types of light sources) that are jointly controlled by processor 102.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that one or more of the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D may include one or more LEDs that are adapted to generate radiation having any of a variety of spectra (i.e., wavelengths or bands of wavelengths), including, but not limited to, various visible colors (including essentially white light), various color temperatures of white, ultraviolet, or infrared light.

In another aspect of the lighting unit 100 shown in Figure 1, the lighting unit 100 can be constructed and arranged to produce a wide range of variable color radiation. For example, the lighting unit 100 can be particularly arranged such that the variable intensity light controlled by the processor generated by two or more of the light sources is combined to produce a mixed color light (including essentially white light having a variety of color temperatures). In particular, the color (or color temperature) of the mixed-color light can be varied by varying one or more of the respective intensities of the light sources (for example, in response to one or more control signals emitted by processor 102). In addition, processor 102 may be particularly configured (eg, programmed) to provide control signals to one or more of the light sources to generate a variety of static or time-varying (dynamic) lighting effects. multi-color (or multi-color temperature).

As shown in Figure 1, the lighting unit 100 may also include a memory 114 for storing various information. For example, memory 114 can be used to store one or more lighting programs for execution by processor 102 (for example, to generate one or more control signals for light sources), as well as various types of useful data. to generate variable color radiation (eg, the calibration information, discussed below). Memory 114 may also store one or more particular identifiers (eg, a serial number, address, etc.) that can be used locally or at the system level to identify lighting unit 100. In various embodiments, such identifiers may be pre-programmed by a manufacturer, for example, and may or may not be modifiable thereafter (for example, through some kind of user interface located on the lighting unit, through one or more data or signals received by the lighting unit, etc.). Alternatively, such identifiers may be determined at the time of initial use of the lighting unit in the field, and again may be modifiable or non-modifiable thereafter.

A problem that can arise in connection with the control of multiple light sources in the lighting unit 100 of Figure 1, and the control of multiple lighting units 100 in a lighting system (for example, as discussed below in relation to Figure 2), refers to potentially perceptible differences in light output between substantially similar light sources. For example, given two virtually identical light sources that are driven by respective identical control signals, the actual intensity of light output by each light source may be significantly different. Such a difference in light output can be attributed to a number of factors including, for example, slight manufacturing differences between light sources, normal wear and tear over time of light sources which can alter the shape of light sources. different the respective spectra of the generated radiation, etc. For the purposes of this discussion, light sources for which no particular relationship between a control signal and the resulting intensity is known are called "uncalibrated" light sources.

The use of one or more uncalibrated light sources in the lighting unit 100 shown in Figure 1 can result in the generation of light that has an unpredictable or "uncalibrated" color or color temperature. For example, consider a first lighting unit that includes a first uncalibrated red light source and a first uncalibrated blue light source, each controlled by a corresponding control signal having an adjustable parameter in the range of zero to 255 (0-255). For the purposes of this example, if the red control signal is set to zero, blue light is generated, while if the blue control signal is set to zero, red light is generated. However, if both control signals are varied from non-zero values, a variety of significantly different colors can be produced (eg, in this example, at least many different shades of purple are possible). In particular, perhaps a particular desired color (eg lavender) is given by a red control signal having a value of 125 and a blue control signal having a value of 200.

Now consider a second illumination unit that includes a second uncalibrated red light source substantially similar to the first uncalibrated red light source of the first illumination unit, and a second uncalibrated blue light source substantially similar to the first source. of uncalibrated blue light from the first illumination unit. As discussed above, even if both uncalibrated red light sources are driven by respective identical control signals, the actual intensity of light output by each red light source may be significantly different. Similarly, even if the two uncalibrated blue light sources are driven by respective identical control signals, the actual intensity of the light output by each blue light source may be significantly different.

With the above in mind, it should be appreciated that if multiple uncalibrated light sources are used in combination in lighting units to produce mixed color light as discussed above, the observed color (or color temperature) of the Light produced by different lighting units under identical control conditions can be noticeably different. Specifically, consider again the "lavender" example above; the "first lavender" produced by the first lighting unit with a red control signal of 125 and a blue control signal of 200 may in fact be significantly different than a "second lavender" produced by the second lighting unit with a signal a red control signal of 125 and a blue control signal of 200. More generally, the first and second lighting units generate uncalibrated colors by virtue of their uncalibrated light sources.

In view of the above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting unit 100 includes calibration means to facilitate the generation of light having a calibrated (eg, predictable, reproducible) color at any given time. In one aspect, the calibration means is configured to adjust the light output of at least some of the lighting unit's light sources to compensate for perceptible differences between light sources. similar light sources used in different lighting units.

For example, in one embodiment, processor 102 of lighting unit 100 is configured to control one or more of light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D to emit radiation at a calibrated intensity that substantially corresponds predetermined to a control signal for the light source(s). As a result of the mixed radiation having different spectra and respective calibrated intensities, a calibrated color is produced. In one aspect of this embodiment, at least one calibration value for each light source is stored in memory 114, and the processor is programmed to apply the respective calibration values to the control signals for the corresponding light sources with the purpose of in order to generate the calibrated intensities.

In one aspect of this embodiment, one or more calibration values may be determined once (eg, during a lighting unit manufacturing/testing phase) and stored in memory 114 for use by processor 102. In As another aspect, processor 102 can be configured to derive one or more calibration values dynamically (eg, from time to time) with the aid of one or more photosensors, for example. In various embodiments, the photosensor(s) may be one or more external components attached to the lighting unit, or alternatively may be integrated as part of the lighting unit itself. A photosensor is an example of a signal source that can be integrated or otherwise associated with lighting unit 100, and monitored by processor 102 in connection with the operation of the lighting unit. Other examples of such signal sources are discussed below, in connection with signal source 124 shown in Figure 1.

An illustrative method that may be implemented by processor 102 to derive one or more calibration values includes applying a reference control signal to a light source, and measuring (for example, through one or more photosensors) an intensity of radiation thus generated by the light source. The processor can then be programmed to make a comparison of the measured current and at least one reference value (eg, representing a current that would nominally be expected in response to the reference control signal). Based on such a comparison, the processor can determine one or more calibration values for the light source. In particular, the processor can derive a calibration value such that, when applied to the reference control signal, the light source emits radiation having an intensity corresponding to the reference value (ie, intensity " expected").

In various respects, a calibration value can be derived for a full range of control signals/output currents for a given light source. Alternatively, multiple calibration values can be derived for a given light source (i.e. a number of "samples" of calibration values can be obtained) that respectively apply over different ranges of control signals/output currents, to approximate a nonlinear calibration function in a linear way.

In another aspect, as also shown in Figure 1, lighting unit 100 may optionally include one or more user interfaces 118 that are provided to facilitate any of a number of user-selectable settings or functions (for example, generally by controlling the light output of the lighting unit 100, changing and/or selecting various pre-programmed lighting effects to be generated by the lighting unit, changing and/or selecting various selected lighting effect parameters, setting particular identifiers such as addresses or serial numbers for the lighting unit, etc.). In various embodiments, communication between the user interface 118 and the lighting unit may be via wire or cable or wireless transmission.

In one implementation, lighting unit processor 102 monitors user interface 118 and controls one or more of light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D based at least in part on operation of the interface by the user. . For example, processor 102 can be configured to respond to operation of the user interface by originating one or more control signals to control one or more of the light sources. Alternatively, processor 102 can be configured to respond by selecting one or more preprogrammed control signals stored in memory, modifying control signals generated by running a lighting program, selecting and running a new lighting program from memory, or otherwise affect the radiation generated by one or more of the light sources.

In particular, in one implementation, user interface 118 may constitute one or more switches (eg, a conventional wall switch) that interrupt power to processor 102. In one aspect of this implementation, processor 102 is configured to monitor the power controlled by the user interface and, in turn, control one or more of the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D based at least in part on a duration of a power interruption caused by operation of the interface of user. As discussed above, the processor may be particularly configured to respond to a predetermined duration of a power interruption, for example, by selecting one or more preprogrammed control signals stored in memory, modifying control signals generated by executing a lighting program, selecting and running a new lighting program from memory, or otherwise affecting the radiation generated by one or more of the light sources.

LED-based lighting systems can be pre-programmed with various lighting routines, such as for use in a non-networked mode or to execute stored programs when triggered by a signal in a networked mode. For example, the switches on the lighting fixture can be set so that the lighting fixture produces a solid color, a program that slowly changes the color of the lighting across the entire visible spectrum over a few minutes, or a program designed to change lighting characteristics quickly or even flash the light. In general, the switches used to set the address of the lighting system can also be used to set the system to a pre-programmed non-networked lighting control mode. Each lighting control program may also have adjustable parameters that are adjusted using the switch settings. All of these functions can also be set using a programming device in accordance with the principles of the invention. For example, a user interface may be provided on the programming device to allow selection of a lighting system program, adjusting a lighting system program parameter, setting a new lighting system program, or make another adjustment to the lighting system. By communicating with the lighting system through a programming device in accordance with the principles of the invention, a program could be selected and an adjustable parameter could be set. The lighting fixture can then run the program without the need to adjust the switches.

Another problem with setting the switches for such a program selection is that the switches do not provide an intuitive user interface. The user may have to look at a table in a manual to find the particular switch setting for a particular program, while a programming device in accordance with the principles of the invention may contain a user interface screen. The user interface may display information related to a program, a program parameter, or other information related to the lighting fixture. The programmer can read the information from the lighting fixture and provide this information from the user interface screen. In embodiments, a non-networked device may detect a signal, such as a sync signal, or the presence of "on" in a circuit, to initiate playback of an effect. Therefore, multiple lighting units that are not formally networked can be synchronized by synchronizing the start of the lighting program with such external factors.

Figure 1 also illustrates that lighting unit 100 may be configured to receive one or more signals 122 from one or more other signal sources 124. In one implementation, lighting unit processor 102 may use the signal(s) (en) 122, either alone or in combination with other control signals (for example, signals generated by running a lighting program, one or more outputs from a user interface, etc.), to control one or more of the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C and 104D in a manner similar to that discussed above in connection with the user interface.

By way of example, a lighting unit 100 may also include sensors and/or transducers and/or other signal generators (collectively referred to hereinafter as sensors) that serve as the signal sources 124. Sensors may be associated with the processor 102 through wired or wireless transmission systems. Much like user interface and network control systems, the sensor(s) may provide signals to the processor and the processor may respond by selecting new LED control signals from memory 114, modifying the LED control signals, generate control signals, or otherwise change the output of the LED(s).

Examples of signal(s) 122 that may be received and processed by processor 102 include, but are not limited to, one or more audio signals, video signals, audio signals, power supply, various types of data signals, signals from a portable remote control, signals representing information obtained from a network (for example, the Internet), signals representing some detectable/detected condition, signals from lighting units, signals consisting of in modulated light, etc. In various implementations, the signal source(s) 124 may be located remotely from the lighting unit 100, or included as a component of the lighting unit. For example, in one embodiment, a signal from one lighting unit 100 could be sent over a network to another lighting unit 100.

Some examples of a signal source 124 that may be employed in, or used in connection with, the lighting unit 100 of Figure 1 include any of a variety of sensors or transducers that generate one or more signals 122 in response to some stimulus. Examples of such sensors include, but are not limited to, various types of environmental condition sensors, such as thermally sensitive sensors (eg, temperature, infrared), humidity sensors, motion sensors, photo sensors/light sensors (eg, sensors sensitive to one or more particular spectrums of electromagnetic radiation), sound or vibration sensors or other pressure/force transducers (eg, microphones, piezoelectric devices), and the like.

Additional examples of a signal source 124 include various measurement/sensing devices that monitor electrical signals or characteristics (eg, voltage, current, power, resistance, capacitance, inductance, etc.) or chemical/biological characteristics (eg, acidity , presence of one or more particular chemical or biological agents, bacteria, etc.) and provide one or more signals 122 based on measured values of the signals or characteristics. Still other examples of a signal source 124 include various types of scanners, image recognition systems, voice or other sound recognition systems, artificial intelligence systems, and robotics, and the like.

A signal source 124 could also be a lighting unit 100, a processor 102, or any of the many signal generating devices available, such as media players, MP3 players, computers, DVD players, CD players, audio sources, etc. television signal, signal sources from cameras, microphones, speakers, telephones, cell phones, instant messaging devices, SMS devices, wireless devices, personal organizer devices and many others.

In one embodiment, the lighting unit 100 shown in Figure 1 may also include one or more optical facilities 130 for optically processing the radiation generated by the light sources 104A, 104B, 104C, and 104D. For example, one or more optical installations can be configured to change one or both of a spatial distribution and a direction of propagation of the generated radiation. In particular, one or more optical installations can be configured to change a diffusion angle of the generated radiation. In one aspect of this embodiment, one or more optical facilities 130 may be particularly configured to variably change one or both of a spatial distribution and a direction of propagation of the generated radiation (for example, in response to some electrical stimulus and/or or mechanical). Examples of optical facilities that can be included in lighting unit 100 include, but are not limited to, reflective materials, refractive materials, translucent materials, filters, lenses, mirrors, and fiber optics. Optical arrangement 130 may also include a phosphorescent material, luminescent material, or other material capable of responding to or interacting with the generated radiation.

As also shown in Figure 1, lighting unit 100 may include one or more communication ports 120 to facilitate coupling lighting unit 100 to any of a variety of other devices. For example, one or more communication ports 120 may facilitate the coupling of multiple lighting units together as a networked lighting system, in which at least some of the lighting units are addressable (for example, have identifiers or addresses). particular) and respond to particular data transported over the network. Lighting unit 100 may also include a communication port 120 adapted to communicate with a programming device. The communication port can be adapted to receive data via wired or wireless transmission. In one embodiment of the invention, the information received through the communication port 120 may be associated with address information and the lighting unit 100 may be adapted to receive and then store the address information in memory 114. The lighting 100 can be adapted to use the stored address as its address to use when receiving data from network data. For example, lighting unit 100 may be connected to a network where network data is communicated. Lighting unit 100 may monitor data communicated on the network and respond to data it 'hears' that corresponds to the address stored in memory 114 of lighting system 100. Memory 114 may be any type of memory including, but no limitation, non-volatile memory. One skilled in the art would appreciate that there are many systems and methods for communicating with addressable lighting fixtures over networks (eg, ^US Patent 6,016,038) and the present invention is not limited to one system or particular method.

In one embodiment, the lighting system 100 may be adapted to select a given lighting program, modify a parameter of a lighting program, or otherwise make a selection or modification or generate certain lighting control signals based on the data. received from a programming device.

In particular, in a networked lighting system environment, as discussed in more detail below (eg, in connection with Figure 2), as data is communicated over the network, the processor 102 of each The network-coupled lighting unit can be configured to respond to particular data (for example, lighting control commands) that reference it (for example, in some cases, as dictated by the respective identifiers of the lighting units in the network). grid). Once a given processor identifies particular data intended for it, it can read the data and, for example, change the lighting conditions produced by its light sources in accordance with the data received (for example, by generating appropriate control signals for light sources). In one aspect, memory 114 of each lighting unit attached to the network can be loaded, for example, with a table of lighting control signals that correspond to data received by processor 102. Once data is received by processor 102 network, the processor can refer to the table to select the control signals corresponding to the received data, and control the light sources of the lighting unit accordingly.

In one aspect of this embodiment, the processor 102 of a given lighting unit, whether or not coupled to a network, may be configured to interpret lighting instructions/data received in a DMX protocol (as discussed, for example , in US Patents 6,016,038 and 6,211,626), which is a lighting command protocol conventionally used in the lighting industry for some programmable lighting applications.

However, it should be appreciated that lighting units suitable for the purposes of the present invention are not limited in this regard, since lighting units according to various embodiments may be configured to respond to other types of communication protocols. to control your light sources respective.

In one embodiment, lighting unit 100 of Figure 1 may include and/or be coupled to one or more power sources 108. In various aspects, examples of power source(s) 108 include, but are not limited to limitation, AC power sources, DC power sources, batteries, solar power sources, thermoelectric or mechanical power sources, and the like. Additionally, in one aspect, the power source(s) 108 may include or be associated with one or more power conversion devices that convert power received from an external power source into a form suitable for operation of the power supply. lighting unit 100.

Although not shown explicitly in Figure 1, lighting unit 100 may be implemented in any of a number of different structural configurations in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. For example, a given lighting unit may have any of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes to partially or totally enclose the light sources, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. In particular, a light unit may be configured as a replacement or "adaptation" to electrically and mechanically mate into a conventional plug or fixture arrangement (for example, an Edison screw-type socket, halogen fixture arrangement, fluorescent fixture, etc.).

Additionally, one or more optical elements as discussed above may be partly or fully integrated with an enclosure/housing arrangement for the lighting unit. In addition, a given lighting unit may optionally be associated with (eg, include, be coupled to, and/or encapsulate together with) various other components (eg, control circuitry such as processor and/or memory, one or more sensors/transducers/signal sources, user interfaces, displays, power supplies, power conversion devices, etc.) related to the operation of the light source(s).

Figure 2 illustrates an example of a network lighting system 200 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the Figure 2 embodiment, a number of lighting units 100, similar to those discussed above in connection with Figure 1, are coupled together to form the networked lighting system. However, it should be appreciated that the particular configuration and arrangement of the lighting units shown in Figure 2 is for illustrative purposes only, and that the invention is not limited to the particular system topology shown in Figure 2 .

Thus, lighting units 100 can be associated with a network such that lighting unit 100 is responsive to network data. For example, processor 102 may be an addressable processor that is associated with a network. Network data can be communicated over a wired or wireless network and the addressable processor can 'listen' to the data stream for commands that refer to it. Once the processor 'hears' data directed to it, it can read the data and change lighting conditions according to the received data. For example, memory 114 in lighting unit 100 can be loaded with a table of lighting control signals that correspond to data received by processor 102. Once data is received by processor 102 from a network, user interface or other source, the processor can select the control signals that correspond to the data and control the LED(s) accordingly. The received data may also initiate a lighting program to be executed by processor 102 or modify a lighting program or control data or otherwise control the light output of lighting unit 100.

Additionally, although not shown explicitly in Figure 2, it should be appreciated that the network lighting system 200 can be flexibly configured to include one or more user interfaces, as well as one or more signal sources such as sensors/ transducers. For example, one or more user interfaces and/or one or more signal sources such as sensors/transducers (as discussed above in connection with Figure 1) may be associated with any one or more of the lighting units of the network lighting system 200.

Alternatively (or in addition to the above), one or more user interfaces and/or one or more signal sources may be implemented as "standalone" components in the networked lighting system 200. Either standalone components or particularly associated with one or more lighting units 100, these devices may be "shared" by the lighting units of the networked lighting system. In other words, one or more user interfaces and/or one or more signal sources such as sensors/transducers, may constitute "shared resources" in the networked lighting system that can be used in connection with the control of any one or more of the lighting units of the system.

