Abstract:
An adaptive light system including a color matching engine, a controller, and a plurality of light sources each configured to emit a source light. The color matching engine determines a dominant wavelength of a selected color, and a combination of the light sources that the controller may operate to emit a combined wavelength that approximately matches the dominant wavelength of the selected color. A color capture device transmits a source color signal designating the selected color. A method of adapting light comprises receiving a selected color, converting a value representing a dominant wavelength of the selected color, determining a combination of and percentages of colors emitted by the plurality of light sources that may be combined to form an adapted light that matches the selected color, and operating the light sources along with a white light to emit the adapted light.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/643,316 entitled LUMINAIRE HAVING AN ADAPTABLE LIGHT SOURCE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS filed on May 6, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/234,371 filed Sep. 16, 2011, entitled COLOR CONVERSION OCCLUSION AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/107,928 filed May 15, 2011, entitled HIGH EFFICACY LIGHTING SIGNAL CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/174,339 filed Jun. 30, 2011, entitled LED LAMP FOR PRODUCING BIOLOGICALLY-CORRECTED LIGHT, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/842,887 filed Jul. 23, 2010, entitled LED LAMP FOR PRODUCING BIOLGICALLY-CORRECTED LIGHT, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/310,300 filed Dec. 5, 2011, entitled TUNABLE LED LAMP FOR PRODUCING BIOLOGICALLY-ADJUSTED LIGHT, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to systems and methods for producing light. More specifically, the invention relates to systems and methods for dynamically adapting a produced light in response to varying factors. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Current lighting devices often employ digital lighting technologies such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that generally feature longer operating lives, cheaper operating costs, and wider color ranges than those of legacy lighting devices such as incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. However, changing ambient light conditions (e.g., seasonal differences, time of day, subjects in motion) can cause lighting device emissions of a given color to be absorbed by the surrounding environment rather than reflected for perception by the user of the lighting device. Such “light waste” operates counter to the longevity, affordability, and efficiency of lighting devices. Advancements in generation of colored light and adaptation to ambient light hold promise for combating light waste. 
         [0004]    Current lighting devices are generally capable of generating light within a diverse color range by combining the emissions of various colored primary light sources. Commonly, devices that combine light to create various colors employ light sources that include red, green, and blue (RGB) colored lights, which are known in the art as primary additive colors or primaries. Additional colors may be created though the combination of these primaries. By combining two primary additive colors in substantially equal quantities, the secondary colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow may be created. Combining all three primary colors may produce white. By varying the luminosity of each color emitted, approximately the full color gamut may be produced. 
         [0005]    In general, using fewer lights to produce the full color gamut translates to lower lighting system design and operation costs. For example, in a lighting system that utilizes LEDs, operating every LED at full luminosity to produce a white output color may require using an undesirably large amount of energy and also may produce an excessive amount of heat. Therefore, to emit light of virtually any color within the full color gamut without suffering the shortcomings of the prior art, lighting device implementations in the art are known to add a white light source to supplement the primary color light sources. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,728,846 to Higgins et al. discloses converting an input three-color image data set into an output four-color image data set, where one of the output colors present is white. By including an additional white light source, the white light may provide additional brightness without requiring the primary light sources to operate at full luminosity. However, by adding a new lighting source, the disclosed implementation may not operate with optimal efficiency characteristics based on environmental factors. Furthermore, the disclosed implementation requires the use of light sources defined within the full color gamut to reproduce light in various colors, contributing to inefficient operation. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,324,076 to Lee et al. similarly discloses the use of three or more primary lights in an adaptive lighting solution that receives a user-selected color point, derives tristimulus values for the color point, and controls a plurality of LED drivers for an LED light source to achieve the user-selected color point. However, if the user-selected color point is outside a color selection range of the LED light source, the event is merely flagged as an error and no alternative operation is described. Furthermore, like the Higgins patent, the use of three or more primary light sources to reproduce light in various colors results in operational inefficiency compared to implementations employing fewer than three light sources. 
