Abstract: Various example concern techniques for opto-mechanically manipulating LED-based lighting systems. More specifically, various embodiments concern creating patterns of colored LEDs by determining the preferred color-specific density distribution and sequence(s) of LEDs. When creating the patterns, multiple considerations can be taken into account, including the power to be shared amongst the color channels when certain color models are generated by the linear array of LEDs, allocating an appropriate number of LEDs to each color channel to support the desired color spectrum, the sequencing of those LEDs along a string (e.g., as part of a linear array), etc. The appropriate number of LEDs for each color channel may be determined by first establishing the color model of the linear array within which the LEDs are interleaved.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to systems and methods for controlling one or more LED-based lighting sources that are coupled to a logic module by a ribbon cable. The ribbon cable allows some or all of the processing components (e.g., processors and drivers) to be decoupled from the LED-based lighting source(s). The processing components can instead be housed within the logic module, which is able to simultaneously control the LED-based lighting source(s). Together with color models established for each LED board, the logic module acts as a platform for modularity and is able to more precisely control the color channels of each LED-based lighting source using the color models established for those LED-based lighting source(s). Techniques are also described herein that allow the logic module to utilize data stored within an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) that describes the color characteristics of an LED-based lighting source.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a tunable light module. The method can include driving a lamp in the tunable light module, having lamps of at least two colors, to produce a colored light according to the color mixing plan that corresponds to a correlated color temperature (CCT); measuring a light characteristic of the lamp using a light sensor; detecting a degradation level by comparing the measured light characteristic against an expected light characteristic; and adjusting a current level for driving the lamp at the CCT by referencing the color mixing plan and an alternative coefficient corresponding to the degradation level.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a model builder system that generates a color model to facilitate a color tunable lamp to mix the right amount of light from various color channels to reproduce a target color characteristic of a reference lamp. The model builder system can perform pre-computations that characterize the perceived characteristic of individual color channels and the reference lamp. The model builder system can divide the color channels of the color tunable lamp into floating channels and non-floating channels. Holding the operating points of the non-floating channels constant, the model builder system inverse solves for the necessary flux values of the color channels to reproduce the target color characteristic and to optimize color metrics.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a tunable light module. The method can include driving a lamp in the tunable light module, having lamps of at least two colors, to produce a colored light according to the color mixing plan that corresponds to a correlated color temperature (CCT); measuring a light characteristic of the lamp using a light sensor; detecting a degradation level by comparing the measured light characteristic against an expected light characteristic; and adjusting a current level for driving the lamp at the CCT by referencing the color mixing plan and an alternative coefficient corresponding to the degradation level.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a model builder system that generates a color model to facilitate a color tunable lamp to mix the right amount of light from various color channels to reproduce a target color characteristic of a reference lamp. The model builder system can perform pre-computations that characterize the perceived characteristic of individual color channels and the reference lamp. The model builder system can divide the color channels of the color tunable lamp into floating channels and non-floating channels. Holding the operating points of the non-floating channels constant, the model builder system inverse solves for the necessary flux values of the color channels to reproduce the target color characteristic and to optimize color metrics.

Abstract: A linear light source and a method of manufacturing the linear light source are disclosed. The linear light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, a light pipe, and a shell with a linear exit slit aperture. Cutouts of the light pipe provides a slanted surface to reflect portions of light rays along the length of the light pipe out of the linear exit slit aperture.

Abstract: Lighting and control systems and methods for a lighting node and a remote control device are disclosed. The remote control device may be coupled to the lighting node via an identification process, such as broadcasting an identification request from the remote control device to nearby lighting nodes. The lighting node can respond to the identification request by sending an identifier to the remote control device such that future commands sent from the remote control device is limited to be responded by the lighting node having the identifier stored thereon. Once coupled, the remote control device can adjust spectral content produced by the lighting node based on user-configuration or a color profile captured via an optical sensor. The adjustment via the remote control device may further include calibration and recalibration of the lighting node utilizing a feedback mechanism with the optical sensor.

