Systems and methods for tunable LED lighting

Abstract

A tunable lighting system includes a first LED having a first spectral output, a second LED having a second spectral output, and a correction circuit including a correction LED. The correction circuit in the tunable lighting system controls the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light output from the first LED and light output from the second LED, produces a selected spectral characteristic.

Claims

1. A tunable lighting system, comprising: a first LED having a first spectral output; a second LED having a second spectral output; and a correction circuit including a correction LED, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, produces a selected spectral characteristic.

2. The tunable lighting system of claim 1 wherein the correction circuit further comprises a microprocessor to control the correction LED.

3. The tunable lighting system of claim 1 wherein the first LED is a cool white LED, the second LED is a warm white LED, the correction LED is a green LED, and the spectral characteristic is a blackbody curve.

4. The tunable lighting system of claim 1 wherein the spectral characteristic is a circadian rhythm match.

5. A tunable lighting system, comprising: a first LED having a first spectral output; a second LED having a second spectral output; a first correction circuit including a correction LED, the first correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, produces a selected spectral characteristic, a third LED having a third spectral output; a fourth LED having a fourth spectral output; and a second correction circuit, the third LED, fourth LED and second correction circuit configured to enable the tunable lighting system to emit light having a second spectral characteristic.

6. A tunable lighting system, comprising: a first LED having a first spectral output; a second LED having a second spectral output; and a correction circuit including a correction LED and a capacitor connected in series with a bridge rectifier, the bridge rectifier having a center diode and wherein the correction LED is the center diode, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and the light emitted from the second LED, produces a selected spectral characteristic.

7. A tunable lighting system, comprising: a first LED having a first spectral output; a second LED having a second spectral output; and a correction circuit including a capacitor; two correction diodes connected in parallel and oppositely biased and where the capacitor is connected in series with the two correction diodes; and, a correction LED, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, produces a selected spectral characteristic.

8. The tunable lighting system of claim 7 wherein a first correction diode of the two correction diodes is an LED.

9. The tunable lighting system of claim 7 wherein the two correction diodes are LEDs.

10. The tunable lighting system of claim 7 wherein the correction circuit further comprises a first charge restorative device and a second charge restorative device, wherein the first charge restorative device and second charge restorative device are selected to bias the correction circuit to favor the first LED over the second LED.

11. A correction circuit for a tunable lighting system, the tunable lighting system having a first LED having a first spectral output, and a second LED having a second spectral output, the correction circuit comprising: a capacitor, and two correction diodes connected in parallel and oppositely biased and where the capacitor is connected in series with the two correction diodes; and a correction LED, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, has a selected spectral characteristic.

12. The correction circuit of claim 11 wherein a first correction diode of the two correction diodes is an LED.

13. The correction circuit of claim 11 wherein the two correction diodes are LEDs.

14. The correction circuit of claim 11 further comprising: a first charge restorative device and a second charge restorative device, wherein the first charge restorative device and second charge restorative device are selected to bias the correction circuit to favor the first LED over the second LED.

15. A correction circuit for a tunable lighting system, the tunable lighting system having a first LED having a first spectral output, and a second LED having a second spectral output, the correction circuit comprising; a capacitor connected in series with a bridge rectifier, the bridge rectifier having a center diode and wherein the correction LED is the center diode; and a correction LED, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, has a selected spectral characteristic.

16. A correction circuit for a tunable lighting system, the tunable lighting system having a first LED having a first spectral output, and a second LED having a second spectral output, the correction circuit comprising: a correction LED, the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light emitted from the first LED and light emitted from the second LED, has a selected spectral characteristic.

17. The correction circuit of claim 16 further comprising a microprocessor to control the correction LED.

18. The correction circuit for a tunable lighting system of claim 16 wherein the spectral characteristic is a circadian rhythm match.