         [0008]    International Pub. No. WO 2006/001221 by Nagai et al. discloses a method for altering the light source color of room illumination in accordance with the season, time of day, and occasion. The illumination source emits light in a light source color created as a result of sufficiently mixing white light from white LEDs and orange light from orange LEDs. However, the light source color is variable without deviating much from a state close to natural light, and without regard for possible absorption of the produced color by the environment surrounding the light source. 
         [0009]    A need exists for a light adapter that may accept a source signal defining a selected color, and that may efficiently manipulate less than three color points generated by primary light sources along with a white color point generated by a high efficacy light source to produce a selected color. Additionally, a lighting device with the ability to adapt to a selected color would be able to dynamically increase its efficiency by allowing for reduced light absorption by the lighting device&#39;s environment, which is more desirable to both consumers and producers. More specifically, a need exists for a lighting device with the ability to adapt to its environment so that more of its produced light is reflected rather than absorbed, increasing efficiency. Additionally, such a lighting device may need to adapt multiple times to account for changes in its environment. 
         [0010]    This background information is provided to reveal information believed to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    With the foregoing in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to methods and systems for advantageously adapting the light emissions of a lighting device to enhance a color identified in the environment surrounding the lighting device. More specifically, color adaptation as implemented in the present invention, may allow for increased energy efficiency during lighting device operation by tailoring emissions to a selected color that may be reflected back into an illuminable space. The present invention may further allow for less light absorption by the environment, advantageously resulting in greater brightness as perceived by a user of the lighting device. The present invention may further allow for mixing of the emissions of two color points plus a white color point not only to achieve a selected color but also to minimize power consumption and heat production. 
         [0012]    These and other objects, features, and advantages according to the present invention are provided by an adaptive light system to control a lighting device. The adaptive light system may include a color matching engine and a controller operatively coupled to the color matching engine. The adaptive light system may also include a plurality of light sources each configured to emit a source light in a source wavelength range. Each of the plurality of light sources may be operatively coupled to the controller. It is preferable that at least one of the plurality of light sources is a white light. 
         [0013]    The color matching engine may determine a dominant wavelength of a selected color. The color matching engine may also determine a combination of at least two of the plurality of light sources that emit a combined wavelength that approximately matches the dominant wavelength of the selected color. The controller may be configured to operate the combination of at least two of the plurality of light sources to emit the combined wavelength, wherein at least one of the plurality of light sources is the white light. Each of the plurality of light sources may be provided by a light emitting diode (LED). 
         [0014]    The adaptive light system may also include a color capture device that may transmit a source color signal designating the selected color. In one embodiment, the color capture device may be a handheld device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer. In another embodiment, the color capture device may be a sensor device such as an optical sensor, a color sensor, and a camera. 
         [0015]    The adaptive light system may also include a conversion engine that may be coupled to the color capture device and may be configured to perform a conversion operation that operates to receive the selected color. The conversion engine also may determine RGB values of the selected color, and may convert the RGB values of the selected color to XYZ tristimulus values. 
         [0016]    The color matching engine may define the dominant wavelength of the selected color as a boundary intersect value that may lie within the standardized color space. The boundary intersect value may be collinear with the XYZ tristimulus values of the selected color and with the tristimulus values of a white point such that the boundary intersect value may be closer to the selected color than to the white point. 
         [0017]    The color matching engine may identify a subset of colors within the source wavelength ranges of the source lights emitted by the plurality of light sources, such that the subset of colors may combine to match the dominant wavelength of the selected color. The color matching engine also may choose two of the subset of colors to combine to match the dominant wavelength of the selected color. The choice of colors may include a first color value that may be greater than the dominant wavelength of the selected color, and a second value that may be lesser than the dominant wavelength of the selected color. None of the remaining subset of colors may have a source wavelength nearer to the dominant wavelength of the selected color than either of the first color value and the second color value. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment, the choice of colors may include a first color value that may be lesser than the dominant wavelength of the selected color. None of the subset of colors may have a source wavelength greater than the first color value, and none of the subset of colors may have a source wavelength lesser than a second color value. 