As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 2, lighting system 200 may include one or more lighting unit controllers 208 (hereinafter "LUC"), such as LUCs 208A, 208B, 208C and 208D, wherein each LUC is responsible for communicating with and generally controlling one or more lighting units 100 coupled thereto. Although Figure 2 illustrates three lighting units 100 coupled in series to a given LUC, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited in this regard, as different numbers of lighting units 100 may be coupled to a given LUC on a given LUC. a variety of different configurations using a variety of different communication media and protocols.

In the system of Figure 2, each LUC in turn can be coupled to a central controller 202 that is configured to communicate with one or more LUCs. Although Figure 2 shows three LUCs coupled to central controller 202 via a switching or coupling device 204, it should be appreciated that, according to various embodiments, different numbers of LUCs may be coupled to central controller 202. Additionally, according to With various embodiments of the present invention, the LUCs and the central controller may be coupled together in a variety of configurations using a variety of different communication media and protocols to form the networked lighting system 200.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the interconnection of the LUCs and the central controller, and the interconnection of the lighting units to the respective l Ucs, can be achieved in different ways (for example, using different configurations, communication media and protocols). .

For example, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the central controller 202 shown in Figure 2 can be configured to implement Ethernet-based communications with the ^l U ^c , and the LUCs in turn can be configured to implement communications. based on DMX with the lighting unit 100. In particular, in one aspect of this embodiment, each LUC can be configured as an Ethernet-based addressable controller and, accordingly, can be identified with the central controller 202 through an address particular address (or a unique set of addresses) using an Ethernet-based protocol. In this way, the central controller 202 can be configured to support Ethernet communications over the network of attached LUCs, and each LUC can respond to communications destined for it. In turn, each LUC may communicate lighting control information to one or more lighting units coupled to it, for example, via a DMX protocol, based on Ethernet communications with the central controller 202.

More specifically, according to one embodiment, the LUCs 208A, 208B, 208C and 208D shown in Figure 2 can be configured to be "smart", in that the central controller 202 can be configured to communicate higher level commands to the LUCs that need to be interpreted by the LUCs before lighting control information can be forwarded to lighting unit 100. For example, a lighting system operator may want to generate a color changing effect that varies the colors from one lighting unit to another in such a way as to create the appearance of a spreading rainbow of colors ("rainbow chasing"), given a particular location of the lighting units relative to each other. In this example, the operator can provide a simple instruction to the central controller 202 to accomplish this and, in turn, the central controller can communicate with one or more LUCs using a high-level Ethernet-based protocol command to generate a " rainbow chase". The command may contain timing, intensity, hue, saturation or other relevant information, for example. When a given LUC receives such a command, it can interpret the command to generate the appropriate lighting control signals which it then communicates using a DMX protocol via any of a variety of signaling techniques (eg PWM) to one or more lighting units that it controls.

It should again be appreciated that the above example of the use of multiple different communication implementations (eg Ethernet/DMX) in a lighting system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and that the invention is not limited to this particular example.

One aspect of the methods and systems described herein is how colored LEDs (such as red, green, blue LEDs, or in the case of white light products, different color temperatures of LEDs) are turned on and off. white or amber LEDs) to achieve color changing or color temperature changing effects. The balance in this section discusses control of red, green, and blue LEDs, but the same approach is used to control different LEDs, such as white light realizations of white and amber LEDs. In some embodiments, a processor 102 may have, for example, three output pins, such as one for a red LED, one for a green LED, and one for a blue LED (of course, other pin numbers are included herein). output pins and other types of LEDs). In some embodiments, multiple LEDs of the same color are connected to an output channel, such that the output channel or pin drives a group of, for example, red, green, or blue LEDs at the same time.

In some embodiments, an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) may be executed on processor 102 at a specific frequency. The ISR can convert a set of desired intensity values for each LED channel into a stream of digital "on" and "off" pulses at the corresponding output pin of each channel. In some embodiments, the ISR processes the output channels sequentially. That is, the ISR can be implemented as a software or firmware routine running on a processor 102 that updates the "on" or "off" state of each output pin. In some embodiments, the first color is updated first, and the routine continues to the point where the second color is updated. The routine progresses through the third color and starts again updating the first color, and so on. In some embodiments, the interrupt service routine converts a desired set of LED intensity values into a sequence of on and off commands for each LED channel.

In embodiments, the network lighting unit systems 100 receive control instructions via of the DMX protocol, a protocol widely used for many years in theatrical lighting systems. Lighting control signals in the DMX protocol format can be sent from a central controller over a network to individual lighting units 100, each of which has a processor 102 that controls groups of red, green, and white LEDs. blue. In some cases, an intermediate power/data supply (PDS) converts instructions initially sent on another protocol, such as Ethernet, to the DMX protocol format for delivery to the individual lighting units 100. The protocol instructions DMX include one channel for red, one channel for blue, and one channel for green. In some embodiments, each channel value has a resolution of 8 bits, which produces 256 possible values for each channel. For networked lighting units 100, a DMX pickup routine is executed in the individual lighting unit processor. The pickup routine steps through the incoming DMX protocol instructions until it receives a red command, a blue command, and a green command. The collection routine then converts each 8-bit DMX channel value to a higher resolution 14 (or 16) bit desired intensity value by looking up the 8-bit DMX channel value in an internally stored table of intensity values. 14 bit intensity. 14 (or 16) bit intensity values allow these networked lighting units 100 to have 64 (or 128) times the dynamic resolution of 8-bit products, allowing much finer control over color values generated.

For non-networked lighting units 100, pre-programmed instructions for light shows can be stored in the memory of the individual lighting unit 100. A user interface, such as a button or power interrupt device, allows you to the user to select between different shows or software/firmware programs that generate data for use by an ISR similar to that described above. The values for the individual red, green, and blue channels for each preprogrammed show are stored in the table for access by the interrupt service routine.

In certain other embodiments using a serial data protocol, the control instructions for the lighting units 100 are placed in a data stream consisting of a series of bytes, with each byte representing a control instruction for one channel. of LEDs. In some embodiments, the incoming data stream for the first unchanged byte (as described below) is timed in three different 12-bit shift registers, one for the red channel, one for the green channel, and one for the green channel. blue. In some embodiments, an oscillator times the first shift register, then the second shift register, then the third shift register and delivers the signal 120 degrees out of phase to each of the three transistor drivers that drive the LEDs. red, green and blue respectively. Optionally, driving the LEDs out of phase equalizes the load on the system.

For networked products using a serial addressing protocol, control instructions are sent in a series of bytes to a series of individual lighting units, each of which can be equipped with an application-specific integrated circuit. (ASIC) 3600 that is programmed to respond to the incoming stream of instructions. The control data flow from the central controller includes control instructions for the individual lighting units 100 in an array, where the positions of the control instructions in the array correspond to the positions of the individual lighting units along of a chain of such lighting units. Each individual lighting unit 100 receives the data stream and responds to the data byte allocated to it, as follows. Each lighting unit 100 receives the entire stream of data bytes in order and begins checking the data bytes for a bit that indicates whether the byte has changed, such as determining if a "1" is present in a default position of that data byte. If the data byte has changed, then the ASIC 3600 proceeds to check the next byte, and so on, until an unchanged byte is found. The lighting unit 100 then stores the values corresponding to the control instructions indicated by that unchanged data byte in the table containing the input values for the interrupt service routine. Once the lighting unit 100 has found and used the first three bytes of unchanged data in the data stream, the lighting unit 100 modifies those bytes, such as by changing a zero in the default position to a "1". or vice versa, or by completely removing the data byte from the stream. The entire modified data stream is then sent to the next lighting unit 100 in the chain, which as a result will respond to the next data byte in the stream, which is now the first unmodified byte. The result is that the chain of lighting units 100 responds to the serial control instructions in accordance with the order of the byte series in the data stream.

3 illustrates a programming device 300 in communicative association with a lighting system 100. Programming device 300 may include a processor 302, a user interface 304 associated with the processor 302, a communication port 306 in association with the processor 302 and memory 308 associated with processor 302. Communication port 306 may be arranged to communicate a data signal to lighting system 100 and lighting system 100 may be adapted to receive the data signal. For example, the communication port 306 can be arranged to communicate data via a cable transmission and the communication port 120 of the lighting system 100 can be arranged to receive the cable transmission. Similarly, the communication ports may be arranged to communicate via wireless transmission.

The programming device processor 302 can be associated with a user interface 304 such that the user interface 304 can be used to generate an address in the processor 302. The user interface 304 may be used to communicate a signal to the processor and the processor may, in turn, generate an address and/or select an address from memory 308. In one embodiment, the user interface may be used to generate or select an address from memory 308. start and the programming device can then be arranged to automatically generate the next address. For example, a user may select a new address by making a selection on the user interface and the address may then be communicated to a lighting system 100. After transmission of the address, a new address may be selected or generated. such that it is transmitted to the next lighting system 100. Of course, the actual timing of the selection and/or generation of the new address is not critical and may actually be generated prior to transmission of the old address or at any other time. appropriate time. This method of address generation can be useful in situations where the user wants to address more than one lighting system 100. For example, the user may have a row of one hundred lighting systems 100 and may want the first lighting system of this type include the thousandth address. The user can select the mil address on the programming device and have the programming device communicate the address to the lighting system. The programming device can then automatically generate the next address in the desired progression (eg, one thousand one). This newly generated address (eg mil one) can then be communicated to the next lighting system in line. This eliminates the repeated selection of new addresses and automates one more step for the user. Addresses can be selected/generated in any desired pattern (eg, in increments of two, three, etc.).

The programming device may be arranged to store a selected/generated address in its memory for later retrieval for transmission to a lighting system. For example, a user may have a number of lighting systems to program and may wish to pre-program the memory of the programming device with a set of addresses because they know in advance the lighting systems to be programmed. It may have a planned layout and it may be convenient to select an address, store it in memory, and then select a new address to place in memory. This address selection and storage system could place a long string of addresses in memory. You could then start transmitting the address information to the lighting systems in the order that you uploaded the addresses.

Programming device 300 may include a user interface 304 and the user interface may be associated with processor 302. User interface 304 may be an interface, button, switch, dial, slider, encoder, analog to digital, digital-to-analog converter, digital signal generator, or other user interface. User interface 304 may be capable of accepting address information, program information, light show information, or other information or signals used to control a lighting fixture. The device can communicate with a lighting device by receiving the information from the user interface. User interface information can also be stored in memory and communicated from memory to a lighting fixture. The user interface 304 may also contain a screen for displaying information. The display may be a screen, LCD, plasma display, backlit display, edge-lit display, monochrome display, color display, screen or any other type of display.

Many of the embodiments illustrated herein involve setting an address on a lighting system 100. However, a method or system in accordance with the principles of the present invention may involve selecting a mode, setting, program, or other setting on the lighting system 100. An embodiment may also involve changing a mode, setting, program, or other setting in lighting system 100. In one embodiment, a programming device may be used to select a preprogrammed mode in lighting system 100. For example, a user may select a mode using a programming device and then communicate the selection to the lighting system 100 where the lighting system 100 would select the corresponding mode. Programming device 300 may be preset with modes corresponding to modes in lighting system 100. For example, lighting system 100 may have four pre-programmed modes: Color Wash, Static Red, Static Green, Static Blue, and Static Generate. random color. Programming device 300 may have the same four mode selections available such that the user can make the selection on programming device 300 and then communicate the selection to lighting system 100. Upon receiving the selection, the lighting system 100 may select the corresponding mode from memory for execution by processor 102. In one embodiment, the programming device may have a mode flag stored in its memory such that the mode flag indicates a particular mode or lighting program. or similar. For example, the programming device may have a mode flag stored in memory indicating that selection and communication of such a mode flag would initiate or set a mode in the lighting system corresponding to the flag. One embodiment of the present invention may involve using the programming device 300 to read the available selections from the lighting systems memory 114 and then present the available selections to the user. The user can then select the desired mode and communicate the selection back to the lighting system 100. In one embodiment, the lighting system can receive the selection and initiate execution of the corresponding mode.

In one embodiment, programming device 300 may be used to download a lighting mode, program, setting, or the like to lighting system 100. Lighting system 100 may store the mode in its memory 114. The lighting system 100 may be arranged to execute the mode upon download and the mode may be available for selection at a later time. For example, programming device 300 may have one or more lighting programs stored in its memory 308. A user may select one or more of the lighting programs in programming device 300 and then have programming device 300 download the selected program(s) to a lighting system 100. The lighting system 100 can then store the lighting program(s) in its memory 114. The lighting system 100 and/or the The downloaded program(s) may be arranged such that the processor 102 of the lighting system executes one of the downloaded programs automatically.

As used herein, the terms "wired" transmission and/or communication should be understood to encompass wired, cabled, optical or any other type of communication where devices are physically connected. As used herein, the terms "wireless" transmission and/or communication should be understood to encompass acoustic, RF, microwave, IR and all other communication and/or transmission systems. transmission where the devices are not physically connected.

Having identified a variety of geometric configurations for a lighting unit 100 and certain optional methods for identifying lighting units 100, it can be recognized that providing lighting control signals to configurations requires operators to be able to relate the appropriate control signal to the appropriate lighting unit 100. A configuration of the network lighting unit 100 could be arbitrarily arranged, requiring the operator to develop a table or similar setup that relates a particular light to a particular geometric location in an environment. For large installations requiring many 100 lighting units, the requirement to identify and track the relationship between a lighting unit's physical location and its network address can be quite challenging, particularly since the lighting installer may not be the same operator that will use and maintain the lighting system over time. Accordingly, in some situations it may be advantageous to provide addressing schemes that allow for an easier relationship between the physical location of a lighting unit 100 and its virtual location in order to provide it with a control signal. Therefore, one embodiment of the invention is directed to a method of providing address information to a lighting unit 100. The method includes the actions of A) transmitting data to an independently addressable controller coupled to at least one lighting unit of LED 100 and at least one other controllable device, data including at least one of first control information for a first control signal issued by the controller to the at least one LED lighting unit 100 and second control information for a second control signal output by the controller to the at least one other controllable device, and B) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method, comprising actions of: A) receiving data for a plurality of independently addressable controllers, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one light source of LEDs and at least one other controllable device, B) selecting at least a portion of the data corresponding to at least one of a first control information for a first control signal issued by the at least one controller independently addressable to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal issued by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device, and C) controlling at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other device controllable based on the selected portion of the data.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a lighting system, comprising a plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled together to form a network, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at least one light source. of LEDs and at least one other controllable device, and at least one processor coupled to the network and programmed to transmit data to the plurality of independently addressable controllers, the data corresponding to at least one of first control information for a first control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal output by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one other controllable device. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including a plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled together to form a network, at least one independently addressable controller of the plurality of independently addressable controllers coupled to at at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device. The apparatus comprises at least one processor having an output for coupling the at least one processor to the network, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to the plurality of independently addressable controllers, the data corresponding to at least one of first information control information for a first control signal issued by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one LED light source and second control information for a second control signal issued by the at least one independently addressable controller to the at least one least one other controllable device.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system that includes at least one LED light source and at least one other controllable device. The apparatus comprises at least one controller having at least first and second output ports for coupling the at least one controller to the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device, respectively, also having the at least one controller at least one data port for receiving data including at least one of a first control information for a first control signal output from the first output port to the at least one LED light source and a second control information for a second control signal output from the second output port to the at least one other controllable device, the at least one controller constructed to control at least one of the at least one LED light source and the at least one other controllable device based on the data.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method in a lighting system including at least the first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one of the independently addressable devices including at least one power source. light. The method comprises an act of: A) transmitting data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data being arranged based on relative position in the serial connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method in a lighting system including at least the first and second independently addressable devices, at least one of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source. The method comprises actions of: A) receiving in the first independently addressable device first data for at least the first and second independently addressable devices, B) removing at least a first portion of data from the first data to form second data the first data portion corresponding to first control information for the first independently addressable device, and C) transmitting the second data from the first independently addressable device. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a lighting system, comprising at least the first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one of the independently addressable devices including at least one light source, and at least one processor coupled to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, the data including control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices. second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the serial connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least the first and second independently addressable devices coupled to form a series connection, at least one of the at least independently addressable devices including a light source. The apparatus comprises at least one processor having an output for coupling the at least one processor to the first and second independently addressable devices, the at least one processor programmed to transmit data to at least the first and second independently addressable devices, including the data control information for at least one of the first and second independently addressable devices, the data arranged based on a relative position in the serial connection of at least the first and second independently addressable devices.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to an apparatus for use in a lighting system including at least the first and second independently controllable devices, at least one of the independently controllable devices including at least one light source. The apparatus comprises at least one controller having at least one output port for coupling the at least one controller to at least the first independently controllable device and at least one data port for receiving first data for at least the first and second independently controllable devices, the at least one controller constructed to remove at least a first data portion from the first data to form second data and transmit the second data through the at least one data port, the first data portion corresponding to first control information for at least the first independently controllable device.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to the lighting system. The lighting system comprises an LED lighting system adapted to receive a data stream through a first data port, generate a lighting condition based on a first portion of the data stream, and communicate at least a second portion of the stream. data through a second data port; a housing wherein the housing is adapted to hold the LED lighting system and is adapted to electrically associate the first and second data ports with a data connection; wherein the data connection comprises an electrical conductor with at least one discontinuous section; wherein the first data port is associated with the data connection on a first side of the discontinuous section and the second data port is associated with a second side of the discontinuous section wherein the first and second sides are electrically isolated.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit comprises a circuit data recognition wherein the data recognition circuitry is adapted to read at least a first portion of a data stream received through a first data port; a lighting control circuit adapted to generate at least one lighting control signal in response to the first data portion; and an output circuit adapted to transmit at least a second portion of the data stream through a second data port.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for controlling lighting systems. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of lighting systems; communicating a data stream to a first lighting system of the plurality of lighting systems; causing the first lighting system to receive the data stream and read a first portion of the data stream; causing the first lighting system to generate a lighting effect in response to the first portion of the data stream; and causing the first lighting system to communicate at least a second portion of the data stream to the second lighting system of the plurality of lighting systems.

Referring to Figure 4, various configurations for lighting units 100 can be provided, in each case with an optional communications facility 120. Configurations include a linear configuration 404 (which may be curvilinear in some embodiments), a circular configuration 402, an oval configuration 414, a three-dimensional configuration 418, such as a pyramid, or a collection of various configurations 402, 404, etc. Lighting unit 100 may also include a wide variety of LED colors, in various mixtures, including red, green, and blue LEDs to produce a mixture of colors, as well as one or more other LEDs to create colors and light color temperatures. variable white. For example, red, green, and blue LEDs can be mixed with amber, white, UV, orange, IR, or other LED colors. Amber and white LEDs can be mixed to provide different colors and white color temperatures. Any combination of LED colors can produce a range of colors, whether the LEDs are red, green, blue, amber, white, orange, UV, or other colors. The various embodiments described throughout this specification encompass all possible combinations of LEDs in the lighting unit 100, such that variable color, intensity, saturation and color temperature light can be produced on demand under the control of a processor 102.

