JP7353460B2 - Control design for perceptually uniform color tuning - Google Patents

Description

Claim of priority This application claims the benefit of priority to European patent application no. claims priority to U.S. utility patent application Ser. Incorporated herein by reference.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention features disclosed herein relate to color tuning of one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or LED arrays, including lamps that operate substantially in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. More specifically, the disclosed subject matter relates to techniques that enable, for example, user-controlled design methods and apparatus to produce perceptually uniform color tuning experiences of one or more LEDs or LED arrays. .

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are commonly used in a variety of lighting operations. The appearance of an object's color is determined in part by the spectral power density (SPD) of the light that illuminates the object. When a human views an object, SPD is the relative intensity for various wavelengths within the visible light spectrum. However, other factors can also affect how colors appear. Also, both the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the LED and the distance of the LED's temperature on the CCT from the black-body line (BBL, also known as black-body locus or Plankian locus). can affect human object perception.

Currently, there are two main technologies for color tuning (eg, white tuning, etc.) of LEDs. The first technology is based on two or more CCT white LEDs. The second technique is based on a red/green/blue/amber color combination. The first technique simply does not have the ability to adjust the LED in the _Duv direction. In the second technique, color tuning capabilities are rarely provided as an available feature.

The information set forth in this section is provided to provide context to those skilled in the art for the following disclosed subject matter and is not to be considered as admitted prior art.

According to one embodiment, a controller is provided for color tuning a light emitting diode (LED) array for perceptually uniform color tuning, the controller adjusting by an end user to a desired color temperature of the LED array. a correlated color temperature (CCT) controller configured to generate a color temperature, the CCT controller being further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a desired color temperature; and electrically coupled to the CCT controller. and storing and controlling correlations between mechanical travel ranges of the CCT controller to provide substantially equal increases in a plurality of perceptual CCT values from the LED array based on a set of N predetermined values. a storage device configured to provide a storage device in which the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of the N points is substantially uniform and linear with respect to progressive CCT increases; A set of N predetermined values is calculated such that a color difference is to be generated for humans.

According to another embodiment, a controllable lighting device is provided, the controllable lighting device having at least one unsaturated red LED, at least one unsaturated green LED, and at least one unsaturated blue LED. an LED array and a correlated color temperature (CCT) controller configured to be adjusted by an end user to a desired color temperature of the LED array, and further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the desired color temperature. and a CCT controller electrically coupled to the CCT controller for correlating the range of mechanical movement of the CCT controller to generate a plurality of perceptual signals from the LED array based on a set of N predetermined values. storage device that provides a substantially uniform increase in CCT values, such that the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points among the N points is substantially uniform for progressive CCT increases. a control device including a storage device in which a set of N predetermined values has been calculated to produce a linear perceptual color difference for a human;

According to yet another embodiment, a method of determining a controller point for a correlated color temperature (CCT) tuning curve is provided, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a starting point of the CCT tuning curve; determining a subsequent point of the CCT tuning curve approximately equal to a predetermined distance d in space and a further point of the CCT tuning curve approximately equal to another predetermined distance d in u'v' space from the last determined point; determining a subsequent point; and determining a set of N predetermined values including the determined point, the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of the N points being progressively the N predetermined values are calculated to produce a substantially equal and linear perceptual color difference for a human with respect to CCT increase.

1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) color chart, including the black body line (BBL); FIG. Figure 2 is a chromaticity diagram with approximate chromaticity coordinates of colors for typical red (R), green (G), and blue (B) LEDs, including BBL; . 2A is a revised version of the chromaticity diagram of FIG. 2A, showing approximate colors for R, G, and B LEDs desaturated near the BBL, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter; FIG. An unsaturated R, G, and B LED with degree coordinates has a color rendering index (CRI) of approximately 90+ and within a defined color temperature range. 2A is a revised version of the chromaticity diagram of FIG. 2A, with approximate chromaticity coordinates for unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs near the BBL, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter; FIG. and the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs have a color rendering index (CRI) within a defined color temperature range of about 80+ and wider than the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs of FIG. 2B. are doing. 1 illustrates a prior art color tuning device that requires a hard-wired flux controller and a separate hard-wired CCT controller; FIG. FIG. 3 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a graph showing CCT values as a function of control input value and illustrating the difference between two user control designs, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. FIG. 3 illustrates an illustrative embodiment of a series of selected control points along a BBL, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. 1 is a flowchart of an illustrative method process for determining controller points for a CCT tuning curve. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a machine in an example form of a computing system, in which one or more of the methodologies and operations discussed herein (e.g., determining the next step of a CCT, etc.); can execute a set of instructions to cause a machine to do something.

The disclosed subject matter will now be described in detail with reference to some general and specific embodiments illustrated in various of the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed subject matter may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process steps or structures have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the disclosed subject matter.