         [0019]    In yet another embodiment, the choice of colors may include a second color value that may be greater than the dominant wavelength of the selected color. None of the subset of colors may have a source wavelength lesser than the second color value, and none of the subset of colors may have a source wavelength greater than a source wavelength of the first color value. 
         [0020]    The color matching engine also may define a color line that contains the XYZ tristimulus values of the selected color and the XYZ tristimulus values of the white point, and also a matching line containing XYZ tristimulus values of the first color and XYZ tristimulus values of the second color. The color matching engine may also identify an intersection point of the color line and the matching line. The color matching engine may also determine a percentage of the first color value and a percentage of the second color value to combine to match the dominant wavelength of the color represented by the intersection point. 
         [0021]    The color matching engine may also calculate a ratio of the first color and the second color to combine, and may scale the ratio of the first and second colors to sum to 100%. The color matching engine may also determine a Y value for a combined monochromatic color point that may represent a combination of the first color, the second color, and all remaining monochromatic colors emitted by the light sources. 
         [0022]    The color matching engine may also determine XYZ tristimulus values for a combined phosphor color point representing a combination of all phosphor colors emitted by the light sources. The color matching engine may determine a percentage of each of the combination of all phosphor colors needed to match the combined phosphor color point, and may choose a combination of the first color, the second color, all remaining monochromatic colors, and all phosphor colors with a lowest sum of the percentages required to match the selected color. 
         [0023]    The color matching engine may also determine XYZ tristimulus values for the combined phosphor color point, and may populate an inverted matrix to contain the XYZ tristimulus values of each of the combination of all phosphor colors. The color matching engine may also multiply the inverted matrix by the XYZ tristimulus values of the combined phosphor color point, and may identify every combination of the first color, the second color, all remaining monochromatic colors, and all phosphor colors to adapt to the selected light. The color matching engine may discard any resultant combination that contains a negative percentage. 
         [0024]    A method aspect of the present invention is for adapting a source light. The method may comprise receiving a source color signal representing a selected color, and converting the source color signal to a value representing a dominant wavelength of the selected color. The method may further comprise determining a combination of and percentages of the plurality of light sources that may be combined to emit a combined wavelength that approximately matches the selected color. The method may further comprise operating the two or more light sources along with a white light to emit an adapted light that includes the combined wavelength. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an adaptive light system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a process of matching a selected color using color points emitted by the adaptive light system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 3A  is a graph illustrating CIE 1931 color coordinates for color point matching variables as mentioned in the process described in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 3B  is a magnified illustration of an area of the graph of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining percentages of color points emitted by the adaptive light system of  FIG. 1  to combine to match the selected color as mentioned in the process described in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining intensity reductions for combinations of color points emitted by the adaptive light system of  FIG. 1  to match the selected color as mentioned in the process described in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary user interface to be used in connection with the adaptive light system of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of an adaptive light system according to an embodiment of the present invention in use in an automobile. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic diagram of an adaptive light system according to an embodiment of the present invention in use in a surgical scope. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8B  is a schematic diagram of an adaptive light system according to an embodiment of the present invention in use in connection with a surgeon&#39;s glasses. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram representation of a machine in the example form of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0037]    Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
         [0038]    In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Additionally, in the following detailed description, reference may be made to the driving of light emitting diodes, or LEDs. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the use of LEDs within this disclosure is not intended to be limited to the any specific form of LED, and should be read to apply to light emitting semiconductors in general. Accordingly, skilled artisans should not view the following disclosure as limited to the any particular light emitting semiconductor device, and should read the following disclosure broadly with respect to the same. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-9 , an adaptive light system and associated methods according to the present invention are now described in greater detail. Throughout this disclosure, the adaptive light system may also be referred to as a system or the invention. Alternate references to the adaptive light system in this disclosure are not meant to be limiting in any way. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an adaptive light system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in greater detail. The logical components of an adaptive light system  100  may comprise a lighting device  110  that may include a conversion engine  112 , a color matching engine  114 , a controller  116 , and a light source  118 . For example, and without limitation, the light source  118  may comprise a plurality of LEDs each arranged to generate a source light. A subset of the LEDs in the light source  118  may be arranged to produce a combined light that may exhibit a selected color. The controller  116  may be designed to control the characteristics of the combined light emitted by the light source  118 . 