Combinations of LEDs with other mechanisms, such as luminophores, are also included herein.

Although mixtures of red, green, and blue have been proposed for light due to their ability to create a wide range of additively mixed colors, the overall color quality or color rendering capabilities of such systems are not ideal for all applications. This is mainly due to the narrow bandwidth of today's red, green and blue emitters. However, wider band sources allow good color reproduction, as measured, for example, by the conventional CRI index. In some cases this may require LED spectral outputs that are not currently available. However, it is known that broader band light sources will become available, and such broader band sources are included as the sources for the illumination unit 100 described herein.

Additionally, the addition of white LEDs (usually produced via a blue or UV LED plus a phosphor mechanism) gives you a 'better' white, which still limits the color temperature that is controllable or selectable from such sources.

Adding white to a mix of red, green, and blue may not increase the range of colors available, but it can add a source of broader bands to the mix. Adding an amber source to this mix can further enhance the color by 'filling in' the gamut as well.

These combinations of light sources such as lighting unit 100 can help fill out the visible spectrum to faithfully reproduce desirable light spectrums. These include daylight equivalents or more discrete waveforms corresponding to other light sources or desirable light properties. Desirable properties include the ability to remove parts of the spectrum for reasons that may include environments in which certain wavelengths are absorbed or attenuated. Water, for example, tends to absorb and attenuate most non-blue and non-green colors of light, so underwater applications can benefit from lights that combine blue and green sources for the 100 lighting unit.

Amber and white light sources can offer a selectable color temperature white source, where the color temperature of the generated light can be selected along the blackbody curve by a line joining the chromaticity coordinates of the two sources. Color temperature selection is useful for specifying particular color temperature values for the light source.

Orange is another color whose spectral properties in combination with an LED-based white light source can be used to provide controllable color temperature light from a lighting unit 100.

The combination of white light with light of other colors as light sources for the lighting unit 100 can offer multi-purpose lighting for many commercial and domestic applications, such as in swimming pools, saunas, automotive, building interiors (commercial and residential), indirect lighting applications such as bedroom lighting, commercial point-of-purchase lighting, merchandising, toys, beauty, signage, aviation, marine, medical, underwater, space, military, consumption, under cabinet lighting, office furniture, landscape, residential, including kitchen, home theater, bathroom, faucets, dining rooms, terraces, garage, home office, home products, family rooms, grave lighting, museums, photography, art applications and many others.

Still referring to Figure 4, the lighting units 100 can be arranged in many different ways. Therefore, one or more light sources 104A-104D can be arranged with a processor 102 in a housing. The housing can take various shapes, such as one that resembles a point source 402, such as a circle or oval. Such a point source 402 can be located in a conventional lighting fixture, such as a lamp or cylindrical fixture. The lighting units 100 can be configured in substantially linear arrangements, either by positioning the point sources 402 in a line, or by arranging the light sources 104A-104D substantially in a line on a plate located in a substantially linear housing, such as a cylindrical housing. A linear lighting unit 404 can be placed end-to-end with other linear elements 404 or elements of other shapes to produce longer linear lighting systems comprising multiple lighting units 100 in various shapes. A housing can be curved to form a curvilinear lighting unit. Similarly, branch, "T" or "Y" junctions can be created to create a branched lighting unit 410. A bent lighting unit may include one or more "V" elements.

Combinations of various configurations of the point source 402, linear 404, curvilinear, branch 410, and bent lighting units 100 can be used to create any form of lighting system, such as one shaped to resemble a letter, number , symbol, logo, object, structure, or the like. An embodiment of a lighting unit 100 suitable for joining other lighting units 100 in different configurations is described below.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to networked or non-networked controlled lighting units 100 configured in panels or tiles. A lighting unit 100 with one or more LEDs can be mounted or integrated into such a lighting unit 100 to provide color patterns and color change capability on a variety of scales. Such lighting units, 100, in one embodiment, can be mounted or integrated into walls, ceilings, doors, windows, or floors.

Referring to Figure 5, a lighting unit 100 is arranged on a tile 500 that includes a plurality of triangular regions 502, the color of each of which can be selected and controlled for a wide variety of pleasing effects. Patterns of light and color can be created and manipulated, faded and moved. The 500 tiles can be networked for coordinated effects or run in standalone modes. In various embodiments, the details of the illuminated surfaces include geometries to maximize light output, smooth and diffuse light output, and shape light output. The exposed surfaces incorporate 2D or 3D shapes and textures to guide and direct light towards the viewer.

The embodiment of Figure 5 is a tile 500 that is designed for a panel wall installation comprising a 12 element panel with four controllable areas per element 504. This is just one of many combinations of tile 500 that are possible. Tiles 500 of all shapes can be combined to cover any surface, just as conventional floor, wall or ceiling tiles or other building materials are joined together to cover structures or parts of structures. Tiles 500 can also be joined together to form furniture and accessories, in each case with the capabilities of the lighting system described throughout this disclosure.

Referring to Figure 6, there are a variety of mounting arrangements for mounting the tiles 500 or panels to surfaces or for interconnecting elements. In one embodiment, wall mounting 602 is used. Wall mounting uses mounting hooks 604 to provide the desired clearance, to secure the units to the wall, and to provide clearance from the wall. Fixing to a wall can be done via a bracket or two-piece cleats, such as Z-hooks or French cleats.

The 500 tiles can also be hung as a picture on a hook, using a cord at the back. These cleat designs may also incorporate features such as channels or recessed surfaces to allow routing of cables for data communication and positioning of power sources between adjacent units or to better route such cabling for termination and pass-through. through wall cavities and junction boxes. Figure 6 and subsequent figures show more details on how tiles 500 can be used and assembled.

Figure 6 also shows the ceiling mount 608. Although the devices can be secured to a ceiling using brackets and other accessories as described in the wall mount embodiment, ceilings are often covered with a suspended grid infrastructure that allows a variety of ceiling tiles, as well as lighting and HVAC related items. The 610 ceiling tile elements can be sized to fit conventional suspended ceiling grids. For example, a 2 foot by 2 foot (60.96 cm by 60.96 cm) could fit directly into a conventional 612 ceiling grid. Additional wiring options for ceiling mounting can include unit-to-unit jumper cables for installation flexibility.

In other embodiments, tiles 500 may be incorporated as flooring elements. The housing design can have sufficient structural strength to form a floor element much like raised flooring used in computer centers or even structural tile used as a direct-applied flooring material. Alternatively, tiles 500 can be mounted below transparent or translucent flooring elements to provide lighting through such elements. For example, the combination of many of these panel elements can then be used as dance floors or for studios and stages for a variety of pleasing and dramatic effects.

For ceiling mounted embodiments, all materials and construction are preferably Plenum rated, since air spaces above suspended ceilings are also commonly used for air handling. Selected materials, including wiring insulation and panels, should meet all required fire classifications and should not emit volatile gases.

Additionally, for high power LED fixtures or where large concentrations of LEDs are used, heat dissipation facilities can be directly incorporated into the panel structure. There are many embodiments of heat dissipation installations. These can take the form of traditional cast or extruded metal heat sinks, as well as fans and suitable airflow and ventilation channels. Other installations include liquid-cooled systems that allow convection currents to transfer heat and provide heat flow away from the source. Additional means for heat dissipation include thermoelectric cooling devices, such as those that use the Peltier effect, which uses electricity to create a cool side and dissipate heat to a 'hot' side.

Figure 7 shows a mounting installation on rails 700 for one tile 500. This embodiment is a mounting system that includes rails for connecting a larger number of tiles 500 or panel elements together. The same 700 rails can be used as a suspension or mounting system as shown in figure 7.

Referring to Figure 8, another aspect of the present invention is that the wiring of the devices can be done through a direct connector 802 between the tiles 500 similar in principle to building blocks. That is, the modular tiles 500 or panel elements can be directly connected to each other with mechanical and electrical accessories 802.

Referring to Figure 9, the tiles 500 can be equipped with a magnetic installation 900 such that the tiles 500 are held together by the attraction of the magnets 900. The panels can be light enough and incorporate ferrous materials. or magnets whose fields are correctly aligned to allow coupling between adjacent elements.

Referring to Figure 10, an installation for connecting and joining tiles 500 or panels with double-ended connections is disclosed. In Figure 10, the triangular and diamond shaped elements 1002 are supports for interconnecting the tiles 500. The zoom feature shows the electrical and data connections between the tiles 500.

Figure 11 shows a block diagram of a portion of a generic LUC 208 that includes a LUC processor 1102 and a power sensing module 1114. As indicated in Figure 11, the power sensing module 1114 can be coupled to a 1112 power supply input connection, and in turn can provide power to one or more lighting units attached to the LUC through an 1110 power output connection. The 1114 power sensing module can also provide output one or more signals 1116 to processor 1102, and the processor in turn may communicate information related to power detection to central controller 202, via connection 1108.

In one aspect of the LUC shown in Figure 11, the power sensing module 1114, in conjunction with the processor 1102, can be adapted to simply determine when any of the lighting units attached to the LUC consume power without necessarily determining the power. actual being drawn or the actual number of units drawing power. Such a "binary" determination of the power that is either consumed or not consumed by the collection of lighting units coupled to the LUC facilitates an identifier determination/learning algorithm (for example, which may be performed by the processor of the LUC 1102 or the central controller 202) according to one embodiment of the invention. In other aspects, the power sensing module 1114 and processor 1102 may be adapted to determine, at least approximately, the actual power consumed by the lighting units at any given time. If the average power consumed by a single lighting unit is known a priori, the number of units consuming power at any given time can then be derived from such an actual power measurement. Such a determination is useful in other embodiments of the invention, as discussed below.

Figure 12 shows an example of a portion of a circuit implementation of a LUC including a power detection module 1114 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In figure 12, the input connection The power supply terminal is shown as a positive terminal 1112A and a ground terminal 1112B. Similarly, the power output connection to the lighting units is shown as a positive terminal 1110A and a ground terminal 1 HOB. In Figure 12, power sensing module 1114 is essentially implemented as a current sensor interposed between ground terminal 1112B of the power supply input connection and ground terminal ^1110b of the power output connection. . The current sensor includes a sampling resistor R3 for developing a sampled voltage based on power drawn from the power output connection. The sampled voltage is then amplified by operational amplifier U6 to provide an output signal 1116 to processor 1102 indicating that power is being consumed.

In one aspect of the embodiment shown in Figure 12, input power supply connection 1112A and 1112B may provide a supply voltage of approximately 20 volts, and power sensing module 314 may be designed to generate a power signal. output 316 of approximately 2 volts per amp of load current (ie, a gain of 2 V/A) drawn by the group of lighting units coupled to the LUC. In other aspects, processor 1102 may include an A/D converter having a sensing resolution on the order of approximately 0.02 volts, and the lighting units may be designed such that each lighting unit may consume approximately 0. 1 amps of current when energized, resulting in a minimum of approximately 0.2 volts of output signal 1116 (based on the 2 V/A gain discussed above) when any unit in the group is energized (i.e. , is easily solved by the A/D converter of the processor). In another aspect, the minimum quiescent current (current in the off state, without energized light sources) consumed by the group of lighting units can be measured from time to time, and an appropriate threshold can be set for the detection module. power 1114, such that the output signal 1116 accurately reflects when the group of lighting units consumes power due to the actual energization of one or more light sources.

As discussed above, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the LUC processor 1102 may monitor the output signal 1116 from the power detection module 1114 to determine if power is being consumed by the group of lighting units, and using this indication in an identifier determination learning algorithm to determine the collection of identifiers of the group of lighting units coupled to the LUC.

Referring to Figure 13, tiles 500 can be joined at the rear by support elements 1302 that fit into a recessed area 1304 to join and interconnect tiles 500. The recessed areas 1304 can serve as a channel to facilitate mounting. wiring or cable arrangement of a lighting system with the lighting units 100. The enlarged area shows an embodiment of the support elements 1302. The supports also form an element that provides spacing, wall suspension and connection between adjacent tiles 500. 1302 Brackets provide detachability, attachment, and suspension capabilities, as well as an integral cable channel. A carrier 1302 may use one or more of these features.

In the case of the separation of a tile 500 from a wall, floor, ceiling or other surface, the optical elements can provide a path for light at the trailing edge of the tile to frame the lighting panels and give a "blind effect". halo" to 500 tiles. This halo light can also be fitted with separate light emitting elements to provide separate control of the front and rear lights. The halo effect can also use a shadow mask or shaped silhouettes to give different forms of lighting, such as crenellated, wavy lines, diffuse materials with variable fade over the surface, or even a simple sharp edge frame.

The halo or frame effect can also be exemplified through 100 different and separately controlled lighting units. Adjacent lines or surfaces can be strips of light that are incorporated as decorative pieces within a grid or pattern of tiles or panels. Figure 14 shows the square tiles 500 separated by the separately controlled rectangular lighting elements 1404. The 1404 lighting elements are modular and can be made in any shape so that any pattern or sets of patterns can be created.

In various embodiments, each tile 500 can be divided into a variety of individual shapes. With the underlying grid of controllable nodes, there would be enough lighting to light each node up to the resolution of the grid itself.

Arbitrary shapes including polygons, circles, and any other set of interlocking patterns can be individually isolated and controlled within a 500 tile.

To reduce the number of light-emitting elements required for a 500 tile, LED boards such as a 100 Light Unit or 1502 Light Source can be mounted to the center-facing edges of the shape as shown on the right hand side. from figure 15.

Light radiating from light source 1502 will fade in intensity as a function of distance from light source 1502. To provide more uniform illumination, the shape of the interior of tile 500 can be configured in such a way that it captures and reflects illumination to provide a more evenly illuminated surface for a cover 1512 that is placed over the region in which the light sources 1502 are placed. In Figure 15, a pyramid 1510 is shown in relief, which comes towards the viewer and provides an increase in light towards the viewer. The faces of pyramid 1504 near the base of pyramid 1510 are brighter than the flat area 1508 that is closer to light source 1502, because the angle of incidence of light from light source 1502 is such that more light is reflected upwards (to the eye of a viewer looking at tile 500 from a direction substantially toward the top of pyramid 1508) from angled faces 1504 than from flat areas 1508. With the diffuser cover 1512, this effect provides a nearly uniform illumination intensity from the entire tile 500, as shown on the left side of Figure 15. Thus, Figure 15 shows a tile 500 with an edge-lit interior, with and without diffuser cover 1512. Note the use of the pyramidal element 1508 to guide, diffuse and smooth the light output. Diagonals provide the separation between adjacent areas and can be provided in a variety of heights to eliminate or allow color overlap from adjacent sections.

While the pyramid 1508 is a simple shape to implement a favorable light effect, other shapes can be provided and may be more effective on different differences and different configurations of the tiles 500. The curved shapes, specifically those adapted to the mathematical model of distribution of light, they can provide even better uniformity over distance. A shape described by an equation of order 2n, such as a parabola, may be more suitable to give the correct properties of uniformity of light reflected to the eye of a viewer of tile 500.

In some embodiments, the surface material for the interior of tile 500 may be a matte white surface, in particular, a Lamber! A Lambert surface is a surface of perfectly matte properties and therefore adheres to Lambert's law of cosine which states that light reflected in any direction from a perfectly diffuse surface varies as the cosine of the angle between that direction and the perpendicular to the surface. The result is that the luminance of that surface is the same regardless of the viewing angle. This, in combination with the shape described above, provides a nice uniform illuminated surface with little perceptible variation.

Of course, in some embodiments, it may be desired to use a variety of shapes and materials to give an effect other than uniform lighting. Various shapes can provide variation, shadows and textures to give sculptural effects from light. For example, a symbol, letter, number, logo, character, image, or other element may be formed by designing the interior configuration of the tile 500, the reflective nature of the interior, or the light transmission capability of the tile 500. cover 1512, to vary the light intensity in particular regions of the tile 500.

Note that the use of a surface on the interior of tile 500, such as pyramid 1508, can create a void below which the space can be used to hide power supplies and controllers, connectors, and other related parts of the tile system. tiles 500.

While the embodiment of Figure 15 shows an edge lighting system, other configurations of lighting units 100 can be used to illuminate the interior of tile 500. These include regular or irregular grids, column arrangements, circles, or other shapes. of 100 lighting units that serve as light-emitting elements. These elements may also provide a fixed color or have independently controlled nodes within the interior of tile 500.

In some embodiments, a circuit board may use a white solder mask to maximize reflectance and light output from tile 500.

Cover 1512 of Figure 15 is an example of a diffusion panel for a tile 500. Such diffuser panels can be shaped and sculpted into a variety of pleasing shapes for aesthetic and decorative purposes. These can be modular units that can be substituted for one another to change the overall look or represent different themes. In combinations of colors and shapes, each installation can be unique. The use of translucent or opaque colored covers, such as screen prints, can provide even more effects. This can be used for advertising or informational purposes, on the front of vending or dispensing machines, signage, accessible services such as phones or kiosks, and any other application where artwork, banners, or displays are used. With translucent colors, a sparkle effect can be created by using changing colors behind color graphics. The use of modular diffusion panels then allows for a greater diversity of color change effects based on the colors of the materials.

Figures 16 and 17 show a variety of textures and shapes that can be used to diffuse and diffract light among the wide diversity covered by this disclosure. Covers 1600 may incorporate graphics and other elements such as characters and artwork. The tiles can be provided in Escher-like or Penrose-like patterns that are periodic or aperiodic. Tiles 500 in these many textures and shapes can be laid out in many settings, such as covering interior and exterior portions of buildings, including walls, doors, windows, ceilings, floors, furniture, tables, shelves, and other surfaces.

Figures 18 and 19 show diffuse surfaces that form panels that are designed to be easily formed and molded with conventional manufacturing techniques. In the present case, tile 500 can be designed to be flush with a surface 1802, such that it does not require framing the exterior of a multi-unit configuration by going all the way back to the wall with no gaps, which exposes wiring and other mechanical aspects of the tile. Figure 19 shows various embodiments of such tiles 500, with different designs for the diffusion panels.

