Abstract
Anti-infective light radiation methods and devices are disclosed. In an example, an anti-infective radiation device includes a lighting device configured to provide an output energy of at least one antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) within a range of 350 nm - 450 nm. The lighting device is configured to be directed towards an exterior of a living species and/or integrated and/or placed within an interior of a living species. The example lighting device projects one or more sufficient levels of the electromagnetic wavelength radiation directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living species tissue so that the electromagnetic wavelength radiation reaches near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells or organisms. The antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation damages or kills unwanted infectious cells or organisms on or within the living species.
Claims
1. An anti-infective radiation device comprising: at least one lighting device configured to provide an output energy of at least one antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) within a range of 350 nm - 450 nm, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to be directed towards an exterior of a living species and/or integrated and/or placed within an interior of a living species, wherein the at least one lighting device projects one or more levels of the electromagnetic wavelength radiation directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living species tissue so that the electromagnetic wavelength radiation reaches near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells or organisms, and wherein the antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation damages or kills unwanted infectious cells or organisms on or within the living species.
2. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a medical device.
3. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a wearable medical device.
4. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED.
5. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 1, wherein the output energy of at least one antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be set by a user or operator of the anti-infective radiation device.
6. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 1, wherein the output energy of at least one antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be focused or concentrated on a specific infected area of the living species.
7. An anti-infective radiation device comprising: at least one lighting device configured to provide an output energy of at least one IR electromagnetic radiation wavelengths within a range of 700 nm - 1200 nm, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to be directed towards an exterior of a living species and/or integrated and/or placed within an interior of a living species, wherein the at least one lighting device projects one or more levels of electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) directly onto and/or through one or more layers of the living species tissue so that the electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells or organisms, and wherein the IR electromagnetic radiation increases a temperature of infectious cells or organisms on or within the living species.
8. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 7, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a medical device.
9. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 7, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a wearable medical device.
10. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 7, further comprising at least one LED.
11. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 7, wherein the output energy of at least one IR electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be set by a user or operator of the anti-infective radiation device.
12. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 7, wherein the output energy of at least one IR electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be focused or concentrated on a specific infected area of the living species.
13. An anti-infective radiation device comprising: at least one lighting device configured to provide a first output energy of at least one antimicrobial first electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) within a range of 100 nm - 450 nm and a second output energy of at least one IR second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) within a range of 700 nm - 1200 nm, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to be directed towards an exterior of a living species and/or integrated and/or placed within an interior of a living species, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to project at least one of the first or second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living species tissue so that the electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells or organisms on or within the living species, wherein the antimicrobial first electromagnetic radiation damages or kills unwanted infectious cells or organisms on or within the living species, and wherein the IR second electromagnetic radiation increases a temperature of the infectious cells or organisms on or within the living species.
14. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a medical device.
15. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the at least one lighting device is integrated into a wearable medical device.
16. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, further comprising at least one LED.
17. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the output energy of at least one of the antimicrobial first electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) or the IR second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be set by a user or operator of the anti-infective radiation device.
18. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the output energy of at least one of the antimicrobial first electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) or the IR second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be focused or concentrated on a specific infected area of the living species.
19. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the output energy of at least one of the first antimicrobial electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) or the IR second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be pulsed.
20. The anti-infective radiation device of claim 13, wherein the output energy of at least one of the antimicrobial first electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) or the IR second electromagnetic radiation wavelength(s) is configured to be used with a drug therapy.
21. A device for treating infections comprising: at least one lighting device positioned at an exterior of a living species and/or integrated or placed within an interior of a living species such that the at least one lighting device projects a level of a combination of at least first and second sets of electromagnetic energy wavelengths directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living species tissue so that the combination of at least the first and second sets of electromagnetic energy wavelengths reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living organisms, wherein the first set of electromagnetic energy provides an output of at least one wavelength energy within a range of 100 nm - 450 nm, and wherein the second set of electromagnetic energy provides an output of at least one wavelength energy within in a range of 700 nm - 1200 nm.