         [0041]    A source signal representing the selected color may be conveyed to the lighting device  110  using a color capture device (for example, and without limitation, a sensor  120  and/or a user interface  130  on a remote computing device). More specifically, a color capture device implemented as a sensor  120  may be configured to detect and to transmit to the lighting device  110  color information from the ambient lighting environment that may be located within an illumination range of the light source  118 . For example, and without limitation, a sensor  120  may be an environment sensor such as an optical sensor, a color sensor, and a camera. Alternatively or in addition to use of a sensor  120 , a user interface  130  on a remote computing device may be configured to convey color information from a user whose visual region of interest may be within an illumination range of the light source  118 . For example, and without limitation, the medium for conveyance of color information from the user interface  130  of a remote computing device to the lighting device  110  may be a network  140 . 
         [0042]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , the lighting device  110  may comprise a processor  111  that may accept and execute computerized instructions, and also a data store  113  which may store data and instructions used by the processor  111 . More specifically, the processor  111  may be configured to receive the input transmitted from some number of color capture devices  120 ,  130  and to direct that input to a data store  113  for storage and subsequent retrieval. For example, and without limitation, the processor  111  may be in data communication with a color capture device  120 ,  130  through a direct connection and/or through a network connection  140 . 
         [0043]    The conversion engine  112  and the color matching engine  114  may cause the processor  111  to query the data store  113  for color information detected by a color capture device  120 ,  130 , and may interpret that information to identify color points within the lighting capability of the light source  118  that may be used advantageously to enhance a selected color in the environment. More specifically, the conversion engine  112  may perform a conversion operation to convert the source signal to a format that may be interpreted by the matching engine  114  to facilitate a comparison of the selected color to spectral capabilities supported by the light source  118 . The controller  116  may cause the processor  111  to query the data store  113  for supported color points identified to enhance the selected color, and may use this retrieved information to generate signals directing the tuning of the spectral output of the light source  118 . For example, and without limitation, the controller  116  may generate output signals that may be used to drive a plurality of LEDs in the light source  118 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to flowchart  200  of  FIG. 2  and also to graph  300  of  FIG. 3A , a method of matching a selected color by adapting the emission characteristics of a lighting device  110  will now be described in detail. For purposes of definition, the CIE 1931 XYZ color space, created by the International Commission on Illumination, is a red-green-blue (RGB) color space that may be characterized in three dimensions by tristimulus values which represent the luminance and chromaticity of a color (incorporated herein by reference). The chromaticity of a color alternatively may be specified in two dimensions by two derived parameters x and y, defined as two of three normalized values that are functions of the three tristimulus values, shown as X, Y, and Z in Expression A below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
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         [0000]    The derived color space specified by x, y, and Y is known as the CIE xyY color space. To return to a three-dimensional representation, the X and Z tristimulus values may be calculated from the chromaticity values x and y and the Y tristimulus value as shown below in Expression B. 
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         [0045]    Beginning at Block  205 , a color capture device  120 ,  130  may select a color to which the emissions of the lighting device  110  are to be adapted (Block  210 ). The conversion engine  112  may convert the RGB values of the selected color to the XYZ tristimulus values  310  of the selected color at Block  220 . A skilled artisan will recognize that RGB values are representative of additive color mixing with primary colors of red, green, and blue over a transmitted light. The present disclosure may discuss the adaptive light system  100  of the present invention as converting a selected color, which may be defined in the RGB color space, into a signal generated by the controller  116  comprising three numbers independent of their spectral compositions, that may be defined as XYZ tristimulus values  310 . However, a person of skill in the art also will appreciate that additional conversions are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the present invention. A skilled artisan also will appreciate conversion operations may involve converting a selected color into an output signal to drive light emitting devices in a light source  118 . 