19. A method of operating a tunable lighting system wherein the lighting system comprises a first LED having a first spectral output, a second LED having a second spectral output, and a correction circuit including a correction LED, the method comprising: establishing a spectral characteristic; and generating signals in the correction circuit to control the correction LED to emit light that, when combined with light output from the first LED and light output from the second LED, produces the spectral characteristic.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is the International Commission on Illumination (C.I.E.) 1931 color space chromaticity diagram;

(2) FIG. 2 is the C.I.E. 1976 color space chromaticity diagram;

(3) FIG. 3 is a portion of the chromaticity diagram of FIG. 2 showing the black body locus for light as a function of color temperature;

(4) FIG. 4 is a chromaticity diagram illustrating a first example of light output from a conventional system having two LEDs against the blackbody locus of FIG. 3 and showing mistracking;

(5) FIG. 5 is a chromaticity diagram illustrating a second example of light output from a conventional system having two LEDs against the blackbody locus of FIG. 3 and showing mistracking;

(6) FIG. 6 is a chromaticity diagram showing example light output of a tunable lighting system according to principles of the invention;

(7) FIG. 7 is a diagram of a circuit for a tunable lighting system capable of producing the output shown in FIG. 6;

(8) FIG. 8a is a diagram of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 7 including a first embodiment of a correction circuit according to principles of the invention;

(9) FIG. 8b is a diagram of a portion of the correction circuit of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 8a showing current flow;

(10) FIG. 8c is a diagram of a portion of the correction circuit of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 8a showing current flow;

(11) FIG. 9a is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system according to principles of the invention;

(12) FIG. 9b is a diagram of a portion of the correction circuit of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 9a showing current flow;

(13) FIG. 9c is a diagram of a portion of the correction circuit of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 9a showing current flow;

(14) FIG. 10 is a diagram of the circuit for an alternative embodiment of a tunable lighting system capable of producing the output shown in FIG. 6, the tunable lighting system having multiple power sources;

(15) FIG. 11 is a further alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system according to principles of the invention;

(16) FIG. 12 is a still further alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system according to principles of the invention;

(17) FIG. 13 is a diagram of various switching types that can be used for the switches shown in FIGS. 7-12;

(18) FIG. 14 illustrates pulse width modulator (PWM) differential phase shifts between the pulses being sent to the circuits in FIGS. 7-12;

(19) FIG. 15 is a plot of test data for the lighting system depicted in one embodiment of the invention;

(20) FIG. 16 is test data for the lighting system depicted in one embodiment of the invention;

(21) FIG. 17a is one embodiment of a package for the tunable lighting system;

(22) FIG. 17b is a schematic of the backside of the tunable lighting system of FIG. 17a;

(23) FIG. 18a is a sectional schematic diagram along line 18a-18a of FIG. 17a illustrating one embodiment of the fabrication structure for the tunable lighting system of FIG. 17a;

(24) FIG. 18b is a sectional schematic diagram along line 18b-18b of FIG. 17a illustrating another embodiment of the fabrication structure for the tunable lighting system of FIG. 17a;

(25) FIG. 19 is one embodiment of a Chip-on-Board package for the tunable lighting system; and

(26) FIG. 20 is a tunable lighting system having a plurality of tunable lighting circuits according to principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

(27) Embodiments of the present invention are systems and methods for tunable lighting using LEDs. Some embodiments of the tunable lighting systems and methods generate accurate and natural LED light for color correlated temperature correction. Some embodiments of the tunable lighting systems and methods also provide circadian rhythm matching. These and other exemplary embodiments of a tunable lighting system 50 are illustrated in FIGS. 6-19.