22. A device for treating infections comprising: at least one lighting device positioned near an exterior of a living species and/or integrated or placed within an interior of a living species such that the at least one lighting device projects a combination of at least first and second sets of electromagnetic energy wavelengths directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the combination of at least the first and second sets of electromagnetic energy wavelengths reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living organisms, wherein the first set of electromagnetic energy provides an output of at least one wavelengths energy(s) within a range of 350 nm - 450 nm, wherein the second set of electromagnetic energy provides an output of at least one wavelengths energy(s) within in a range of 700 nm - 1200 nm, and wherein the combination of at least the first and second sets of electromagnetic energy(s) reaching near or directly onto the unwanted infectious living cells increases heat directly onto and/or near the unwanted infectious living cells and kills the unwanted infectious living cells within the living species.
23. A device for treating infections comprising: at least one lighting device, that from an exterior of a living species and/or when integrated or placed within an interior of a living species, configured to project antimicrobial first and/or IR second electromagnetic energy directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the antimicrobial and/or IR electromagnetic energy reaches microbial infections, wherein the at least one lighting devices provides an output of one or a combination of wavelength energy(s) in a range of 100 nm - 1200 nm, wherein the at least one lighting device is configured to simultaneously or alternately project the first and second electromagnetic energy wavelengths, and wherein the second electromagnetic energy wavelength(s) include at least one IR wavelength(s) in a range of 700 nm to 1200 nm and the second electromagnetic energy wavelength includes at least one antimicrobial energy wavelength(s) in a range of 100 nm - 450 nm.
24. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0063] [Para 55] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0064] [Para 56] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0065] [Para 57] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0066] [Para 58] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0067] [Para 59] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0068] [Para 60] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0069] [Para 61] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0070] [Para 62] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0071] [Para 63] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention;
[0072] [Para 64] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention; and
[0073] [Para 65] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment according to invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0074] [Para 66] While this invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, various embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
[0075] [Para 67] The present invention is directed to multiple anti-infective lighting methods, devices and/or systems for eliminating infections in living species. The lighting devices and/or systems may or may not be integrated with other devices. As discussed herein, a lighting device may include any device capable of emitting light no matter the intention. Examples of lighting devices which are contemplated by this invention include, but are not limited to LEDs, OLEDs, micro-LEDs, laser diodes, incandescent, halogen, xenon, mercury vapor, fluorescent or other light producing devices, and can potentially one day include bioluminescent living species, organisms and/or cells that could be engineered, genetically modified and.sub./or developed to support the technologies and methods that produce the wavelength energy(s) and used in ways according to the inventions described herein. The devices and/or systems may also include one or more of power connections or leads, contacts, drivers, transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, integrated circuits “IC”s, antennas, fuses, sensors, feedback, firmware, software, or other devices required to provide, control and/or manage power to circuits and device in order to emit the AIRL. A lighting system may include multiple such devices, and some or all of the required parts to drive such a device or multiple devices, including but not limited to, power supplies, transformers, inverters, rectifiers, sensors or light emitting circuitry discussed herein. While a lighting device according to the invention may be incorporated into one or more of a lighting system, a lamp, a light bulb, a room, medical devices and/or non-medical devices/items including but not limited to nano-medical robots, endoscopes, bronchoscope, cameras, ventilators, electrical stimulators, implanted devices, wearable devices, full and/or partial patient enclosures, medical rooms, ceilings, walls, floors, patient beds and/or tables, chairs, prosthetics, ceiling lights, portable devices, communications devices, video displays, handheld devices, and more.