         [0046]    Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3A , after converting the values  310  of the selected color, the color matching engine  114  may determine a dominant wavelength of the selected color (Block  230 ), measured in nanometers (nm). At Block  232 , the dominant wavelength of each color point of the LEDs in the light source  118  may be determined by the color matching engine  114 . For example, and without limitation, a light source may comprise LEDs of a monochromatic type such as Red  320  (wavelength range 620-645), Amber  330  (wavelength range 610-620), Green  332  (wavelength range 520-550), Cyan  334  (wavelength range 490-520), and Blue  336  (wavelength range 460-490). Also for example, and without limitation, a light source may comprise LEDs of a phosphor type such as Phosphor-Converted Amber  342 , Yellow  344 , and Blue-White  346 . 
         [0047]    At Block  234 , the method then includes a step of the color matching engine  114  determining a subset of colors emitted by the light source  118  that may be combined to match the dominant wavelength of the selected color (Block  234 ). From that subset, two light colors emitted by the monochromatic LEDs with wavelengths closest to the selected color&#39;s dominant wavelength may be paired. For example, and without limitation, one of the pair of combinable monochromatic colors  320  may have a wavelength greater than the selected color&#39;s dominant wavelength, while the other combinable monochromatic color  330  may have a wavelength less than the selected color&#39;s dominant wavelength (Block  236 ). A skilled artisan may recognize that the dominant wavelength may be found by plotting the selected color  310  on a CIE 1931 color chart  300 , and drawing a line  335  through the selected color  310  and a reference white point  340 . The boundary intersection  350  of the line  335  that is closer to the selected color  310  may be defined as the dominant wavelength, while the boundary intersection  352  of the line  335  that is closer to the white point  340  may be defined as the complementary wavelength. 
         [0048]    Referring additionally to the magnified area of  FIG. 3A  illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the closest-wavelength color points  320 ,  330  may be added to the color chart  300  with a line  355  drawn between them (Block  240 ). At Block  242 , line  335  and line  355  may be checked for an intersection  360  on the CIE 1931 color chart  300 . If no such intersection occurs within the CIE 1931 color space  305 , then no color point match may exist with the monochromatic color points  320 ,  330  having the closest wavelengths. In this instance, the color matching engine  114  may discard the results, after which the process may end at Block  250 . If, however, such an intersection does occur on the CIE 1931 color chart  300  at Block  242 , the intersection point  360  may be used by the color matching engine  114  to determine the percentage of each of the two adaptable light color points  320 ,  330  needed to produce the color represented by the intersection point  360  (Block  244 ). This determination will be discussed in greater detail below. The process  200  of matching a selected color using color points of an adaptable light source  118  ends at Block  250 . 
         [0049]    Referring to flowchart  244  of  FIG. 4  and continuing to refer to graph  300  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the method by which the color matching engine  114  determines the percentage of each of two color points  320 ,  330  of an adaptable light source  118  needed to generate the intersection point color  360  will now be described in greater detail. Starting at Block  405 , the ratio of the two adaptable light color points  320 ,  330  may be calculated (Block  410 ). The ratio is given below in Expression 1. 
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         [0050]    In the above Expression 1, 
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         [0000]    |p s −p 2 |=the distance  365  between the selected color point  310  and the second adaptable light color point  330 , |p s −p 1 |=the distance  375  between the selected color point  310  and the first adaptable light color point  320 , and 
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             , 
             330 
           
         
       
     
         [0000]    to be mixed to create a combined monochromatic color point characterized by the x and y coordinates of intersection point  360 . This ratio may then be scaled to 100% (Block  420 ). In other words, r 1  and r 2  may be multiplied by some number such that the greater of the scaled ratio terms R 1 , and R 2  (representing the first color point  320  and the second color point  330 , respectively), equals 100. 
         [0051]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 4 , the combined monochromatic color point  360  may be defined as the summation of all monochromatic colors in the spectral output of the light source  118  including, for example, and without limitation, the first adaptable color point  320 , the second adaptable color point  330 , and all remaining monochromatic colors  332 ,  334 ,  336 . The tristimulus values of the combined monochromatic color point  360  (and, consequently, the xyY point in the CIE 1931 color space  305 ) may be determined at Block  425 . The desired Y value, also known in the art as intensity, of the combined monochromatic color point  360  may be determined at Block  430  using Expression 2 below. 
