Abstract: Disclosed are examples of spectrometer-equipped devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect substances in the environment around the device. In some examples, light may be emitted by a spectrometer light source. The spectrometer detects the light from any of a natural light source, artificial general illumination light or light from the spectrometer light source passed, reflected or shifted and regenerated by substances in the air or on a surface in the vicinity of the device. In response, the spectrometer generates signals representative of the spectral power distribution (e.g. intensities of given wavelengths in the optical spectrum) of the detected light. A controller analyzes the spectrometer generated signals and initiates action based on or outputs a report indicating the environmental condition detected by the spectrometer-equipped device.

Abstract: A spectrometer-equipped lighting device detects substances in an environment around the device. A fiber detector is optically coupled to receive light from a light source. The fiber detector has a bare area from which emanates an evanescent wave of light surrounding an exterior of the fiber detector to interact with the environment in which the fiber detector is exposed. The spectrometer, optically coupled to an opposite end of the fiber detector, detects the light output and in response, generates signals representative of the spectral power distribution of the light of the evanescent wave that has interacted with the surrounding environment. A controller analyzes the spectrometer generated signals and initiates action based on the analysis of the generated signals or outputs a report indicating an environmental condition detected by the spectrometer-equipped device.

Abstract: An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.

Abstract: An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.

Abstract: An example of a building automation system utilizes intelligent system elements, some of which are lighting devices having light sources, and some of which are utility building control and automation elements. Some utility building control and automation elements include a controllable mechanism for use in control of some aspect of the building other than lighting. Another intelligent system element may include either a user interface component and be configured as a building controller, or include a detector and be configured as a sensor. Each intelligent system element includes a network communication interface, processor, memory and programming to configure the intelligent system element as a lighting device, utility building control and automation element, controller or sensor. At least one of the intelligent lighting devices is configured as a building control and automation system server. Several examples, however, implement the overall control using distributed processing.

Abstract: The disclosed examples relate to various implementations of a micro-light emitting diode upon which is built a controllable variable optic to provide a chip-scale light emitting device. An example of the controllable variable optic described herein is a controllable electrowetting structure having a leak-proof sealed cell with a first fluid having a first index of refraction and a second fluid having a second index of refraction. The controllable electrowetting structure may be integrally formed on or in a substrate or semiconductor material associated with the micro-light emitting diode in alignment with one or more of the light emitting diodes of the micro-LED device to provide a controllable lighting distribution.

Abstract: A modulated passive optical lighting device includes a passive element, such as a window, a sun-room roof, or a skylight. The device also has an optical modulator associated with or incorporated in the device, to modulate light supplied to an interior space to carry data.

Abstract: A device uses gated retro-reflectors to transmit uplink data in a visible light communication (VLC) system. The gated retro-reflector includes a retro-reflector and a gating shutter between the retro-reflector and a VLC light source. A light sensor receives VLC data at regular intervals in which a light pulse received during one of the intervals represents a first downloaded symbol and absence of a light pulse during another one of the intervals represents a second downloaded symbol. A controller controls the gating shutter to send uplink data from the device responsive to each received VLC light pulse. The controller opens the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a first uploaded symbol and closes the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a second uploaded symbol.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of optical/electrical devices including a variable TIR lens assembly having a transducer, an optical lens and an electrowetting cell coupled to an exterior wall of the lens. The electrowetting cell contains two immiscible liquids having different optical and electrical properties. One liquid has a high index of refraction, and the other liquid has a low index of refraction. At least one liquid is electrically conductive. A signal causes the high index of refraction and the low index of refraction liquids to assume various positions within the electrowetting cell along the exterior wall. The properties of the optical lens, e.g. its total internal reflectivity, change depending upon the position of the respective liquids along the exterior wall. The light detection characteristics of the assembly change to receive an input light beam over a range of inputs or over a range of fields of view.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of optical/electrical devices including a variable TIR lens assembly having a transducer, an optical lens and an electrowetting cell coupled to an exterior wall of the lens. The electrowetting cell contains two immiscible liquids having different optical and electrical properties. One liquid has a high index of refraction, and the other liquid has a low index of refraction. At least one liquid is electrically conductive. A signal causes the high index of refraction and the low index of refraction liquids to assume various positions within the electrowetting cell along the exterior wall. The properties of the optical lens, e.g. its total internal reflectivity, change depending upon the position of the respective liquids along the exterior wall. The light characteristics of the assembly change to produce a light beam over a range of light beam outputs or a field of view over a range of fields of view.

