Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic device package that can be fabricated using standard package fabrication technologies while providing a desired level of thermal transfer capability to an attachable thermal management system. The electronic device package according to the present invention comprises a housing that is specifically designed to couple with an evaporator portion of a thermal management system, for example a heat pipe. One or more electronic devices are mounted in thermal contact with the evaporator portion of the thermal management system. Upon completion of the fabrication of the package using standard techniques, the evaporator portion of the electronic device package is operatively coupled with a secondary portion of the thermal management system. In this manner the electronic device package can be fabricated to incorporate a desired thermal management system, while being fabricated using standard package fabrication processes and machinery.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of using light-emitting elements for illumination as well as communication of data, wherein potential flicker due to sub-fusion frequency data correlations can be reduced compared to prior art techniques, while reducing redundancy in the data transmission. The intensity of the illumination from the light-emitting elements is controlled by a dimming signal such as a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal or a pulse code modulation (PCM) signal, for example. An amplitude-modulated data signal is then superimposed on the dimming signal for communication of data. The dimming signal thus acts as a carrier signal for the data signal. A sensing means is then used to receive the data signal by detecting all or part of the illumination from the light-emitting elements. The data signal can subsequently be extracted from the detected illumination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for collecting and detecting light emitted from a plurality of light-emitting elements. The light-emitting elements are grouped into two or more clusters of one or more light-emitting elements with the clusters arranged such that a portion of the light emitted from each cluster is directly incident upon a central axis, wherein every point along the central axis is equidistant from each cluster. A light collection means also having a central axis associated therewith is placed such that the central axis of the clusters and the central axis of the collection means coincide. The light collection means collects a substantially equal portion of light from each cluster and propagates the collected light to a detection means comprising an optical sensor for conversion to an electrical signal representative of the light emitted by the clusters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the correlated colour temperature (CCT) or colour of light produced by an array of light-emitting elements by providing multiple selectable paths for the flow of drive current. The apparatus includes a primary path comprising primary light-emitting elements, and one or more secondary paths comprising secondary light-emitting elements that are used for compensation or correction of the colour of light emitted by the primary light-emitting elements. A plurality of control means, for example switches are used to direct current through particular paths. During operation, the drive current primarily flows through the primary light-emitting elements and is redirected, periodically for example, to a secondary path comprising light-emitting elements of a particular colour that is desired in addition to the colour produced by the primary light-emitting elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a programmable lighting system comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements and a controller responsive to a hierarchically encoded data input stream. The controller determines and provides appropriate control signals for controlling the characteristics of the light generated by the plurality of light-emitting elements operatively coupled thereto. The data input stream may use a DMX512 or other network protocol and can be hierarchically encoded by varying the value of the START code of the data packets. When a DMX512 or other data packet with a NULL START code or “color” packet is received by the controller, the controller interprets the frames to be intensity control data wherein each frame can correspond to a particular light-emitting element or group of light-emitting elements. The color packet can provide data for the generation of a particular temporal color sequence or a temporal color sequence that is random or any other lighting sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides a parallel pulse code modulation system enabling the independent control of a plurality of groups of one or more electronic devices. The system comprises a memory unit for receiving control data, from an external source, wherein this memory unit is configured to enable writing of the control data thereto and reading of the control data therefrom. The system further comprises a multiplexer connected to the memory unit for receiving the control data from the memory unit and organizing the control data into a serial data stream comprising groups of data. A shift register connected to the multiplexer receives the serial data stream from the multiplexer and translates each group of data into a parallel data stream output. Each parallel data stream output represents control parameters for a particular group of one or more electronic devices.

Abstract: The invention provides an elongated lighting apparatus that can withstand temperature fluctuations. The elongated lighting apparatus comprises of the following elements: at least two elongated tubular members fabricated from translucent material. These elongated tubular members are fixed in an end-to-end configuration, separated by a region enabling for thermal expansion/contraction of the members. A substrate upon which a plurality of light emitting devices is placed, is slidably positioned inside each tubular member. End caps seal the open ends of the elongated tubular members. At least one of these end caps has a translucent protrusion that projects towards the region of separation. At least one light emitting device is positioned proximate to an end cap protrusion, thereby illuminating this region. A flexible interconnector encloses and visually conceals separating the adjacent members. The light emitting devices are electrically interconnected.

Abstract: A clean room ceiling light fixture formed as a sealed housing with a downwardly-directed light emitting aperture. A heat sink fixed within and spaced from the housing defines a cable raceway inside the housing. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the heat sink. A high refractive index (polycarbonate) reflector coupled to each LED efficiently directs the LED's light through the aperture into the clean room. The LEDs and/or reflectors can be anti-reflectively coated to improve light transmission efficiency. A refractive index matching compound applied between each LED-reflector pair further improves light transmission efficiency. A spectrally selective filter material prevents ultraviolet illumination of clean rooms used for lithographic processes which are compromised by ultraviolet rays. A holographic diffusion lens and/or variable transmissivity filter can be provided to uniformly distribute the LEDs' light through the aperture.