         [0000]        Y=R   1   Y   1   +R   2   Y   2   Expression 2
 
         [0052]    In the above Expression 2, Y 1 =the Y value of the first adaptable light color point  320 , and Y 2 =the Y value of the second adaptable light color point  330 . The resultant intensity of the combined monochromatic color point  360  may be expressed on a scale from 0 percent to 100 percent, where 100 percent (Y max ) represents the maximum lumen output that the combined monochromatic color point  360  may provide. 
         [0053]    After the intensity of the combined monochromatic color point  360  is calculated at Block  430 , the tristimulus value for a phosphor color point  355  may be determined at Block  440  by subtracting the xyY value of the selected color point  310  from the xyY value of the white point  340 . At Block  450 , the intensities of the three phosphor light color points  342 ,  344 ,  346  needed to achieve the phosphor color point  355  may be determined by applying an inverted tristimulus matrix containing the tristimulus values of the three phosphor color points  342 ,  344 ,  346  multiplied by the tristimulus values of the phosphor color point  355 . 
         [0054]    If none of the calculated intensity results is determined at Block  452  to contain negative values for the monochromatic light color point  360  (from Block  425 ) nor for any of the phosphor light color points  342 ,  344 ,  346  (from Block  450 ), then the lowest power load result may be identified as that combination of monochromatic and phosphor color points  360 ,  342 ,  344 ,  346  having the lowest sum of intensities. The result with the lowest sum of intensities, and therefore the least amount of power, may be advantageous in terms of increased efficiency of operation of the lighting device  100 . At Block  460 , the duty cycle of each monochromatic  320 ,  330 ,  332 ,  334 ,  336  and phosphor  342 ,  344 ,  346  LED may be set by the controller  116  to the intensity determined for each in Block  460 , after which the process ends at Block  465 . 
         [0055]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 4 , if any of the calculated intensity results are determined at Block  452  to contain negative values for the monochromatic light color point  360  (from Block  425 ) or for any of the phosphor light color points  342 ,  344 ,  346  (from Block  450 ), then those results may be discarded from consideration for driving the adaptable light source  118  because, as a skilled artisan will readily appreciate having had the benefit of this disclosure, a negative intensity would imply the removal of a light color, which is inefficient because it requires filtering of an emitted color from the light source  118 . 
         [0056]    Upon detection of negative intensity results, the color matching engine  114  may initiate recalculation of all color point intensities by changing the priority of the combined colors (Block  453 ). If, at Block  454 , the latest combined color is determined to have been given priority over other combined colors, then the monochromatic LEDs having the first and second adaptable colors  320 ,  330  in their spectral outputs are omitted from consideration for intensity reduction (Block  456 ). Alternatively, if the latest combined color is determined at Block  454  not to have been given priority over other combined colors, then the monochromatic LEDs having the first and second adaptable colors  320 ,  330  in their spectral outputs are included in consideration for intensity reduction at Block  457 . Calculation of reductions in the output intensities of all monochromatic LEDs remaining after completion of the steps at either Block  456  or Block  457  takes place at Block  458 . This intensity reduction process is described in greater detail below. The color matching engine  114  may use the updated intensities from Block  458  to repeat attempts to determine the percentage of the color points  320 ,  330  starting at Block  425 . After a limited number of recalculation attempts at Block  458 , the process may end at Block  465 . 
         [0057]    Referring now to the flowchart  458  of  FIG. 5  and continuing to refer to graph  300  of  FIG. 3A , one embodiment of a method by which the color matching engine  114  may determine a factor for reducing the output intensities of each input monochromatic LED will now be described in greater detail. Starting at Block  505 , a counter may be tallied by 1 to track the number of repeated attempts by the color matching engine  114  to recalculate intensities (Block  510 ). If at Block  515  the counter has reached six (6), then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the latest updated combined color has been assigned priority over other combined colors (Block  517 ). If priority was assigned, then the color matching engine  114  may remove the priority status of the last combined color (Block  520 ), reset the counter to zero (Block  522 ), and return all monochromatic intensities to their values from completion of Step  420  (Block  524 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). If priority was not assigned at Block  517 , the limitation on the number of recalculation attempts may have been reached at Block  458 , and the process may end at Block  465  (Block  555 ). 