[0076] [Para 68] The purposes of the devices described herein are multi-fold and may be accomplished independent of each other. One intention of the methods and devices described herein is to provide anti-infective and/or antimicrobial light near and/or directly onto infectious living cells on and/or within a living species. Another intention of the methods and devices described herein is to provide IR light and/or energy(s) directly near and/or onto infectious living cells on and/or within a living species. Another intention of the methods and devices described herein is to provide antimicrobial light and IR light near and/or directly onto living cells on and/or within a living species. Another intention of the methods and devices described herein is integrated such light delivery devices into lighting systems and/or together with and/or in other devices and/or items as described in some examples herein.
[0077] [Para 69] In order to achieve any of the goals of the devices described herein, it may be necessary to include one or more additional medical processes and/or procedures prior to, after and/or in conjunction with the methods and/or devices according to the invention.
[0078] [Para 70] FIG. 1 shows example light sources 100 according to the invention with such example light sources including but not limited to a light bulb and/or lamp 1.A, at least one an LED 1.B, and an organic light source 1.C. the example light sources would have the ability to provide an output of at least one or more wavelengths 102 of one or a combination of VAICL wavelengths 380 and ICTFL wavelengths 700 (anti-infective light radiation) needed to effectively provide Anti-Infective Lighting Methods & Devices and/or “AILMD” according to the invention.
[0079] [Para 71] FIG. 2 shows example lighting devices and/or systems 104 according to the invention. The example lighting devices and/or system in FIG. 2.a, FIG. 2.b, and FIG. 2.c provide one or a combination of output wavelengths. FIG. 2.a shows a VAICL lighting device 106 that produces at least one VAICL output wavelength(s) 108 according to the invention. FIG. 2.b. shows an ICTFL lighting device 110 that produces at least one ICTFL output wavelength(s) 112 according to the invention. FIG. 2.c shows a lighting device 114 that produces a combination of one of more VAICL output wavelength(s) 108 and ICTFL output wavelengths 112 according to the invention. One or more of any of the lighting devices and/or systems 106, 110 and/or 114, one or a combination of being an example of AILMD, may be used for eliminating infections on the exterior and/or interior of living species including but not limited to humans, animals, mammals and other living species by: [0080] providing lighting devices, that from the exterior of a living species and/or when integrated or placed within the interior of a living species, will project sufficient levels of light and/or IR energy directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the light and/or IR energy reaches microbial infections, and; [0081] using antimicrobial lighting devices that produce one or a combination and/or group of wavelengths in the range of 350-450 nm, and more specifically 380-420 nm, and/or using Red and/or infrared radiation (IR) lighting and/or devices that produce one or a combination and/or group of wavelengths in the range of 625-1200 nm, and; [0082] individually using the antimicrobial lighting and/or wavelengths to increase heat onto and/or near the microbial infections, and/or; [0083] simultaneously applying and/or projecting the antimicrobial lighting as a first set of electromagnetic energy wavelength(s) and the Red and/or IR lighting and/or wavelength(s) as a second set of electromagnetic energy wavelength(s) that are focused onto and/or near the microbial infections within a living species to reduce and/or kill invading and/or unwanted infections and/or microorganisms on and/or within a living species.
[0084] [Para 72] FIG. 3 shows various example AILMD lighting devices and/or systems 116 according to the invention. The AILMD devices and/or systems 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126 shown depict how the various example AILMD devices and/or systems 116 may be made in different shapes and sizes or various materials including but not limited to flexible, rigid, flat, linear, tubular, completely or partially round, rectangular, stranded, flat panels, metal, plastic, silicone, organic material, biodegradable material and/or other shapes, sizes and structures that can be designed as needed to deliver light at the desired wavelengths according to the design requirements of the AILMD devices and/or systems.
