Abstract: Disclosed are examples of hyperspectral imager-equipped lighting devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect environmental conditions in the environment around the lighting device. The hyperspectral imager detects light within a contiguous data from the environment in the vicinity of the lighting device. In response, the hyperspectral imager generates image data representative of the spectral intensity distribution (e.g. intensities of a continuous range wavelengths in the optical spectrum) of the detected light. A controller may analyze the image data generated by the hyperspectral imager and may initiate action based on, or outputs a report indicating, an environmental condition detected by the analysis of the generated image data.

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: A lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support wireless communication with other non-lighting-system devices at the premises. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide a relatively short range, low power wireless data communication link for use by other non-lighting-system devices at the premises in proximity to the respective intelligent system element. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the other non-lighting-system devices.

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: 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 lighting device includes a light source, an image sensor, a controller, a memory, and a wireless transceiver. The light source is configured to emit light for general illumination. The image sensor is configured to acquire an image of an area illuminated by the light source. The controller is coupled to control the image sensor and to receive the acquired image of the illuminated area from the image sensor. The controller is configured to operate the wireless transceiver to receive identification information from a wireless device in the illuminated area. The controller is further configured to automatically generate a visual signature based on image information of a person or object, obtained from the image of the illuminated area. The controller also is configured to store the visual signature of the person or object in the memory in association with the wireless device identification information.

Abstract: A system includes luminaires at a premises, where each luminaire has a light source, processor and radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The processor is configured to control the RF transceiver of the respective luminaire to transmit ranging signals to neighboring luminaires and receive response signals from neighboring luminaires. The processor computes time of flight (ToF) values relative to the neighboring luminaires. The system also includes a location solving server having a processor configured to receive the ToF values from the luminaires, compute relative distances between the luminaires based on the ToF values, and determine relative locations of the luminaires within the premises based on the computed relative distances between luminaires. Knowledge of the relative locations of the luminaires, for example, may be used in personnel or asset tracking, e.g. based on data sent via light from the luminaires or by ranging and response signals exchanged with RF enabled assets.

Abstract: Determining respective locations of lighting devices in a service area includes a sensing device that receives light signals emitted by a number of lighting devices that are configured in a common plane. The sensing device is located outside the common plane, e.g. below the plane of light outputs of fixture mounted in or below a ceiling. Respective distances between each lighting device and the sensing device are calculated based on the received light signals. The locations of the plurality of lighting devices relative to the sensing device are calculated based on the calculated distances using trilateration, triangulation or parallax. In other systems, each lighting device includes a sensing device and the light signals are emitted by a pendant or wall-mounted sensor located outside the common plane. In another system, the locations are determined by sensing devices in the lighting devices based on light reflected from objects in the service area.

Abstract: A configurable optical device may include an optical transducer, a multi-lens arrangement, and a controllable optical modulator. The optical transducer is configured to convert light to electrical signals or to convert electrical signals to light. The multi-lens arrangement is positioned to redirect at least some of the light to or from the optical transducer. The controllable optical modulator is provided between the multi-lens arrangement and the optical transducer. The controllable optical modulator is coupled to receive and spatially modulate light to or from the optical transducer. The optical modulator is selectively controllable to steer and/or shape the light to a selected distribution of light from the multi-lens arrangement onto the optical transducer and/or from the optical transducer onto the multi-lens arrangement.

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: 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: 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 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: 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.