         [0058]    If, at Block  515 , the counter is determined not to have reached a limit of six (6) recalculation attempts, then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the counter has reached five (5). If so, then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the latest updated combined color has been assigned priority over other combined colors (Block  527 ). If priority has been assigned, then the color matching engine  114  may set all non-priority monochromatic intensities to a value of zero (Block  530 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). If priority is not detected at Block  527 , then the color matching engine  114  may set all monochromatic intensities to a value of zero (Block  532 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). 
         [0059]    If, at Block  525 , the color matching engine  114  determines the counter has not reached five (5) recalculation attempts, then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the Y value of the monochromatic color point  360  resulted in a negative intensity value for one of the phosphor colors  342 ,  344 ,  346  (Block  535 ). If a negative is detected, then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the latest updated combined color has been given a priority over other combined colors (Block  537 ). If priority is detected, then the color matching engine  114  may reduce the Y value of the non-priority monochromatic LED colors by 0.5 (Block  540 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). If priority is not detected, then the color matching engine  114  may reduce the Y value of all monochromatic LED colors by 0.5 (Block  550 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). 
         [0060]    If, at Block  535 , the Y value of the monochromatic color point  360  did not result in a negative intensity value for one of the phosphor colors  342 ,  344 ,  346 , then the color matching engine  114  may determine if the latest updated combined color has been given a priority over other combined colors (Block  547 ). If priority is detected, then the color matching engine  114  may increase the Y value of the non-priority monochromatic LED colors by 0.5 (Block  560 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). If no priority is detected, then the color matching engine  114  may increase the Y value of all monochromatic LED colors by 0.5 (Block  562 ) before returning to Block  425  (Block  590 ). 
         [0061]    Another embodiment of the adaptive light system  100  of the present invention also advantageously includes a controller  116  positioned in communication with a network  140  (e.g., Internet) in order to receive signals to adapt the light source. Additional details regarding communication of signals to the adaptive light system  100  are found below, but can also be found in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/486,314 entitled Wireless Lighting Device and Associated Methods, as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/463,020 entitled Wireless Pairing System and Associated Methods and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/269,222 entitled Wavelength Sensing Light Emitting Semiconductor and Associated Methods, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0062]    There exist many exemplary uses for the adaptive light system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, in a case where advantageous reflection a selected color into an illuminable space is desired (e.g., a color of a particular flower at a florist, a display in a store), the light source  118  of the adaptive light system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention may be readily adapted to emit a light having a particular wavelength suitable for enhancing the selected color. 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary user interface  130  will be discussed. The user interface  130  may be provided by a handheld device  600 , such as, for example, any mobile device, or other network connectable device, which may display a picture  602  having a selected color therein. Once a picture has been taken by a user, a detected color  604  may be displayed, with the option for the user to confirm that the detected color is the selected color. The user may confirm this choice by selecting a confirm button  606 . The user may also recapture the image using a recapture button  608 , or may cancel the adaptation operation using a cancel button  609 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this is but one embodiment of a user interface  130  that may be used. It is contemplated, for example, that the user interface  130  may not include a picture of the color  602  and may, instead, simply send a signal to adapt the light source  118  of the lighting device  110  to a emit a wavelength to enhance particular colors. For example, and without limitation, the user may be enabled to select a wavelength to enhance blues in general. Further, it is contemplated that the user interface  130  may be provided by an application that is downloadable and installable on a mobile phone and over a mobile phone (or other handheld device) network. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the adaptive light system  100  of the present invention is shown in use in an automobile  720 . The adaptive light system  100  may emit a source light  724  during normal operation, and may be switched to emit an adapted light  728  either automatically in the presence of fog  722  or other obstructing environment, or manually by a user. In such an embodiment, it is contemplated that the adaptive light system  100  may include a sensor  120 , or may be positioned in communication with a sensor  120 . The sensor  120  may, for example, be an optical sensor, that is capable of sensing environmental conditions that may obstruct a view of a driver. Fog  722 , for example, may pose a danger during driving by obstructing the view of the driver. If the sensor  120  detects reflected light  726  which has failed to permeate the fog  722 , the sensor may be able to choose an appropriate adapted light  728  which may allow the user to see through the fog  722  more clearly. It is contemplated that such an application may be used in an automatic sense, i.e., upon sensing the environmental condition, the light source  118  on the lighting device  110  may be readily adapted to emit a wavelength that enhances other colors so that the path before the driver is more readily visible. 