Examples of different light illumination systems and/or light emitting diode (LED) implementations and means for controlling their implementation are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These examples are not mutually exclusive, and features found in one example may be combined with features found in one or more other examples to achieve further implementations. Accordingly, it will be understood that the examples shown in the accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way. Like numbers generally refer to like elements throughout.

Additionally, it will be understood that terms such as first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements. However, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms can be used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element can be referred to as a second element, and a second element can be referred to as a first element, without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter. As used herein, the term "and/or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

When an element is described as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it may be directly connected or coupled to the other element and/or may include one or more intervening elements. It will also be understood that it may be connected or coupled to other elements via. In contrast, when an element is described as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intervening elements between that element and the other element. It will be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the elements in addition to any orientation depicted in the figures.

Relative terms such as "below," "above," "above," "below," "horizontal," or "vertical" refer to the reference to one element, zone, or region, as illustrated in the figures. , can be used herein to describe a relationship to another element, zone, or region. Those skilled in the art will understand that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. Additionally, the plurality of LEDs, LED arrays, electrical components, and/or electronic components may be housed on one, two, or more electronic boards, or housed in one or more physical locations. The number of applications may depend on design constraints and/or the particular application.

Semiconductor-based light emitting devices or optical power emitting devices, such as devices that emit ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) optical power, are among the most efficient light sources currently available. These devices may include light emitting diodes, resonant cavity light emitting diodes, vertical cavity laser diodes, edge emitting lasers, or the like (herein simply referred to as LEDs). LEDs can be attractive candidates for many different applications because of their compact size and low power requirements. For example, they may be used as light sources (eg, flashlights and camera flashes) for handheld battery-powered devices such as cameras and cell phones. LEDs can also be used, for example, in automotive lighting, head-up display (HUD) lighting, horticultural lighting, street lighting, video torches, general lighting (e.g., home, store, office, and studio lighting, theater/ stage lighting, architectural lighting, etc.), augmented reality (AR) lighting, virtual reality (VR) lighting as backlighting for displays, and IR spectroscopy. A single LED may provide less bright light than an incandescent light source, so a multi-junction device or array of LEDs (monolithic LED array, micro LED array, etc.) may be used if enhanced luminous intensity is desired. Or it can be used for any required purpose.

In the various environments in which LED-based lamps (or associated lighting devices) are used to illuminate objects, as well as for general illumination, in addition to the lamp's relative luminous intensity (e.g., luminous flux, etc.), multiple It may be desirable to control aspects of the color temperature of an LED-based lamp (or a single LED-based lamp). Such environments may include, for example, retail locations as well as hospitality locations such as restaurants. In addition to CCT, another lamp metric is the lamp's Color Rendering Index (CRI). CRI is defined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) and is a quantitative measure of the ability of any light source (including LEDs) to accurately represent color in various objects compared to an ideal or natural light source. I will provide a. The highest possible CRI value is 100. Another quantitative ramp metric is D _uv . D _uv is a metric defined, for example, by CIE 1960, to represent the distance of a color point to the BBL. If the color point is above the BBL, it is a positive value; if the color point is below the BBL, it is a negative value. Color points above BBL are greenish, and color points below BBL are pinkish. The disclosed subject matter provides an apparatus for controlling color temperature (CCT and D _uv ) in a smooth and visually pleasing tuning experience. As described herein, color temperature is related to both CCT and D _uv in color tuning applications.

As is known in the related art, the forward voltage of direct color LEDs decreases with increasing dominant wavelength. These LEDs can be driven with multi-channel DC-DC converters, for example. Advanced phosphor-converted color LEDs targeted for high efficacy and CRI have been created, offering new possibilities for correlated color temperature (CCT) tuning applications. Some advanced color LEDs have dots of unsaturated color that can be blended to achieve white color with a CRI of 90+ over a wide CCT range. Other LEDs with 80+ CRI implementations, or 70+ CRI implementations (or even lower CRI values) may also be used with the disclosed invention features. These possibilities use LED circuits that realize and increase or maximize this potential. At the same time, the control device described herein is compatible with single channel constant current drivers to facilitate market penetration.

An advantage of the disclosed subject matter over the prior art is that the unsaturated red-green-blue (RGB) LED approach, described in detail below, can be used both on and off the BBL, as well as on the BBL, e.g. ) on an isothermal CCT line, tunable light can be created while maintaining a high CRI. In comparison, various other prior art systems utilize CCT approaches in which the adjustable color point lies in a straight line between the two primary colors of the LED (e.g., RG, RB, or GB). We are using.

