Patent Publication Number: US-2023157218-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for an adaptable vehicle light fixture

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/539,302 filed Jan. 22, 2022, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/219,346 filed Mar. 31, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,357,173, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/089,961 filed Nov. 5, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,268,673, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/907,217 filed Jun. 20, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,129,248, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/779,636 filed Feb. 2, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,191,220, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/515,778 filed Jul. 18, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,548,264, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/281,990 filed Feb. 21, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,512,132, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/194,111 filed Nov. 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,398,090, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/185,530 filed Nov. 9, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,309,613, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/822,024 filed Nov. 24, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,178,730, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/822,074 filed Nov. 24, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,034,342, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/821,941 filed Nov. 24, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,028,350, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/784,683 filed Oct. 16, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,955,632, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/714,337 filed Sep. 25, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,943,040, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/489,965 filed Apr. 25, 2017, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/422,243 filed Nov. 15, 2016, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/399,447 filed Sep. 25, 2016, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/089,961 filed Nov. 5, 2020 claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/931,088 filed Nov. 5, 2019, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/042,969 filed Jun. 23, 2020, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to adaptable optical systems, and more particularly to adaptable optical systems for use in vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been utilized since about the 1960s. However, for the first few decades of use, the relatively low light output and narrow range of colored illumination limited the LED utilization role to specialized applications (e.g., indicator lamps). As light output improved, LED utilization within other lighting systems, such as within LED “EXIT” signs and LED traffic signals, began to increase. Over the last several years, the white light output capacity of LEDs has more than tripled, thereby allowing the LED to become the lighting solution of choice for a wide range of lighting solutions. 
     LEDs exhibit significantly optimized characteristics, such as source efficacy, optical control and extremely long operating life, which make them excellent choices for general lighting applications. LED efficiencies, for example, may provide light output magnitudes up to 200 lumens per watt of power dissipation. Energy savings may, therefore, be realized when utilizing LED-based lighting systems as compared to the energy usage of, for example, incandescent, halogen, compact fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems. As per an example, an LED-based lighting fixture may utilize a small percentage (e.g., 15-20%) of the power utilized by a halogen-based lighting system but may still produce an equivalent magnitude of light. As per another example, high power LEDs in excess of 30 watts is now possible in a single 5×5 mm LED package. 
     Conventional vehicular LED lighting applications typically provide either fixed beam patterns or manually adjustable beam patterns. In some applications, for example, a control console mounted within the interior cabin of a vehicle may allow the operator of that vehicle to control a beam width emitted by an LED-based lighting fixture based on manual inputs provided to the control console by the operator of the vehicle. Other applications provide adaptability of the light generated by the LED-based lighting fixture in response to dynamic characteristics of the vehicle, but do not allow for reconfiguration of the lighting system by the user once the lighting system is provisioned within the vehicle. 
     Efforts continue, therefore, to develop an LED-based vehicular lighting fixture that may adapt certain characteristics of the light produced based upon one or more static, semi-static and/or dynamic attributes of the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome limitations in the prior art, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, various embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and apparatus for the production of LED-based lighting characteristics that may be based at least in part on static, semi-static and/or dynamic attributes of a vehicle. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a vehicular lighting system comprises a light fixture mounted to a vehicle. The light fixture includes first and second lighting arrays configured to generate first and second light distributions and a processor coupled to the first and second lighting arrays. The light fixture further includes first and second trigger wires coupled to the processor, where an intensity of the first and second light distributions is selected in response to a variable configuration of the first and second trigger wires. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a lighting system comprises a light fixture including first and second lighting arrays configured to generate first and second light distributions and a processor coupled to the first and second lighting arrays. The lighting system further comprises first and second trigger wires coupled to the processor, where an intensity of the first and second light distributions is selected in response to a variable configuration of the first and second trigger wires. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of operating a lighting system comprises configuring the lighting system with one or more lighting arrays, configuring the lighting system with one or more trigger wires, programmably configuring operation of the one or more trigger wires and operating the one or more lighting arrays in response to the programmed configuration of the one or more trigger wires. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an application of an LED-based, adaptable vehicular light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a vehicular lighting system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an LED-based, adaptable vehicular light in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  4 A- 4 E  illustrate beam patterns emitted by an LED-based, adaptable vehicular light in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an LED-based, adaptable vehicular light in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 F  illustrate various optic arrangements and associated shaded illuminance plots of the LED-based, adaptable vehicular light of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    illustrates a cross-section of the LED-based vehicular light of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  8 A  illustrate a light fixture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8 B  illustrates a side-section view of a light element of the light fixture of  FIG.  8 A ; 
         FIGS.  8 C- 8 E  illustrate lenses of the light fixture of  FIG.  8 A ; 
         FIGS.  9 A- 9 D  illustrate components of a light system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates a graphical user interface of a remote control device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates a graphical user interface of a remote control device in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates a convoy of vehicles having lighting fixtures that are controlled as a network of lighting fixtures in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS.  13 A- 13 D  illustrate an adaptable vehicle light in accordance with alternate embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally, the various embodiments of the present invention are applied to a light emitting diode (LED) based lighting system that may contain one or more lighting arrays, where each lighting array may contain one or more LEDs and associated optics (e.g., one or more reflectors and/or lenses for one or more LEDs of the one or more arrays of LEDs). The LED arrays may be mechanically and electrically mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) having control and bias circuitry that allows one or more specific sets of LED arrays to be illuminated on command (e.g., specific rows, specific columns, segments of rows and/or columns, and/or singular/multiple LEDs in the LED array). An associated optic may be mounted in proximity to one or more LEDs of each LED array in such a way that the optic may perform more than one function. For example, each optic may mechanically impose a uniform pressure onto the PCB against an associated heat sink to optimize heat transfer from the PCB to the heat sink. Further, each optic may contain mechanical standoffs to maintain an optimal separation distance between the one or more LEDs and the associated one or more lenses/reflectors so that light rays generated by the one or more LEDs may be optically varied by the associated one or more lenses/reflectors before projection onto a target. 
     Each optic of an associated LED array may exhibit the same or different optical characteristics as compared to each optic of a different LED array. For example, an LED-based lighting fixture may include multiple LED arrays where each optic of each LED array may exhibit a particular optical characteristic and each optic of another LED array may exhibit a different optical characteristic, such that light generated by one LED array may exhibit a light characteristic (e.g., a narrow beam width) that may be different than a light characteristic (e.g., a wide beam width) as generated by a different LED array. Alternately, the LED-based light fixture may contain multiple LED arrays that exhibit the same optical characteristic. 
     Each LED array of the LED-based light fixture may be categorized into two or more groups of lighting characteristics. For example, each optic of a group of LED arrays may cause light produced by each associated LED of the array to be formed into a cone of light that is symmetric about an optical axis of each LED within the LED array. Alternately, each optic of a different group of LED arrays may cause light produced by each associated LED of the array to be formed into a light distribution that is asymmetric about an optical axis of each LED within the LED array. 
     The LED-based light fixture may include LED arrays that may be categorized into between about 2 and 7 groups (e.g., 5 groups) of light characteristics. A first group of LED arrays may, for example, be categorized by a first light characteristic (e.g., a symmetric narrow beam width), a second group of LED arrays may be categorized by a second light characteristic (e.g., a symmetric medium beam width) and a third group of LED arrays may be categorized by a third light characteristic (e.g., a symmetric wide beam width). Fourth and fifth groups of LED arrays may, for example, be categorized by fourth and fifth sets of light characteristics (e.g., asymmetric beams weighted more heavily to one side of the optical axis or the other). It should be noted that asymmetric beams may be weighted more heavily at any angle with respect to the optical axis as compared to any other angle (e.g., an angle above the horizon relative to the optical axis may be more heavily weighted than an angle below the horizon relative to the optical axis). 
     The LED-based light fixture may include drive circuitry that may either be mounted on the same PCB upon which each LED of the LED-based light fixture is mounted, or conversely the drive circuitry may exist on a secondary PCB that may be mechanically and/or electrically connected to the first PCB. Accordingly, each of the one or more groups of LEDs may be illuminated by the drive circuitry in accordance with manual control inputs to the drive circuitry or automated and/or dynamic control inputs to the drive circuitry. 