         [0065]    The adaptable lighting system  100  may also prove advantageous in the field of surgery. Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , an adaptable lighting system  100  is shown for use in a surgical scope  830  having a camera  120 , and additionally for use as an attachment to a surgeon&#39;s glasses  840 . The adaptable lighting system  100  may be programmed to illuminate and emphasize colors of critical areas that need to be removed such as cancerous cells, and also areas that need to be avoided such as arteries and nerves. Both surgical scopes  830  and surgeon&#39;s glasses  840  may be used in surgery, but may also be readily retrofitted with adaptable lighting systems  100  which may advantageously provide a low-cost method of improving patient safety and reducing medical error. The uses described above are provided as examples, and are not meant to be limiting in any way. 
         [0066]    A skilled artisan will note that one or more of the aspects of the present invention may be performed on a computing device. The skilled artisan will also note that a computing device may be understood to be any device having a processor, memory unit, input, and output. This may include, but is not intended to be limited to, cellular phones, smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, personal digital assistants, etc.  FIG. 9  illustrates a model computing device in the form of a computer  610 , which is capable of performing one or more computer-implemented steps in practicing the method aspects of the present invention. Components of the computer  610  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  620 , a system memory  630 , and a system bus  621  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  620 . The system bus  621  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI). 
         [0067]    The computer  610  may also include a cryptographic unit  625 . Briefly, the cryptographic unit  625  has a calculation function that may be used to verify digital signatures, calculate hashes, digitally sign hash values, and encrypt or decrypt data. The cryptographic unit  625  may also have a protected memory for storing keys and other secret data. In other embodiments, the functions of the cryptographic unit may be instantiated in software and run via the operating system. 
         [0068]    A computer  610  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer  610  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer  610 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
         [0069]    The system memory  630  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  631  and random access memory (RAM)  632 . A basic input/output system  633  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  610 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  631 . RAM  632  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  620 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 9  illustrates an operating system (OS)  634 , application programs  635 , other program modules  636 , and program data  637 . 
         [0070]    The computer  610  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 9  illustrates a hard disk drive  641  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  651  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  652 , and an optical disk drive  655  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  656  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  641  is typically connected to the system bus  621  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  640 , and magnetic disk drive  651  and optical disk drive  655  are typically connected to the system bus  621  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  650 . 
         [0071]    The drives, and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 9 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  610 . In  FIG. 9 , for example, hard disk drive  641  is illustrated as storing an OS  644 , application programs  645 , other program modules  646 , and program data  647 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from OS  633 , application programs  633 , other program modules  636 , and program data  637 . The OS  644 , application programs  645 , other program modules  646 , and program data  647  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they may be different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  610  through input devices such as a keyboard  662  and cursor control device  661 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  620  through a user input interface  660  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  691  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  621  via an interface, such as a graphics controller  690 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  697  and printer  696 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  695 . 
         [0072]    The computer  610  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  680 . The remote computer  680  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  610 , although only a memory storage device  681  has been illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 9  include a local area network (LAN)  671  and a wide area network (WAN)  673 , but may also include other networks  140 . Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
         [0073]    When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  610  is connected to the LAN  671  through a network interface or adapter  670 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  610  typically includes a modem  672  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  673 , such as the Internet. The modem  672 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  621  via the user input interface  660 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  610 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 9  illustrates remote application programs  685  as residing on memory device  681 . 
         [0074]    The communications connections  670  and  672  allow the device to communicate with other devices. The communications connections  670  and  672  are an example of communication media. The communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. A “modulated data signal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Computer readable media may include both storage media and communication media. 
         [0075]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.