[0085] [Para 73] FIG. 4 shows an example image 128 of how VAICL, ICTFL and/or AILMD lighting devices and/or systems could work on a living species according to the invention. At certain levels of power and/or brightness, electromagnetic energy wavelengths (anti-infective lighting) can pass through living species and/or living species tissue. Many living species and/or one or more layers of living species tissue can be translucent. In this example a flashlight 130 is shown projecting waveforms 132 of light through a living species and/or finger 134 of a human hand 136. It is known that if you take a light sources such as a flashlight 130 and press firmly enough into a finger 134 or other areas of living tissue 138 on a living species while pointing the output wavelengths 132 of light into one side of a finger 134 or other living tissue 138, the wavelengths 132 of light energy will pass through one or more layers of the finger 134 and/or other living tissue 138.
[0086] [Para 74] FIG. 5 shows an example image 142 of human and/or living species 144 and an AILMD lighting device and/or system 146 being placed and operating from the exterior of the living species 144 to reduce and/or eliminate unwanted infectious organisms 148 on and/or within the living species 144 by radiating one or more wavelengths 149 onto, into and/or through the tissue of the living species, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The AILMD lighting device and/or system 146 may provide one of more output wavelengths of energy(s) of at least one or more wavelengths 149 of one or a combination of VAICL wavelengths 380 and/or ICTFL wavelengths 700 needed to effectively provide Anti-Infective Lighting Methods & Devices and/or “AILMD” 146 according to the invention. By providing sufficient levels of output wavelength energy, the wavelengths 149 would be delivered directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the electromagnetic wavelength energy(s) reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells similar to radiation therapy when used on cancer yet substantially safer for living cells surrounding the infectious cells 148. It is contemplated that the AILMD wavelengths 149 could be set and/or tuned at one or more specific selected wavelengths 380 and/or 700 for example, that fall within the range of 350 nm - 450 nm and/or 700 nm - 1400 nm based on the infection, information, feedback data and/or response of the infectious cells, amount and/or depth of tissue needing to be penetrated, or other factors. The tuning of the AILMD output wavelengths 149 could be done manually and/or automatically according to the invention and the setting and/or tuning of such wavelengths 149 could be at one or more similar or different levels of output energy levels per output wavelength. One or more wavelengths could also be set to be delivered and/or output energy from the AILMD devices in various ways including but not limited to a constant, pulsed, pulse width modulated, modulated, timed and that such outputs could be controlled, set and/or programmed by the user of the AILMD devices and/or systems 146.
[0087] [Para 75] FIG. 6 shows an example image 152 of human and/or living species 144 and an AILMD lighting device and/or system 146 being placed and operating from the interior of the living species 144 to reduce and/or eliminate unwanted infectious organisms 148 on and/or within the living species 144 by radiating one or more wavelengths 149 onto, into and/or through the tissue of the living species, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The AILMD lighting device and/or system 146 may provide one of more output wavelengths of energy(s) of at least one or more wavelengths 149 of one or as described in FIG. 5, a combination of VAICL wavelengths 380 and/or ICTFL wavelengths 700 needed to effectively provide Anti-Infective Lighting Methods & Devices and/or “AILMD” 146 according to the invention. By providing sufficient levels of output wavelength energy, the wavelengths 149 would be delivered directly onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the electromagnetic wavelength energy(s) reach near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells similar to existing radiation therapies used in cancer treatment however using electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum of wavelengths in the range of 380-450 nm and/or IR wavelengths in the range of 700-1200 nm is substantially different and safer for living species and or living cells surrounding the infectious cells 148 one would wish to eliminate. It is contemplated that the AILMD wavelengths 149 could be set and/or tuned at one or more specific selected wavelengths 380 and/or 700 for example as described in FIG. 5 that fall within the range of 350 nm - 450 nm and/or 700 nm - 1400 nm based on the infection, information, feedback data and/or response of the infectious cells, amount and/or depth of tissue needing to be penetrated, or other factors. The tuning of the AILMD output wavelengths 149 could be done manually and/or automatically according to the invention and the setting and/or tuning of such wavelengths 149 could be at one or more similar or different levels of output energy levels per output wavelength. One or more wavelengths could also be set to be delivered and/or output energy from the AILMD devices in various ways including but not limited to a constant, pulsed, pulse width modulated, modulated, timed and that such outputs could be controlled, set and/or programmed by the user of the AILMD devices and/or systems 146. The AILMD devices and/or systems 146 could include and/or be connected to at least one or a combination of a wire, hose, tube, fiber optic cable and/or antenna for example, such examples collectively shown in 154 and 154 could be accessible from the interior and/or exterior of the living species 144.