Figure 20 shows a configuration 2000 with regular grids of color change elements 2002, each using an LED package incorporating a red, a green and a blue LED. Of course, other LED colors can be used. The light-emitting elements mate with an integrated control, power, and communications chip, or ASIC, on the back of the board, making developing arbitrary-shaped configurations a very simple process. Figures 20 and 21 show two different printed circuit boards 2000, 2100, with different spacing between lighting elements 2002, 2102. Configuration 2000 is a 6 by 6 matrix, or 36 units per square foot (929.03 cm2). The 2100 configuration is an 8 by 8 array, or 64 2102 elements per square foot (929.03 cm2). This number can vary according to particular applications, and there are no limits until the entire space is completely filled with the light emitting elements 2002, 2102. These controlled light plates can be made in any shape. Each node can be made individually controllable, either by an addressing scheme such as DMX, or more preferably in some embodiments, a string light protocol described elsewhere in this document, in which each node receives data on a string and responds to the first unchanged data item in the sequence. In this particular embodiment, and the RGB group are co-located in a single package. When lighting elements are placed in such a grid configuration, a diffusion panel can be placed directly on the elements, and any shape, symbol, character or the like can be created by creating cues for each element of the grid, varying the intensity and color of the grid element. One embodiment is a plurality of tiles 204 arranged in a square pattern and covered by a diffuser to form a tile light 500. In embodiments, the control may be an object-oriented control, such as in combination with an image creation system. software as described elsewhere in this document. In embodiments, the creation may be a geometric creation method, as described elsewhere herein. Therefore, effects created in the software, such as Flash animations, can be replicated on the 2000, 2100 settings, then broadcast on a broadcast panel, resulting in very nice effects, such as explosions of color, chasing rainbow, tie-dye effects, and the like. Effects can include scrolling text, graphics, animations, and the like. In some embodiments, effects may be created to respond to an input signal 124, such as an incoming video signal, wherein individual lighting units 100 that form a grid or matrix respond to elements of the video signal, such as represent pixels, or portions of pixels, of the incoming video signal.

Another method of providing a tile 500 uses edge lighting, with one embodiment using a reflective underside or extruded reflector shape.

Referring to Figure 22, another embodiment 2200 uses different physical layers for an effect. The method uses the 2204 integral LED nodes with the 2202 diffusers. Using polygonal PCBs with white solder mask; each node 2202 sits under a bump in the diffuser material 2204. The effect is a number of separately addressable controllable nodes floating in a field of uniform color. Light emitting nodes 2204, shown as small circles, emit light upward toward diffusers 2202, which can have a variety of shapes and textures. This can be in addition to the edge lighting units whose light is shown by the horizontal arrows in figure 22.

Referring to figure 23, the Penrose tiles are a set of tiles that form a non-regular pattern, no matter how many are used. The patterns are called aperiodic. The simplest set of two tiles that have this property are the two rhomboids shown in Figure 23, with all edges of unit length. Tile surfaces produced with these shapes will, through color control, have some very interesting patterns. These are tile arrangements that fill the plane in such a way that there are no regularly recurring patterns. The group of tiles with the same appearance can be repeated infinitely often, but they are not spaced evenly. Such shapes are discussed in US Patent No. 4,133,152, entitled Set of Tiles for Covering a Surface. Other tiles may include versatile tiles that can form periodic and aperiodic tilts of the plane. These effects can be based on geometry and coupled to other systems such as media (music, video, video and computer games, movies, etc.).

Having developed a variety of embodiments for relating a lighting unit 100 having a physical location to an address for the lighting unit 100, be it a network address, a unique identifier, or a position within a series or chain of lighting units. lighting units 100 that pass control signals to each other, as well as a variety of configurations for the lighting units 100, including tile arrangements in various geometries, it is more desirable to have facilities for creating control signals for the lighting units. An example of such a creation system is a software-based creation system, such as COLORPLAY™ offered by Color Kinetics Incorporated of Boston, Massachusetts.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to systems and methods for generating control signals. Although control signals are disclosed herein in connection with the creation of light shows and displays for lighting unit 100 in various configurations, it should be understood that the control signals can be used to control any system that is capable of to respond to a control signal, whether it is a lighting system, lighting network, light, LED, LED lighting system, audio system, surround sound system, fog machine, rain machine, electromechanical system or others systems. Lighting systems such as those described in US Patent Nos. 6,016,038, 6,150,774, and 6,166,496 illustrate a few different types of lighting systems where control signals can be used.

In certain computer applications, there is usually a display screen (which could be a personal computer screen, television screen, laptop screen, handheld computer, Game Boy screen, computer monitor, flat screen display, LCD, PDA screen, or other display) that represents a virtual environment of some kind. There is also typically a user in a real world environment surrounding the display screen. The present invention relates, among other things, to the use of a computer application in a virtual environment to generate control signals for systems, such as lighting systems, that are in real-world environments, such as lighting unit 100 laid in various configurations described above, including linear configurations, arrays, curvilinear configurations, 3D configurations, and other configurations, and including, in particular, configurations that can be formed by arranging the tiles 500 in various two-dimensional and three-dimensional configurations.

One embodiment of the present invention describes a method for generating control signals as illustrated on the block diagram in Figure 24. The method may involve providing or generating an image or representation of an image, ie, a graphical representation 2402. The graphical representation may be a static image, such as a drawing, photograph, generated image, or image that is or appears to be static. The still image may include images displayed on a computer screen or other screen even though the image is continually updated on the screen. The static image can also be a printout of an image.

Providing a graphical representation 2402 may also involve generating an image or representation of an image. For example, a processor may be used to execute software to generate the graphical representation 2402. Again, the image that is generated may be or appear to be static, or the image may be dynamic. An example of software used to generate a dynamic image is Flash 5 computer software offered by Macromedia, Incorporated. Flash 5 is a widely used computer program for generating graphics, images, and animations. Other useful products used to generate images include, for example, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe LiveMotion. There are many other programs that can be used to generate static and dynamic images. For example, Microsoft Corporation makes a Paint computer program. This software is used to generate images on a screen in bitmap format. Other software programs may be used to generate images in bitmaps, vector coordinates, or other techniques. There are also many programs that render graphics in three dimensions or more. Direct X libraries from Microsoft Corporation, for example, generate images in three-dimensional space. The output of any of the above software programs or similar programs may serve as the graphical representation 2402. In some embodiments, the graphical representation may correspond to an incoming video signal, where individual video frames are represented as graphical representations.

In some embodiments, the graphical representation 2402 may be generated using software running on a processor, but the graphical representation 2402 may never be displayed on a screen. In one embodiment, an algorithm can generate an image or representation thereof, such as an explosion in space, for example. The explode function can generate an image and this image can be used to generate control signals as described herein with or without actually displaying the image on a screen. The image can be displayed through a lighting network, for example, without ever being displayed on a screen.

In one embodiment, the generation or rendering of an image may be accomplished through a program running on a processor. In one embodiment, the purpose of generating the image or representation of the image may be to provide information defined in a space. For example, the generation of an image can define how a lighting effect travels through a space. The lighting effect can represent an explosion, for example. The rendering can start a bright white light at the corner of a 500 tile grid and the light can move away from this corner with a speed (with speed and direction) and the color of the light can change as the propagation of the light continues. effect. In one embodiment, an image generator can generate a function or algorithm. The function or algorithm can represent an event such as an explosion, a flash of light, headlights, a train passing through a space or grid, a bullet shot through a space or grid, a light moving across a space or grid, sunrise across a space or grid, a spinning pinwheel moving around a space or grid, a rainbow chasing color, or another event. The function or algorithm may represent an image such as lights swirling in space or grid, balls of light bouncing in space or grid, sounds bouncing in space, or other images. The function or algorithm may also represent randomly generated or other effects. The term "grid" is intended to encompass any two-dimensional arrangement, such as a grid, matrix, lattice, or similar surface, including such an arrangement that bends or curves, such as a wall that turns a corner. The term "space" is intended to encompass any three-dimensional arrangement.

Referring again to Figure 24, a light system setup facility 2404 may perform additional steps for the methods and systems described herein. The lighting system configuration facility may generate a system configuration file, configuration data, or other configuration information for a lighting system, such as that shown in connection with Figure 1.

The light system configuration facility may represent or map a system, such as a lighting unit 100, sound system, or other system as described herein with a position or positions in an environment 100. For example, a l Ed 100 lighting unit can be correlated with a position within a space. In one embodiment, the location of an illuminated surface may also be determined for inclusion in the configuration file. The position of the illuminated surface may also be associated with a lighting unit 100. In some embodiments, the illuminated surface 107 may be the desired parameter while the lighting unit 100 that generates the light to illuminate the surface is also important. Lighting control signals may be communicated to a lighting unit 100 when a surface is scheduled to be illuminated by lighting unit 100. For example, control signals may be communicated to a lighting system when a generated image requires that a particular section of a space changes in hue, saturation, or brightness. In this situation, the control signals can be used to control the lighting system such that the illuminated surface 107 is illuminated at the proper time. The illuminated surface 107 can be located on a wall, but the lighting unit 100 designed to project light onto the surface 107 can be located on the ceiling. The configuration information could be arranged to start the lighting unit 100 to activate or change when the surface 107 is to be illuminated.

Still referring to Fig. 24, the graphical representation 2402 and the configuration information of the light system configuration facility 2404 can be delivered to a conversion module 2408, which associates the position information of the configuration facility with the information from the graphic display and converts the information into a control signal, such as a control signal to a lighting unit 100. The conversion module can then communicate the control signal, such as to the lighting unit 100. In In some embodiments, the conversion module maps positions on the graphic display to positions of lighting units 100 in the environment, as stored in a configuration file for the environment (as described below). The mapping could be a one-to-one mapping of pixels or groups of pixels in the rendering to lighting units 100 or groups of lighting units 100 in the environment 100. It could be a mapping of pixels in the rendering to surfaces 107, polygons, or objects in the environment that are illuminated by lighting units 100. A mapping relationship could also map vector coordinate information, a wave function, or an algorithm to the positions of lighting units 100. Many mapping relationships Different correlations can be contemplated and are covered in this document.

Referring to Figure 25, another embodiment of a block diagram for a method and system for generating a control signal is shown. A light management facility 2502 is used to generate a mapping file 2504 that maps lighting units 100 to positions in an environment, to surfaces that are illuminated by the light systems, and the like. An animation facility 2508 generates a sequence of graphics files for an animation effect. A conversion module 2512 relates the information in the mapping file 2504 for lighting units 100 to the graphic information in the graphics files. For example, the color information in the graphics file can be used to convert to a color control signal so that a lighting unit 100 generates a similar color. The pixel information for the graphics file can be converted to address information for lighting units 100, which will correspond to the pixels in question. In some embodiments, conversion module 2512 includes a lookup table for converting particular graphics file information into particular lighting control signals, based on the contents of a configuration file for the lighting system and appropriate conversion algorithms. for the animation installation in question. The converted information can be sent to a playback tool 2514, which in turn can play the animation and deliver control signals 2518 to lighting units 100 in an environment.

Referring to Figure 26, one embodiment of a configuration file 2600 is depicted, showing certain items of configuration information that may be stored for a lighting unit 100 or other system. Thus, configuration file 2600 may store an identifier 2602 for each lighting unit 100, as well as the position 2608 of that light system in a desired coordinate or mapping system for environment 100 (which may be coordinates ( x, y, z), polar coordinates, (x, y) coordinates, or the like). Position 508 and other information may be time dependent, so configuration file 2600 may include a time element 2604. Configuration file 2600 may also store information about position 2610 being illuminated by lighting unit 100 That information may consist of a set of coordinates, or it may be an identified surface, polygon, object, or other element in the environment. Configuration file 2600 may also store information about the degrees of freedom available for the use of the lighting unit 100, such as colors available in a range of colors 2612, intensities available in a range of intensities 2614, or the like. Configuration file 2600 may also include information about other systems in the environment that are controlled by the control systems disclosed herein, information about the characteristics of surfaces 107 in the environment, and the like. Therefore, the configuration file 2600 can map a set of lighting units 100 to the conditions that they are capable of generating in an environment 100.

In one embodiment, configuration information such as configuration file 2600 may be generated using a program executed on a processor. Referring to Figure 27, the program can be run on a computer 2700 with a graphical user interface 2712 where a representation of an environment 2702 can be displayed, showing lighting units 100, illuminated surfaces 107, or other elements. in a graphic format. The interface may include a representation 2702 of a space, for example. Representations of lights, illuminated surfaces, or other systems can then be presented on the 2712 interface and locations can be assigned to the system. In one embodiment, the position coordinates or a position map may represent a system, such as a light system. A position map can also be generated for the representation of an illuminated surface, for example. Figure 27 illustrates a space with the lighting units 100. In other embodiments, the lighting units 100 could be placed on the exterior of a building, in windows of a building, or the like.

The 2702 rendering can also be used to simplify effect generation. For example, a set of stored effects may be represented by icons 2710 on display 2712. An explosion icon may be selected with a cursor or mouse, which may prompt the user to click on a start and end point for the explosion in the coordinate system. By placing a vector in the representation, the user can cause an explosion to start in the upper corner of the 2702 space and a light or sound wave can propagate through the environment. With all lighting units 100 in predetermined positions, as identified in configuration file 2600, the explosion representation can be reproduced in space by the light system or another system such as a sound system.

In use, a control system such as used herein may be used to provide information to a user or programmer from lighting units 100 in response to or in coordination with information being provided to the user from computer 2700. A An example of how this can be provided is in conjunction with the user generating a computer animation on the computer 2700. The lighting unit 100 can be used to create one or more light effects in response to displays 2712 on the computer 2700. Light effects, or lighting effects, can produce a wide variety of effects, including color-changing effects; strobe effects; intermittent effects; coordinated lighting effects; lighting effects coordinated with other media such as video or audio; color wash where the color changes in hue, saturation, or intensity over a period of time; creating an ambient color; color fading; motion-simulating effects such as a color-chasing rainbow, space-crossing flare, rising sun, exploding cloud, other moving effects; and many other effects. The effects that can be generated are almost limitless. Light and color continually surround the user, and controlling or changing lighting or color in a space can change emotions, create atmosphere, provide an empowerment to a material or object, or create other pleasing and/or useful effects. The user of computer 2700 can observe the effects while modifying them on display 2712, thus allowing a feedback loop that allows the user to conveniently modify the effects.

In one embodiment, the information generated to form the image or representation may be communicated to one lighting unit 100 or a plurality of lighting units 100. The information may be sent to the lighting systems as generated in a configuration file. For example, the image might depict an explosion that starts in the upper right corner of a space, and the explosion can propagate through the space. As the image propagates through its calculated space, control signals can be communicated to lighting systems in the corresponding space. The communication signal may cause the lighting system to generate light of a given hue, saturation and intensity when the image passes through the illuminated space onto which the lighting system projects. An embodiment of the invention projects the image through an illumination system. The image can also be projected through a computer screen or other display or projection device. In one embodiment, a screen may be used to display the image before or during playback of the image in a lighting system. In one embodiment, sound or other effects may be correlated with lighting effects. For example, the peak intensity of a light wave propagating through space may be just ahead of a sound wave. As a result, the light wave can pass through a space followed by a sound wave. The light wave can be reproduced in a lighting system and the sound wave can be reproduced in a sound system. This coordination can create effects that appear to be passing through a space or can create various other effects.

Referring to Figure 27, an effect may propagate through a virtual environment that is rendered in 3D on display screen 2712 of computer 2700. In embodiments, the effect may be modeled as a vector or plane that moves through space over time. Therefore, all lighting units 100 that are in the effect plane in the real world environment can be controlled to generate a certain type of lighting when the plane of the effect propagates through the plane of the light system. This can be modeled in the virtual environment of the display screen, so a developer can drag a plane through a series of time-varying positions. For example, an effects plane 2718 can be moved with vector 2708 through the virtual environment. When the effect plane 2718 reaches a polygon 2714, the polygon may be highlighted in a color selected from the color palette 2704. A lighting unit 100 placed on a real world object corresponding to the polygon may then be illuminated in the same color in the real world environment. Of course, the polygon could be any configuration of light systems on any object, plane, surface, wall, or the like, so the range of 3D effects that can be created is limitless.

In one embodiment, the image information may be communicated from a central controller. The information can be altered before a lighting system responds to the information. For example, the image information can be directed to a position within a position map. All information directed to a position map can be collected before the information is sent to a lighting system. This can be achieved every time the image is updated or every time this section of the image is updated or at other times. In one embodiment, an algorithm may be performed on the information that is collected. The algorithm can average the information, calculate and select the maximum information, calculate and select the minimum information, calculate and select the first quartile of the information, calculate and select the third quartile of the information, calculate and select the most used information, calculate and select the integral of the data or perform another calculation on the data. This stage can be completed to level the effect of the lighting system in response to the information received. For example, the information in one update cycle can change the information on the map several times, and the effect can best be seen when the projected light takes on a value in a given update cycle.

In one embodiment, the information communicated to a lighting system can be altered before a lighting system responds to the information. The format of the information may change prior to communication, for example. The information can be communicated from a computer through a USB or other communication port and the format of the information can change to a lighting protocol such as DMX when the information is communicated to the lighting system. In one embodiment, information or control signals may be communicated to a lighting system or other system through a communications port of a computer, laptop, netbook, personal digital assistant, or other system. Information or control signals may also be stored in memory, electronic or otherwise, for retrieval at a later time. Systems such as the iPlayer and SmartJack systems manufactured and sold by Color Kinetics Incorporated may be used to communicate and/or store lighting control signals.

In one embodiment, multiple systems may be associated with location maps and the various systems may share a location map or the systems may reside in separate location areas. For example, the position of an illuminated surface of a first lighting system may intersect with an illuminated surface of a second lighting system. The two systems can still respond to information communicated to either lighting system. In one embodiment, the interaction of two lighting systems can also be controlled. An algorithm, function, or other technique may be used to change the lighting effects of one or more lighting systems in an interactive space. For example, if the interactive space is larger than half the non-interactive space of a lighting system, the hue, saturation, or brightness of the lighting system can be changed to compensate for the interactive area. This can be used to adjust the overall appearance of the interactive area or an adjacent area, for example.

In one embodiment, the lighting effects could also be coupled to sound to be added to and reinforce the lighting effects. One example is a 'red alert' sequence in which a 'screaming' siren-like effect is combined with the lighting unit 100 pulsing red in conjunction with sound. One stimulus reinforces the other. The sounds and movement of an earthquake using low frequency sound and flashing lights is another example of coordinating these effects. The movement of light and sound can be used to indicate direction.

In one embodiment, the lights are represented in a two-dimensional or plan view. This allows for the rendering of the lights on a plane where the lights can be associated with various pixels. Conventional computer graphics techniques can then be used for the effects. Animation tweening and even conventional tools can be used to create lighting effects. Macromedia Flash works with relatively low-resolution graphics to create animations on the web. Flash uses simple vector graphics to easily create animations. Vector rendering is efficient for streaming applications such as the World Wide Web for sending animations over the network. The same technology can be used to create animations that can be used to derive lighting commands by mapping pixel information or vector information to vectors or pixels that correspond to the positions of lighting units 100 within a coordinate system for an environment 100.

For example, a 2700 computer animation window can represent a space or other environment of lights. The pixels in that window can correspond to lights within space, or a low-resolution average image can be created from the higher-resolution image. In this way, lights in space can be activated when a corresponding pixel or pixel neighborhood is turned on. Because LED-based lighting technology can create any color on demand using digital control information, see US Patents 6,016,038, 6,150,774, and 6,166,496, the lights can faithfully recreate the colors of the original image.

