Patent ID: 8090453
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: H04R,H05B

Abstract:
1. A system for illuminating an area proximate to a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) where an amount of light emitted from the LEDs is proportional to an amount of current used to drive the LEDs, the system comprising: a power system for powering the plurality of LEDs, the power system being configured to independently control the amount of current provided to each of the LEDs, and thereby, the amount of light emitted from each of the LEDs; a control system for controlling the power system and the amount of current provided to each of the LEDs according to an efficacy maximization strategy, the efficacy maximization strategy determining the amount of current to be provided to each of the plurality of LEDs in order to provide a desired illumination pattern to the area; wherein the control system determines the amount of current to be provided to each of the LEDs according to the efficacy maximization strategy by: i) initially estimating the amount of current for each LED based on a number of operational hours during which that LED has been operational, and thereafter, ii) adjusting the estimated amount of current based on an average temperature of each LED throughout the number of operational hours; and wherein the control system adjusts the estimated amount of current by decreasing the estimated amount of current for each LED where the average temperature is less than a predefined threshold.