Abstract: An illumination system verifies whether one or more aspects of an output signal provided by a photosensitive transducer fall within a threshold of an expected value for the aspect. The aspect may include a sunrise time, a sunset time, a dawn time, a dusk time, a solar noon time, a solar midnight time, or similar. Upon verification the illumination system uses a microcontroller to adjust one or more output parameters of a solid-state light source responsive to the output signal provided by the photosensitive transducer. Where verification is not possible, the illumination system uses the microcontroller to adjust one or more output parameters of the solid-state light source responsive to a schedule.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the perception of flicker of solid state light sources. An alternating current (AC) signal is passed through an AC conditioning circuit and a passive resonating circuit before being supplied to a string of solid state light sources, such as light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a solid state retrofit lighting or illumination system from electrostatic discharge damage caused by charge induced onto conductive surfaces of the lighting or illumination system.

Abstract: A power converter output stage provides acceptable current matching between sets or strings of solid state light sources (e.g., LEDs) with different forward voltages, and protects the sets or strings from excessive over-current in the case of a light source failing as a short. The sets or strings are electrically coupled across respective inductors of a secondary of a transformer, the sets or strings not electrically in parallel with one another. The secondary of the transformer essentially self balances. The embodiments described employ an LLC resonator converter topology, but could be implemented as part of a Flyback, LLC resonator or other switch mode topology.

Abstract: An illumination system correlates solar time to a clock and controls lighting or illumination based on time. The illumination system may turn ON light source(s) at a first level at a turn ON time, correlated to be around or at dusk, and turn OFF light source(s) at a turn OFF time, correlated to be around or at dawn. The illumination system may reduce a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. Turn ON, turn OFF, decrease and increase times may be determined based on recent levels of light or illumination in the environment, for example via average or median levels over a number of previous daily cycles. Filtering may eliminate aberrant events.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a remotely adjustable lighting system. The lighting system includes a luminaire including one or more solid-state light systems and a non-line-of-sight wireless transceiver. The output intensity of the solid-state light systems is adjustable. The non-line-of-sight transceiver in the luminaire can receive one or more non-line-of-sight wireless signals transmitted by a transceiver in a general purpose handheld computing device. Instructions and data including configuration and output intensity adjustments may be communicated between the general purpose handheld computing device and the luminaire via one or more non-line-of-sight wireless signals.

Abstract: An illumination system reduces a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. A control subsystem can determine when to increase the level of light based on a predicted time when the light source will be turned OFF. The control subsystem may determine an average or median length of time that the light source has been turned on for a number of recent daily cycles. A control subsystem may be an integral part of a luminaire or may be a retrofit.

Abstract: An illumination system and methods to control a light source are provided. An illumination system includes a light source, a two-dimensional non-Passive Infrared (non-PIR) imager, and a controller. The light source may provide at least two levels of illumination. The non-PIR imager images an area and to produce image data representative of images across at least part of a visible portion of an electromagnetic spectrum. The controller is communicatively coupled to receive the image data from the non-PIR imager and process the received image data to detect at least one object in the area of a defined type of object. The controller is also coupled to control operation of the light source based on, at least in part, detection of the ambient characteristic of the environment. Alternatively, one or more components of a system may be used to monitor traffic, with or without active illumination.

Abstract: An illumination system correlates solar time to a clock and controls lighting or illumination based on time. The illumination system may turn ON light source(s) at a first level at a turn ON time, correlated to be around or at dusk, and turn OFF light source(s) at a turn OFF time, correlated to be around or at dawn. The illumination system may reduce a level of light output, and hence power consumption, at a time after turning ON a light source, and increases the level of light output at a time prior to turning OFF the light source. Turn ON, turn OFF, decrease and increase times may be determined based on recent levels of light or illumination in the environment, for example via average or median levels over a number of previous daily cycles. Filtering may eliminate aberrant events.

Abstract: A solid-state lighting device has user-engageable actuator physically manipulable by a user and accessible from an exterior of the device to adjust an amount of light output. The user-engageable actuator may take the form of a knob, slider, lever, or other manipulable surface or structure. The user-engageable actuator may extend partially or fully from a housing, or alternatively be recessed or otherwise within the housing with access provided via an aperture, slot or opening. Access may be directly by the user (e.g., finger) or via a tool (e.g., screw driver, Allen wrench, socket) manipulated by the user. The actuator may form part of an adjustment component (e.g., potentiometer, rheostat) which supplies an adjustable output to a drive circuit or electronics. The adjustment component may be electrically coupled to either a primary or secondary side of a transformer, which forms part of a power converter (e.g., flyback).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a remotely adjustable lighting system with security features. The lighting system includes a lamp (e.g., luminaire) which carries solid-state light sources and a sensor. The solid-state light sources emit visible light at an adjustable output intensity. The sensor is responsive to line-of-sight wireless signals, and the lamp increases and decreases the output intensity of the light sources in response to output signals of the sensor. The lamp provides security features by selectively accepting and rejecting instructions carried by the line-of-sight wireless signals to vary the output intensity of the light sources.

Abstract: The efficiency and color contrast of a lighting device may be improved by using wavelength shifting material, such as a phosphor, to absorb less desired wavelengths and transmit more desired wavelengths. A double-notch reflective filter may pass desired wavelengths such as red and green, while returning or reflecting less desired wavelengths (blue and yellow) away from an optical exit back toward wavelength shifting material and re-emitted as light of more desirable wavelengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the perception of flicker of solid state light sources. An alternating current (AC) signal is passed through an AC conditioning circuit and a passive resonating circuit before being supplied to a string of solid state light sources, such as light emitting diodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a solid state retrofit lighting or illumination system from electrostatic discharge damage caused by charge induced onto conductive surfaces of the lighting or illumination system.

Abstract: The efficiency and color temperature of a lighting device may be improved by using wavelength shifting material, such as a phosphor, to absorb less desired wavelengths and transmit more desired wavelengths. A reflective filter (e.g., dichroic or dielectric mirror material) may pass desired wavelengths while returning or reflecting less desired wavelengths away from an optical exit back toward wavelength shifting material which may either be disposed in the optical path or on the periphery of the light source.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat dissipation for a luminaire comprises an active heat transfer device and a thermally-conductive housing. The active heat transfer device causes turbulence in an ambient fluid. The thermally-conductive housing includes a cavity and a first end. The cavity is structured for an electronic ballast of the luminaire to be housed therein and thermally attached to an interior surface of the housing to allow the housing to absorb at least a portion of heat generated by the electronic ballast. The first end is structured for the active heat transfer device to be mountable to the first end of the housing. The housing further includes at least one thermally-conductive protrusion extending from an exterior surface of the housing and exposed to the turbulence in the ambient fluid to transfer at least a portion of the heat absorbed by the housing to the ambient fluid.

Abstract: A luminaire to illuminate surfaces comprises a housing, a mounting fixture and a light source. The housing includes a base having a bottom surface positionable on a surface to be illuminated, an interior, and at least one window providing access between the interior and an exterior of the housing. The mounting fixture extends at least approximately perpendicularly downward with respect to the bottom surface of the base to secure the housing into a peripheral portion of the surface to be illuminated. The light source has a principal axis of emission that is directed outwardly through the window of the housing at a downwardly oriented angle with respect to the bottom surface of the base such that, when in use with the luminaire mounted to the surface to be illuminated, the principal axis of emission of the light source is directed at a portion of the surface to be illuminated.