[0088] [Para 76] FIG. 7 shows an example AILMD lighting device and/or system 200 inserted through and into the mouth of a living species 204, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The AILMD device 200 can have a light source 100 as described in FIG. 1 as part of AILMD device 200. The AILMD device 200 may be integrated with other devices including but not limited to a bronchoscope, a respirator other devices. The devices could include a light emitting section and/or material 204 that emits and/or radiates one or a combination of wavelengths 149 inside a living species as described above in FIG. 6.
[0089] [Para 77] FIG. 8 shows an example AILMD lighting device and/or system 200 inserted through and/or into a living species 204 according to the invention. The AILMD device 200 includes a light emitting section and/or material 206 that is placed near and/or into the lungs and emits and/or radiates one or a combination of wavelengths 149 inside a living species as described above in FIG. 6. In this example, a device such as a bronchoscope could include the ability to deliver AILMD wavelength 149 radiation directly inside of a living species lungs 208 that may be infected with a life threatening infectious disease such as Influenza, Covid-19 or other infectious diseases that could be reduced and/or killed using the AILMD devices and/or systems as described herein according to the invention.
[0090] [Para 78] FIG. 9 shows one example embodiment image of an AILMD lighting device and/or system 210 wherein the AILMD device 210 may have a flexible section 212 that provides output of one of more wavelengths of energy(s) of at least one or more wavelengths 214 of one or a combination of VAICL wavelengths 380 and/or ICTFL wavelengths 700 needed to effectively provide Anti-Infective Lighting Radiation Methods & Devices and/or “AILRMD” 210 according to the invention. The AILRMD device 210 may have a remote power supply and/or source 216 or an integral power supply and/or source 218. The power supply and/or source may be any form of power supply and/or source that can power electronic devices. The AILRMD device may be placed on and/or wrapped directly onto a body part such as a limb 220 of a human and/or living species to deliver anti-infective light radiation near and/ or directly onto the infectious organisms which can be delivered onto and/or through one or more layers of living tissue so that the electromagnetic wavelength energy(s) reaches near or directly onto unwanted infectious living cells. It is also contemplated that many other types of wearables can be designed as AIRLMD devices and/or systems including but not limited to hats, helmets, wraps and/or pads, vests jackets and/or boots.
[0091] [Para 79] FIG. 10 shows one example embodiment image of an AILRMD lighting device and/or system 222 wherein a living species 224 may be completely or partially covered and/or enclosed within an AILMD device 222 and receive treatments using Anti-Infective Lighting Radiation Methods & Devices and/or “AILRMD” according to the invention.