     In one embodiment, the LED drive circuitry may include multiple sensors that may detect dynamic characteristics of a vehicle to which the LED-based light fixture may be mounted and in response, the light generated by the light fixture may be controlled based on the sensed characteristics. For example, a global positioning system (GPS) module may be included to allow manipulation of light generated by the light fixture based on the position and/or speed of the vehicle as determined by the GPS module. As per another example, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope may be included to allow manipulation of light generated by the light fixture based on the angular velocity of the vehicle. In other examples, a multi-axis accelerometer (e.g., a three-axis accelerometer) may be included to allow manipulation of light generated by the light fixture based on the three-dimensional attitude of the vehicle. Accordingly, for example, light generated by the LED-based light fixture may be manipulated by the drive circuitry to react to any one or more changes in the position, direction of travel, speed, acceleration and three-dimensional attitude of the vehicle to which the light fixture is mounted. 
     In other embodiments, light that may be incident on the vehicle from a particular direction relative to the vehicle may be sensed and in response, light generated by the light fixture may be manipulated accordingly. For example, multiple sensors (e.g., 3 sensors) may be utilized to sense incident illumination onto the light fixture that may be generated either by light generated by oncoming traffic or light generated from reflections of light, either of which may be manifested as glare to the occupant of the vehicle. Each sensor (e.g., photodiode or camera) may be positioned behind directional optics such that the illumination, or lux, measured by each sensor may be detected as light emanating from an object that is at a relative position with respect to the sensor. 
     In such an instance, for example, an increase in lux emanating from the left, center and/or right side of the vehicle may be detected by respective left, center and right sensors of the light fixture (or mounted separately from the light fixture at various locations on the vehicle), which may then cause the drive circuitry of the light fixture to react accordingly. An increase in lux detected from the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle may, for example, indicate oncoming traffic relative to the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle and in response, the drive circuitry may decrease the intensity of light generated by the light fixture on the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle so as to reduce glare imposed upon the driver of the oncoming vehicle. Alternately, for example, an increase in lux detected from the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle may, for example, indicate reflections of light (e.g., reflections of light from a street sign) relative to the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle and in response, the drive circuitry may decrease the intensity of light generated by the light fixture on the passenger&#39;s side of the vehicle so as to reduce glare that may be imposed upon the driver and/or passenger of the vehicle. In one embodiment, each sensor may have a specific orientation with respect to the vehicle such that the light fixture may report its specific orientation (and that of its associated sensor) in order to gain additional information that may be associated with the angle of incidence of the detected light. 
     The vehicular lighting system may include user-configurable lenses that may allow the user to configure any number of light elements into any one of a number of light distribution configurations, such as spot, flood, drive and SAE compliant fog and drive distributions to name only a few. Furthermore, the user may configure light fixture operation via a hand-held device such as a smartphone or magnet that may assign functionality based on manual, wire-based control inputs (e.g., via rocker switches or knob-based controls) or automated control inputs (e.g., via sensors). The configuration of the light system may include wireless provisioning of each light fixture into a specific location on a vehicle (e.g., roll bar, left A pillar or right A pillar) as well as a specific orientation (e.g., horizontally or vertically mounted). Each light fixture may be configured with a wired and/or wireless interface (e.g., thread-based mesh wireless interface or Bluetooth mesh wireless interface) to allow robust system operation. 
     The wired and/or wireless configuration of the lighting system may allow operation in any number of modes of operation, including manual, adaptive, off-road and on-road. Manual operation may be based on the wired and/or wireless configuration of the lighting system in combination with manual inputs to the system via wired controls. Adaptive operation may be based on the wired and/or wireless configuration of the lighting system in combination with sensor inputs (e.g., GPS and accelerometer sensor inputs) to the system. On-road operation may only utilize the SAE compliant lenses that may be pre-configured by the user, whereas off-road operation may utilize any lens configuration. In one embodiment, the vehicle&#39;s location may be sensed by a global positioning system (GPS) to determine whether the vehicle is on a public road or in an off-road location. As such, only those configurations meant for on-road use may be allowed if the vehicle is determined to be on a public road. 
     All user configurations may be wirelessly specified (e.g., via a smartphone or a proximity-based, magnetically sensitive system) and stored locally within each light fixture of the light system such that each light fixture may operate in accordance with its locally stored configuration. Each light fixture may communicate wirelessly (e.g., via thread-based mesh or Bluetooth mesh wireless communications) to all other light fixtures so as to build robust and error-free operation that may be based on the self-healing aspects of thread-based mesh wireless communications or the lightweight, flood-based approach of pushing messages to all nearby nodes via Bluetooth mesh. All user configurations may be defined on hand-held devices (e.g., smartphone or a proximity-based, magnetically sensitive device) by a user and then shared with other hand-held devices so that popular light configurations may be selected by one user and shared so they may be experienced by many users. 
