Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed. The electrical circuit comprises a plurality of color strings coupled in series, where each color string has at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode. The color strings may be of dissimilar length and may contain light emitting diodes of different colors. In one embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to a power supply. In another embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to one or more other color strings. In several embodiments, passive storage elements are utilized to store shunted power. In another embodiment, a current injector is configured to inject or remove current from a node adjacent to a color string. In several embodiments the invention is implemented as a light emitting diode driver integrated circuit or chip.

Abstract: A phase change material (PCM) is used as thermal storage for lighting systems. The PCM is placed in a thermally conductive container in close contact with the lighting system. As the PCM absorbs heat, it changes from a solid to a liquid state, but the temperature of the PCM is clamped at its melting point temperature. For LED-based systems, the PCM is selected to have a melting point such that the junction temperatures of the LEDs in the system are maintained at approximately their optimum operating temperature inside the lighting system housing. Because the thermal conductivity of the molten PCM is poor, a low thermal resistance heat flow path is provided from the PCM to the container.

Abstract: A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed for driving color strings that have at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode (LED). The color strings can be different lengths. In some embodiments, a switch is coupled in parallel to one of the LED strings to shunt power away from the LED string to a power supply or to one or more other LED strings. In some embodiments, a current injector is configured to remove current from or inject current into a node adjacent to an LED string. Methods are disclosed for producing a desired light output utilizing color strings that may be of dissimilar length and that may contain light emitting diodes of different colors.

Abstract: A phase change material (PCM) is used as thermal storage for lighting systems. The PCM is placed in a thermally conductive container in close contact with the lighting system. As the PCM absorbs heat, it changes from a solid to a liquid state, but the temperature of the PCM is clamped at its melting point temperature. For LED-based systems, the PCM is selected to have a melting point such that the junction temperatures of the LEDs in the system are maintained at approximately their optimum operating temperature inside the lighting system housing. Because the thermal conductivity of the molten PCM is poor, a low thermal resistance heat flow path is provided from the PCM to the container.

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: Lamp color matching and control systems and methods are described. One embodiment includes a lighting node and a controller. The lighting node can include a plurality of light emitting diodes configured for illumination and further configured for optical communication with the controller, a communicator configured for radio communication with the controller, a memory configured to store a node identifier, a control logic, and a temperature sensor. The controller can include an optical sensor configured to sense the correlated color temperature and brightness of the lighting node and further configured for optical communication with the lighting node, and a communicator configured for radio communication with the lighting node. The controller can calibrate the lighting node as well as perform light copy and paste, light following, and light harvesting operations with the lighting node.

Abstract: A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described.

Abstract: A heat removal assembly for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the heat removal assembly includes a plurality of fins configured to receive heat from a light emitting diode. In the plurality of fins, two adjacent fins are separated by a gap width, and each fin has a fin length. The heat removal assembly also includes a duct configured to draw a stack-effect airflow through the plurality of fins to remove heat from the plurality of fins. The gap width separating two adjacent fins and the fin length of each of the fins are configured to prevent boundary layer choking the plurality of fins. In one embodiment, the heat removal assembly also includes a conductor and a thermal storage system configured to receive heat from the light emitting diode. A lighting apparatus including the heat removal assembly, a light emitting diode, and a connector plug is also described.

Abstract: A phase change material (PCM) is used as thermal storage for lighting systems. The PCM is placed in a thermally conductive container in close contact with the lighting system. As the PCM absorbs heat, it changes from a solid to a liquid state, but the temperature of the PCM is clamped at its melting point temperature. For LED-based systems, the PCM is selected to have a melting point such that the junction temperatures of the LEDs in the system are maintained at approximately their optimum operating temperature inside the lighting system housing. Because the thermal conductivity of the molten PCM is poor, a low thermal resistance heat flow path is provided from the PCM to the container.

Abstract: An electrical circuit is disclosed. The electrical circuit comprises a plurality of color strings coupled in series, where each color string has at least one lamp, preferably a light emitting diode. The color strings may be of dissimilar length and may contain light emitting diodes of different colors. In one embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to a power supply. In another embodiment, a switch coupled in parallel with one of the color strings is configured to shunt power away from the color string to one or more other color strings. In several embodiments, passive storage elements are utilized to store shunted power. In another embodiment, a current injector is configured to inject or remove current from a node adjacent to a color string. In several embodiments the invention is implemented as a light emitting diode driver integrated circuit or chip.

Abstract: A lighting and control system is described. One embodiment of the lighting and control system includes a lighting node and a controller. The lighting node may include a light emitting diode configured for illumination and further configured for optical communication with the controller, a node radio device configured for radio communication with the controller, and a node memory configured to store a node identifier and a group identifier. The controller may include an optical sensor configured to sense illumination of the lighting node and further configured for optical communication with the lighting node, a controller radio device configured for radio communication with the lighting node, and a controller memory configured to store a group identifier. The lighting node and the controller may each further include a power supply and a processor. In one embodiment, the lighting node and the controller belong to a wireless mesh network.