(28) FIG. 6 is a chromaticity diagram showing light output of a tunable LED lighting system according to one embodiment. Chromaticity diagrams are explained above in the background, and the diagram shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the diagram shown in FIG. 3 with the addition of a line 44 showing the light output of a tunable lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, a first LED has a spectral output located at the point 41 where the 2700 CCT line intersects the blackbody locus 40 and a second LED has a spectral output at the point 42 where the 6500 CCT line intersects the blackbody locus. A third LED has a spectral output located at a point 43 that is outside of the main area of the diagram. The first and second LEDs individually emit light that falls on the blackbody curve. The combination of the outputs of the first LED, the second LED, the third LED is a curved line that follows the blackbody locus 40. Accordingly, it can be seen that the combination of various relative strengths of light from the LEDs does achieve other CCTs and those CCTs do fall on the blackbody locus 40, unlike the conventional lighting systems described with respect to FIG. 5. The tunable light output is accomplished by the inclusion of a correction circuit including a third LED, also referred to as a correction LED according to embodiments of the invention in the tunable lighting system. The correction circuit operates to drive the tunable lighting system such that the light output follows the blackbody locus. This will be further explained below.

(29) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for a tunable lighting system 50 capable of producing the output shown in the chromaticity diagram of FIG. 6. The tunable lighting system 50 has tunable light circuitry 60 powered by a power source 66. The power source 66 may be a single power source or may be a plurality of power sources. The tunable light circuitry 60 includes a first LED 52 (also referred to as CCT1), a second LED 54 (also referred to as CCT2), and a color correction circuit 55. Color correction circuit 55 includes a correction LED 56. The first LED 52 is coupled to a first switch 62. The second LED 54 is connected to a second switch 64. First LED 52, second LED 54 and correction LED 56 may each be a combination of multiple LEDs that are connected in series, parallel or series and parallel combinations. The correction circuit 55 is integrated between first LED 52 and second LED 54. Correction circuit 55 is controlled by signals at first node 69 between the LED 52 and switch 62 on one side, and at a second node 71 on other side. PWM signals can be out of phase between the two nodes. First LED 52 and second LED 54 may be powered from separate current sources. Further, analog control of the correction circuit 55 is also possible.

(30) In operation, the first LED 52 is driven by a first driver at junction point or first node 69, and second LED 54 is driven by a second driver at junction point or second node 71. The light output of the tunable lighting system 50 is the combined spectral outputs of the first LED 52, the second LED 54 and the correction LED 56. The color correction circuit 55 controls the correction LED 56 to emit light such that the combined output of all the LEDs in the system 50 follows a selected spectral characteristic such as the blackbody locus 40 shown in FIG. 6. The blackbody locus is associated with sunlight or the light output of an incandescent lamp.

(31) By adding a specific wavelength of light in the proper amount, the location of the blended resulting output can be moved in the directions of both of the axes on the C.I.E. color space chromaticity diagrams. The wavelength of the correction LED 56 determines the direction of the change and the relative intensity determines the amount of change. In the present embodiment, the correction LED 56 is, for example, a “green” LED with light output at approximately 520 nm wavelength. An LED having approximately this wavelength and operated by the correction circuit has the effect of maintaining the combined spectral outputs of the lighting system 50 on the blackbody locus. The output of the tunable lighting system can be operated to replicate a desired result such as white light as shown in FIG. 6. LEDs having other wavelengths are also possible. That is, other wavelengths within “green” are possible, but also other wavelengths in other colors such as cyan or yellow. Other desired spectral characteristics include specific color rendering lighting output and light output to meet circadian rhythm regulation requirements. The flexibility of configuration and accuracy of light output with regard to matching a selected spectral characteristic are particular advantages of embodiments of the present invention.

(32) FIG. 8a is a diagram of an embodiment of the tunable lighting system and FIGS. 8b and 8c are diagrams of portions of the tunable light system of FIG. 8a showing current flow. In FIG. 8a, the tunable lighting system 50a has a tunable light circuit 60a and a power source 66. The tunable light system 50a includes a first LED 52, a second LED 54, and a color correction circuit 55a. The first LED 52 is coupled to a first switch 62. The second LED 54 is coupled to a second switch 64.

(33) The correction circuit 55a includes a correction capacitor 68 and one or more correction LEDs, shown simply as a first correction LED 56a and second correction LED 56b. The correction circuit 55a further includes a first charge restorative device 70 and a second charge restorative device 72. It is understood that first correction LED 56a and second correction LED 56b may each be a plurality of LEDs. First and second LEDs are connected in parallel and then together in series with correction capacitor 68. The charge restorative devices 70, 72 may be resistors or current sources.

