USOO7828465B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,828,465 B2
`
`Roberge et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 9, 2010
`
`(54) LED-BASED FIXTURES AND RELATED
`METHODS FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Brian Roberge, Franklin, MA (US);
`Ron Roberts, Medford, MA (US); Igor
`Shikh, Newton, MA (US); Ihor Lys,
`Milton, MA (US); Brad Koerner,
`Boston, MA (US); Tomas Mollnow,
`Somerville, MA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Koninlijke Philips Electronis N.V.,
`Eindhoven (NL)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 273 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/114,500
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 2, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2008/0285271 A1
`
`Nov. 20, 2008
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/916,053, filed on May
`4, 2007, provisional application No. 60/916,496, filed
`on May 7, 2007, provisional application No. 60/984,
`855, filed on Nov. 2, 2007.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`F21V29/00
`(52) us. Cl.
`....................... 362/294; 362/218; 362/373;
`362/147
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 362/147,
`362/294, 373, 218
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,857,767 A *
`1/1999 Hochstein ................... 362/294
`7,329,033 B2 *
`...... 362/547
`2/2008 Glovatsky et al.
`..
`
`7,427,152 B2 *
`................. 362/547
`9/2008 Erion et al.
`7,478,932 B2 *
`1/2009 Chinniah et al.
`............ 362/507
`7,593,229 B2 *
`9/2009 Shuy ....................... 361/705
`
`7,651,253 B2 *
`1/2010 Shuy ................ 362/547
`
`2008/0285265 A1* 11/2008 Boissevain .................. 362/218
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary ExamineriAli Alavi
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`LED-based lighting fixtures suitable for general illumination
`in surface-mount or suspended installations, in which heat
`dissipation properties of the fixtures are significantly
`improved by decreasing thermal resistance between LED
`junctions and the ambient air. In various examples, improved
`heat dissipation is accomplished by increasing a surface area
`of one or more heat-dissipating elements proximate a traj ec-
`tory of air flow through the fixture. In one aspect, various
`structural components of the fixtures are particularly config-
`ured to create and maintain a “chimney effect” within the
`fixture, resulting in a high air-flow rate, natural convection
`cooling system capable of efiiciently dissipating the waste
`heat from the fixture without active cooling.
`
`23 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
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`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`Sheet 5 of 14
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`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
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`

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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`Sheet 10 of 14
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`Sheet 11 of 14
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`Sheet 12 of 14
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`Sheet 13 of 14
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`US 7,828,465 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Nov. 9, 2010
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`US 7,828,465 B2
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`1
`LED-BASED FIXTURES AND RELATED
`METHODS FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. §119
`(e), of the following US. Provisional Applications; Ser. No.
`60/916,053, filed on May 4, 2007, entitled “LED-based Fix-
`tures and Related Methods for Thermal Management;” Ser.
`No. 60/984,855, filed Nov. 2, 2007, entitled “LED-based
`Fixtures and Related Methods for Thermal Management;”
`and Ser. No. 60/916,496, filed May 7, 2007, entitled “Power
`Control Methods and Apparatus.” Each of these applications
`is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`The advent of digital lighting technologies, i.e. illumina-
`tion based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-
`emitting diodes (LEDs), offers a viable alternative to tradi-
`tional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional
`advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conver-
`sion and optical efliciency, robustness, lower operating costs,
`and many others. For example, LEDs are particularly suitable
`for applications requiring small or low-profile light fixtures.
`The LEDs’ smaller size, long operating life, low energy con-
`sumption, and durability make them a great choice when
`space is at a premium.
`A “downlight” is a light fixture that is installed into a
`hollow opening in a ceiling and often referred to as a
`“recessed light” or “can light.” When installed, it appears to
`concentrate light in a downward direction from the ceiling as
`a broad floodlight or narrow spotlight. Generally, there are
`two parts to recessed lights, the trim and housing. The trim is
`the visible portion of the light and includes the decorative
`lining around the edge of the light. The housing is the fixture
`itself that is installed inside the ceiling and contains the light
`socket.