Overall, color tuning is an integral part of human-centric lighting. Advanced LED-based systems, such as unsaturated RGB LED approaches and associated control techniques, offer lighting specifiers and end users new possibilities in lighting control. In addition to wide range CCT tuning, the user will be able to vary the tint of the white light along the iso-CCT line as the end user finds comfort. For example, the Lumileds® proprietary Luxeon® Fusion system is an ideal candidate for various types of color-tunable applications with its wide tuning range on a single platform (Lumileds® ) The Luxeon® Fusion system is manufactured by Lumileds LLC, 370 West Trimble Road, San Jose, California 95131, USA). One aspect of human-centric lighting is the ability to simultaneously change correlated color temperature and light intensity. The disclosed subject matter is directed to a user-controlled design paradigm that creates a perceptually uniform color tuning experience.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the international A portion of a Commission on Illumination (CIE) color chart 100 is shown. BBL 101 shows chromaticity coordinates for blackbody radiators at various temperatures. It is generally agreed that in most lighting situations, the light source should have chromaticity coordinates that are on or near the BBL 101. The "nearest" blackbody radiator is determined using various mathematical procedures known in the art. As mentioned above, this common lamp specification parameter is called correlated color temperature (CCT). A useful and complementary way to further describe chromaticity is provided by the D _uv value, which is the extent to which the chromaticity coordinate of the lamp _is above BBL101 (positive D _uv value) or the extent to which it is below BBL101. (negative D _uv value).

A portion of the color chart is shown including a number of isotherms 117. Although each of these lines is not on BBL 101, any color point on isotherm 117 has a constant CCT. For example, first isotherm 117A has a CCT of 10,000K, second isotherm 117B has a CCT of 5,000K, third isotherm 117C has a CCT of 3,000K, The fourth isotherm 117D has a CCT of 2,200K.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the CIE color chart 100 also shows a number of ellipses representing a MacAdam ellipse (MAE) 103 centered on the BBL 101 and one step 105 in distance from the BBL 101; 3 steps 107, 5 steps 109, or 7 steps 111 spread. MAE is based on psychometric studies and defines a region on the CIE chromaticity diagram that contains all colors that are indistinguishable to a typical observer from the color at the center of the ellipse. Thus, each of MAE steps 105 to 111 (steps 1 to 7) appears to a typical viewer to be substantially the same color as the color at the respective center of MAE 103. A series of curves 115A, 115B, 115C, and 115D represent substantially equal distances from BBL 101, e.g., D of +0.006, +0.003, 0, -0.003, and -0.006, respectively. Related to _uv values.

Referring now to FIG. 2A and with continued reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2A shows a diagram of a red (R) LED at coordinate 205, a green (G) LED at coordinate 201, and a blue (B) LED at coordinate 203. A chromaticity diagram 200 is shown with approximate chromaticity coordinates of colors for typical coordinate values (shown on the xy scale of chromaticity diagram 200). FIG. 2A shows an example of a chromaticity diagram 200 for defining a wavelength spectrum of a visible light source, according to some embodiments. The chromaticity diagram 200 of FIG. 2A is only one method of defining the wavelength spectrum of a visible light source; other suitable methods of determining are known in the art and the disclosed invention described herein. It can also be used with various embodiments of particularities.

A convenient way to identify a portion of the chromaticity diagram 200 is through a collection of equations in the xy plane, each equation having a locus of solutions that defines a line on the chromaticity diagram 200. . The lines can intersect to identify specific regions, as described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2B. Alternatively, a white light source can emit light that corresponds to light from a blackbody source operating at a given color temperature.

The chromaticity diagram 200 also shows the BBL 101 described above with reference to FIG. Each of the three LED coordinate locations 201, 203, 205 is a CCT coordinate for a respective "fully saturated" green, blue, and red LED. However, when "white light" is produced by combining certain proportions of R, G, and B LEDs, the CRI of such a combination may be extremely low. Typically, a CRI of about 90 or higher is desired in such environments, such as retail locations or hospitality locations.

FIG. 2B shows a revised version of the chromaticity diagram 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, showing approximate colors for unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs near the BBL. An unsaturated R, G, and B LED with degree coordinates has a color rendering index (CRI) of approximately 90+ and within a defined color temperature range.

However, the chromaticity diagram 250 of FIG. 2B shows approximate chromaticity coordinates for unsaturated (pastel) R, G, and B LEDs near the BBL 101. The coordinate values (shown on the xy scale of chromaticity diagram 250) are unsaturated red (R) LED at coordinate 255, unsaturated green (G) LED at coordinate 253, and unsaturated blue LED at coordinate 251. (B) Shown for LED. In various embodiments, the color temperature range of unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a range of about 1800K to about 2500K. In other embodiments, the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a color temperature range of about 2700K to about 6500K, for example. In yet other embodiments, the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a color temperature range of about 1800K to about 7500K. In yet other embodiments, unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be selected to fall within a wide color temperature range. As mentioned above, the color rendering index (CRI) of a light source does not indicate the apparent color of the light source; that information is provided by the correlated color temperature (CCT). Therefore, CRI is a quantitative measure of a light source's ability to faithfully reveal the colors of various objects compared to an ideal or natural light source.