Some examples of effects that could be generated using systems and methods in accordance with the principles of the invention include, but are not limited to, explosions, colors, underwater effects, turbulence, color variation, fire, missiles, chases, rotation of a space, movement of shapes, shapes similar to bells, lights that move in a space and many others. Any of the effects can be specified with parameters, such as frequencies, wavelengths, wavelengths, peak-to-peak measurements, velocities, inertia, friction, speed, width, spin, vectors, and the like. Any of these can be combined with other effects, such as sound.

In computer graphics, anti-aliasing is a technique for removing ladder effects in images where edges are drawn and the resolution is limited. This effect can be seen on television when a narrow striped pattern is displayed. The edges seem to crawl like ants when the lines get closer to the horizontal. Similarly, the lighting can be controlled in a way that provides a smoother transition during the movement of the effect. Effect parameters such as wavelength, amplitude, phase, or frequency can be changed to provide better effects.

For example, referring to Figure 29, a schematic diagram 2900 has circles representing a single light 2904 over time. For an effect to 'go through' this light, you could simply have a step function that causes the light to pulse as the wave passes through the light. However, without the notion of width, the effect could be imperceptible. The effect preferably has a width. However, if the effect on the light was simply a step function that was turned on over a period of time, then it might look like a hard transition, which may be desirable in some cases, but for effects that move over time (i.e. say, they have a certain speed associated with them) then this would not normally be the case.

The wave 2902 shown in Fig. 29 has a shape that corresponds to the change. In essence, it is a visual convolution of wave 2902 as it propagates through space. So as a wave, such as an explosion, moves past points in space, those points increase in intensity from zero and may even have associated changes in hue or saturation, giving a much more dramatic effect. More realistic motion effect. At some point, as the number and density of the lights increase, the space then becomes an extension of the screen, providing large scattered pixels. Even with a relatively small number of lighting units 100, the effect can eventually serve as a display similar to a large screen display.

Effects can have movement and direction associated with them, that is, a speed. Even other physical parameters can be described to provide the physical parameters such as friction, inertia and momentum. Even more than that, the effect can have a specific trajectory. In one embodiment, each light may have a representation that provides attributes of the light. This can take the form of a 2D position, for example. A lighting unit 100 may have all of the various degrees of freedom assigned to it (eg, xyz-rpy), or any combination.

The techniques listed in the present case are not limited to lighting. Control signals can be propagated through other devices based on their positions, such as special effect devices such as fireworks, scent generating devices, fog machines, bubble machines, motion mechanisms, acoustic devices, acoustic effects that they move in space or other systems.

Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in Figure 30, which contains a flowchart 3000 with steps for generating a control signal. First, in a step 3002, a user can access a graphical user interface, such as the display 2712 shown in Fig. 27. Next, in a step 3003, the user can generate an image on the display, such such as using a graphics program or similar setup. The image may be a representation of an environment, such as a room, a space, a wall, a building, a surface, an object or the like, in which the lighting units 100 are arranged. It is assumed in relation to the figure 30 that the configuration of the lighting units 100 in the environment is known and stored, such as in a configuration table or file 2600. Of course, similar information could be stored simply by knowing the ordinal position of a lighting unit 100, such as its position along a string of lights in a string light protocol (which in turn could be used to form a grid by stringing the grid in a particular order). Next, in a step 3004, a user can select an effect, such as an effect menu. In one embodiment, the effect may be a color selected from a color palette. The color could be a color temperature of white. The effect could be another effect, as described herein. In one embodiment, the generation of the image 3003 may be accomplished through a program executed on a processor. The image can then be displayed on a computer screen. Once a color is selected from the palette at step 3004, a user can select a portion of the image at step 3008. This can be accomplished using an on-screen cursor in a graphical user interface where the cursor is placed over the desired portion of the image and then the portion is selected with a mouse. After selection of a portion of the image, the information from that portion can be converted into lighting control signals in a step 3010. This may involve changing the format of the bit stream or converting the information to other information. The information that created the image can be segmented into various colors, such as red, green, and blue. Information can also be communicated to a lighting system in, for example, segmented red, green, and blue signals. The signal may also be communicated to the lighting system as a composite signal at step 3012. This technique may be useful for changing the color of a lighting system. For example, a color palette can be presented in a graphical user interface, and the palette can represent millions of different colors. A user may want to change the lighting in a space or other area to a deep blue. To accomplish his task, the user can select the color from the screen using a mouse and the lighting in the space changes to match the color of the selected portion of the screen. In general, information on a computer screen is presented in small pixels of red, green, and blue. LED systems, such as those found in US Patent Nos. 6,016,038, 6,150,774, and 6,166,496, may also include red, green, and blue lighting elements. The process of converting the information on the screen to control signals can be a change of format in such a way that the lighting system understands the commands. However, in one embodiment, the information or level of the separate lighting elements may be the same as the information used to generate the pixel information. This provides an accurate duplication of the pixel information in the lighting system.

Using the techniques described herein, including techniques for determining the positions of light systems in environments, techniques for modeling effects in environments (including time- and geometry-based effects), and techniques for correlating light system environments with virtual environments, it is possible to model an unlimited range of effects in an unlimited range of environments. Effects need not be limited to those that can be created in a square or rectangular display, such as tile 500. Instead, light systems can be arranged in a wide range of lines, strings, curves, polygons, cones , cylinders, cubes, spheres, hemispheres, nonlinear configurations, clouds, and arbitrary shapes and configurations, and then be modeled in a virtual environment that captures their positions in selected coordinate dimensions. Therefore, the light systems can be arranged in or on the interior or exterior of any environment, such as a room, a space, a building, a home, a wall, an object, a product, a retail store, a vehicle, ship, aircraft, swimming pool, sauna, hospital, operating space, or other location.

In embodiments, the light system may be associated with code for the computer application, such that the computer application code is modified or created to control the light system. For example, object-oriented programming techniques can be used to attach attributes to objects in computer code, and the attributes can be used to govern the behavior of the light system. Object-oriented techniques are known in the field and can be found in texts such as "Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming " by Timothy Budd. It should be understood that other programming techniques can also be used to direct lighting systems to illuminate in coordination with computer applications, Object Oriented Programming being one of a variety of programming techniques that would be understood by one skilled in the art to facilitate the methods and systems described herein.

In one embodiment, a developer can attach the light system inputs to objects in the computer application. For example, the developer may have an abstraction of a lighting unit 100 added to the code construct, or object, of an application object. An object can consist of various attributes, such as position, velocity, color, intensity, or other values. A developer can add light as an instance to the object in the code of a computer application. For example, the object could be a vector in an object-oriented computer animation program or a solid modeling program, with attributes such as direction and speed. A lighting unit 100 can be added as an instance of the computer application object, and the light system can have attributes, such as intensity, color, and various effects. Therefore, when events occur in the computer application that invoke the vector object, a thread running through the program can extract code to serve as an input to the light system processor. Light can accurately represent geometry, placement, spatial location, represent an attribute or trait value, or provide an indication of other elements or objects.

Referring to Figure 31, in one embodiment of a networked lighting system in accordance with the principles of the invention, a network transmitter 3102 communicates network information to lighting units 100. In such an embodiment, the lighting units 100 may include an input port 3104 and an export port 3108. Network information may be communicated to the first lighting unit 100 and the first lighting unit 100 may read the information addressed to it and pass the remaining portion of the information to the next lighting unit 100. One skilled in the art would appreciate that there are other network topologies that are encompassed by a system in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 32, a flowchart 3200 provides the steps for a method of providing coordinated lighting. In step 3202, the programmer codes an object for a computer application, using, for example, object-oriented programming techniques. In a step 3204, the schedule creates instances for each of the objects in the application. In a step 3208, the scheduler adds light as an instance to one or more application objects. In a step 3210, the scheduler provides a thread, which runs through the application code. In a step 3212, the scheduler provides the thread for extracting a code from Illumination system input of objects that have light as an instance. In a step 3214, the input signal extracted from the thread in step 3212 is provided to the lighting system such that the lighting system responds to the code extracted from the computer application.

Using such object-oriented light input to the lighting unit 100 from the code for a computer application, various lighting effects can be associated in the real world environment with the virtual world objects of a computer application. For example, in the animation of an effect such as a polygon explosion, a light effect can be linked with the polygon explosion, such as sound, flicker, motion, vibration, and other temporary effects. In addition, lighting unit 100 could include other effect devices including sound-producing devices, motion-producing devices, fog machines, rain machines, or other devices that could also produce indications related to that object.

Referring to Fig. 33, a flowchart 3300 depicts the steps for coordinated lighting between a representation in the virtual environment of a computer screen and a lighting unit 100 or set of lighting units 100 in a real environment. In some embodiments, the program code for control of lighting unit 100 has a separate thread running on the machine providing its control signals. In a step 3302, the program starts the thread. In a step 3304, the thread runs as often as possible through a list of virtual lights, namely, objects in the program code that represent the lights in the virtual environment. In a step 3308, the thread performs three-dimensional mathematical calculations to determine which real-world lighting units 100 in the environment are close to a real-world reference point (eg, a selected surface 107) that is projected as the point reference of the coordinate system of objects in the virtual environment of computer representation. Therefore, the position (0,0,0) can be a location in a real environment and a point on the screen in the display of the computer application (eg, the center of the display). In a step 3310, the code maps the virtual environment to the real world environment, including lighting units 100, such that events that occur off the computer screen are similar relative to the reference point as seen. They are virtual objects and events with a point of reference on the computer screen. In some embodiments, the virtual world is two-dimensional, such that a two-dimensional grid of the real world, such as that formed by tiles 500, is represented by a two-dimensional object in the virtual environment. In other cases, the virtual world represents three-dimensional objects, such as spaces or polygons, in the real world. Such three-dimensional objects include those made up of two-dimensional objects, such as tiles 500.

In a step 3312, the method host may provide an interface for mapping. The mapping function can be realized with a function, for example "cast all lights", as described in the Directlight API described later in this document, which maps real world lights using a user interface Simple, just like the drag and drop interface. In some embodiments, the placement of the lights may not be as important as the surface towards which the lights are directed. It may be this surface that reflects lighting or lights back into the environment, and as a result, it may be this surface that is most important to the mapping program. The mapping program can map these surfaces instead of the light system locations or it can also map both the light system locations and the light on the surface.

A system for providing the code for coordinated lighting can be any suitable computer capable of supporting programming, including a processor, an operating system, and memory, such as a database, for storing files for execution.

Each actual lighting unit 100 may have attributes that are stored in a configuration file. An example of a structure for a configuration file is shown in Fig. 26. In some embodiments, the configuration file may include various data, such as a number of lights, a position of each light, the position or direction of the light output, the gamma (brightness) of the light, an indicator number for one or more attributes, and various other attributes. By changing the coordinates in the configuration file, lights in the real world can be mapped to the virtual world rendered on the screen in a way that allows them to reflect what is happening in the virtual environment. The developer can therefore create time-based effects, such as an explosion. Then there may be a library of effects in the code that can be attached to various attributes of the application. Examples include explosions, rainbows, color chases, fade-in and fade-out, etc. The developer attaches the effects to virtual objects in the application. For example, when an explosion is performed, the light is turned off in the display, reflecting the destruction of the object that is associated with the light in the configuration file.

To simplify the configuration file, various techniques can be used. In some embodiments, the hemispherical cameras, sequenced in turn, can be used as a baseline with scaling factors to triangulate the lights and automatically generate a configuration file without having to measure where the lights are. In some embodiments, the configuration file can be written or put into a graphical user interface that can be used to drag and drop the light sources into a representation of an environment. The developer can create a configuration file that matches the props with a real location in a real environment. For example, once lighting elements are dragged and dropped into the environment, the program you can associate the virtual lights of the program with the real lights of the environment. An example of a light authoring program to assist in lighting configuration is included in US Patent Application No. 09/616,214 "Systems and Methods for Authoring Lighting Sequences." Color Kinetics Inc. also offers a convenient setup and creation program called "ColorPlay".

Additional details about an implementation of the build code can be found in the Directlight API described below. The Directlight API is an example of a programmer's interface that allows a programmer to incorporate lighting effects into a program. Object-oriented programming is just one example of a programming technique used to incorporate lighting effects. The lighting effects could be incorporated into any programming language or programming method. In object-oriented programming, the programmer often simulates a 2D or 3D space.

In the above examples, lights were used to indicate the position of objects that either produce the expected light or have light attached to it. There are many other ways that light can be used. The lights in the light system can be used for a variety of purposes, such as to indicate events in a computer application (such as a game), or to indicate levels or attributes of objects.

Having appreciated that a computer screen or similar facility can be used to represent a configuration of lighting units 100 in an environment, and having appreciated that the representation of lighting units 100 can be linked to objects in an object-oriented program which generates control signals for the lighting units 100 that correspond to events and attributes of the representation in the virtual world, it can be understood that the control signals for the lighting units 100 can be linked not only to a graphical representation to create lighting shows, but to graphical representations that are created for other purposes, such as entertainment purposes, as well as for other signals and data sources that can be graphically represented and, in turn, represented by the lighting units 100 in a around. For example, music can be represented graphically, such as by a graphic equalizer appearing on a display, such as a consumer electronics display or a computer display screen. The graphical representation of the music can in turn be made into a creation cue for the lighting units 100, in the same way that a programmed show can be created in a software creation tool. Therefore, any type of signal or information that can be presented graphically can be translated into a representation in a lighting unit 100, using signal generation facilities similar to those described above, together with the addressing and configuration facilities described above. which translate the real world locations of the 100 lighting units into coordinates in a virtual environment. For example, anything that can be detected by a signal source 124 can be graphed as data and, in turn, represented in color, such as on an array of tiles 500 in a room. For example, the 500 tiles can glow red if the outside temperature is warm, blue if the stock market is rising, or the like.

An example of a representation that can be translated into a control signal for a lighting unit 100 is a computer game representation. In computer games, there is usually a display screen (which could be a personal computer screen, television screen, laptop screen, handheld computer, Game Boy screen, computer monitor, flat screen display, LCD, PDA screen, or other display) that represents a virtual world of some kind. The display screen may contain a graphical representation, typically depicting objects, events, and attributes encoded in the program code for the game. The code for the game may attach a lighting control signal for a lighting unit 100, such that events in the game are graphically represented on the screen and, in turn, the graphics on the screen are translated into signals. lighting control signals, such as cues that represent real-world game events or attributes, such as flashing lights for an explosion. In some games, objects in the game may be represented directly in a matrix of lights, such as a matrix of 500 tiles; For example, the game "pong" could be played on a wall or the side of a building, with the 500 tiles representing game elements such as the paddles and the "ball".

For configurations whereby electrical connections between adjacent units are provided, as described in connection with Figure 8, these connections can be used to establish proximity and geometry. This can, in turn, be used to generate an overview map of the system, which can then be used to create effects across a number of tiles 500. Referring to figure 34, if tile A is linked or connected to tile B, and tile B, in turn, connects to tile C, so now we have three tiles whose general topology or relationship to each other is established. This can be done automatically through a system that identifies specific tiles, either by type or by unit. This information can be stored or represented through memory elements or electrical bridges or resistors that represent an identifier. Thus, each tile 500 or panel element that knows who its neighbor is and knows which tiles 500 are in the network of light-emitting elements and knows exactly what is on each tile, lets the system know where everyone is located and each of the controllable light-emitting elements. This, in turn, allows the effects or images to treat the entire system as an integral unit.

In such an implementation, each tile 500 may have a unique ID or an ID that represents the type of the tile. tile 500. Could be one of several varieties. When adjacent tiles are electrically connected edge-to-edge via edge connections, there may be a handshake routine to communicate between those tiles and provide information between them. This is very similar to the protocol followed when devices connect to a computer network. To determine the global topology, a sequence of communications from one tile or panel to the next to a central controller is then required. There are two types of tiles 500 represented in figure 34, a triangle and a square. Adjacent tiles 500 have an electrical connection that allows transmission of information from one unit to the next using serial protocols and low overhead communication. The connections between tiles allow a communication path to determine the configuration of the complete installation. Knowledge of the neighbors and tile types provides an unambiguous design in this two-neighbor configuration. It is also possible to have more than two neighbors as long as the connecting geometry is known. The self-configuration of networks for the purpose of creating physical pixels is described, for example, in the work of Kelly Heaton of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as "Physicai Pixels" presented to the program in Media Arts and Sciences, School of Architecture and Pianning, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Media Arts and Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, June 2000.

Another application for the use of the tiles 500 is the use of these devices, as described above, under the ice in a skating rink or other ice-centric location, including ice sculptures. The tiles can be placed under the ice. To protect the tiles, an encapsulating or clear protective coating is used to prevent water damage and damage from the weight of people or vehicles to the units. As layers of water add to the track and accumulate on top of the units, the ice will diffuse light from the 500 tiles.

Once the ice is ready, additional sensing devices on the skaters and on-ice accessories can be linked to position systems to determine the absolute position of the skaters or other artifacts on the ice, such as pucks and then track that position over time with light. Thus, a skater can trace shapes as they skate and particular effects such as afterlight or color change and scrolling can be placed to give a 'tail' to the movement. For Ice Capades and the like, the light can be used as a display for a wide variety of themes, including ones that are patriotic or related to characters in the ice event - ie Cinderella, Winnie-the-Pooh and more.

Additional detection can be used to detect the presence of a person or a person's or instrument's hand or arm and respond to 'unfold' an image upon sensing the proximity of said arm or instrument. For example, when an arm moves over a surface, the lighting pattern is revealed as if a surface cover were simply wiped. Contact is not required, although it would be possible to have that, as well as the use of a pad or pad that would move from side to side. For example, a squeegee-like instrument whose presence and proximity would be sensed and would turn on lighting fixtures in the vicinity. The movement and speed of the gesture could be detected to adjust the timing of the 'reveal' of the light pattern below. This could be used for movement tracking and cueing during dance, movement, etc. The surface could be treated as a canvas and the color could be selected by other means of actuation or signaling. Persistence effects could also be added so that the move has a 'tail'.

In general, any of the display modes described for tiles 500 can be coupled to sensing means (electromagnetic, IR, wireless, capacitive, visible light, Hall effect, acoustic, and more) to trigger the effects or link an effect to the amplitude or position of a detected signal. A person moving along a wall, floor, or ceiling can activate the effects. Proximity switches that work on many principles can be used to couple the detected information to lighting. Music can provide and combine lighting effects based on the frequency and amplitude of a music signal (a sensitive system) or a pre-programmed effect can be activated which is then synchronized with the music.

Acoustic effects are typically performed through a directly coupled microphone to control and change a lighting pattern or sequence as a function of amplitude. More sophisticated effects are possible based on temporal and spatial effects that propagate effects or have a performance sequence coordinated with the music or audio.

Additional sensing can adjust light output as a function of ambient light by coupling a light sensor such as the TAOS sensor or even simpler photoelectric sensors that provide a measure of ambient light. The controller then uses this information to dim the overall light accordingly or change the color or color temperature. Even the passage of time or sky image can be used and the panels can be used to match that color.