     Multiple vehicles may be included within the same network (e.g., thread-based mesh or Bluetooth mesh network). As such, any light control command issued by any vehicle within the network may cause every other vehicle within that network to be responsive to the same light control command, irrespective of whether that light control command was issued manually or adaptively and whether that light control command was issued in an on-road or off-road environment. Accordingly, a convoy of vehicles (e.g., tactical military vehicles) may each exist within the same network (e.g., mesh network) and may each respond to a single master control (e.g., from the convoy commander). 
     Turning to  FIG.  1   , an application of the LED-based light fixture is exemplified, in which multiple (e.g.,  2 ) LED-based light fixtures  102  may be mounted to the front end of vehicle  100 , a single LED-based light fixture (e.g., light bar  104 ) may be mounted to the top (e.g., roll bar not shown) of vehicle  100  and a pair of LED-based light fixtures (e.g., light pods  106  and  108 ) may be mounted to the sides of vehicle  100  (e.g., on left and right A-pillars, respectively, of vehicle  100 ). As illustrated, LED-based light fixtures  102  may be geometrically arranged as an elliptical shape (e.g., circular with an 8″ to 10″ diameter), LED-based light fixture  104  may be geometrically arranged (e.g., as a rectangular-shaped light bar) and LED-based light fixtures  106 - 108  may be geometrically arranged (e.g., as a square-shaped light pod or PAR46 form factor). However, LED-based light fixtures  102 ,  104 ,  106  and/or  108  may also be arranged in any other geometrical shape as desired (e.g., oval, diamond, etc.). 
     As discussed in more detail below, any one or more light fixtures of  FIG.  1    may include an internal audio amplifier that may accept an audio signal (e.g., wired via an audio jack or wirelessly via a Bluetooth feed from a smartphone or adjacent vehicle) and may provide an amplified audio signal (e.g., wired via an audio jack or wirelessly via a Bluetooth feed) to any one or more of speakers  110 . The light fixtures of  FIG.  1    may be ideally suited to house an audio amplifier since each light fixture may be environmentally sealed, may include heat sinks and may already supply the printed circuit board (PCB) required to route electrical signals to the audio amplifier&#39;s electronic circuits and to environmentally seal and cool the audio amplifier&#39;s electronic circuits. 
     Turning to  FIG.  2   , a block diagram of a vehicular lighting system  200  is exemplified, which may be included within one or more light fixtures and associated enclosures (e.g., light fixtures  102 ,  104 ,  106  and/or  108  of  FIG.  1   ) each having multiple groups of one or more LEDs and associated optics  206 , one or more DC-DC power converters (e.g., buck/boost power converters  204 ), current controllers  208 , microprocessor  210 , sensors  240 , charging circuit  230 , battery  232  and amplifier  236 . It should be noted that while multiple DC-DC power converters  204  are exemplified, a single DC-DC power converter  204  may also be used to supply power to all LED groups  206  of a light fixture while current control modules  208  may be used to independently control the current magnitudes conducted by each LED group  206  and thereby independently control light intensities generated by each LED/optic group  206 . In one embodiment, any one current control module  208  may be used to allow its associated LED group  206  to conduct any percentage (e.g., 0-100%) of the available current magnitude from the vehicle power supply. 
     Sensors that may be used to determine the vehicle&#39;s dynamic characteristics may include, for example, gyroscope  212 , accelerometer  214 , GPS  216 , magnetometer  218  to name only a few among others such as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) each of which may also be collectively included within a handheld device such as a smart phone. Sensors that may be used to detect illumination from oncoming traffic and/or reflected illumination may include, for example, photodiode  220  or a camera. As discussed in more detail below, sensors  240  may include inertial measurement units (IMU)  222  that may be used to detect the three-dimensional orientation of each light fixture within vehicular lighting system  200  and indicia sensor  234  that may be used to determine a particular type of lens installed within each light element of each light fixture. 
     Vehicular lighting system  200  may further include optional charging circuit  230  and optional internal battery  232 , which may allow vehicular lighting system  200  to be removed from the vehicle and used as a handheld flashlight. Vehicular lighting system  200  may be included within any LED-based light fixture associated with any vehicle light/handheld flashlight (e.g., LED-based light fixtures  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  of vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) or any two or more vehicle lights/handheld flashlights and associated light fixtures grouped together into a single wireless network (e.g., as discussed below in relation to thread-based or Bluetooth mesh network  1208  of  FIG.  12   ). It should be noted that the lighting controls as discussed herein are effective whether lighting system  200  is being utilized in a group of one or more vehicle lights and/or one or more flashlights. 
     As discussed in more detail below, vehicle lighting system  200  may further include an amplifier (e.g., audio amplifier  236 ), which may be used to receive an audio signal either wirelessly (e.g., from a Bluetooth mesh connection established with remote control  224 ) or a wired connection (e.g., an audio jack located on the enclosure of the light fixture). As discussed in more detail below, the light fixture may include a waterproof enclosure as well as a heatsink. Accordingly, amplifier  236  may be incorporated on the interior of the light fixture&#39;s enclosure so that heat from amplifier  236  may be dissipated by the heatsink and so that the amplifier may be protected from environmental contaminants (e.g., water and dust). 