(34) A positive pulse causes current to flow through each correction LED 56a and 56b until correction capacitor 68 is charged. FIGS. 8b and 8c are diagrams of a portion 80 of the correction circuit 55a having the correction LED and including arrows showing current flow. The correction circuit portion 80 has a capacitor 68 connected in series with LEDs 56a and 56b that are connected in parallel. One or both diodes may be a light emitting diode (LED). Correction capacitor 68 can be discharged with zero voltage or negative pulse through the diodes. The result is light being emitted from correction LED 56 for a short time when each switch 62, 64 closes and sends a pulse, the generated corrective light output being mixed with the light outputs from first LED 52 and second LED 54 to provide corrected light. The charge restorative devices (resistors or current sources), respectively 70 and 72, shown in the correction circuit can be of differing values such that the correction can be made to favor first LED 52 or second LED 54 in order to meet the selected spectral characteristic. The charge restorative devices 70, 72 can be replaced with a constant current that will smooth the amount of current delivered to the correction LED(s).

(35) FIG. 9a is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system and FIGS. 9b and 9c are diagrams of portions of the tunable light system of FIG. 9a showing current flow. In FIG. 9a, the tunable lighting system 50b has a color correction circuit 60b and power source 66. The tunable lighting system 50b further includes a first LED 52 and a second LED 54. The correction circuit 60b includes a correction capacitor 68, a bridge rectifier 67 and correction LED 56 at the center of the bridge 67. A positive or negative pulse causes current to flow through correction LED 56 until correction capacitor 68 is charged as shown in circuit portion 82, FIGS. 9b and 9c, where the arrows showing current flow. Alternative plus and minus pulses maintain the light output of correction LED 56. The result is corrective light being emitted from correction LED 56. This corrective light is mixed with the light outputs from first LED 52 and second LED 54 to provide corrected light. Charge restorative devices, respectively 70 and 72, shown in the correction circuit can be of differing values such that the correction can be made to favor the first LED 52 or the second LED 54. These charge restorative devices can be replaced with a constant current that will smooth the amount of current delivered to the correction LED(s).

(36) FIG. 10 is a diagram of a further alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system. In FIG. 10, correction circuit 55 is integrated between first LED 52 and second LED 54. The tunable lighting system 50c is powered by multiple power sources 66 (66a, 66b, 66c). Correction circuit 55 is controlled by signals at first node 69 between the LED 52 and switch 62 on one side and at second node 71 between the LED 54 and switch 64 on other side. PWM signals can be out of phase between the two nodes. First LED 52 and second LED 54 may be powered from separate current sources 66b, 66c.

(37) FIG. 11 is a diagram of a further alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system. The tunable lighting system 50d has a first plurality of LEDs 52d and a second plurality of LEDs 54d and correction circuit 55d. The first plurality of LEDs 52d is connected to switch 62d and the second plurality of LEDs 54d is connected to switch 64d. The correction circuit 55d includes a microprocessor 84 providing signals to correction LEDs 56d.

(38) FIG. 12 is a diagram of another alternative embodiment of the tunable lighting system. The tunable lighting system 50e had a first plurality of LEDs 52e and a second plurality of LEDs 54e and a correction circuit 55e. The first plurality of LEDs 52e has a first power source 66b; the second plurality of LEDs 54c has a second power source 66c. Correction circuit 55d includes correction LEDs 54c controlled by a microprocessor 84 which is driven by its own power source 66a.

(39) FIG. 13 is a diagram of switch types suitable for use in the tunable lighting systems described above. The alternative switch types that may be used in various embodiments of the tunable lighting systems for switches 62, 64 include a PNP transistor 90, an NPN transistor 92, a p-type metal oxide semiconductor field transistor (MOSFET) 94, an n-type MOSFET 96, and a junction gate field-effect transistor (JFET) 98. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited by these example switch types.