A virtual skylight can even be created on the floor and in spaces where the ceiling is not the ceiling. Tile lights lend themselves well to the concept of Virtual Skylight™ or Virtual Window™, where you can have a very inexpensive camera pointing out of a building (even a cheap webcam will suffice) and use those images in real time or slow time to provide a virtual window that doesn't necessarily give a high resolution window, but gives a sense of what's going on outside - even a passing cloud or shadow of something what's happening. The VS or VW could also be a non-sensing based system with a simple dimmer-style interface, or an interface like the ColorDial from Color Kinetics Incorporated of Boston, Massachusetts.

Other control related aspects of the invention include the incorporation of scaling factors for dimming and calibration that can be factory adjusted and programmed into controller memory or set by the user via DIP switches or interface interface. PC or other similar media in tile light.

Tiles 500 may take any shape, including arbitrary shapes, polygons, squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, ovals, rhombuses, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons, decagons, and any other shape.

Although much of the discussion above has surrounded the concept of two-dimensional shapes for the panels or tiles 500, these elements can also be in 3D and form any three-dimensional shape. Many polygonal solids can be formed, including pyramids, tetrahedrons, dodecahedrons, parallelepipeds, and the like, as well as arbitrary three-dimensional shapes.

The present invention encompasses the combination of the physical form of a luminaire and the ability to individually address and control sections of that luminaire to achieve specific lighting effects in a room or space. It also refers to a form of construction for a luminaire or display that utilizes interlocking, substantially similar, repeating subassemblies whose interlocking mechanism can provide mechanical strength and electrical connectivity. It also refers to the exploitation of the geometry of interlocking repeating subarrays in order to allow precise and accurate positioning of light sources. It further refers to the combination of the physical form of a display and the ability to individually address and control sections of that display, to achieve an overall lighting effect.

As shown in Figures 35, 36, and 37, for one particular and representative shape, a 3500 sphere, an interlock design was created in the shape of a 2D triangle that, when connected and interlocked with other plates of the same design, can form a sphere 3500.

Although not a Platonic solid (see below), the principle can be used to create scaled shapes and many shapes based on interlocking elements.

Although mechanical connections using rigid supports and fasteners can be used to hold shaped plate elements together, electrical connection can also be used or welding of adjacent plates can also provide sufficient connections for many smaller shapes. Each panel in this case is an individually controllable and networked lighting element. This can be achieved through individual controllers on each board, which can use conventional microprocessors or an integrated control chip such as the Chromasic chip that uses a Color Kinetics string light protocol.

Other shapes include, cube, octahedron, rhombic dodecahedron, pyritohedron, deltoid dodecahedron, tetartoid, tetrahedron, diploid, gyroid, tetartoid, trapezohedron, hexoctahedron, tetrahexahedron, tristetrahedron, trisoctahedron and the hextetrahedron. Each of these shapes has the advantage of being made up of simple geometric elements that can be designed as circuit board elements for lighting and light control. The Platonic solids are also disclosed, which are those polyhedra whose faces are all regular polygons, which means that they have congruent legs and angles. There are only five such polyhedra, which are shown in figure 38.

In various embodiments, interconnection and modularity can be further enhanced through the use of inductive elements that align together through proximity to one another. Inductive coupling uses an AC signal, similar to a transformer, which can be used to provide power, say 12 VAC, from one element to another. Simultaneously, data can be superimposed on the power signal to create a multiplexed power and data connection. Multiplexing can also occur through a direct electrical connection and using data and DC power multiplexed between the elements. This concept is similar to the Color Kinetics iColor MR product, but in a very different physical form factor, a 500 tile, rather than a lamp.

Even simpler, communication between elements can occur via optical media (such as visible or IR) whereby adjacent panels align and optically couple elements allow data to flow from one element to the next. In this way, a wide variety of coordinated and synchronized patterns can occur across a variety of panels. Another way is the use of RF techniques to allow many panels to be interconnected without cables and the like.

This disclosure includes many ways that information can be transferred between modules. The underlying architecture is also relevant. In Figure 39, each of the numbered blocks (1, 2, ... N) represents a tile 500 with a plurality of controllable nodes (eg RGB or RGBW and control chip). A network, for example Ethernet, can be used to connect a series of hubs or routers, each of which, in turn connects to many tiles 500. In this way, a hierarchy of processor, computer or controller elements provides a flow of control data to the hubs which, in turn, take their information and distribute it to the units lighting fixtures 100 and the nodes within the tiles 500. This is in contrast, for example, to video displays which listen to an entire video signal and select a particular section of that signal for display.

Referring to Figure 40, a further invention uses a conceptually simpler, but higher speed approach using a very high speed serial bus 4002. The bus 4002 could be a higher speed version of FireWire. The interconnection between the tiles 500 could be wireless, such as Bluetooth or any other known wireless connection protocol.

Referring to Figure 41, in some embodiments, various mounting configurations may be used. In the embodiment of Figure 41, the distance L 4108 of light sources 4102 to a surface 4104 can be chosen to minimize overlap between light from light sources 4102 and maximize coverage. As seen in Figure 41, the distance is a function of the beam angle of the LEDs 4102. It is desirable to choose a distance 4108 that, within a practical percentage, is chosen to eliminate much overlap or to provide frames or boxes between elements. of adjacent light. As can be seen in figure 41, the function that relates the beam angle and the distance is a trigonometric value. If the half-angle spread is alpha and the distance between adjacent LEDs is L, then the distance that the beams from adjacent LEDs meet is L/(2tan(alpha)). This is the desired distance. However, due to absorption, reflectance, and other optical characteristics, it may be desirable to adjust this distance slightly to one side of this distance to obtain the most pleasing effect.

Still referring to Figure 41, the proximity of the LEDs to the surface defines the resulting pattern. Figure 41 shows a line of light emitting diodes 4102 and the effect of distance from a diffusing surface 4104. If the LEDs 4102 are too close to the surface, then depending on the diffusive qualities of the surface 4104, a series of points. If they are too far apart, then the overlap causes mixing of adjacent light sources. Finally, the figure on the right shows a position of the diffuser corresponding to the point where the beams of the adjacent light sources meet.

In typical embodiments, the light sources 4102 do not have a perfect beam, such as with full light at one angle and then none at the next increment. However, a rapid light falloff is typical, and beam patterns and angles are often defined by the angle at which the light falls off to half center intensity.

Other mechanical means

4102 light is mechanically isolated from its neighbors, such as that used in egg carton lighting diffusers. thin materials and a small offset distance can be used to prevent the lines of the mechanical part from showing through the diffuser.

Referring to Figure 42, the light sources 4102 are now seen directly, with no intervening diffusing materials. Figure 42 is a direct view image of the 4102 LEDs mounted in a regular array on a 4202 board. No diffuser is used. As can be seen in this image, the 4202 light sources appear as bright points of light. Each can be controlled individually or these can be synced to do the same over time. At the top of Figure 42 is shown a row of LEDs facing outward; without materials that interrupt the path of light to the view. In the image below, the boards show four 1' square boards within an 8x8 (64) grid of RGB LED light sources.

Referring to Figure 43, in some embodiments, the diffusing surface 4104 can be tilted with respect to the light sources 4102. In Figure 43, a diffusing surface 4104 is illustrated in front of the LEDs 4102 between the light sources. light and viewer. The diffusing surface is at an angle to the LEDs. As can be seen from figure 43, as the distance is varied, the light points become visible and merge with adjacent light points. If they blend too closely, then the colors of adjacent light sources overlap and it becomes difficult to tell the sources apart and color mixing occurs. In the case of different colors then, there is a resulting loss of resolution - similar to out-of-focus images where blurring occurs. This example can be used in applications where a transition between different points of light is desired, and blurred areas where the resolution is reduced to attract attention.

Referring to Figure 44, a variety of configurations and surfaces can be used with the light sources 4102. In Figure 44, the LED elements 4102 are shown, from left to right, in contact with a surface 4104. The integrated elements within the diffusing material they form a form of coupling with the LED. This is true whether the LED is in a conventional 5mm (1-3/4 T), SMT, or other power package. This close coupling reduces reflection losses, and optical gel materials can be used in conjunction to minimize or eliminate optical losses.

In embodiments of Figure 44, a material to form a shape having general optical properties is used to shape the output of a plurality of individual light sources 4102. In embodiment 4408, the material is shaped as a flat surface. In embodiment 4410, material 4104 is an optical lens. in the making 4412, an undulating surface forms a diversity of patterns and shapes resulting from the interaction of light with changing distance. In embodiment 4414, one such shape, or any other, can be adjusted in distance from the LED sources. This adjustment can be one of many mechanical means to adjust or set the distance. A simple screw 4418 is shown, such that when the screw 4418 is turned, the material moves towards or away from the LED board. Such adjustments could also be latches and toothed patterns that catch a mechanical ratchet or notch mechanism or any other mechanism for adjusting distance and height.

Referring to Figure 45, there are many embodiments of fixing and mounting facilities for the light sources of the present invention to attach LED modules to a surface. The embodiments of Figure 45 are intended to be illustrative of general fixation and not limiting. This established example in no way limits the means by which one material or surface can be bonded to another. In embodiment 4502, small elements on the side lock into a circular hole in a panel when pressed into the hole from the top of the panel. The cable connecting the modules is shown in cross section and runs from one module to the next continuously and is attached to the module via insulation displacement means (IDC style). Module 4505 has a small flat flange 4506 to the side that is integral with the enclosure and is used as a holding area by a screw, nail, staple, or other fastener. In embodiment 4508, a small separate flat piece with a coupling element is attached to a surface and the module snaps onto the separate piece. In embodiment 4510, the embodiment is similar to embodiment 4504, but the flange area is circular or extends across the bottom of the module. In embodiment 4512, a smaller hole is created in the panel and the screw feature shown in 4516 can be threaded or used with a self-tapping screw from the other side of the mounting surface. In embodiment 4524, a panel clip 4526 is attached to or integrated into the module design and is pushed through an appropriately sized hole and is therefore held directly in place. In embodiment 4518, a two-piece arrangement is provided in which the first bottom piece 4528 is attached to a mounting surface through one of many possible means including, but not limited to, screws, nails, adhesives, etc. The second part 4530 with the wiring pre-installed, snaps into the bottom part through the coupling element that provides a locking action when the module is pressed from above. Additional elements, not shown, at the front and rear prevent the unit from slipping or moving on the bottom mounting piece 4528. In embodiment 4514, a flange extending from the bottom piece 4528 can then be attached to the surface. The module is attached to the bottom piece 4528 in a similar way to that described in connection with embodiment 4518. In embodiment 4520, the module protrudes from the bottom of the panel. Similar elements provide nesting capability and wiring remains at the bottom of the panel. In embodiment 4522, the adhesive, in the form of a double-sided piece, can be attached to the bottom of the module and to the module itself. For installation, the protective material is peeled off the adhesive, revealing the adhesive surface, and then pressed onto the mounting surface. In the case of direct or other materials, the adhesive can be scraped or removed and a new piece of DST can be applied.

Referring to Figure 46, details are provided for a pusher assembly mechanism. In Figure 46, the light node 4602 is pushed through a hole 4604 in the mounting surface 4608 from below. A lip 4610 at the bottom of the light node 4602 that is larger than the diameter of the hole 4604 prevents the light node 4602 from being pushed all the way. The cable 4612 joining a plurality of light nodes 4602 is thus protected from engagement at the cutting edge of the mounting hole 4604. From the other side, a retaining ring 4614 is pressed onto the outside of the light node 4602 and internal teeth 4618 or the like engage the 4602 light node and prevent it from backing out in the 4604 hole. Once engaged and pressed flush with the 4608 mounting surface, this positive engagement holds the unit securely in place. place. By prying up the 4614 retaining ring with a suitably thin edged tool, it is also possible to remove the 4614 retaining ring.

Referring to Figure 47, a surface illuminated by a light node 4102 as described herein need not be a two-dimensional surface. For example, it can be a complex topology, such as surface 4700 in Figure 47. In this example, a highly sculpted or textured 3D surface can also be used in conjunction with an array of light elements or light nodes 4102. Various effects Pleasant due to variable distances to the surface can be achieved with such a 4700 surface. The 3D surface 4700 may be of any suitable translucent or transparent material. Various depths and thicknesses can actually be rendered opaque, providing a rich set of variations in color and translucency. The surface itself may be colorless or have intrinsic color and depth of color.

Referring to Figure 48, it is also possible to have the three-dimensional illuminated shapes 4800 having elements and color that are reinforced and enhanced by the array of controllable light nodes 4102 behind the shapes. For example, a hemispherical shape 4800 may include a map of part of the world on it, and light nodes 4102 may be illuminated to enhance colors, such as shining blue light to enhance oceans or yellow light to enhance water features. yellow surfaces.

Referring to Figure 49 and Figure 50, it is also possible to establish arrays of lighting elements with overlapping graphic elements, such as graphics and translucent materials. For example, an array of lighting elements 4900 can be covered with overlapping translucent elements 4902 or a transparent element 4904 to enhance the lighting effects from the array 4900. Referring to Figure 50, the overlay element could be a 5002 logo, or similar element of a brand, trademark, trade name, company name, personal name, or the like. The overlay element could also be a graphic 5004, such as a graphic designed to produce a changing or "flashing" effect when lighting elements illuminate the graphic 5004 with different colors of light. As shown in the figures above, these 4900 lighting arrays can be used to emphasize and outline graphic elements for use in display or advertising applications, as well as novelty elements in consumer products and more. Graphics, printed on a variety of materials with different light transmission qualities, can be superimposed on dies to provide flexible and controllable backlighting for said graphic materials. These graphics can be any printed material.

Referring to Figure 51, dies 4900 can be provided with various spacings. In one embodiment, an array 4900 is a regularly spaced, linear, planar array 5100. In other embodiments, the arrays may be irregularly spaced. Figure 52 depicts an irregularly spaced planar array 5200 of lighting elements 4102. Figures 51 and 52 illustrate variations in lighting element spacing. The spacing can be regular or free form. The spacing can vary linearly or non-linearly across units and even in three dimensions, such as with the substantially spherical embodiment described above.

Figure 53 represents a three-dimensional loop 5300 in the form of a Mobius strip. As shown in Figure 53, a mesh of 4102 lighting elements can be created at different densities and spacings, as well as an infinite diversity of global 3D shapes. The Mobius strip is a topological surface with only one edge and one side. Lighting elements can be easily incorporated into these types of complex surfaces (torus, Klein bottles, representations of hypercubes in 3D space, etc.).

The methods and systems described herein also include the use of thermosetting materials such as the grid or mounting surface material to which the light nodes are mounted. A thermosetting plastic can be heat-formed in a mold or even by hand and then cooled to the desired shape. In this way, a custom surface can be molded, twisted, or otherwise shaped into a desired shape under heat or pressure, and made to hold that shape. Some examples of thermosetting materials include ABS, acrylics, fluoropolymers, nylons, polyarylates, polyesters, polyphenylene sulfide, polystyrenes, acetals, acrylonitrile, methacrylates, phthalates, polybutylenes, polyethers, polyphenylenes, polysulfones, styrenes, acrylates, cellulosics, cast resins, polyamides , polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyethylene terephthalate and vinyls and polyvinyls. This list is not intended to limit in any way the types and varieties of thermosetting materials. Another method of creating shapes is the use of flexible and formable materials, such as metals, which, in a wire grid shape, can be twisted and shaped into many shapes. Wire mesh, screen, and cloth can be made of metal, coated metals (such as Gumby® figures), or even plastic materials and then pushed and stretched into a wide variety of shapes. As shown below in Figure 54, a grid arrangement of such materials provides wide flexibility in the placement of such modules.

Referring to Figure 54, the light nodes 4102 can be arranged spacing within a wire grid 5402 with complete flexibility in mounting subject only to the constraints of the grid 5402 itself. In this disclosure, the mounting surfaces themselves may also be shaped and three-dimensional. There are no limitations on the shape of the mounting surface as long as the mounting or fixing of the lighting elements is foreseen.

Referring to Fig. 55, the complex arrangements of light nodes 4102 arranged in grids 5402 can themselves form graphic elements, icons, and other representations of themes or artistic liberties, such as in display 5502. As shown in Fig. Figure 55, the location of the light nodes can form specific patterns and shapes that fit a particular design. Although a dense matrix of such modules can be used to form any color pattern, it may be more economical to use specific patterns if the application requires only a subset of the dense matrix. This can be more economical and practical for many installations. Again, the grid 5402 shown in the figure is intended solely to be illustrative of the potential for mounting and routing light nodes 4102.

The methods and systems described herein also provide various lens and cap options for light nodes or elements described herein. Figure 56 depicts a light node 5602 with a nesting module 5604 with a short lens option 5608. The design of Figure 56 is one of many module designs. In this illustration, the unit incorporates a 5608 hemispherical lens. Such a 5608 lens is designed with a particular mating format to engage with the 5604 base module, and as a result, the 5608 lens is modular and can take many forms depending on of the desired function, such as optical characteristics or aesthetic appearance based solely on the form or use of the application. Such lens designs may be in the form of licensed characters or in the form of jewels or corporate icons or logos or any of many custom shapes.

Figure 57 shows a 5702 long lens where the outward appearance may be a uniform light color throughout. the entire lens assembly.

Figure 58 shows a light node 5802 without a lens. A lensless module can accept a variety of lens configurations or no lenses at all. In Figure 58, the well 5804 surrounding the light emitter and electronics can be accommodated through a variety of lens or cap modules. The term 'lens' is not intended to be limiting in any way. The material and shape of the 'lens' design may be optical to refract, reflect and diffuse light, but may be transparent, area opaque or translucent. It can have any shape, part of which can be adjusted to the module design. There is also no limitation on unit scale - dimensions are intended to be illustrative of a particular design, but unit size can be scaled up or down to provide functionality for many applications.

Figure 59 shows a computer aided design (CAD) drawing 5900 of a single node support embodiment of a light node. Figure 60 shows a CAD 6000 drawing of a lensless embodiment of a light node. The modules shown in Figures 59 and 60 are representative modules with dimensions on the order of 10mm plus or minus. A light node can be easily scaled to much smaller sizes (1mm scales, for example) or even to much larger sizes (100 or 1000mm), where the modules are made up of a plurality of emitting elements. of light inside the module. Figure 59 also shows a track mounting system 5902 for lighting elements or modules. In Figure 59, the modules are shown nested or attached to a track shape which provides linear forms of module arrangement for many applications. A complete lighting unit can be provided for a variety of applications. In addition, a flexible radius can be provided that literally provides flexibility in the lateral direction, as well as the vertical direction for mounting to other surfaces.