In certain illustrative embodiments, a triangle 257 is also shown formed between each of the coordinate values for the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs. The unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs have coordinates near the BBL 101 (e.g., a mixture of phosphors and/or materials to form the LEDs as known in the art). formed by mixing). Accordingly, the coordinate locations of each unsaturated R, G, and B LED, as outlined by triangle 257, have a CRI of about 90 or greater, e.g., from about 2700K to about 6500K. It has an adjustable color temperature range of approx. Accordingly, the selection of correlated color temperatures (CCTs) can be made in the color tuning applications described herein such that all combinations of selected CCTs result in lamps with CRIs of 90 or greater. Each of the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may include a single LED or an array (or group) of LEDs, where each LED in the array or group is the same as the other LEDs in the array or group. or have a similar unsaturated color. A combination of one or more unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs comprises a lamp.

FIG. 2C shows a revised version of the chromaticity diagram 200 of FIG. 2A, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, showing approximate colors for unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs near the BBL. degree coordinates, the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs have a color rendering index (CRI) within a defined color temperature range of approximately 80+ and wider than the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs of FIG. )have.

However, the chromaticity diagram 270 of FIG. 2C provides approximate chromaticity coordinates for unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs located further from BBL 101 than the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs of FIG. 2B. It shows. For an unsaturated red (R) LED at coordinate 275, an unsaturated green (G) LED at coordinate 273, and an unsaturated blue (B) LED at coordinate 271, (as shown on the xy scale of chromaticity diagram 270) ) coordinate values are shown. In various embodiments, the color temperature range of unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a range of about 1800K to about 2500K. In other embodiments, the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a color temperature range of about 2700K to about 6500K. In yet other embodiments, the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may be within a color temperature range of about 1800K to about 7500K.

In certain illustrative embodiments, a triangle 277 is also shown formed between each of the coordinate values for the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs. The unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs have coordinates near the BBL 101 (e.g., a mixture of phosphors and/or materials to form the LEDs as known in the art). formed by mixing). Accordingly, the coordinate locations of each unsaturated R, G, and B LED, as outlined by triangle 277, have a CRI of about 80 or greater, e.g., from about 1800K to about 7500K. It has an adjustable color temperature range of approx. Since the color temperature range is wider than the range shown in FIG. 2B, the CRI is proportionally reduced to about 80 or higher. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs can be produced with individual color temperatures anywhere within the chromaticity diagram. Therefore, the selection of correlated color temperatures (CCTs) can be made in the color tuning applications described herein such that all combinations of selected CCTs result in lamps with a CRI of 80 or greater. Each of the unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs may include a single LED or an array (or group) of LEDs, where each LED in the array or group is the same as the other LEDs in the array or group. or have a similar unsaturated color. A combination of one or more unsaturated R, G, and B LEDs comprises a lamp.

FIG. 3 shows a prior art color tuning device 300 that uses a hardwired flux controller 301 and a separate hardwired CCT controller 303. The flux control device 301 is coupled to a single channel driver circuit 305 and the CCT control device is coupled to a combination LED drive circuit/LED array 320. The LED drive circuit/LED array combination 320 may be a current driver circuit, a PWM driver circuit, or a hybrid current driver/PWM driver circuit. Each of the flux control unit 301, CCT control unit 303, and single channel drive circuit 305 are located within customer facility 310, and all equipment is generally compatible with applicable national and local regulations governing high voltage circuits. shall be installed in accordance with the regulations. The LED drive circuit/LED array combination 320 is typically located remotely (eg, from several meters to tens of meters or more) from customer equipment 310. Therefore, both the initial purchase price and the installation cost can be substantial.

Therefore, in conventional color tunable systems operating from a single channel constant current driver, two control inputs are typically required, one for flux control (e.g. flux or dimming) and the other for flux control (e.g. flux or dimming). This is for color tuning. Control inputs can be realized by electromechanical devices, such as linear or rotary sliders, DIP switches, or standard 0V to 10V dimmers.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative embodiment of a graph 400 showing CCT values as a function of control input values and illustrating the difference between two user control designs, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. . The results of the two user-controlled designs are shown as two graph curves. The user control device used to adjust the CCT value may be the same or similar to CCT control device 303 of FIG. 3, and for a second user control design, as described below. Appropriate modifications will be made.

As known to those skilled in the art, CCT is often used to describe the chromaticity of white light sources. However, as mentioned above, chromaticity is a two-dimensional value, and the other dimension of distance from the BBL is often missing. D _uv is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard. Therefore, the two numbers (x, y) or (u', v') of chromaticity coordinates do not intuitively convey color information. CCT and _Duv convey complete color information.

Furthermore, unit steps in CCT values do not result in uniform perception in color. This is corroborated by Table 1 below, extracted from ANSI C78.377 (2015). The tolerance in CCT gradually increases as the value of CCT increases. Therefore, if a user control representing a CCT value is mapped linearly to a CCT value, most visible changes will occur during the beginning of the CCT controller range (e.g. at the beginning of the slider range), and thus , not linear as expected.