     In operation, vehicular lighting system  200  may either derive operational power from vehicle power supply  202  (e.g., a battery) that may be located within the engine compartment of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) or as discussed in more detail below, operational power may be derived from internal battery  232 , whose operational power levels may be maintained using charging circuit  230 . Regulated power may, for example, be provided by DC-DC converters (e.g., one or more buck/boost converters  204 ), which may be included within the light fixture (e.g., light fixture  102  of  FIG.  1   ), or as separate power modules so that regulated power may be supplied to one or more LED groups  206  at sufficient forward voltage magnitudes as may be required by each LED group. For example, if the forward voltage magnitude of any serially connected group of LEDs within LED groups  206  exceeds the voltage magnitude of vehicle power supply  202  (or optional internal battery  232 ), then a boost DC-DC converter may be used to produce a regulated voltage magnitude that is substantially equal to the forward voltage magnitude of that particular LED group. Conversely, for example, if the forward voltage magnitude of any serially connected group of LEDs within LED groups  206  is less than the voltage magnitude of vehicle power supply  202  (or optional internal battery  232 ), then a buck DC-DC converter may be used to produce a regulated voltage magnitude that is substantially equal to the forward voltage magnitude of that particular LED group. 
     Furthermore, one or more channels of drive circuitry (e.g., current control modules  208 ) may be included, such that an amount of current (e.g., substantially constant current or pulse width modulated current) conducted by any one or more groups of serially-connected LEDs may be independently regulated (e.g., via one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) control signals or direct current (DC) control signals as provided by current control modules  208 ) to control an intensity of light (e.g., 0-100% intensity) generated by each of the one or more groups of LEDs. It should be noted that one or more LEDs of the one or more groups of LEDs may be associated with an optic that may alter the light generated by the one or more LEDs of each LED group. Accordingly, for example, the intensity of light generated by each LED group as optically altered by optics associated with one or more LEDs of each LED group may be independently controlled by each respective current control module  208  to provide directional variability of light intensity as generated by light system  200 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  3   , an LED-based light fixture  300  is exemplified, which may exhibit two or more LED groups (e.g., 9 LED groups  302 - 318 ) where any one LED group may exhibit the same or different beam pattern as any other LED group. Furthermore, through independent control of the magnitude of current conducted by each LED group or LED groups, the intensity (e.g., 0-100% intensity) of the beam pattern generated by each LED group may be controlled. Still further, by independently controlling the current conducted by each LED group in response to certain dynamic characteristics of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to which LED-based light fixture  300  (e.g., LED-based light fixtures  102  of  FIG.  1   ) is mounted, adaptive control of the light generated by LED-based light fixture  300  may be achieved in response to certain dynamic characteristics (e.g., position, speed, acceleration, direction of travel, heading and attitude) of the vehicle. 
     LED-based light fixture  300  may, for example, include one or more groups of LED/optic combinations (e.g., LED/optic combination  302 ) that may produce a narrow beam pattern (e.g., a 10-degree full width at half maximum (FWHM) beam pattern) that may or may not be symmetric about the optical axis of LED/optic combination  302 . Similarly, LED-based light fixture  300  may, for example, include one or more groups of LED/optic combinations (e.g., LED/optic combinations  308 ,  310 ,  316  and  318 ) that may produce a medium beam pattern (e.g., a 20-45 degree FWHM beam pattern) that may or may not be symmetric about the optical axis of LED/optic combinations  308 ,  310 ,  316  and  318 . LED-based light fixture  300  may also, for example, include one or more groups of LED/optic combinations (e.g., LED/optic combinations  312  and  314 ) that may produce a wide beam pattern (e.g., a greater than 60-degree FWHM beam pattern) that may or may not be symmetric about the optical axis of LED/optic combinations  312  and  314 . LED-based light fixture  300  may also include LED/optic combinations that do not produce symmetrical beam patterns, but rather may produce beam patterns that may be skewed about the optical axis (e.g., LED/optic combination  304  that may provide a beam pattern 10-20 degrees to the left of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  304  and greater than 10-20 degrees to the right of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  304 ) and the other side of the optical axis (LED/optic combination  306  that may provide a beam pattern 10-20 degrees to the right of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  306  and greater than 10-20 degrees to the left of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  306 ). 
     By controlling LED-based light fixture  300  as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  2   , it can be seen that each of the respective groups of LED/optic combinations of LED-based light fixture  300  may be adaptively and independently controlled in response to certain dynamic characteristics of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to which LED-based light fixture  300  may be attached. While an unlimited number of control algorithms potentially exist, Table 1 below describes one control algorithm that may be used to control the intensity of the multiple LED/optic combinations of LED-based light fixture  300  based on, for example, the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle to which LED-based light fixture  300  may be mounted. 
     A design constraint may require that a maximum current magnitude (e.g., 10 amps) may be drawn from the vehicle&#39;s power supply (e.g., vehicle power supply  202  of  FIG.  2   ). Accordingly, each group of the groups of LEDs of LED-based light fixture  300  may share a percentage of the maximum current magnitude as may be dictated by the respective drive circuitry for each LED group (e.g., current control modules  208  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Speed 
                   