[0092] [Para 80] FIG. 11 shows one example embodiment image of a Anti-Infective Lighting Device “AILD” 226 for use in AILRMD devices and/or systems as described above in previous figures according to the invention. In this example, the AILD 226 is combines at least one 380-420 nm blue LED chip 228 (as an optional light source technology) and at least one 700 nm - 1 mm IR LED chip 230 into a single blue/IR LED package “BIR” LED package 232. The BIR LED package 232 may include input and output and/or positive 234 and negative 236 “+/” electrical connections to deliver voltage and/or current to both of the LED chips at the same time, or alternately may have separate positive 238 and negative 240 electrical connections individually to each of the blue LED chip(s) 228 and IR LED chip(s) 230 allowing for different voltage and/or current levels to be delivered to the blue and IR LEDs chips in the single package. The LED chips may be connected in series, parallel and/or series/parallel within the BIR LED package 232. When more than one blue LED chip 228 is packaged and/or more than one IR LED chip 230 is packaged in a single BIR LED package, the blue output wavelengths may be one or more different wavelengths (405 nm and 410 nm for example), and the IR LED chips may be one or more different wavelengths (750 nm, 800 nm and 850 nm for example). In addition to having the option of delivering different voltage and/or current levels to the different LED chips, different drive methods could be used for a single package. For example, the blue LED chips 228 could be powered with a constant voltage or constant current, while the IR LED chips 230 in the same package could be powered with the same/or different voltage or current level, be pulsed on and off, or be pulsed at higher currents for a given period of time compared to the blue. Various drivers and/or power supplies as well as drive schemes could be used to drive such BIR LED packages including but not limited to constant voltage, constant current, PWM, high frequency AC, high voltage AC or high voltage rectified AC, linear step drive, buck boost, or other LED driver and/or methods known to those skilled in the art. One or more of the blue LED chips 228 inside the BIR LED package 232 may or may not be surrounded and/or coated with a phosphor 242 and more than one BIR LED package 232 may be integrated into a single assembly 244 which may be a printed circuit board “PCB” material or other substrate and/or receptacle that can house the specific light source technology being used to create the AILRMD devices and/or systems.
[0093] [Para 81] Such example current limiting or current controlled diode (CLD). Both CCRs and CLDs actively limit the current flowing through a particular circuit or device by substantially limiting the current to, and maintaining the current at, a threshold level once the current in a connected circuit or device has reached or exceeded a particular value. Using such devices is advantageous over using current limiting resistors insofar as CCRs and CLDs both cap the total current which is allowed to flow through a connected circuit or device, while the resistor only acts to reduce any every climbing current. With a current limiting resistor, as the input voltage to the circuit continues to increase, the current will likewise continue to increase without limit, albeit it at a lower value than without the resistor. With a CCR or a CLD, once the current reaches a threshold maximum, the current will remain substantially constant until the input voltage is reduced, even if the input voltage continues to climb. As will be described herein, in some cases the combination of a CCR or CLD and a current limiting resistor may be beneficial or required.
[0094] [Para 82] While both CCRs and CLDs may be used interchangeably to accomplish the goals of the devices described herein, there are differences between the devices. The primary difference between the devices is that CCRs, like those sold by ON Semiconductor, typically have internal transistor based control circuits and have little or no turn on voltage. CLDs are a form of a diode which are based in part on a JFET having a gate shorted to the power source and have a measurable turn on voltage. While the CLDs may be utilized with any of the devices described herein, it may be advantageous to use a CCR when possible in order to avoid the additional turn on voltage requirements of the CLD. However, CCRs and CLDs may be used interchangeably to accomplish the goals of the invention.
[0095] [Para 83] FIGS. 2-5 show exemplary LED lighting devices capable of emitting color temperature controlled light. As seen in FIG. 2A, lighting device 10 includes at least two LED circuits 12, 14 which are connected in parallel. Each LED circuit 12, 14 includes one or more LEDs 16, 18 respectively. Each LED circuit 12, 14 has a different forward operating voltage and is capable of emitting light having one or more of a different color or a different wavelength than the other circuit. For example, LED circuit 12 may emit amber or yellow light, while LED circuit 14 emits white or blue light. In order to limit the current within either LED circuit 12, 14, an active current limiting device such as a CCR or CLD, shown as CCR 20 connected in series with at least one LED 16 in first circuit 12, may be provided. As seen in FIG. 2B, additional active current limiting devices, like for example CCR 22, may be added to the device so that each LED circuit is connected in series with an active current limiting device. LED device 10 may further include connection leads 24, 26 for connecting the device to an AC power source, like for example mains power or a switch or dimmer connected to mains power. In order to fully utilize AC power and produce a substantially constant light output, device 10 and/or circuits 12, 14 should be configured such that each circuit 12, 14 is capable of emitting light during both a positive and negative phase of the provided AC voltage.
[0096] [Para 84] While the foregoing there has set forth embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
