Patent ID: 6781691
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A61N,F21S,F21W,G02B,H05B

Abstract:
A lighting system that provides a variable selected spectral output and a variable wavelength dependent intensity distribution, the lighting system comprising a light path that comprises:a) a spectrum former able to provide a spectrum from a light beam traveling along the light path, and b) a reflective pixelated spatial light modulator located downstream from and optically connected to the spectrum former, the reflective pixelated spatial light modulator reflecting substantially all light impinging on the reflective pixelated spatial light modulator and switchable between at least first and second reflected light paths that do not reflect back to the spectrum former, wherein the reflective pixelated spatial light modulator is operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the reflective pixelated spatial light modulator to reflect a desired segment of light in the spectrum in first reflected light path and reflect other light in the spectrum in at least one other direction that is not back to the spectrum former, the desired segment of light consisting essentially of a desired selected spectral output and a desired wavelength dependent intensity distribution, wherein the reflective pixelated spatial light modulator is a first reflective pixelated spatial light modulator, and wherein the desired segment of light is directed to a second reflective spatial light modulator operably connected to at least one controller containing computer-implemented programming that controls an on/off pattern of pixels in the second reflective pixelated spatial light modulator to reflect the desired segment of light in one direction and reflect other light in the spectrum in at least one other direction.