`
`An alternative to recessed lights is a surface-mount or
`suspended downlight, combining the functionality of the lat-
`ter with flexibility and ease of installation over conventional
`junction boxes, particularly where disposal of the recessed
`light housing in the ceiling is impractical. In that regard,
`architects, engineers and lighting designers are often under
`considerable pressure to use low-profile, shallow-depth fix-
`tures. Fundamentally, floor-to-floor heights are limited by
`developers looking to maximize their floor-to-area ratio; yet
`designers want to maximize the volume of the space by
`including the tallest ceilings possible. This contradiction sets
`up a conflict between various utilities, including lighting, that
`are competing for the limited recess depth found between the
`finished ceiling and the structural slab above.
`Designers have also shunned most surface-mounted gen-
`eral-illumination solutions;
`the size of the primary light
`sources and ballasts, along with required optics and glare
`shielding techniques, quickly makes the fixtures too large to
`be aesthetically acceptable to most designers. Also, the com-
`promises made to achieve low profile mounting heights in
`fixtures with traditional light sources typically negatively
`impact overall fixture efficacy. In fact, total fixture eflicacy for
`many surface mounted compact fluorescent units averages
`only 30 lm/w.
`A further deficiency with conventional downlights is that
`their large size can preclude their use for emergency lighting.
`That is, the addition of a backup power supply within the
`conventional fixture would make the fixture too large to be
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`aesthetically acceptable or to fit within the allotted ceiling
`space. In conventional lighting schemes, only a selected few,
`if any, of the general illumination lights in an illuminated
`space may be provided with back-up power. Alternatively, a
`completely separate lighting system must be implemented for
`emergency lighting needs, thereby adding costs and space
`requirements.
`Thus, it is desirable to provide a downlight fixture employ-
`ing LED-based light sources that addresses a number of dis-
`advantages of known LED illumination devices, particularly
`those associated with thermal management, light output, and
`ease of installation. Accordingly, one object of the invention
`disclosed herein is to provide a shallow surface-mount fix-
`tureias shallow as 1"-2" overall heightito alleviate the
`undesirable constraints of shallow recess depths for many
`designers; in fact, it could help many projects reclaim up to 6"
`of ceiling height. Additionally, it would offer an elegant solu-
`tion to projects with no recess cavity at all (mounting directly
`to concrete slabs). Another object is to achieve an overall
`fixture eflicacy of about 30 lm/w or better in order to set
`various implementations of this invention on an equal plane
`with fluorescent sources yet at output levels normally associ-
`ated with incandescent fixtures, thus setting this fixture up
`well for environments with low ambient light levels.
`Additionally, maintaining a proper junction temperature is
`an important component to developing an eflicient lighting
`system, as the LEDs perform with a higher efficacy when run
`at cooler temperatures. The use of active cooling via fans and
`other mechanical air moving systems, however, is typically
`discouraged in the general lighting industry primarily due to
`its inherent noise, cost and high maintenance needs. Thus, it
`is desirable to achieve air flow rates comparable to that of an
`actively cooled system without the noise, cost or moving
`parts, while minimizing the space requirements ofthe cooling
`system.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the
`invention disclosed herein generally relate to lighting fixtures
`employing LED-based light sources that are suitable for gen-
`eral illumination in surface-mount or suspended installations.
`For example, one embodiment is directed to a downlight
`LED-based lighting fixture, having a modular configuration
`such that its various components, including a bezel cover,
`lens, LED module, and power/control module are easily
`accessible for repair or replacement. Other aspects of the
`present invention focus on improving heat dissipation prop-
`erties of such a fixture by optimizing its surface area and
`decreasing thermal resistance between an LED junction and
`the ambient air. In contrast to conventional naturally-cooled
`heat sink designs relying solely on considerations of form
`factor, surface area, and mass to dissipate a generated thermal
`load, in its various aspects and particular implementations,
`embodiments of the present invention additionally contem-
`plate creating and maintaining a “chimney effect” within the
`fixture. The resulting high flow rate, natural convection cool-
`ing system is capable of efliciently dissipating the waste heat
`from an LED lighting module without active cooling.