Abstract: The tunable color mixing system includes a mixing barrel that captures light from multiple light emitting diodes emitting at different colors, mixes the light, and outputs the light with a narrow beam angle from a small area. The array of LEDs in the system is thermally coupled to a heat conductor via thermal pads. A flexible printed circuit is electrically connected to the LEDs to supply and fine-tune the electrical power. The array includes LEDs of at least three emitting colors to achieve an output light having a high color rendering index, tunable to a wide range of correlated color temperatures.

Abstract: A lighting node is described. One embodiment of the lighting node includes a lamp, a radio device, and a memory. The lamp is configured for generating illumination. The radio device is configured for radio communication. The radio device is configured to remotely receive a color profile from the controller. The lamp is also configured to generate illumination to substantially match the received color profile. The memory is configured to store a group identifier for the lighting node.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of generating a color mixing plan for a light module. The method can include: generating a color mixing plan based on manufacturer specification of light emitting diodes (LEDs) in a lighting node; selecting constraints for the LEDs based on electrical or physical properties of the LEDs; adjusting the color mixing plan for the LEDs by stepping through possible combinations of luminous flux for each of the LEDs and evaluating performance of the LEDs based on the constraints; and storing the color mixing plan in a memory of the lighting node.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed and methods for controlling the same. The electrical circuit may comprises a plurality of color strings coupled in series, where each color string has at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode. Improved efficiency may be accomplished in some embodiments using certain of the disclosed systems and methods.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed and methods for controlling the same. The electrical circuit may comprise a plurality of color strings coupled in series, where each color string has at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode. Improved efficiency may be accomplished in some embodiments using certain of the disclosed systems and methods.

Abstract: A method for communication between a lighting node and a controller is described. One embodiment of the method includes transmitting a command from the controller based on a target illumination profile stored on the controller to the lighting node utilizing a controller radio device and receiving the command from the controller at the lighting node utilizing a node radio device. The method may also include generating illumination having a spectral content from the lighting node utilizing at least a light emitting diode; and receiving the spectral content from the lighting node at the controller utilizing an optical sensor.

Abstract: A lighting system is described. The lighting system includes a lamp and a first container including a first phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the first phase change material. The system also includes a second container including a second phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is also conducted to the second phase change material, and the second phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the first phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. The lighting system also includes a temperature sensor for reducing lamp power if the lamp becomes too hot, and a mounting bracket which may also conduct heat away from the lamp.

Abstract: A linear light module having an optical coupling element and a light pipe is described. The optical coupling element receives light emitted by multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) having different emission wavelengths and couples the light efficiently to a linear light pipe. The light from the LEDs is efficiently mixed by the optical coupling element and the light pipe to produce a linear light output that is uniform in color and intensity. Diffusers can be used with the optical coupling element and light pipe at various locations to further enhance the uniformity of the emitted light.

Abstract: A lighting and control system is described. One embodiment of the lighting and control system includes a controller. The controller may include an optical sensor configured to sense illumination from the lighting node, wherein the lighting node includes one or more light-emitting diodes; a memory configured to store a target color profile for the lighting node; and a radio device configured for radio communication with the lighting node including for communicating a color adjustment command to the lighting node based on the stored target color profile and the sensed illumination.

Abstract: A LED-pumped phosphor array light source and a method of manufacturing the phosphor array light source are disclosed. The phosphor array light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, an imaging optics, a phosphor module array, and a light mixing pipe. The imaging optics focuses the light rays from the LED array on the phosphor module array. The phosphor modules are pumped by the incoming light rays and emit colored light into the light mixing pipe. In some embodiments, the imaging optics include a short-pass filter to minimize light loss through back scattering.

Abstract: A collimated light source and a method of manufacturing the collimated light source are disclosed. The collimated light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, a light pipe, and a light collimation optics. The light collimation optics can expand over an exit aperture of light pipe.

Abstract: A linear light source and a method of manufacturing the linear light source are disclosed. The linear light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) array, a light pipe, and a shell with a linear exit slit aperture. Cutouts of the light pipe provides a slanted surface to reflect portions of light rays along the length of the light pipe out of the linear exit slit aperture.