(40) FIG. 14 is a diagram showing out of phase PWM signals 100, 102. For any of the various embodiments of the tunable lighting systems described above, PWM signals can be out of phase between the two nodes 69 and 71.

(41) In alternative arrangements of the above-described correction circuits, assuming two channels are fed with alternating PWM, the third correction channel receives power proportional to the alignment of the duty cycles (that is, maximum power at 50/50%, minimum at 0/100%). By unbalancing the charge restorative devices, it is possible to bias the correction to one side more than the other, i.e., move the peak of correction towards the first LED or the second LED. By using constant current devices in place of the charge restorative devices there is a constant current delivered to the correction LED until the capacitor fully charges/discharges (equalizes).

(42) In an alternative embodiment, maintaining the PWM ratio but increasing/decreasing the PWM frequency allows adjustment of the correction power without affecting the brightness of the LED CCT1 and CCT2 strings.

(43) In an alternative embodiment, using an inverter to control CCT2 inverse of CCT1, one square wave input can be used to control the amount of CCT1 relative to CCT2.

(44) In an alternative embodiment, varying the current from the overall power source allows both CCTs to be dimmed together (reducing the overall intensity), while the correction LED intensity follow proportionally. This allows a conventional single channel dimming LED power source to be compatible with the tunable LED system.

(45) In an alternative embodiment, using a power square wave instead of a switch eliminates the need for the pull-up charge restoration devices and can increase the efficiency of the system.

(46) In an alternative embodiment, inserting a constant current device in series with the correction LED(s) also provides a controlled flat amount of current.

(47) In an alternative embodiment, multiple correction circuits can be employed with separate curve biases by using a diode from the bottom of the LED string to the capacitor/charge restorative device.

(48) In an alternative embodiment, a sensor can determine the delta u′ v′ error (Duv error) (difference from the blackbody curve) by measuring the blended output of the two CCT LEDs and can be used to add correction in real time. This can be independent or combined with circuits shown.

(49) For the corrective circuits described above, the Color Rendering Index shows an improvement due to the correction LED as well.

(50) FIG. 15 is a graph of test data for a system that uses two LED's of different CCT's and corresponding data for the same two LED systems using the error correction circuit shown in an embodiment. In this set of test data, the LED in the correction circuit is a green LED as described above with regard to FIGS. 6 and 7.

(51) FIG. 16 shows tables of test data comparing various optical parameters as measured without correction and with correction. This data is the basis for the plots in FIG. 15. The correction circuit with the correction LED demonstrably brings the overall light output of the tunable lighting system to the desired output curve.

(52) FIG. 17a shows an exemplary package 110 suitable for use in embodiments of the tunable lighting system 50. Package 110 is a six-lead package. The connection pads on the backside of package 110 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 17b. Correction LED 56 is for example green, however, other colors are possible. Mono-directional green correction allows high color quality which is beneficial for use during long period of night time electric lighting use in extreme northern and southern latitudes during winter months.

(53) FIG. 18a illustrates one embodiment for fabricating a package such as the one shown in FIG. 17a. The package 120 has a warm white LED 122, a cool white LED 126 and a correction LED 124 with a layer of phosphor 129 (phosphor 2). Warm white and cool white refer to the same color but different color temperatures as described above in the background. An extra layer of phosphor 128 (phosphor 1) may be added to one of the die, for example the warm white LED 122, to change its color temperature. FIG. 18b illustrates another embodiment for fabricating the package shown in FIG. 17a, where the correction die's surface extends beyond the phosphors. In FIG. 18b, the package 130 includes a warm white LED 132, a cool white LED 136 and a correction LED 134. The warm white LED 132 has a layer of phosphor 1 (138) and a layer of phosphor 2 (139) while the cool white LED 136 has only a layer of phosphor 2 (139). The correction LED 134 extends beyond the layer of phosphor 2.

(54) FIG. 19 illustrates a COB (chip-on-board) array 150 containing the two different CCT LEDs 152, 154 with the correction circuit on board having a correction LED 156.