`Various inventive techniques for enhancing the air flow
`through a heat sink as disclosed herein can be used with
`different kinds of LED-based lighting fixtures or luminaries.
`It can be implemented with particular efliciency for the fix-
`tures configured for projecting light unidirectionally, for
`example, downward. One embodiment employing these con-
`cepts focuses on a low-profile downlight fixture for mono-
`chromatic (e.g., white light) illumination, capitalizing on the
`
`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
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`US 7,828,465 B2
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`3
`low profile of LED lighting modules to create a surface-
`mounted fixture thinner than any other fixture utilizing con-
`ventional light sources. The fixture also capitalizes upon the
`directionality and optic capabilities of LEDs to create a total
`fixture eflicacy that matches or surpasses even fluorescent
`sources. A unique thermal venting design according to the
`inventive concepts disclosed herein maintains appropriate
`thermal dissipation while creating a “clean,” minimalist, con-
`temporary appearance.
`In some inventive embodiments, the heat sink is configured
`such that most of its heat-dissipating surface area is posi-
`tioned in direct contact with the airflow created by the “chim-
`ney effect.” In these implementations, the overall weight and
`profile of the fixture is minimized while achieving signifi-
`cantly increased levels of heat dissipation and improving
`design flexibility. For example, the design of the trim or
`housing can range from angular to sleek. In some applica-
`tions, where the reduced profile is not a critical consideration,
`the downlight fixture can retain a conventional overall form
`factor or dimensions while housing additional components,
`such as a back-up power supply or battery in a space available
`within the fixture because of the reduced volume of the heat
`
`sink and/or compact size of the LED and the power/control
`modules.
`
`In addition to a downlight fixture, another exemplary
`implementation of the inventive concepts disclosed herein
`includes a hanging spot pendant lighting fixture, particularly
`suitable for the general ambient illumination of a small, inti-
`mate environment, such as a dining, kitchen island, or con-
`ference room setting. Possible uses for such for such a light-
`ing fixture include, but are not limited to, task lighting, low
`ambient mood lighting, accent lighting and other purposes.
`Yet another exemplary implementation includes a track head
`fixture suitable for general illumination and accent lighting of
`objects and architectural features and configured for installa-
`tion with a conventional open architecture track.
`In sum, one embodiment of the present
`invention is
`directed to a lighting apparatus, comprising at least one LED
`light source a heat sink thermally coupled to the at least one
`LED light source, a first housing portion mechanically
`coupled to the heat sink, and a second housing portion
`mechanically coupled to the heat sink. The first housing por-
`tion is disposed with respect to the heat sink so as to form a
`first air gap, a second air gap and an air channel through the
`lighting apparatus. When the heat sink transfers heat from the
`at least one LED light source during operation of the at least
`one LED light source so as to create heated air surrounding
`the heat sink, ambient air is drawn through the first air gap and
`the heated air is exhausted through the second air gap so as to
`create an air flow trajectory in the air channel from the first air
`gap to the second air gap.
`Another embodiment is directed to a lighting fixture, com-
`prising a bezel plate including at least one LED for generating
`the light, and a heat dissipating frame mechanically coupled
`to the bezel plate and including a mounting portionpositioned
`within the opening of the bezel plate, the LED module being
`disposed on the mounting portion of the heat dissipating
`frame. The bezel plate and the heat dissipating frame are
`positioned with respect to each other so as to form an air
`channel through the fixture, such that an air flow is created in
`the air channel via a chimney effect in response to heat gen-
`erated by the LED module.
`Yet another embodiment is directed to a method for cooling
`an LED-based lighting fixture, comprising drawing ambient
`air into the lighting fixture through a first air gap, flowing the
`ambient air through an internal air channel of the lighting
`fixture, and exhausting heated air from the lighting fixture
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`through a second air gap, without using a fan and via a
`chimney effect in response to heat generated by at least one
`LED of the LED-based lighting fixture.
