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 system includes a luminaire having a light source, a lighting control device to control a light output and operation of the light source in an area of the luminaire, and a sound transducer integrated on a surface of a panel of the luminaire. The sound transducer responds to vibration of the panel to detect incoming audio waves. An audio front end device includes an audio coder responsive to analog signals from the sound transducer, and is coupled to an output of the sound transducer. The lighting control device includes programming that configures a processor to control the audio front end device to receive the analog signals from the sound transducer and provide a digital output signal, process the digital output signals to generate a responsive result that is supplied to the lighting control device in the area of the luminaire.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of lighting devices and other devices that are equipped with a cellular transceiver that is configured to communicate using cellular radio frequency spectrum in both a small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communication network. By utilizing a short-range, low-power cellular transceiver setting, a lighting device facilitates communication, within the space in which the lighting device is installed, of messages between the lighting device and other types of user devices. Such an equipped lighting device may be configured to participate in the generation and delivery of different types of messages, such as data, emergency broadcast information, news and other information. Such a lighting device also may be configured to extend the reach of devices within the space in which the equipped lighting devices are located.

Abstract: A support structure provides two or more axes of intelligent locomotion for a movable object on the support structure. The support structure can include a track system made up of a plurality of identically configured track modules that are connected end-to-end. Each track module can include an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and having two ends. Each end can include at least one beveled edge and at least one track surface extending longitudinally along the elongated body. The track surface can include a plurality of protuberances arranged in rows that are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, and in columns that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body. The track modules can be connected a power source and include electrical contacts that provide electricity to self-propelled units that travel along the track system.

Abstract: A self-propelled unit for movable operation on a support structure along a first axis of movement and a second axis of movement that is transverse to the first axis of movement includes a carrier configured for movable displacement on the support structure. A first conveyor assembly is operable to move the carrier on the support structure along the first axis of movement. A second conveyor assembly is operable to move the carrier on the support structure along the second axis of movement. A light source can be attached to the carrier in an operable mode to provide illumination to an area in proximity to the carrier. At least one power contact is configured to maintain electrical contact between the carrier and the support structure.

Abstract: Examples relate to a method and implementations of general illumination light emitters, an image display device and an image diffuser in a luminaire. The image display device is configured to output an image having a reduced, or first, pixel image fill factor and, as a result, might appear pixelated. To mitigate the pixelation, the image diffuser has a predetermined image diffusion angle and is a predetermined distance from the image display device. The image diffuser outputs an image having a second image pixel fill factor that is greater than the first image pixel fill factor. The appearance of the outputted image appears to be formed from fuzzy pixels. Characteristics related to the image, device, diffuser, and their arrangement may be optimized to provide the fuzzy pixels. A luminaire may output an image formed of the fuzzy pixels and general illumination lighting to an area.

Abstract: An example lighting device has illumination light sources, each configured to be independently driven. The device further includes an optical lens positioned over the illumination light sources. The optical lens has a number of aspheric or spheric convex surfaces, including an input surface and an output surface. The input surface includes an input peripheral portion and an input central portion. The input peripheral portion extends from the illumination light sources and curves from a region of the illumination light sources towards the input central portion. The input central portion curves towards the illumination light sources. The output surface includes an output lateral portion, an output shoulder portion, and an output body portion. Another example uses optical-to-electrical transducers, e.g. light detector or photovoltaic devices, in combination with the optical lens, for light reception transducer applications.

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: At least one controllable source of visible light is configured to illuminate a space to be utilized by one or more occupants. A controller causes the source(s) to emit light in a manner that varies at least one characteristic of visible light emitted into the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function.

Abstract: A system, method and portable device are provided in which rolling shutter images containing visible light communication (VLC) transmissions from one or more light sources carrying information data in dark or low surrounding lighting in an indoor or outdoor setting are captured. The captured rolling shutter images are analyzed to determine whether the modulated visible light output from the light devices is a predetermined size within the captured rolling shutter image. When the modulated visible light output is not the predetermined size, adjustments are made to settings of the image sensor to scatter, defocus or overexpose the image to cause the modulated visible light output in a new captured rolling shutter image to be at least the predetermined size. The modulated visible light output of the predetermined size or larger is decoded to provide information data for a communication application.