Referring to Figure 61, other embodiments of the invention may include embodiments that take advantage of various signal sources 124, such as sensors, as the basis for creating a control signal for tile 500. For example, a proximity sensor 6102 it could be placed on or near a tile 500, in communication with the control system for the tile 500, such that when a user 6104 is near the tile 500, the tile changes color in a predetermined way. Thus, proximity sensor 6102 serves as a user interface for tile 500. An array of such tiles 500 with sensors 6102 can then be arranged, for example, on a wall, such that user 6104 can create different effects, such as waving your hand around different tiles in different sequences. For example, sliding a hand over the 500 tiles could produce a rainbow of moving colors or a similar effect on the array of 500 tiles.

The tiles 500 could be of any size, from very small tiles on the order of the size of a group of LEDs to very large tiles. Referring to Figure 62, tiles 500 are sized to cover an entire ceiling, floor, or wall, such as for a room or elevator. Thus, for example, a metal plate could be made the size of a wall panel, with LEDs arranged thereon and controlled, for example, with a string or serial light protocol as described above. The metal plate could be in any shape to fit a space, such as a rectangle, circle, regular polygon, or irregular shape. In some embodiments, the metal LED plate could then be covered with a diffusing material, such as a resilient translucent plastic or polymer that could be stretched over the plate for installation as a unit. Such a unit could serve as a wall, door, ceiling, floor, elevator wall, or other building units.

In some embodiments, tiles 500 can be made waterproof for outdoor use or waterproof for underwater use. Therefore, tiles 500 can be covered with waterproof polymers, rubber, plastic, or other waterproof materials, and constructed with watertight construction, such as sealed connections for power and control cables. Such embodiments may include materials to thermally conduct heat away from the LEDs to increase the length of their use, such as metal or other conductive materials, which may be in thermal connection with the water or other materials outside of the tile 500. The tiles 500 waterproof lights can be used to illuminate the bottom or sides of an in-ground or above-ground pool, an in-ground or portable sauna, the bottom or sides of a fountain, pond, or aquatic décor , an aquatic garden decoration, an aquarium or any other underwater environment. Thus, referring to Figure 63, a tile 500 may be displayed, for example, on the bottom of a pool 6300, sauna, fountain, pond, or aquarium, to provide digitally controlled light shows of various colors or temperature temperatures. color in the pool 6300.

In some embodiments, the light sources 104 may be arranged on a support structure, such as a board 204. The board 204 may be a circuit board or similar fixture suitable for containing the light sources 104, as well as electrical components, such as the components used in the electrical installation 202. With reference to figure 64, in the invention, the plate 204 can consist of a rectangular plate 204, with a matrix or grid 2208 of light sources 104. In the embodiment represented in Figure 64, the array is a six by six array on a 204 square plate with six inch sides. Matrix 2208 can have any number of light sources 104 and take on any other dimension. The light sources may consist of groups of miniature LEDs, such as red, green, blue, white, or other colors of LEDs. In some embodiments, each light source 104 is comprised of a triad of red, green, and blue surface mount LEDs. The square array makes it very convenient for the 2208 array to be placed with other 204 plates containing similar 2208 arrays side by side, such that that effects can be generated across multiple arrays 2208, such as an extended system covering a wall or the exterior of a building. That is, the 2208 arrays can serve as modular components of larger lighting systems. To facilitate quick installation, plate 204 can have a plurality of pre-made screw holes 2210 that make it highly convenient to attach plate 204 to a wall or other mounting area. In some embodiments, board 204 is provided with a protective cover 2212, such as a plastic cover to protect the board from damage and prevent a user from touching electrical connections on board 204. In accordance with the invention, cover 2212 includes the spaces 2214, such that a viewer can view the light sources 104 directly without causing the light to diffuse through the cover 2212.

Referring to Figure 65, in another embodiment, the array 2208 of light sources 104 < may be a three-by-three array, less dense than the six-by-six array of Figure 65, but including similar elements, such as plate 204 (again a six inch by six inch plate 204), cover 2212, screw holes 2210, and spaces 2214 through which the viewer can directly view the light sources 104. Again, the light sources 104 may consist of various colors of LEDs, such as a trio of red, green and blue surface mount LEDs.

Figure 66 shows the rear of a board 204, such as the rectangular array 2208 boards 204 described in connection with Figures 64 and 65. Board 204 includes a female connector 2218 for receiving power and data from a source and a 2220 female connector to send power and data abroad. In some embodiments, sockets 2218, 2220 allow board 204 to be serially aligned with other boards 204, where data is passed from a central controller from board to board via sockets 2218, 2220. In some embodiments, each The group of light sources 104 in the matrix 2208 may be provided with a processor, such as an ASIC 3600, to handle the lighting control signals for the light sources 104. In some embodiments, the ASICs 3600 are arranged in series and are controlled by a serial control facility as described herein, where each ASIC takes a data stream, responds to the first unchanged byte, modifies the byte it responds to, and sends the modified data stream to the next SO C. The 3600 ASICs on the back of the board 204 can be daisy chained in an array, such as the 2208 six-by-six array or the 2208 three-by-three array. In some embodiments, each of the 3600 ASICs is arranged together with a resistor and a capacitor on the back of the board 204. The board 204 may also contain an additional ASIC 2230, such as to allow a central controller to identify the particular type of board 204 on which the ASICs are arranged, such as to identify plate 204 as a six-by-six or three-by-three array. Plate 204 may also include extrusions 2228 from screw holes 2210 in the plate. The extrusions 2228 guide the screws that attach the board 204 to a surface, and also provide an offset between the back of the board 204 and the surface, so that ASICs 3600 or other components are not crushed when the board 204 is crushed. attaches to the surface. The arriving extrusions 2224 also provide an offset at the corners of the plate 204.

In some embodiments, the cover 2212 can be equipped with lenses, diffusers, or other optical facilities 400 that shape the light from the light sources 104 that form the arrays 2208, such as to increase the viewing angle of the light sources. light 104.

In some embodiments, the lighting units 100 may include a Dipline-style mounting panel that allows the units to be placed anywhere on a surface. Plates 204 may include built-in pads to align units 100 during installation. In some embodiments, plates 204 may have an integrated laser level to facilitate accurate installation. In this embodiment, a conductive layered surface such as the Dipline style surface material (Dipline is a proprietary layered conductive mounting material) is used to allow the units to be positioned anywhere on the surface by inserting of modular pin connectors connected to pass through the surface of materials to contact selected conductive layers within the surface.

Referring to Figure 67, the housings can also take the form of a flexible band 6750, tape, or cord to allow the user to adapt the housing to particular shapes or cavities. Therefore, the various embodiments of the tiles 500 described herein may be flexible tiles. Similarly, the housings can take the form of a 6754 flexible chain. Such a 6750 belt or 6754 chain can be manufactured in various lengths, widths, and thicknesses to meet specific demands of applications that benefit from flexible housings, such as for shaping to fit body parts or cavities for surgical lighting applications, shaping to fit objects, shaping to fit unusual spaces, or the like. In flexible embodiments it may be advantageous to use slim form batteries, such as 6750 small strip "paper" or polymer batteries or 6754 strings.

Referring to Figure 68, a 6800 array can be formed from a flexible string 6754, such as a string of light string nodes as described in connection with Figures 56 through 59. Although a 6800 array of this type can be flexible, once placed, the matrix can be used to display effects similar to a rigid grid, such as one arranged on a circuit board as described in connection with Figures 64 through 66. For example, a matrix 6800 can be chained to the exterior of the building, such as by hooking flexible chains of nodes in rows and/or columns, or by chaining nodes in channels to create a linear arrangement. Such an array can be used, for example, to visualize effects that are designed to run on arrays great including color changing shows, graphic effects, animation effects, video type effects, text scrolling effects and others.

Referring to Figure 69a, it is desirable to provide a light system manager 5000 for managing control of a plurality of lighting units 100 or light systems. Referring to Figure 69b, light system manager 5000 is provided, which may consist of a combination of hardware and software components. A correlation facility 5002 is included to correlate the locations of a plurality of light systems. The mapping facility can use various techniques to discover and map the locations of the lights, as described herein or as known to those skilled in the art. The locations may be physical locations in the world or they may be relative locations, such as the relative position of a lighting unit 100 in a chain or array of lighting units 100. A light system compositor 5004 is also provided for composing one or more lighting shows that can be displayed on one light system. The creation of the shows can be based on geometry and an object-oriented programming approach, such as the geometry of light systems that are discovered and correlated using the correlation function, according to various methods and systems disclosed in herein or known in the art. A light system engine is also provided, for reproducing lighting shows by executing light show code and delivering lighting control signals, such as to one or more lighting systems, or to related systems, such as the power/data systems, which govern the lighting systems. Additional details about the light system manager 5000, the mapping facility 5002, the light system compositor 5004, and the light system engine 5008 are provided herein.

Light System Manager 5000, Correlation Facility 5002, Light System Composer 5004, and Light System Engine 5008 can be provided through a combination of computer hardware, telecommunications hardware, and light system software components. computer. The different components can be provided on a single computer system or distributed among separate computer systems.

Referring to Fig. 70, in one embodiment, the mapping facility 5002 and the light system compositor 5004 are provided on an authoring computer 5010. The authoring computer 5010 may be a conventional computer, such as a personal computer. In embodiments, builder computer 5010 includes conventional personal computer components, such as a graphical user interface, keyboard, operating system, memory, and communication capability. In embodiments, the build computer 5010 operates with a development environment with a graphical user interface, such as a Windows environment. The 5010 build computer can be connected to a network, such as through any conventional communications connection, such as a cable, data connection, wireless connection, network card, bus, Ethernet connection, Firewire, 802.11 service, Bluetooth or other connection. In some embodiments, such as in Figure 70, the authoring computer 5010 is provided with an Ethernet connection, such as through an Ethernet switch 5102, so that it can communicate with other Ethernet-based devices, including optionally the 5008 light system engine, a light system itself (enabled to receive instructions from the 5010 authoring computer), or a 1758 power/data supply (PDS) that supplies power and/or data to a composed of one or more lighting units 100. For example, the light system could be a tile light 500 or a plate 204 with a matrix 2208, with a plurality of lighting units 100 arranged in a grid pattern. Correlation facility 5002 and light system compositor 5004 may comprise software applications running on authoring computer 5010.

Still referring to Fig. 70, in an architecture for delivering complex show control systems to one or more light systems, shows that are composed using the creation computer 5010 are delivered via an Ethernet connection through one or more plus Ethernet switches to the 5008 Light System Engine. The 5008 Light System Engine downloads the shows composed by the 5004 Light System Composer and plays them back, generating lighting control signals for the light systems. In embodiments, lighting control signals are relayed via an Ethernet switch to one or more power/data supplies, and in turn relayed to lighting systems that are equipped to execute instructions, such as turning lights on or off. LEDs, control their color or color temperature, change their hue, intensity, or saturation, or the like. In some embodiments, the power/data supply may be programmed to receive lighting shows directly from the light system compositor 5004. In some embodiments, a bridge may be programmed to convert signals from the light system engine 5008 format to a conventional format, such as DMX or DALI signals used for entertainment lighting.

The light system compositor 5004 may employ the graphical representation and object-oriented creation techniques described in connection with Figures 24 through 33 above. Thus, graphical representations, including those representing video signals, can be converted into control instructions, wherein the lighting control signals correlate the locations of lighting units 100 with corresponding locations on the graphical representation. In the case of a graphical representation of an incoming video signal, the row/column format of a conventional video signal can be mapped to the format of a group of lighting units 100, such as the units arranged in a lighting fixture. 500 tile or 2208 matrix on a 204 plate. Therefore, a 500 tile light or 2208 matrix can be used to display video effects in various resolutions, as well as other animated effects, graphics, text scrolling effects, and a wide variety of color-changing effects.

Referring to Fig. 71, in embodiments, light shows composed using Light System Composer 5004 are compiled into simple scripts that are output as XML documents. XML documents can be quickly transmitted over Ethernet connections.

In some embodiments, the XML documents are read by a light system engine 5008 XML parser. The use of XML documents to transmit light shows allows the combination of light shows with other types of programming instructions. For example, an XML document type definition might include not only XML instructions for a light show to be run through the 5008 light system engine, but also XML with instructions for another computing system, such as a computer system. sound system, entertainment system, multimedia system, video system, audio system, sound effect system, smoke effect system, steam effect system, dry ice effect system , other lighting system, security system, information system, sensor feedback system, sensor system, browser, network, server, wireless computer system, building information technology system or a communication system.

Therefore, the methods and systems provided herein include providing a light system engine for relaying control signals to a plurality of light systems, wherein the light system engine reproduces shows. The light system engine 5008 may include a processor, a data facility, an operating system, and a communication facility. The 5008 Light Engine can be configured to communicate with a DALI or DMX lighting control facility. In some embodiments, the light system engine communicates with a lighting control facility that operates with a serial communication protocol. In some embodiments, the lighting control facility is a power/data supply for a lighting unit 102.

In some embodiments, the light system engine 5008 runs the lighting shows downloaded from the light system compositor 5004. In some embodiments, the shows are delivered as XML files from the light system compositor 5004 to the light system engine 5004. light 5008. In the embodiment, the shows are delivered to the light system engine via a network. In some embodiments, the shows are delivered via an Ethernet facility. In some embodiments, the shows are delivered via a wireless facility. In some embodiments, the shows are delivered via a Firewire facility. In some embodiments, the shows are delivered over the Internet.

In some embodiments, the light shows composed by the light system compositor 5004 may be combined with other files from another computer system, such as one that includes an XML parser that parses an XML document generated by the light system compositor. light 5004 along with XML elements relevant to the other computer. In some embodiments, light shows are combined by adding additional elements to an XML file containing a light show. In embodiments, the other computer system comprises a browser and the user of the browser can edit the XML file using the browser to edit the lighting show generated by the lighting show compositor. In embodiments, light system engine 5008 includes a server, wherein the server is capable of receiving data over the Internet. In embodiments, light system engine 5008 is capable of handling multiple light system zones, where each light system zone has a different mapping. In some embodiments, the multiple zones are synchronized using the internal clock of the light system engine 5008.

The methods and systems included herein include methods and systems for providing a mapping facility 5002 of the light system manager 5000 for mapping locations of a plurality of light systems. In some embodiments, the mapping system discovers lighting systems in an environment, using the techniques described above. In some embodiments, the mapping facility then maps light systems in two-dimensional space, such as using a graphical user interface.

In embodiments of the invention, the light system engine 5008 comprises a personal computer with a Linux operating system. In some embodiments, the light system engine is associated with a bridge to a DMX or DALI system.

An embodiment of the DirectLight API described above follows on the following pages.

A programming interface to control lighting

Important items you should read first.

1) The sample program and RealLight Setup will not run until you register the DirectLightdll COM object with Windows on your computer. Two small programs cleverly named "Register DirectLight.exe" and "Unregister DirectLightexe" have been included with this installation.

2) DirectLight assumes you have a SmartJack connected to the COMI. You can change this assumption by editing the DMX_INTERFACE_NUM value in the "myjights.h" file.

About Direct Light

Organization

An application (for example, a 3D rendered game) can create virtual lights within its 3D world. DirectLight can map these lights to digital lights in the real world with color and brightness settings corresponding to the location and color of the virtual lights within the game.

In DirectLights there are three general types of virtual lights:

dynamic light. The most common form of virtual light has a position and a color value. This light can be moved and its color changes as often as necessary. Dynamic lights could depict glowing space nebulae, rocket flares, a yellow spotlight flying past a corporate logo, or the glowing red eyes of a ravenous mutant ice weasel.

Ambient light is stationary and has only color value. Sunshine, an overhead room light, or an overall color wash are examples of ambiance. Although you can have as many indicator and dynamic lights as you like, you can only have one ambient light source (which is equivalent to one ambient color value).

Indicator lights can only be assigned to specific lights in the real world. While dynamic lights can change position and will affect different real-world lights from now on, and ambient lights are a constant color that can affect any or all real-world lights, indicator lights will always affect only one. only light of the real world. The indicators are intended to give feedback to the user separate from the lighting, eg shield status, threat location, etc.

All these lights allow you to change their color as many times as necessary.

In general, the user will adjust the lights in the real world. The configuration file "my_lights.h" is created in, and can be edited by, the "DirectLight GUI Setup" program. The API loads the settings from the "my_lights.h" file, which contains all the information about where the real-world lights are, what type they are, and what type of virtual lights (dynamic, ambient, indicator, or some combination) they give them. they will affect

Virtual lights can be created and be static, or created at runtime dynamically. DirectLights runs on its own thread; which constantly feeds new values into the lights to make sure they don't go to sleep. After updating your virtual lights, ace sends to the real world lights with a single function call. DirectLights handles all the mapping from the virtual world to the real world.

If your application already uses 3D light sources, implementing DirectLight can be very easy, since your light sources can be mapped 1 to 1 to the virtual Light class.

A typical setting for action games has an overhead light set primarily as ambient, lights on the back, side, and around the monitor set primarily as dynamic, and perhaps some small lights near the screen set as indicator.

Ambient light creates ambience and atmosphere. Dynamic lights around the player give feedback on things happening around them: weapons, environmental objects, explosions, etc. Indicator lights provide instant feedback on in-game parameters: shield level, danger, detection, etc.

Effects (LightingFX) can be connected to lights that override or boost dynamic lighting. In Star Trek: Armada, for example, hitting Red Alert causes every light in space to flash red, temporarily replacing any other color information the lights have.

Other effects can be a reinforcement. Explosion effects, for example, can be attached to a single virtual light and will play over time, so instead of having to continually adjust values to make the fireball fade, you can create virtual lights, connect and start an effect, and the light can be left alone until the effect has been done.

Actual lights have a coordinate system based on the space in which they are installed. Using a person sitting at a computer monitor as a reference, their head should be considered the origin. X increases to its right. And it increases towards the ceiling. Z increases towards the monitor.

Virtual lights are free to use any coordinate system. There are several different ways to correlate the virtual lights with the real lights. Having the virtual light coordinate system axis-aligned with the real light coordinate system can make life much easier.

The positions of the lights can take any real value. The DirectLight GUI settings program restricts lights to less than 1 meter from the center of the space, but you are free to change the values by hand if you wish. However, read about Projection Types first. Some modes require that the virtual and real world coordinate systems have the same scale.

How to start

Install Direct Light SDK

Running the Setup.exe file will install:

In /Windows/System/ three dll files, one for DirectLight, two for low level communications with real world lights via DMX.

DirectLightLdll

dmxio.dll

DLPORTIO.dll

In the folder where you installed DirectLight: Visual C++ project files, source code, and header files:

DirectLight.dsp

DirectLight.dsw

etc

DirectLight

DirectLight.cpp

real light

Real Light.cpp

Virtual_Light.h

Virtual_Light.cpp

etc

compile time libraries:

FX_Library.lib

DirectLightlib

DMXIO.lib

and configuration files:

my_lights.h

light definitions.h

GUI_config_file.h

Dynamic_Localized_Strings.h

The "my_lights.h" file is referenced by both DirectLight and DirectLight GUI Setup.exe. "my_lights.h" in turn refers to "light_definitions.h" The other files are only referenced by DirectLight ^g U ⁱ Setup. Both the DLL and the installation program use a registry entry to find these files:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ColorKinetics\DirectLight\1.00.000\location

Also included in this directory are these documentation and subfolders:

FX_Libraries contain lighting effects that can be accessed by DirectLights.

