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Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Ihor A. Lys · Frederick M. Morgan · Michael K. Blackwell · Alfred D. Ducharme ·
Assignee(s)	Color Kinetics Incorporated ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	Boley Hoag LLP ·
Primary Examiner	Haissa Philogene ·
Application Number	US10174499
Filing date	06/17/2002
Issue date	12/13/2005
Prior Publication Data	US20030057890 - 03/27/2003
Predicted expiration date	12/25/2018
Patent term adjustment	486
U.S. Classifications	315/292  · 711/100  · 315/362  · 315/169.3  · 315/318  · 711/202  · 711/221  · 315/307  ·
International Classifications	--
International Classifications	315292 · 315307 · 315362 · 315318 · 3151693 · 711100 · 711115 · 711202 · 711212 · 711221 · 345 46 · 345 77 · 345 82 ·
Related U.S. Application Data	CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based upon, claims priority to, and incorporates by reference a U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/298,471 entitled Systems and Methods for Controlling illumination Sources, filed Jun. 15, 2001, naming Ihor Lys, Frederick Morgan, Michael Blackwell and Alfred Ducharme as inventors. In addition, this patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/301,692, filed Jun. 28, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems”; Serial No. 60/328,867, filed Oct. 12, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems;” and Serial No. 60/341,476, filed Oct. 30, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for LED Lighting.” This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/971,367, filed Oct. 4, 2001, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/669,121, filed Sep. 25, 2000, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/425,770, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,774, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/920,156, filed Aug. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038. This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of the following U.S. Non-provisional Applications: Ser. No. 09/870,193, filed May 30, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,453, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Devices in a Networked Lighting System;” Se. No. 09/215,624, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,528,954, entitled “Smart Light Bulb,” which in turn claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/071,281, filed Dec. 17, 1997, entitled “Digitally Controlled Light Emitting Diodes Systems and Methods;” Serial No. 60/068,792, filed Dec. 24, 1997, entitled “Multi-Color Intelligent Lighting;” Serial No. 60/078,861, filed Mar. 20, 1998, entitled “Digital Lighting Systems;” Serial No. 60/079,285, filed Mar. 25, 1998, entitled “System and Method for Controlled Illumination;” and Serial No. 60/090,920, filed Jun. 26, 1998, entitled “Methods for Software Driven Generation of Multiple Simultaneous High Speed Pulse Width Modulated Signals;” Ser. No. 09/213,607, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now abandoned entitled “Systems and Methods for Sensor-Responsive Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,189, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,919, entitled “Precision Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,581, filed Dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Kinetic Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,540, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,720,745, entitled “Data Delivery Track;” Ser. No. 09/333,739, filed Jun. 15, 1999, entitled “Diffuse Illumination Systems and Methods;” Ser. No. 09/815,418, filed Mar. 22, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,577,080, entitled “Lighting Entertainment System,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/213,548, filed Dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,496; Ser. No. 10/045,604, filed Oct. 23, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” which in turn claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/277,911, filed Mar. 22, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” Serial No. 60/242,484, filed Oct. 23, 2000, entitled, “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” Serial No. 60/262,022, filed Jan. 16, 2001, entitled, “Color Changing LCD Screens;” Serial No. 60/262,153, filed Jan. 17, 2001, entitled, “Information Systems;” Serial No. 60/268,259, filed Feb. 13, 2001, entitled, “LED Based Lighting Systems for Vehicles;” Ser. No. 09/989,095, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitled “Automotive Information Systems,” which in turn claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/252,004, filed Nov. 20, 2000, entitled, “Intelligent Indicatorsl” and Serial No. 60/296,219, filed Jun. 6, 2001, entitled, “Systems and Methods for Displaying Information;” Ser. No. 09/989,747, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitled “Packaged Information Systems;” and Ser. No. 09/989,677, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitled “Information Systems.” In addition, this patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the following U.S. Provisional Applications: Ser. No. 60/301,692, filed Jun. 28, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems”; Serial No. 60/328,867, filed Oct. 12, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Networking LED Lighting Systems;” and Serial No. 60/341,476, filed Oct. 30, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for LED Lighting.” This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/971,367, filed Oct. 4, 2001, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 09/669,121, filed Sep. 25, 2000, entitled “Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/425,770, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,774, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/920,156, filed Aug. 26, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038. This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 as a continuation-in-part (CIP) of the following U.S. Non-provisional applications: Ser. No. 09/870,193, filed May 30, 2001, entitled “Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Devices in a Networked Lighting System;” Ser. No. 09/215,624, filed Dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Smart Light Bulb;” Ser. No. 09/213,607, filed Dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Systems and Methods for Sensor-Responsive Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,189, filed dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Precision Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,581, filed dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Kinetic Illumination;” Ser. No. 09/213,540, filed dec. 17, 1998, entitled “Data Delivery Track;” Ser. No. 09/333,739, filed Jun. 15, 1999, entitled “Diffuse Illumination Systems and Methods;” Ser. No. 09/815,418, filed Mar. 22, 2001, entitled “Lighting Entertainment System,” which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/213,548, filed dec. 17, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,496; Ser. No. 10/045,604, filed Oct. 23, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” Ser. No. 09/989,095, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitled “Automotive Information Systems:” Ser. No. 09/989,747, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitled “Packaged Information Systems;” and Ser. No. 09/989,677, filed Nov. 20, 2001, entitles “Information Systems.” This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of each of the following U.S. Provisional Applications, as at least one of the above-identified U.S. Non-provisional Applications similarly is entitled to the benefit of at least one of the following Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/071,281, filed dec. 17, 1997, entitled “Digitally Controlled Light Emitting Diodes Systems and Methods;” Serial No. 60/068,792, filed dec. 24, 1997, entitled “Multi-Color Intelligent Lighting;” Serial No. 60/078,861, filed Mar. 20, 1998, entitled “Digital Lighting Systems;” Serial No. 60/079,285, filed Mar. 25, 1998, entitled “System and Method for Controlled Illumination;” Serial No. 60/090,920, filed Jun. 26, 1998, entitled “Methods for Software Driven Generation of Multiple Simultaneous High Speed Pulse Width Modulated Signals;” Serial No. 60/277,911, filed Mar. 22, 2001, entitled “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” Serial No. 60/242,484, filed Oct. 23, 2000, entitled, “Systems and Methods for Digital Entertainment;” Serial No. 60/252,004, filed Nov. 20, 2000, entitled, “Intelligent Indicators;” Serial No. 60/262,022, filed Jan. 16, 2001, entitled, “Color Changing LCD Screens;” Serial No. 60/262,153, filed Jan. 17, 2001, entitled, “Information Systems;” Serial No. 60/268,259, filed Feb. 13, 2001, entitled, “LED Based Lighting Systems for Vehicles;” and Serial No. 60/296,219, filed Jun. 6, 2001, entitled, “Systems and Methods for Displaying Information.” Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Patent Family