                 Narrow 
                 Medium 
                 Left 
                 Right 
                 Wide 
                 Total 
               
               
                 (MPH) 
                 Direction 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                  0-10 
                 Straight 
                 5 
                 20 
                 10 
                 10 
                 55 
                 100 
               
               
                  0-10 
                 Left Turn 
                 5 
                 10 
                 40 
                 0 
                 45 
                 100 
               
               
                  0-10 
                 Right Turn 
                 5 
                 10 
                 0 
                 40 
                 45 
                 100 
               
               
                 10-20 
                 Straight 
                 15 
                 40 
                 10 
                 10 
                 25 
                 100 
               
               
                 10-20 
                 Left Turn 
                 10 
                 30 
                 40 
                 10 
                 10 
                 100 
               
               
                 10-20 
                 Right Turn 
                 10 
                 30 
                 10 
                 40 
                 10 
                 100 
               
               
                 20-30 
                 Straight 
                 25 
                 40 
                 10 
                 10 
                 15 
                 100 
               
               
                 20-30 
                 Left Turn 
                 25 
                 10 
                 50 
                 10 
                 5 
                 100 
               
               
                 20-30 
                 Right Turn 
                 25 
                 10 
                 10 
                 50 
                 5 
                 100 
               
               
                 30-40 
                 Straight 
                 35 
                 40 
                 10 
                 10 
                 5 
                 100 
               