DirectLight GUI Setup contains a graphical editor to change the information about the actual lights.

The Sample Program contains a lavishly commented program that demonstrates how to use DirectLight. COM DirectLight

The DirectLight DLL implements a COM object that encapsulates the functionality of DirectLight. The DirectLight object owns the DirectLight interface, which is used by the client program.

To use the COM DirectLight object, the machine on which you will use the object must have the COM DirectLight server registered (see above: Important Things You Should Read First). If you haven't done this, Microsoft's COM runtime library won't know where to find your COM server (essentially, it needs the path of DirectLight.dll).

To access the COM DirectLight object from a program (we'll call it a client), you must first include "directlighth", which contains the definition of the COM DirectLight interface (among other things), and "directlightj.c", which contains the definitions of the various UIDs of the objects and interfaces (more on this later).

Before you can use COM services, you must first initialize the COM runtime. To do this, call the Co Initialize function with a NULL parameter:

CoInitialize(NULL);

For our purposes, you don't need to worry about the return value.

Next, you need to instantiate a DirectLight object. To do this, you need to call the CoCreateInstance function. This will instantiate a DirectLight object and provide a pointer to the DirectLight interface:

HRESULT hCOMError =

CoCreateInstance(CLSID_CDirectLight,

null,

CLSCTX_ALL,

IID_IDirectLight,

(void **) &pDirectLight);

CLSID_CDirectLight is the identifier (declared in directlight_i.c) of the DirectLight object, NDJDirectLight is the identifier of the DirectLight interface, and pDirectLight is a pointer to the implementation of the DirectLight interface on the object we just instantiated. The pDirectLight pointer will be used by the rest of the client to access the DirectLights functionality.

Any errors returned by CoCreatelnstance will likely be REGDB_E_CLASSNOTREG, indicating that the class is not registered on your machine. If that is the case, make sure to run the Register DirectLight program and try again.

When you're cleaning up your app, you should include the following three lines:

// delete the COM object

pDirectLight->Release();

// Ask COM to unload unused COM servers.

CoFreeUnusedLibraries();

// We exit this application, so we close the COM Library.

CoUninitialize();

You should free up the COM interface when you're done using it. Otherwise, the object will remain in memory after the termination of your application.

CoFreeUnusedLibrariesO will ask COM to remove our DirectLight factory (a server that created the COM object when we called CoCreateInstance()) from memory, and CoUninitialize() will close the COM library.

DirectLight class

The DirectLight class contains the core functionality of the API. Contains functionality to set ambient light values, global brightness of all lights (gamma), and add and remove virtual lights.

Guys:

enum Projection_Type{

SCALE_BY_VIRTUAL_DISTANCE_TO_CAMERA_ONLY = 0, SCALE_BY_DISTANCE_AND_ANGLE = 1,

SCALE_BY_DISTANCE_VIRTUAL_TO_REAL = 2};

For an explanation of these values, see "Projection Types" in the DirectLight class

enum Light_Type{

C_75 = 0,

COVE_6 = 1};

For an explanation of these values, see "Light Types" in the Direct Light class, or see the online help for "Direct Light GUI Setup".

enum Curve_Type{

DIRECTLIGHT LINEAR = 0,

DIRECTLIGHT_EXPONENTIAL = 1,

DIRECTLIGHT_LOGARITHMIC = 2};

These values represent different curves for lighting effects when fading from one color to another.

Public member functions:

void Set_Ambient_Light(int R,

intG,

intB);

The Set Ambient Light function sets the red, green, and blue values of the ambient light to the values passed to the function. These values are in the range 0 -

MAX_LIGHT_BRIGHTNESS. Ambient Light is designed to represent constant lights or "Room Lights" in the application. Ambient Light can be sent to any or all of the real lights in the real world. Each light in the real world can include any percentage of the ambient light.

void Stir Lights(void *user_data);

Stir Lights sends light information to real world lights based on the light buffer created within DirectLights. The DirectLight DLL handles the flickering of the lights for you. Normally this function is not called by the application

Virtual_Light * Submit_Virtual_Light(float xpos,

float ypos,

float zpos,

network,

int green,

intblue);

Submit_Virtual_Light creates an instance of Virtual_Light. Its virtual position is specified by the first three last values, its color by the second three. The position should use the app space coordinates. Values for color are in the range 0 - MAX_LIGHT_BRIGHTNESS. This function returns a pointer to the created light.

void Remove_Virtual_Light(Virtual_Light * bad_light);

Given a pointer to an instance of Virtual_Light, Remove_virtual_Light will remove the virtual light.

void Set_Gamma(float gamma);

The Set Gamma function sets the gamma value of the Direct Light data structure. This value can be used to control the overall value of all the lights, because each virtual light is multiplied by the gamma value before it is projected onto the actual lights.

void Set_Cutoff_Range(float cutoff_range);

set_Cutoff_Range sets the cutoff distance from the camera. Beyond this distance, the virtual lights will have no effect on the lights in the real world. Set a high value to allow virtual lights to affect real world lights from far away. If the value is small, the virtual lights must be close to the camera to have any effect. The value should be in the coordinates of the application space.

void Clear_All_Real_Lights(void);

Clear_All_Lights destroys all real lights.

void Project_All_Lights(void);

Project_All_Lights calculates the effect of each virtual light on each real-world light, taking into account gamma, ambient, and dynamic contributions, projection mode and position, cutoff angle, and cutoff range, and outputs the values to every light of the real world.

void Set Indicator Color (int which indicator,

network,

int green,

intblue);

Indicators can be assigned to any of the real world lights via the configuration file (myjights.h). Each indicator must have a unique non-negative integer ID. Set_indicator_Color changes the color of the indicator designated by which_indicator to the specified red, green, and blue values. If Set_indicator_Color is called with an indicator id that doesn't exist, nothing will happen. The user specifies which lights should be indicator lights, but note that lights that are indicator lights can still be affected by ambient and dynamic lights.

Indicator Get Indicator (int which indicator);

Returns a pointer to the flag with the specified value.

int Get_Real_Light_Count(void);

Returns the number of actual lights.

void Get_My_Lights Location(char buffer[MAX_PATH]);

Look in the directory and find the path to the file "myjights.h".

void Load_Real_Light_Configuration(char * fullpath = NULL);

Loads the file "myjights.h" from the default location determined by the registry. DirectLight will create a list of actual lights based on the information in the file.

void Submit_Real_Light(char * identifier,

int DMX_port,

Projection_Type,

int indicator_number,

float add_ambient,

float add dynamic,

float gamma,

float cutoff_angle,

float x,

float and,

floatz);

Create a new real light in the real world. Usually, DirectLight will load the actual light information from the "my lights.h" file at startup.

void Remove_Real_Light(Real_Light * dead_light);

Safely deletes an instance of a real light.

Light GetAmbientLight(void);

Returns a pointer to the ambient light.

bool RealLightListEmpty(void);

Returns true if the list of actual lights is empty, false otherwise.

light class

Ambient lights are defined as lights. The Light class is the parent class for Virtual Lights and Real Lights. member variables:

static const int MAX_LIGHT_BRIGHTNESS. Defined as 255

LightingFX List * m_FX_currently attached. A list of effects currently connected to this light.

ColorRGB m color. Every light must have a color! ColorRGB is defined in ColorRGB.h void Attach FX (LightingFX * new_FX)

Connect a new lighting effect to this virtual light.

void Detach_FX(LightingFX * old_FX)

Remove from this virtual light an old lighting effect.

real lights

Real Light inherits from the Light class. The actual lights represent the lights in the real world. member variables:

static const int NOT AN INDICATOR LIGHT defined as -1.

char m jdentifier [100] is the name of the light (such as overhead or covelightl).

Not used by DirectLight except as a debugging tool.

int DMX_port is a unique non-negative integer representing the channel through which the given light will receive data. The DMX information is sent to the outside in a buffer memory with 3 bytes (red, green and blue) for each light. (DMX_port * 3) is actually the index of the red value for the specified light. DirectLight's DMX buffers are 512 bytes, so DirectLight can support approximately 170 lights. Large buffers can cause performance issues, so avoid using large DMX_port numbers if possible.

The Light Type m_type describes the different models of Color Kinetics lights. Currently not used, except for DirectLight GUI Setup to display icons.

float m_add_ambient The amount of ambient light contribution to this color of lights. range 0-1

float m_add_dynamic the amount of dynamic light contribution to this color of lights. range 0-1

float m_gamma is the overall brightness of this light. Range 0-1.

float m_cutoff_angle determines how sensitive the light is to contributions from the virtual lights around it. Large values cause it to receive information from most virtual lights. Smaller values cause it to receive contributions only from virtual lights on the same arc as the real light.

The Projection Type m_projection_type defines how virtual lights map to real lights.

SCALE_BY_VIRTUAL_DISTANCE_TO_CAMERA_ONLY This real light will receive contributions from virtual lights based solely on the distance from the origin of the virtual coordinate system to the position of the virtual light. The virtual light contribution fades linearly as the distance from the origin approaches the cutoff range.

SCALE_BY_DISTANCE_AND_ANGLE this real light will receive contributions from virtual lights based on the previously calculated distance AND the angle difference between the real light and the virtual light. The virtual light contribution fades out linearly as the distance from the origin approaches the cutoff range and the angle approaches the cutoff angle.

SCALE_BY_DISTANCE_VIRTUAL_TO_REAL This real light will receive contributions from virtual lights based on the distance in 3 spaces from the real light to the virtual light. This mode assumes that the real and virtual coordinate systems are identical. The virtual light contribution fades linearly as the distance from real to virtual approaches the cutoff range.

float m_xpos x, y, z position in virtual space.

float m_ypos

float m_zpos

int m_indicator number. If the indicator is

negative, the light is not an indicator. If it's not negative, just

you will receive colors shipped to that indicator number.

virtual lights

Virtual Lights represent light sources within a game or other application in real time that are correlated to real-world Color Kinetics lights. Virtual lights can be created, moved, destroyed, and changed their color as often as possible within the app.

static const int MAX_LIGHT_BRIGHTNESS;

MAX_LIGHT_BRIGHTNESS is a constant that represents the highest value a light can have. For most Color Kinetics lights, this value is 255. Lights are assumed to have a range starting at 0

void Set Color(int R,

intG,

intB);

The Set_Color function sets the red, green, and blue color values of the virtual light to the values passed to the function.

void Set_Position(float x pos,

float *y_pos,

float *z_pos);

The Set Position function sets the position values of the virtual light to the values passed to the function. The position should use the app space coordinates.

void Get_Position (float *x_pos,

float *y_pos,

float *z_pos);

Gets the position of the light.

Lighting FX

Lighting FX are time-based effects that can be connected to real or virtual lights, or gauges, or even ambient lighting. Lighting effects can have other effects as secondary, in which case the secondary effects are played sequentially.

static const int FX_OFF; Defined as -1.

static const int START_TIME; Times to start and stop the effect.

This is a virtual value.

static const int STOP_TIME;

Individual effects will scale their playback time based on the total.

void Set_Real_Time(boolReal_Time);

If TRUE is passed, this effect will use real world time and update as often as Stir Lights is called. If FALSE is passed, the effect will use the application time and will be updated each time Apply-FX is called. void Set_Time_Extrapolation (bool extrapolate);

If TRUE is passed, this effect will extrapolate its value when Stir Lights is called.

void Attach_FX_To_Light(Light * the_light);

Connect this effect to the passing light.

void Detach_FX_From_Light(Light * the_light,

bool remove_FX_from_light = true);

Remove the contribution of this effect to light. If remove_FX_from_light is true, the effect is also removed from the light.

The above functions also exist as versions to affect Virtual Lights, Indicator Lights (referenced either by a pointer to the indicator or by its number), Ambient Light, and all Real Lights.

void Start(float FX_play_time,

bool looping = false);

Start the effect. If the loop is true, the effect will start again after it finishes.

voidStop(void);

Stop the effect without destroying it.

void Time_Is_Up(void);

Either loop or stop playing the effect, because it's about time.

void Update_Time(float time_passed);

Change how much game time has passed for this effect.

void Update_Real_Time(void);

Find out how much real time has passed for this effect.

void Update Extrapolated Time (void);

Change the FX time based on extrapolating how much real time application time we've had so far. virtual void Apply FX (ColorRGB &base_color);

This is the main lighting function. When inheriting Lighting FX, this function does all the important work to actually change the color values of light over time. Note that you can choose to add your value to the existing light value, replace the existing value with your value, or any combination of both. In this way, lighting effects can override existing lights or simply supplant them.

static void Update_All_FX_Time(float time_passed);

Update the time of all effects.

void Apply_FX_To_All_Virtual_Lights(void);

Apply this effect to all appropriate virtual, ambient, and indicator lights.

void Apply_All_FX_To_All_Virtual_Lights(void);

Apply each effect to all appropriate virtual, ambient, and indicator lights.

void Apply_All_FX_To_Real_Light('Real_Light * the_real_light);

Apply this effect to a single real light.

void Start_Next_ChildFX(void);

If this effect has a side effect, start the next one.

void Add ChildFX(LightingFX * the_child,

float timeshare);

Add a new side effect to the end of the list of side effects that this effect has. The time share is the share of this child in the total time the effect will play. Timeshares don't have to total one, because total shares are scaled to match the total actual playing time of the effect

void Become_Child Of (Lighting_FX * the_parent);

Become a parent of the specified effect.

void Inherit_Light_List(Affected_Lights * our_lights);

Make this effect and all its children inherit the list of lights to affect.

configuration file

The "my lights.h" file contains information about real world lights and is loaded into the DirectLight system at startup. The files "my lights.h" and

"light_definitions.h" must be in the same directory as the application that uses DirectLights.

"my_lights.h" is created and edited by the DirectLight GUI Setup program. For more information about how to use the program, see the online help within the program.

In the present case there is an example of a "my_lights.h" file:

/////////////////m nm iim im ium m iiium niiiiiii

/ /

h my_lights.li

h

eleven Configuration file for Color Kinetics lights

// used by DirectLights

/ /

// This file was created with the DirectLight GUI Settings vl.O

/ /

muuiju n iu riun n in iiiin uu iun tu u tu mi iinu i

// Load the basic structures

#include "Light_Definitions.h"

// overall gamma

float OVERALL_GAMMA = 1.0;

// what DMX interface do we use?

int DMX_INTERFACE_NUM = 0;

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

/ /

// This is a list of all the real lights in the world

/ /

R«al_Light my lights( ^kax _LIGHTSJ =

you

// PORT NAME TYPE PROYIND AMB DIN GAMMA CUT X Y Z

"Ovorhead", you Go 0, -i. 1,000. 0.400, 1.000, 3.142, 0.000, -X.OOO, 0.000, "Wsft", %* o, 1, -1, 0.000, x.ooo, 1.000, 1.600, -1.000, 0.000, 0.000, "Right", 2 , o, 1, -1, 0.000, x.ooo, 0.800, 1.680, 1.000, 0.000, 0.000, "Baclc", 3, 0, 1, -1, 0.000, 1.000, 1.000, 1.680, 0.000, 0.000, - -1000, "LertCoveO", 4, 0, 1, 0, 0000, 0000, 1000, 0840, -0500, -0300, 0500, •'LeftCovel", 5, 0, 1, 1, 0000, 0000, 1000, 0.840, -0.500, 0.100, 0.500, Hí»t tCov«2", phi. 0, X, -1/ 0.000, 0.000, 1.000, 0.840, -0.500, 0.500, 0.500 "CenterCoveO", T, 0, 1, ~1, 0.000, 0.000, 1.000, 0.840, -0.400, 0.700, 0.500, "CenterCovel", 8* 0, 1, -x, 0.000, 0.000, 1.000, 0.840, -0.200, 0.700, 0.500, "C*nt *rCov*2", 9, 0, 1, -1, 0.000, 0.000, 1.000, 0.840, 0.200, 0.700, 0.500, "CenterCove3", 10, 0, X, -I, 0.000, 0.000, 1000, 0.840, 0.400, 0.700, 0.500 RightCoveO, 11, 0, X, 2, 0.000, 0.000, 1000, 0.840, 0.500, 0.500, 0.500 RightCoval, 12, 0, X, -X, 0.000, 0.000, 1.040, 0.840 , 0.500, ^{0.100, 0.500} "RightCove2", 13, 0, 1, -1, 0.000, 0.000, 1.000, 0.840, 0.500, -0.300, 0.500 } ;

This example file was taken from our offices, where we had lights set up around a computer, with the following lights (referenced to someone sitting at the monitor): An overhead (mostly ambient); one on each side of the head (Left and Right); one behind the head; Three of each along the top, left, and right sides of the monitor facing US.

Each line in the "my_lights" file represents a Real Light. Each instance of Real Light represents, surprising as it may be, a light from the real world.

The bottom lights on the left and right side of the monitor are indicators 0 and 2, the middle light on the left side of the monitor is indicator 1.

Place values are in meters. Z is inside/outside the monitor plane. X is vertical in the monitor plane, Y is horizontal in the monitor plane.

MAXJJGHTS can be as high as 170 for each DMX universe. Each DMX universe is usually a single physical connection to the computer (COM1, for example). The higher MAX_LIGHTS is, the slower the lights will respond, because MAX_LIGHTS determines the size of the buffer sent to DMX (MAX_LIGHTS * 3) Obviously, larger buffers will take longer to send.

OVERALL ^j GAMMA can have a value from 0 - 1. This value is read into DirectLights and can be changed at runtime. This represents the end of the DirectLight API.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with the embodiments shown and described above, the invention is limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A light unit (100), comprising a matrix or grid (2208) of light sources (104), preferably LED-based light sources (104), arranged on a support structure (204), and wherein the support structure is provided with a protective cover ( 2212) on light sources (104), and characterized in that the protective cover (2212) includes spaces (2214) such that light sources are directly visible to a viewer without causing the light to diffuse through the cover (2212). The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the protective cover is a light diffusing cover. The light of any preceding claim, wherein the support structure is a plate. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the board is a circuit board. The lighting unit of claim 3 or 4, wherein the plate is one of a square or a rectangular plate. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the support structure has a plurality of pre-made screw holes for attachment to a wall or other mounting area. The lighting unit of any of claims 3-6, wherein multiple plates are placed side by side, and wherein each plate comprises a similar array of light sources. The lighting unit of any preceding claim, wherein each board comprises a female connector for receiving power and data from a source and a female connector for sending power and data abroad. The lighting unit of claims 7 and 8, wherein the boards are aligned in series and data is passed from a central controller from board to board via the female connectors.