Abstract: The examples relate to various implementations of a software configurable lighting device, having an enhance display device that is able to generate light sufficient to provide general illumination of a space in which the lighting device is installed and provide an image display. The general illumination is provided by additional light sources and/or improved display components of the enhanced display device.

Abstract: For a luminaire offering both illumination and display functionality, control strategies coordinate illumination/image output so as to mitigate interference of the illumination light output with aspects of the displayed image light output. In one example, when displaying a selected image with one or more white regions in the image, a sufficient number of selected white illumination emitters can be ON or operating in a low power state in the white regions while the rest of the luminaire output area can display the non-white elements of the image with aligned illumination emitters turned OFF. In another example, an image is displayed in a selected region of the luminaire output while illumination emitters within the area displaying the image are OFF or operating in a low power state, but illumination emitters along other parts of the luminaire output are turned ON.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a light waveguide grid including an array of waveguides coupling respective illumination light source emitters of a general illumination device with respective gaps between respective pixel light emitters of an image display device. Each waveguide has a housing that includes an input interface optically coupled to the respective illumination light source emitter to steer illumination lighting from the illumination light source emitter. The housing also includes an output interface opposing the input interface and optically coupled to one or more gaps between pixel light emitters. The housing further includes at least one reflective wall having an internal reflective surface encompassing and extending from the input interface and the output interface. The structure of the waveguide may be optimized and/or additional technologies added to reduce optical losses and improve overall illumination efficiency of the luminaire.

Abstract: A lighting device obtains data related to objects and boundaries in an area in the vicinity of the lighting device, and a user wearable device provides a display (e.g. an augmented reality display based on the data related to the objects and the area boundaries) for a user/wearer. The lighting device includes a mapping sensor that collects data related to the objects and boundaries in the area. The user wearable device includes a camera or other optical sensor and wireless communication capability. The user wearable device is provided with mapping data that is presented on a display of the user wearable device. The communications and display capabilities allow the user wearable device to obtain room mapping information related to area in the vicinity of the lighting device in order to provide navigational assistance to a visually impaired person in the area.

Abstract: An example lighting device has a luminaire. The luminaire includes an illumination light source matrix including illumination light sources configured to be driven by electrical power to emit light rays for illumination lighting. The luminaire further includes an optical lens positioned and configured to extend over the illumination light source matrix and including an input surface coupled to receive incoming light rays emitted by the illumination light sources and an output surface. Both the input surface and the output surface each include at least two different aspherical, spherical, or planar portions to refract the incoming light rays emitted by the illumination light sources passing through to shape or steer the illumination lighting into an outputted beam pattern. A coupled illumination light source driver selectively controls the illumination light sources individually or in combination to adjust at least a beam angle of the outputted beam pattern from the optical lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lighting device including a luminaire having a first light emitter configured to output image and a second light emitter configured to output illumination light. The first light emitter is oriented with the second light emitter such that an available output region of the second light emitter at least substantially overlaps an available output region of the first light emitter. The lighting device also includes a processing system coupled to a driver system, which is coupled to the luminaire. The processing system, via the driver system, is configured to operate the first light emitter to output the image and operate the second light emitter to output the illumination light; and during the operations of the first and light emitters to output a combined light via the substantial overlap, to control the output of at least one of the image or the illumination light to control flicker due to interaction of a portion of the image and a portion of the illumination light.

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: Examples relate to a method and implementations of general illumination light emitters, an image display device and an image diffuser in a luminaire. The image display device is configured to output an image having a reduced, or first, pixel image fill factor and, as a result, might appear pixelated. To mitigate the pixelation, the image diffuser has a predetermined image diffusion angle and is a predetermined distance from the image display device. The image diffuser outputs an image having a second image pixel fill factor that is greater than the first image pixel fill factor. The appearance of the outputted image appears to be formed from fuzzy pixels. Characteristics related to the image, device, diffuser, and their arrangement may be optimized to provide the fuzzy pixels. A luminaire may output an image formed of the fuzzy pixels and general illumination lighting to an area.

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 device or an apparatus for use with a light source has one or more sensors, intelligence in the form of programmed processors and communication capabilities. Each sensor is configured to monitor one or more conditions external to a lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device. Programming provides a standardized interface to enable processing of sensed conditions from sensors of different types.