`
`RELEVANT TERMINOLOGY
`
`As used herein for purposes of the present disclosure, the
`term “LED” should be understood to include any electrolu-
`minescent diode or other type of carrier injection/junction-
`based system that
`is capable of generating radiation in
`response to an electric signal. Thus, the term LED includes,
`but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures
`that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers,
`organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent
`strips, and the like.
`In particular, the term LED refers to light emitting diodes
`of all types (including semi-conductor and organic light emit-
`ting diodes) that may be configured to generate radiation in
`one or more of the infrared spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum,
`and various portions of the visible spectrum (generally
`including radiation wavelengths from approximately 400
`nanometers
`to approximately 700 nanometers). Some
`examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various
`types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue
`LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange
`LEDs, and white LEDs (discussed further below). It also
`should be appreciated that LEDs may be configured and/or
`controlled to generate radiation having various bandwidths
`(e.g., full widths at half maximum, or FWHM) for a given
`spectrum (e.g., narrow bandwidth, broad bandwidth), and a
`variety of dominant wavelengths within a given general color
`categorization.
`For example, one implementation of an LED configured to
`generate essentially white light (e.g., a white LED) may
`include a number of dies which respectively emit different
`spectra of electroluminescence that, in combination, mix to
`form essentially white light. In another implementation, a
`white light LED may be associated with a phosphor material
`that converts electroluminescence having a first spectrum to a
`different second spectrum. In one example of this implemen-
`tation, electroluminescence having a relatively short wave-
`length and narrow bandwidth spectrum “pumps” the phos-
`phor material, which in turn radiates longer wavelength
`radiation having a somewhat broader spectrum.
`It should also be understood that the term LED does not
`
`limit the physical and/or electrical package type of an LED.
`For example, as discussed above, an LED may refer to a
`single light emitting device having multiple dies that are
`configured to respectively emit different spectra of radiation
`(e.g., that may or may not be individually controllable). Also,
`an LED may be associated with a phosphor that is considered
`as an integral part of the LED (e.g., some types of white
`LEDs). In general, the term LED may refer to packaged
`LEDs, non-packaged LEDs, surface mount LEDs, chip-on-
`board LEDs, T—package mount LEDs, radial package LEDs,
`power package LEDs, LEDs including some type of encase-
`ment and/or optical element (e. g., a diffusing lens), etc.
`The term “light source” should be understood to refer to
`any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including,
`but not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more
`LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (e.g., filament
`lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent
`sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e. g., sodium vapor,
`mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of
`electroluminescent sources, pyro-luminescent sources (e.g.,
`flames), candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, car-
`bon arc radiation sources), photo-luminescent sources (e.g.,
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`gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources
`using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources,
`crystallo-luminescent sources, kine-luminescent sources,
`thermo-luminescent
`sources,
`triboluminescent
`sources,
`sonoluminescent sources,
`radioluminescent sources, and 5
`luminescent polymers.
`A given light source may be configured to generate elec-
`tromagnetic radiation within the Visible spectrum, outside the
`Visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Hence, the terms
`“light” and “radiation” are used interchangeably herein.
`Additionally, a light source may include as an integral com-
`ponent one or more filters (e.g., color filters), lenses, or other
`optical components. Also, it should be understood that light
`sources may be configured for a variety of applications,
`including, but not limited to, indication, display, and/or illu-
`mination. An “illumination source” is a light source that is
`particularly configured to generate radiation having a suffi-
`cient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior
`space. In this context, “sufficient intensity” refers to sufiicient
`radiant power in the visible spectrum generated in the space 20
`or environment (the unit “lumens” often is employed to rep-
`resent the total light output from a light source in all direc-
`tions, in terms ofradiant power or “luminous flux”) to provide
`ambient illumination (i.e., light that may be perceived indi-
`rectly and that may be, for example, reflected off of one or 25
`more of a variety of intervening surfaces before being per-
`ceived in whole or in part).