Abstract: The color temperature of light emitted by a luminaire having a hollow prismatic light guide is varied to counteract aesthetically undesirable reddening gradient of the emitted light. Reddening is caused by the light guide's dielectric material, which absorbs blue light rays such that proportionately more red than blue rays are guided to the light guide's far end than to points near the guide's light input end. Flare light rays which escape through the light guide near its light input end are color filtered and reflected back into the light guide. The filter color lies within a CIE-1931 chromaticity diagram {4800° Kelvin; 570 nm; 600 nm} color gamut triangle. Color filtering absorbs blue flare rays as a function of distance along the guide, imparting a near-end reddening gradient to the emitted light in inverse proportion to the far-end reddening gradient, giving the emitted light a constant apparent color, independent of distance along the guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination optical system that enables the direction and mixing of light from light emitting devices. The optical system comprises a plurality of light emitting devices that are spatially arranged in an array, wherein this array comprises one or more sections, such that the light emitting devices in a particular section emit light within a predetermined wavelength range. Through the use of a combination of macroscopic and microscopic optical systems, the illumination created by the array can be manipulated such that a desired illumination distribution is created. The macroscopic optical system provides a means for redirecting the illumination in one or more desired directions, wherein this redirection is provided by a collection of appropriately shaped and positioned reflective optics.

Abstract: The color temperature of light emitted by a luminaire having a hollow prismatic light guide is varied to counteract aesthetically undesirable reddening gradient of the emitted light. Reddening is caused by the light guide's dielectric material, which absorbs blue light rays such that proportionately more red than blue rays are guided to the light guide's far end than to points near the guide's light input end. Flare light rays which escape through the light guide near its light input end are color filtered and reflected back into the light guide. The filter color lies within a CIE-1931 chromaticity diagram {4800° Kelvin; 570 nm; 600 nm} color gamut triangle. Color filtering absorbs blue flare rays as a function of distance along the guide, imparting a near-end reddening gradient to the emitted light in inverse proportion to the far-end reddening gradient, giving the emitted light a constant apparent color, independent of distance along the guide.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and controlling the operation of one or more high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. An electronic HID lamp power supply is electrically connected to a power source and to the HID lamps. For each lamp, one or more sensors produce one or more output signals respectively representative of one or more parameters (such as light intensity, color temperature, power consumption, temperature, arc voltage, etc.) which respectively define one or more operational characteristics of the lamps.

Abstract: A lighting structure for intensely illuminating a narrow linear region. A light source emits light into an end of a hollow, elongate light guide. A longitudinal slit light-emitting aperture extends through an external wall of the light guide. A lens is mounted in the aperture. The lens bears a plurality of prisms which extend substantially perpendicular to the slit, on an inwardly directed face of the lens. The lens may be formed of a film material. A mechanism is provided to maintain the lens flat. A diffuser mounted outwardly of the lens bears a plurality of thin striations extending transversely, relative to the longitudinal slit aperture.

Abstract: A light emitter for emitting partially collimated light in one or more selected directions. The light emitter has a longitudinally specularly reflective internal surface; and, a light emitting area having an inner portion which is both partially longitudinally specular reflective and partially longitudinally transmissive and, a refractive, prismatic outer portion.

Abstract: A hollow lighting structure having an optically transmissive light emitting surface. At least one light guide extends within the structure. A light source emits light into the light guide. The light guide's light transmissivity is varied as a function of position on the surface of the light guide such that the angular and spatial distribution of light emitted from the light guide yields a predetermined distribution of light intensity as a function of position on the light emitting surface. The predetermined distribution of light intensity is preferably substantially uniform at all points on the light emitting surface.

Abstract: An electro-chemical etch device for selectively removing material from an electrically conductive surface. At least two electrodes are each at least partially immersed in an electrically conductive fluid and aligned across the surface, proximate to corresponding regions of the surface. A mechanism is provided to move the surface through the fluid, past the electrodes, transversely to the direction of alignment of the electrodes. A control mechanism electrically coupled between the electrodes and the surface controls electrical current flow into or out of the fluid at each of the electrodes. The conductive surface and the conductive fluid are selected such that the rate of material removal at any point on the conductive surface is substantially dependent upon the surface density of electrical current flow into or out of the fluid at that point.

Abstract: An illuminating device with a light source having a longitudinally specular light reflector; and, a light escapement part having a substantially non light absorptive cover. The light transmissivity of the cover an any point on the cover varies as a function of the position of that point, such that the luminance of light escaping through the cover at that point has a selected luminous exitance as a function of the position of that point.

Abstract: An illumination system including a plurality of light guide sections with one end of each disposed proximate an end of at least one other. Each one of a plurality of illuminating couplers is positioned intermediate proximately disposed ends of the sections such that light emitted from each such illuminating coupler enters associated proximately disposed ends of the sections. A pre-selected portion of light conducted down one of the sections towards the proximately disposed end is transmitted past the associated illuminating coupler into another of the sections. The pre-selected portion of light is sufficient to temporarily replace the function of light from the associated illuminating coupler in the event of diminished light intensity therefrom.

Abstract: A graphic surface display device comprises a graphic surface be displayed and a cover of substantially transparent material overlying and in optical contact with the graphic surface. The cover has a minutely textured outer surface such that the angle between a first vector normal to a randomly selected point on the cover's surface; and, a second vector which passes through the selected point and which is normal to a plane tangential to the graphic surface at the point of intersection of the second vector with the graphic surface; has substantially unity probability of exceeding 45.degree..

Abstract: A variety of techniques are used to effect continuously controlled emission of light from a light guide. For example, the light guide may contain a mechanism formed of a substantially non-light absorptive material having a density which varies as a function of the length of the light guide. The mechansim causes light to escape from the light guide at a rate which varies along the length of the light guide, such that the amount of light escaping, per unit length, along the light guide has a selected distribution of values. Alternatively, the light guide's central path may be non-linear. As a further alternative, the average cross-sectional dimension of each of the plane segments aforesaid may be non-constant. As yet another alternative, a first portion of the light guide may comprise prism light guide material and the remaining portion may be such that a substantial portion of light incident thereupon is allowed to escape therethrough.