Referring again to FIG. 4, non-uniform mapping curve 403 maps uniformly spaced CCT values based on a given user control input. The user control input relates to the desired CCT value. However, two equal intervals on the user control do not equal approximately equal differences in CCT space. That is, the nonuniform mapping curve 403 has equal steps between adjacent points on the CCT controller (e.g., from a first level of 16 units to a second level of 32 units to a third level of 48 units). , up to a fourth level of 64 units, etc. (where the units are arbitrary but equally spaced). However, equal steps result in non-uniform increases in perceptual CCT values.

Uniform mapping curve 401 maps selected CCT values to equal intervals on the user control. That is, the uniform mapping curve 401 has unequal steps between adjacent points on the CCT controller (e.g., from a first level of 3 units to a second level of 6 units to a third level of 10 units). , up to a fourth level of 13 units, etc. (where the units are arbitrary but unequal intervals). However, unequal steps result in approximately uniform increases in perceptual CCT values.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in FIG. 4, the majority of points of uniform mapping curve 401 are concentrated within approximately the first quarter of the curve (e.g., from a control input value of about 0 to a control input value of about 340 units). will be easily understood. As the control input value increases, the distance between subsequent points on the uniform mapping curve 401 increases (the distance between subsequent points on the curve increases). Therefore, when an end user changes an input control device (e.g., the CCT control device of FIG. 3), the color temperature of the LED or LED array coupled to the input control changes rapidly at the bottom of the control device, and then The color temperature of the LED or LED array then changes very slowly. This non-linear situation creates a varied experience for the end user, where the higher the color temperature, the more difficult it becomes to control precisely.

The non-uniform mapping curve 403 provides the end user with a smooth and visually pleasing tuning experience. For example, as an end user moves a small distance at the beginning of a linear motion of a slider, eg, including a modified version of CCT controller 303, the color temperature of the LED increases by a given amount. As the end user moves the slider approximately the same small distance toward the end of the linear motion, the perceptual color difference in the color temperature of the LEDs increases by approximately the same given amount as at the beginning of the slider range.

A method for finding appropriate slider increments to achieve a smooth and visually pleasing tuning experience, and a modified version of the CCT controller of FIG. 3 in accordance with the disclosed subject matter is described below. Therefore, it is considered that there are N points on the CCT tuning curve between two given CCT values. As outlined below, the N points are calculated such that the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points is substantially equal.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a series of selected control points 500 substantially along a BBL 501, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The selected control points on BBL 501 represent points on the CCT tuning curve described above. For example, the portion of selected control points shown 503 is within the range of about 6500K to about 3000K. However, the selected control point does not need to be on BBL 501. For example, in various embodiments, the selected control point may be near the BBL, such as within the selected MacAdam ellipse (see FIG. 1) or across a selected extent of the MacAdam ellipse.

The end user control interface, such as a control device including a slider or dial, then has a range of movement linearly mapped to the calculated N points. In one embodiment, the linearly mapped movement range is then stored in the CCT controller (e.g., stored in a storage area such as memory and/or programmed in software, hardware, or firmware). ). In another embodiment, the linearly mapped range of movement may alternatively be stored, for example in a remote controller box or an LED array (e.g. stored in a storage area such as memory and/or in a software , hardware, or firmware). In both embodiments, a storage device is electrically coupled, internally or externally, to the CCT controller and correlates mechanical movement of the CCT controller to generate perceptual output from one or more LEDs or LED arrays. Provides a substantially even increase in CCT values. In either case, the N calculated CCT points can be generated, for example, in CIE 1976 space. The CIE 1976 color space is considered a perceptually uniform color space. The same Euclidean distance in this space is considered perceptually equivalent.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a flowchart 600 of an exemplary method process for determining controller points for a CCT tuning curve is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, calculations begin at operation 601 by choosing a starting point for a CCT tuning curve (eg, a color temperature on the BBL line). In operation 603, subsequent points on the CCT tuning curve are considered approximately equal to the desired distance d in u'v' space. In operation 605, the exemplary method moves to the last determined point and another subsequent point is determined that is again approximately equal to the desired distance d in u'v' space. In operation 607, the exemplary method is repeated until N points are obtained or the tuning range is exhausted.

In order to find a point at a fixed distance (e.g., a desired or predetermined distance, etc.), an intercept is made between the CCT tuning curve and a circle of radius d in the u'v' color space (see, e.g., Fig. 5, etc.). Interception points can be calculated analytically. Alternatively, the CCT tuning curve can be converted to u'v' coordinates with a sufficiently high resolution and then all points on the CCT tuning curve can be traversed.

All points that match or nearly match the criterion, including the first point, are then listed as output to be used in a user control (eg, a CCT controller). Accordingly, after the N points are obtained, the range of user-controlled movement is linearly mapped to the N points in operation 609. For example, if the user-controlled movement range is 256 discrete steps and the number N of points is 64, each interval of 4 is assigned a CCT value from the determined N point values.