`The term “spectrum” should be understood to refer to any
`one or more frequencies (or wavelengths) of radiation pro-
`duced by one or more light sources. Accordingly, the term 30
`“spectrum” refers to frequencies (or wavelengths) not only in
`the visible range, but also frequencies (or wavelengths) in the
`infrared, ultraviolet, and other areas of the overall electro-
`magnetic spectrum. Also, a given spectrum may have a rela-
`tively narrow bandwidth (e.g., a FWHM having essentially 35
`few frequency or wavelength components) or a relatively
`wide bandwidth (several frequency or wavelength compo-
`nents having various relative strengths). It should also be
`appreciated that a given spectrum may be the result of a
`mixing of two or more other spectra (e.g., mixing radiation 40
`respectively emitted from multiple light sources).
`For purposes of this disclosure, the term “color” is used
`interchangeably with the term “spectrum.” However, the term
`“color” generally is used to refer primarily to a property of
`radiation that is perceivable by an observer (although this 45
`usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term). Accord-
`ingly, the terms “different colors” implicitly refer to multiple
`spectra having different wavelength components and/or
`bandwidths. It also should be appreciated that the term
`“color” may be used in connection with both white and non- 50
`white light.
`The term “color temperature” generally is used herein in
`connection with white light, although this usage is not
`intended to limit the scope of this term. Color temperature
`essentially refers to a particular color content or shade (e.g.,
`reddish, bluish) of white light. The color temperature of a
`given radiation sample conventionally is characterized
`according to the temperature in degrees Kelvin (K) of a black
`body radiator that radiates essentially the same spectrum as
`the radiation sample in question. Black body radiator color 60
`temperatures generally fall within a range of from approxi-
`mately 700 degrees K (typically considered the first visible to
`the human eye) to over 10,000 degrees K; white light gener-
`ally is perceived at color temperatures above 1500-2000
`degrees K.
`Lower color temperatures generally indicate white light
`having a more significant red component or a “warmer feel,”
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`while higher color temperatures generally indicate white light
`having a more significant blue component or a “cooler feel.”
`By way of example, fire has a color temperature of approxi-
`mately 1 ,800 degrees K, a conventional incandescent bulb has
`a color temperature of approximately 2848 degrees K, early
`morning daylight has a color temperature of approximately
`3,000 degrees K, and overcast midday skies have a color
`temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K. A color
`image viewed under white light having a color temperature of
`approximately 3,000 degree K has a relatively reddish tone,
`whereas the same color image viewed under white light hav-
`ing a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K
`has a relatively bluish tone.
`The term “lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to an
`implementation or arrangement of one or more lighting units
`in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. The term
`“lighting unit” is used herein to refer to an apparatus includ-
`ing one or more light sources of same or different types. A
`given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting
`arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing
`arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical
`connection configurations. Additionally, a given lighting unit
`optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled
`to and/or packaged together with) various other components
`(e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light
`source(s). An “LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting
`unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as
`discussed above, alone or in combination with other non
`LED-based light sources. A “multi-channel” lighting unit
`refers to an LED-based or non LED-based lighting unit that
`includes at least two light sources configured to respectively
`generate different spectrums of radiation, wherein each dif-
`ferent source spectrum may be referred to as a “channel” of
`the multi-channel lighting unit.
`The term “controller” is used herein generally to describe
`various apparatus relating to the operation of one or more
`light sources. A controller can be implemented in numerous
`ways (e.g., such as with dedicated hardware) to perform vari-
`ous functions discussed herein. A “processor” is one example
`of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors
`that may be programmed using software (e. g., microcode) to
`perform various functions discussed herein. A controller may
`be implemented with or without employing a processor, and
`also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated
`hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g.,
`one or more programmed microprocessors and associated
`circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller
`components that may be employed in various embodiments
`of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, con-
`ventional microprocessors, application specific integrated
`circuits (ASle), and field-programmable gate arrays (FP-
`GAs).
`In various implementations, a processor or controller may
`be associated with one or more storage media (generically
`referred to herein as “memory,” e. g., volatile and non-volatile
`computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and
`EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, mag-
`netic tape, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media
`may be encoded with one or more programs that, when
`executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, per-
`form at least some of the functions discussed herein. Various
`
`storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or
`may be transportable, such that the one or more programs
`stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so
`as to implement various aspects of the present disclosure
`discussed herein. The terms “program” or “computer pro-
`gram” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of
`
`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
`
`PETITIONERS, Ex. 1011
`
`

`

`US 7,828,465 B2
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`7
`computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be
`employed to program one or more processors or controllers.