Abstract: An example of a building automation system utilizes intelligent system elements, some of which are lighting devices having light sources, and some of which are utility building control and automation elements. Some utility building control and automation elements include a controllable mechanism for use in control of some aspect of the building other than lighting. Another intelligent system element may include either a user interface component and be configured as a building controller, or include a detector and be configured as a sensor. Each intelligent system element includes a network communication interface, processor, memory and programming to configure the intelligent system element as a lighting device, utility building control and automation element, controller or sensor. At least one of the intelligent lighting devices is configured as a building control and automation system server. Several examples, however, implement the overall control using distributed processing.

Abstract: A lighting device utilizes physical or virtual separation of elements within the lighting device to isolate a first portion of data for delivery to a first data network from a second portion of data for delivery to a second data network. The first portion of data relates to a first signal generated responsive to a first sensed condition. The second portion of data may relate to the first signal or to a second signal generated responsive to the first sensed condition or a second sensed condition. The lighting device utilizes a first communication interface to deliver the first portion of data to the first data network and a second communication interface to deliver the second portion of data to the second data network.

Abstract: A lighting unit includes an architectural panel having an overall thickness that is measured between a first surface that is configured to be exposed to light output by the lighting unit and a second surface that is opposite the first surface, and a light fixture embedded in the architectural panel. The light fixture includes a solid state light source, an optic, a power supply and a driver circuit that at least partially embedded in the recess of the panel. The light fixture is configured to output light in an output direction extending out away from the first surface of the panel. The light fixture extends from the first surface of the panel in a direction opposite the output direction by a distance that is less than the overall thickness of the architectural panel.

Abstract: A system with a machine and a lighting device. The machine includes an image capture device and a machine vision processing system configured to detect a characteristic of a subject in a space for an operation of the machine. The lighting device includes a first light source for generating light to illuminate the space, and a second light source for generating light of a particular wavelength to support detection of the characteristic of the subject via the machine vision processing system. The light of the particular wavelength is output at a sufficient intensity reasonably expected to produce a particular emission from the subject detectable via the image capture device different from an emission produced by exposure of the subject to the light for illumination of the space. The first and second light sources are integrated into the lighting device.

Abstract: An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.

Abstract: Examples of security lighting routines are tailored to disrupt visual perception and/or acuity so as to significantly reduce the ability of a person or persons, who has breached security, to function within a secured space. A routine triggered in response to a security breach may include a flash at a relatively high intensity, some number of times brighter than normal illumination for the space. Some examples of routines include a warning light and/or a pre-flash light emission such as dim lighting or a flicker, to effectively prepare the person in the space for maximum effectiveness of the flash. Other examples of the routines may also include a post-flash sequence of multiple color light emissions, such as alternating emissions in sequence of pulses of different colors of light using emission and/or off time parameters that vary in an irregular manner.

Abstract: A lighting device utilizes physical or virtual separation of elements within the lighting device to isolate a first portion of data for delivery to a first data network from a second portion of data for delivery to a second data network. The first portion of data relates to a first signal generated responsive to a first sensed condition. The second portion of data may relate to the first signal or to a second signal generated responsive to the first sensed condition or a second sensed condition. The lighting device utilizes a first communication interface to deliver the first portion of data to the first data network and a second communication interface to deliver the second portion of data to the second data network.

Abstract: One or more controlled environmental conditions have a characteristic thereof that varies over time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function. Variable control, for example, may control one or more characteristics of visible lighting of the environmentally controlled space. Examples of lighting characteristics that may be controlled in such a manner include spectral content, intensity, color temperature, chromaticity difference or Delta_uv, and polarization. In addition or instead, one or more characteristics of the atmosphere in the controlled environment may be controlled based on a chaotic function. Examples of atmospheric characteristics that may be controlled in such a manner include temperature, humidity, air pressure, ionization, electromagnetic fields, precipitation, visibility, wind, smell and chemical composition. A sound system may also provide a chaotic component to the environment in the environmentally controlled space.

Abstract: A tube lamp has a tubular portion that serves both as a light guide for energy from a solid state source and as a container for a material bearing a nanophosphor that is pumped by the energy from the source as the energy traverses the light guide. However, the tubular portion of the light guide also allows emission of light produced by the phosphor when excited. The material with the nanophosphor dispersed therein may appear either clear or translucent when the lamp is off and the nanophosphor is not excited by energy from the source.

Abstract: An identification marking is incorporated into a light fixture to provide a uniquely identifiable light fixture. The identification marking is humanly imperceptible. Location information for the uniquely identifiable light fixture is obtained by a mobile device after identifying the light fixture based on the identification marking. Location of the mobile device is estimated based on the obtained location information of the uniquely identifiable light fixture.