In an exemplary embodiment, the algorithm used to make the CCT transition linear or substantially linear includes, for example, starting from an initial point and determining the next point at a specified distance. . Once the next point is found at the specified distance, the algorithm advances to the point just found and then determines the next point at the specified distance. All points matching the criteria, including the first point, are then put into a list as output.

Therefore, the algorithm generates points on the BBL as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The same principle can be applied to other desired types of curves. In one specific illustrative embodiment, the algorithm used to linearize the CCT transition is as follows:

It can be expressed as:

Those skilled in the art, upon reading and understanding the disclosed invention specification, will recognize additional algorithms that may be utilized to provide the same or similar results. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that similar types of algorithms can be encoded in software, firmware, or implemented in various types of hardware devices, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or dedicated processors or controllers. You will realize that you can do it. The results from the algorithm (output list above) can then be applied to the controller (e.g., stored as software in the controller) to the CCT controller to direct the movement of the device to the desired CCT. a processor that is hard-coded in the controller to correlate device movement to the desired CCT value; implemented in an ASIC in the controller to correlate device movement to the desired CCT value; or other types of hardware (e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) within the controller) to correlate device movement to a desired CCT value, or as known in the art. (and can be done by other means, which will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 7).

Machine for Performing Various Operations in Response to Instructions FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 700, according to some embodiments, in which a machine-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable Instructions can be read from a medium, such as a machine-readable storage medium, a computer-readable storage medium, or any suitable combination thereof, to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine 700 in an example form of a computer system, in which one or more of the methodologies (e.g., process recipes, etc.) discussed herein are implemented. Instructions 724 (eg, software, programs, applications, applets, apps, or other executable code, etc.) may be executed to cause machine 700 to perform operations.

In alternative embodiments, machine 700 may operate as a standalone device or be connected (eg, networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, machine 700 can operate as a server or client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. Machine 700 can be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a smart phone, a web appliance, a network router. , a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of sequentially executing the instructions 724, where the instructions otherwise specify an action to be taken by the machine. Further, although only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" refers to the machines that individually or jointly execute instructions 724 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. It should also be interpreted as including sets.

The machine 700 includes a processor 702 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC)), or the like. a main memory 704 , and a static memory 706 configured to communicate with each other via a bus 708 . Some or all of the instructions 724 may temporarily or permanently cause the processor 702 to be configured, in whole or in part, to perform any one or more of the methodologies described herein. Processor 702 may include microcircuits that are configurable. For example, a set of one or more microcircuits of processor 702 may be configurable to execute one or more modules (eg, software modules, etc.) described herein.

Machine 700 may further include a graphics display 710 (eg, a plasma display panel (PDP), light emitting diode (LED) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), projector, cathode ray tube (CRT), etc.). The machine 700 also includes an alphanumeric input device 712 (e.g., a keyboard, etc.), a cursor control device 714 (e.g., a mouse, touch pad, trackball, joystick, motion sensor, or other pointing device, etc.), a storage unit 716, a signal A generating device 718 (eg, a speaker, etc.) and a network interface device 720 may also be included.

Storage unit 716 includes a machine-readable medium 722 (e.g., a tangible and/or non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, etc.) upon which any one of the methodologies or functions described herein may be implemented. Instructions 724 are stored that implement one or more of the following. Instructions 724 may also reside wholly or at least partially within main memory 704, within processor 702 (eg, within a cache memory of the processor), or both during their execution by machine 700. Accordingly, main memory 704 and processor 702 may be considered machine-readable media (eg, tangible and/or non-transitory machine-readable media). Instructions 724 may be sent or received over network 726 via network interface device 720 . For example, network interface device 720 can communicate instructions 724 using any one or more transfer protocols (eg, hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.).

In some embodiments, machine 700 may be a portable computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet computer, and may have one or more additional input components (eg, sensors or gauges, etc.). Examples of such further input components include an image input component (e.g., one or more cameras, etc.), an audio input component (e.g., a microphone, etc.), a directional input component (e.g., a compass, etc.), a position input component (e.g., , a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, etc.), an orientation component (e.g., a gyroscope, etc.), a motion sensing component (e.g., one or more accelerometers, etc.), an altitude sensing component (e.g., an altimeter, etc.), and a gas detection component. components (eg, gas sensors, etc.). Input obtained by any one or more of these input components may be accessible and usable by any of the modules described herein.

As used herein, the term "memory" refers to a machine-readable medium that can temporarily or permanently store data, including random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), It may be construed to include, but is not limited to, buffer memory, flash memory, and cache memory. Although machine-readable medium 722 is shown to be a single medium in one embodiment, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to a single medium or multiple media that can store instructions. (eg, centralized or distributed databases, or associated caches and servers, etc.). The term "machine-readable medium" also means that instructions, when executed by one or more processors (e.g., processor 702, etc.) of a machine, perform any one or more of the methodologies described herein. It should be construed to include any medium or combination of media that can store instructions for execution by a machine (eg, machine 700, etc.) to cause the machine to perform. Accordingly, "machine-readable medium" refers to a single storage device or storage device as well as "cloud-based" storage systems or storage networks that include multiple storage devices or storage devices. Accordingly, the term "machine-readable medium" refers to one or more tangible (e.g., non-transitory) data repositories in the form of solid-state memory, optical media, magnetic media, or any suitable combination thereof. shall be construed to include, but not be limited to.