`The term “addressable” is used herein to refer to a device
`
`(e.g., a light source in general, a lighting unit or fixture, a
`controller or processor associated with one or more light
`sources or lighting units, other non-lighting related devices,
`etc.) that is configured to receive information (e.g., data)
`intended for multiple devices, including itself, and to selec-
`tively respond to particular information intended for it. The
`term “addressable” often is used in connection with a net-
`
`(or a “network,” discussed further
`worked environment
`below), in which multiple devices are coupled together Via
`some communications medium or media.
`
`In one network implementation, one or more devices
`coupled to a network may serve as a controller for one or more
`other devices coupled to the network (e.g., in a master/slave
`relationship). In another implementation, a networked envi-
`ronment may include one or more dedicated controllers that
`are configured to control one or more of the devices coupled
`to the network. Generally, multiple devices coupled to the
`network each may have access to data that is present on the
`communications medium or media; however, a given device
`may be “addressable” in that it is configured to selectively
`exchange data with (i.e., receive data from and/or transmit
`data to) the network, based, for example, on one or more
`particular identifiers (e.g., “addresses”) assigned to it.
`The term “network” as used herein refers to any intercon-
`nection of two or more devices (including controllers or pro-
`cessors) that facilitates the transport of information (e.g. for
`device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between any
`two or more devices and/or among multiple devices coupled
`to the network. As should be readily appreciated, various
`implementations of networks suitable for interconnecting
`multiple devices may include any of a variety of network
`topologies and employ any of a variety of communication
`protocols. Additionally, in various networks according to the
`present disclosure, any one connection between two devices
`may represent a dedicated connection between the two sys-
`tems, or alternatively a non-dedicated connection. In addition
`to carrying information intended for the two devices, such a
`non-dedicated connection may carry information not neces-
`sarily intended for either of the two devices (e.g., an open
`network connection). Furthermore,
`it should be readily
`appreciated that various networks of devices as discussed
`herein may employ one or more wireless, wire/cable, and/or
`fiber optic links to facilitate information transport throughout
`the network.
`The term “user interface” as used herein refers to an inter-
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`face between a human user or operator and one or more
`devices that enables communication between the user and the
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`device(s). Examples of user interfaces that may be employed
`in various implementations of the present disclosure include,
`but are not limited to, switches, potentiometers, buttons,
`dials, sliders, a mouse, keyboard, keypad, various types of
`game controllers (e.g., joysticks), track balls, display screens,
`various types of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), touch
`screens, microphones and other types of sensors that may
`receive some form ofhuman-generated stimulus and generate
`a signal in response thereto.
`It should be appreciated that all combinations of the fore-
`going concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater
`detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually incon-
`sistent) are contemplated as being part ofthe inventive subject
`matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of
`claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure
`are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter
`disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminol-
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`ogy explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any
`disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a
`meaning most consistent with the particular concepts dis-
`closed herein.
`
`RELATED PATENTS AND PATENT
`APPLICATIONS
`
`L
`
`The following patents and patent applications, relevant to
`the present disclosure, and any inventive concepts contained
`therein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference:
`L.S. Pat. No. 6,016,038, issued Jan. 18, 2000, entitled
`“Multicolored LED Lighting Method and Apparatus,”
`L .8. Pat. No. 6,211,626, issuedApr. 3, 2001, entitled“Illu-
`mination Components,”
`.8. Pat. No. 6,975,079, issued Dec. 13, 2005, entitled
`“Systems and Methods for Controlling Illumination
`Sources,”
`.8. Pat. No. 7,014,336, issued Mar. 21, 2006, entitled
`“Systems and Methods for Generating and Modulating
`Illumination Conditions,”
`.8. Pat. No. 7,038,399, issued May 2, 2006, en