Abstract

Provided are methods and systems for controlling the conversion of data inputs to a computer-based light system into lighting control signals. The methods and systems include facilities for controlling a nonlinear relationship between data inputs and lighting control signal ouputs. The nonlinear relationship may be programmed to account for varying responses of the viewer of a light source to different light source intensities.

Independent Claims | See all claims (134)

1. 1. A method of providing a control signal for a light, comprising: accessing a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light; providing a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control signal; determining the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light; and converting data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.
2. 22. A method of providing a lighting control signal, comprising: providing a processor; providing memory; providing a light; providing a data input; providing a user interface; and using the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor accesses the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table stores a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.
3. 47. A method of providing control of a light, comprising: providing a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.
4. 68. A system for controlling a light, comprising: a control module for generating an output control signal to control the output of a light; and a conversion module for converting a data input to the output control, wherein the conversion module converts data inputs to output control signals in a nonlinear relationship to account for the response of a viewer to different levels of output of the light.
5. 89. A system of providing a lighting control signal, comprising: a processor; a memory; a light; a data input facility; and a user interface, wherein the user interface permits a user to use the processor to access a table stored in the memory to determine a control signal for the light, wherein the processor can access the table to determine the control signal and wherein the table can store a nonlinear relationship between the data input and the control signal.
6. 114. A system of providing control of a light, comprising: a conversion module having a processor for applying a nonlinear relationship to convert a data input to an ouput control signal for the light to account for the response of a viewer of the light to varying light levels.