Additionally, machine-readable media are non-transitory in that they do not embody a propagated signal. However, labeling a tangible machine-readable medium as "non-transitory" should not be construed to mean that the medium is not removable. That is, it should be considered that the media can be transported from one physical location to another. Additionally, because a machine-readable medium is tangible, the medium can be considered a machine-readable device.

Instructions 724 are further directed to network 726 (e.g., a communications network) using a transmission medium through network interface device 720 and utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., HTTP, etc.). may be transmitted or received on Examples of communication networks include local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet, cellular networks, POTS networks, and wireless data networks (eg, WiFi and WiMAX networks, etc.). The term "transmission medium" shall be construed to include any intangible medium that can store, encode, or carry instructions for execution by a machine and that facilitates the communication of such software. including digital or analog communication signals or other intangible media to facilitate.

In some example embodiments, hardware modules may be implemented, for example, mechanically or electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic permanently configured to perform a particular operation. A hardware module may be or include a special purpose processor, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Hardware modules may also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured by software to perform specific operations. As an example, a hardware module may include software contained within a central processing unit (CPU) or other programmable processor. The decision to implement a hardware module mechanically, electrically, in dedicated permanently configured circuits, or in temporarily configured circuits (e.g., configured by software) is costly and time consuming. It will be correctly understood that it can be driven by taking into account.

In various embodiments, many of the described components may include one or more modules configured to perform the functionality disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the module includes a software module (e.g., code stored on or otherwise embodied in a machine-readable medium or transmission medium), a hardware Modules, or any suitable combination thereof, may be configured. "Hardware module" means a tangible (e.g., non-transitory) physical component (e.g., one or more microprocessors or other hardware components) capable of performing a particular operation and interpreting particular signals. (a set of hardware-based devices, etc.). One or more modules may be configured or arranged in a particular physical manner. In various embodiments, one or more microprocessors or one or more hardware modules thereof can be configured by software (e.g., an application or portion thereof) as a hardware module, and the hardware module , is operative to perform the operations described herein for that module.

In some example embodiments, hardware modules may be implemented, for example, mechanically or electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, a hardware module may include dedicated circuitry or logic permanently configured to perform a particular operation. As mentioned above, the hardware module may comprise or include a special purpose processor such as an FPGA or ASIC. The hardware module may also be temporarily configured by the software to perform certain operations, such as the range of movement being mapped linearly to the calculated N points on the color tuning device (see, e.g., Figures 5 and 6). may include programmable logic or circuitry configured in a

The above description includes illustrative examples, apparatus, systems, and methods embodying the disclosed subject matter. In the above description, numerous specific details have been set forth for purposes of explanation and to provide an understanding of the various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention specification may be practiced without these specific details. Additionally, well-known structures, materials, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the various illustrated embodiments.

As used herein, the term "or" may be interpreted in an inclusive or exclusive sense. Additionally, other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the provided disclosure. Furthermore, upon reading and understanding the disclosure provided herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the various combinations of techniques and examples provided herein can all be applied in various combinations. It turns out.

Although various embodiments are discussed separately, these separate embodiments are not intended to be considered independent technologies or designs. As noted above, each of the various parts may be interrelated, and each may be used separately or in combination with other types of electrical control equipment, such as dimmers and related equipment. good. Thus, although various embodiments of methods, acts, and processes have been described, these methods, acts, and processes may be used separately or in various combinations.

Accordingly, many modifications and changes may be practiced, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the disclosure provided herein. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatus within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in or substituted for other embodiments. Such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to enable the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims. Additionally, in the detailed description above, it will be appreciated that various features may be grouped together in a single embodiment in order to simplify the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims (24)