(55) FIG. 20 shows an embodiment of a tunable lighting system 50f having a plurality of tunable circuits. The tunable lighting system 50f has a first tunable light circuit 60A capable of providing a first quality of light output. The tunable lighting system 50f has a second tunable circuit 60B capable of providing a second quality of light output. Accordingly, the tunable lighting system 50f is able to provide more than one quality of light output. In alternative embodiments, the tunable lighting system may include more than two tunable circuits.

(56) In an alternative embodiment, the color correction circuit is included in the LED module in the flash unit of a digital camera. The digital camera is part of a smart phone in a first arrangement. In alternative arrangements, the digital camera is part of a tablet computer, smart glasses or a smart watch. The color correction circuit interfaces in these devices with the device's GPS unit and clock. If the device includes a manual override, the user may have the option of tuning the flash for photographic effects.

(57) In another alternative embodiment, the color correction circuit is included in a flashlight for corrected light or in green only for optimal eye sensitivity in a dim light setting. If the flashlight is included in a smart phone, the smart phone calculates a best light for the setting and may be adjusted based on smart phone battery life. In this embodiment, the user typically makes this adjustment to avoid running out of light in situations where the flashlight is needed.

(58) Similarly, the camera flash can be adjusted to the exact lighting conditions based on location and time.

(59) In another alternative embodiment, the color correction circuit is included in an LED module that further includes CW, WW, green, red and blue LEDs. Each of the LEDs is controlled independently. The assembly can be used as an optical flash. For example, the assembly could be activated to flash red and blue as an emergency signal. The assembly could also be used to flash colors in accompaniment to music at a concert or a party.

(60) In another alternative embodiment, the color correction circuit is included in the circuits that drive a smart phone screen. In a preferred arrangement, the screen color is corrected in daylight and then adjusted for color to avoid sleep interference at night. The phone further includes programming that takes as input the distance of the phone from the user's face and calculates the correlated color temperature to match the perception of white. Alternatively, device screens can be more user friendly if the existing backlight source is able to be tuned to time of day or do accommodate changing light conditions (i.e., bright, sunlight, cloudy, rain). In the case of a device with a photocell/camera, the light can be adjusted based on photocell or camera input.

(61) In any of the above alternative embodiments, the color correction circuitry in the flash module and in the screen are able to use various sensors typically present in a smart device in order to make adjustments or improvements to videos, photos or screen images. One sensor option is using the camera as a photocell. Information from the photocell may be used to adjust the flash module or the screen.

(62) In one embodiment where color correlated temperature correction is being used, tunable lighting system 50d (shown in FIG. 11) comprises at least one LED and a controlled power source to drive the LED to provide light that matches certain circadian rhythm characteristics for a specified location. One method of matching the circadian rhythm characteristics is to match the light to the normal sunlight of the day for that location (a sun simulator) and the other is to have specific blasts of light for short periods of time in the morning and evening. The associated driver circuitry may use no microprocessor, but may have factory setting of the global position and timing or on site setting. The correction circuit, in further alternative embodiments, may interface with the clock and positioning systems in the larger electronic device in which it is installed (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, etc.) Corrected light can be used to simulate sunlight for health benefits as well as creating an awareness of time in inside spaces that don't have access to external light. The correction LED can be driven by an individual channel, or the PWM of the drive for the two CCT LED strings can be modified to allow phantom control of the correction by varying the frequency of the PWM signal.

(63) The tunable lighting system described herein has advantages in devices that have a GPS system and a clock. The tuning of light results in better light for humans interacting with the light emitted from the devices. The benefits of tuning and adjusting light in real time while traveling can ameliorate the effects of jet lag and sleep deprivation. Topics of healthy lighting include CCT control, color quality and glare reduction as well as matching the changing of these characteristics throughout the day of sunlight. Beneficial night time lighting is that which most closely resembles a fire if kept on for long periods of time. Circadian stimulus is important for understanding healthy lighting.

(64) While several embodiments of the invention, together with modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

(65) It is to be understood that the above-identified embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various and other modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.