A control device for color adjusting a light emitting diode (LED) array for perceptually uniform color tuning, the control device comprising:
a correlated color temperature (CCT) controller configured to be adjusted by an end user to a desired color temperature of the LED array, the end user control interface of the CCT controller being mechanically moved by the end user; a CCT controller further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the desired color temperature;
a set of N points determined as points on a CCT tuning curve ; a storage device configured to provide a substantially equal increase in a plurality of perceptual CCT values from the LED array based on predetermined values of the set of N predetermined values; Based on the number of discrete steps in the mechanical movement range of the end-user control interface of the CCT controller, the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of said N points is determined by the gradual CCT increase. the set of N predetermined values is calculated, and the storage device is configured to select the mapped CCT values to substantially equal intervals on the CCT controller to produce a substantially uniform mapping curve with unequal step distances between adjacent values of the N predetermined values; a storage device further configured to;
control device including. The set of N predetermined values is determined as a point on a CCT tuning curve between two given CCT values, and the set of N predetermined values is determined as a point on a CCT tuning curve between two given CCT values; and the unequal step distances are selected to reduce non-uniform changes in the perceptual CCT values as the level of the CCT controller changes. The control device according to claim 1. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to lie substantially along a black body line. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to exist substantially near a blackbody line. 5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to lie substantially near a black body line and within a selected MacAdam ellipse. 5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to lie substantially near the blackbody line and within a selected range of the MacAdam ellipse. 2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the LED array includes at least one LED for each of three selected colors of light within the visible portion of the spectrum. 2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the LED array is a multicolor array including a plurality of LEDs of different colors. 8. The control device of claim 7, wherein the colors of LEDs in the multicolor array of LEDs include at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED. 8. The control device of claim 7, wherein the multicolor array of LEDs includes at least one unsaturated red LED, at least one unsaturated green LED, and at least one unsaturated blue LED. 2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the CCT control device includes a 0 volt to 10 volt dimming device. A controllable lighting device,
an LED array having at least one unsaturated red LED, at least one unsaturated green LED, and at least one unsaturated blue LED;
a correlated color temperature (CCT) controller configured to be adjusted by an end user to a desired color temperature of the LED array, the end user control interface of the CCT controller being mechanically moved by the end user; a CCT controller further configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the desired color temperature, and electrically coupled to the CCT controller to control the mechanical a substantially uniform increase in perceptual CCT values from said LED array based on a set of N predetermined values determined as points on a CCT tuning curve, storing and controlling correlations between ranges of movement; a storage device configured to provide a perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of said N points that is substantially uniform and linear perceptually with respect to gradual CCT increases; The set of N predetermined values is calculated such that a color difference of 100% is generated for humans, and the storage device stores the selected CCT values on the CCT controller. a storage device further configured to map substantially equal intervals to produce a substantially uniform mapping curve having unequal step distances between adjacent values of the N predetermined values; ,
a control device including;
controllable lighting devices including; The set of N predetermined values is determined as a point on a CCT tuning curve between two given CCT values, and the set of N predetermined values is determined as a point on a CCT tuning curve between two given CCT values; and the unequal step distances are selected to reduce non-uniform changes in the perceptual CCT values as the level of the CCT controller changes. 13. A controllable lighting device according to claim 12. The LED array having at least one unsaturated red LED, at least one unsaturated green LED, and at least one unsaturated blue LED is configured to have a color temperature range of about 2700K to about 6500K. Controllable lighting device according to item 12. 13. The controllable lighting device of claim 12, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to lie substantially along a blackbody line. 13. The controllable lighting device of claim 12, wherein the set of N predetermined values are determined to lie substantially near the blackbody line and within a selected range of the MacAdam ellipse. A method for determining a point on a correlated color temperature (CCT) tuning curve that corresponds to a mechanical travel range of an end user control interface of a CCT controller, the method comprising:
selecting a starting point for the CCT tuning curve;
determining a subsequent point on the CCT tuning curve approximately equal to a predetermined distance d in u'v'space;
determining a further subsequent point of the CCT tuning curve approximately equal to another predetermined distance d in the u'v' space from the last determined point;
determining a set of N predetermined values including the determined points, wherein the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of the N points is such that the perceptual color difference between two adjacent points of the N points is the set of N predetermined values is calculated to produce a substantially uniform and linear perceptual color difference for humans; and mapping the values to substantially equal intervals on the CCT controller to produce a substantially uniform mapping curve having unequal step distances between adjacent values of the N predetermined values. The steps are further determined.
A method for determining points for a CCT tuning curve, including: 18. The method of determining a point for a CCT tuning curve according to claim 17, wherein the starting point is selected to be on the blackbody line. 18. The method of determining points for a CCT tuning curve according to claim 17, wherein the starting point is selected to be substantially near the blackbody line and within a selected MacAdam ellipse. further comprising repeating the determining step until a range of movement to one or more endpoints is obtained, the step further comprising obtaining the set of N predetermined values and adjusting the CCT tuning curve. 18. The method of determining points for a CCT tuning curve as recited in claim 17, comprising covering a range. 18. The step of determining a point at a predetermined distance d comprises analytically calculating an intercept point between the CCT tuning curve and a circle of radius d in the u'v' color space. A method of determining points for the described CCT tuning curve. The step of determining a point at a predetermined distance d comprises:
converting the CCT tuning curve into u'v'coordinates;
then traversing all points on the CCT tuning curve;
18. The method of determining points for a CCT tuning curve as recited in claim 17, further comprising: Points for a CCT tuning curve according to claim 17, further comprising storing all determined points including the first selected starting point in a list as an output to be used in a CCT controller. How to determine. 24. The method of determining points for a CCT tuning curve as recited in claim 23, further comprising linearly mapping a mechanical travel range of an end user control interface of the CCT controller to all of the determined points.

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