               
                 30-40 
                 Left Turn 
                 25 
                 20 
                 45 
                 10 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 30-40 
                 Right Turn 
                 25 
                 20 
                 10 
                 45 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 40-50 
                 Straight 
                 45 
                 35 
                 10 
                 10 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 40-50 
                 Left Turn 
                 35 
                 20 
                 40 
                 5 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 40-50 
                 Right Turn 
                 35 
                 20 
                 5 
                 40 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 50-60 
                 Straight 
                 65 
                 15 
                 10 
                 10 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                 60+ 
                 Straight 
                 75 
                 5 
                 10 
                 10 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As an example, LED-based light fixture  300  may include LED/optic group  302  that may produce a narrow beam width once illuminated, which upon the detected speed of the vehicle between 0 and 10 mph (e.g., as detected by GPS  216  and microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ), may conduct 5% of the available current (e.g., 5% of 10 amps equals 0.5 amps as directed by the associated current control module  208 ) as directed by the “Narrow” column of the first row of Table 1. In one embodiment, for example, the associated current control module may utilize a PWM signal to transition the LEDs associated with LED/optic group  302  (e.g., the “Narrow” beam width group) to be conductive during 5% of the period of the PWM signal to achieve a 5% intensity of LED/optic group  302  relative to the maximum intensity obtainable. Similarly, a PWM signal may transition the LEDs associated with LED/optic groups  308 ,  310 ,  316  and  318  (e.g., the “Medium” beam width group) to be conductive during 20% of the period of the PWM signal to achieve a 20% intensity of LED/optic groups  308 ,  310 ,  316  and  318  as directed by the “Medium” column of the first row of Table 1. The LEDs of LED/optic groups  306  (e.g., the “Left” beam width group),  304  (e.g., the “Right” beam width group) and  312 / 314  (e.g., the “Wide” beam width group) may similarly be commanded to 10%, 10% and 55% intensities, respectively, as directed by the “Left,” “Right,” and “Wide” columns of the first row of Table 1. 
     The vehicle may simultaneously be traversing a left turn or a right turn, which may similarly be detected by sensors (e.g., GPS  216 /gyroscope  212  and microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) and upon detection, may cause the second or third rows, respectively, of Table 1 to control the operation of LED-based light fixture  300  similarly as discussed above. For example, Table 1 may reside within a memory (e.g., memory  238  resident within microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) whereby once the dynamic characteristics (e.g., speed and angular velocity) of the vehicle are sensed (e.g., by GPS sensor  216  and/or gyroscope  212 ) and reported to microprocessor  210 , such dynamic characteristics may be utilized by microprocessor  210  to “look up” the corresponding intensities of the respective LED/optic groups of Table 1 and in response, command the corresponding intensities of LED/optic groups to those of Table 1 using the associated current control modules  208 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  4 A , an exemplary beam pattern  402  (e.g., a composite of narrow, medium and wide beam patterns  402 A,  402 B and  402 C, respectively) may result when vehicle  404  is traveling in a substantially straight direction as may be detected, for example, by sensors that are on-board vehicle  404  (e.g., sensors  212 - 218  and  222  of  FIG.  2   ). In such an instance, the illumination of LED-based light fixtures  406  and  408  (e.g., LED-based light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3   ) may be controlled by an on-board lighting control system (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) to adjust the intensity of each LED/optic group of LED-based light fixtures  406  and  408  as may be directed by an on-board look-up table (e.g., rows 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16 and 17 of Table 1) to illuminate portions that are substantially forward of vehicle  404  as observed by the driver of vehicle  414 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  4 B , an exemplary beam pattern  412  may result when vehicle  414  is performing a substantially left turn (e.g., in direction  420 ) as may be detected, for example, by sensors that are on-board vehicle  414  (e.g., sensors  212 - 218  and  222  of  FIG.  2   ). In such an instance, the illumination of LED-based light fixtures  416  and  418  (e.g., LED-based light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3   ) may be controlled by an on-board lighting control system (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) to effect the intensity of each LED/optic group of LED-based light fixtures  416  and  418  as may be directed by an on-board look-up table (e.g., rows 2, 5, 8, 11 and 14 of Table 1) to illuminate portions that are substantially forward and to the left of vehicle  414  as observed by the driver of vehicle  414 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  4 C , an exemplary beam pattern  422  may result when vehicle  424  is performing a substantially right turn (e.g., in direction  430 ) as may be detected, for example, by sensors that are on-board vehicle  424  (e.g., sensors  212 - 218  and  222  of  FIG.  2   ). In such an instance, the illumination of LED-based light fixtures  426  and  428  (e.g., LED-based light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3   ) may be controlled by an on-board lighting control system (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) to effect the intensity of each LED/optic group of LED-based light fixtures  426  and  428  as may be directed by an on-board look-up table (e.g., rows 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 of Table 1) to illuminate portions that are substantially forward and to the right of vehicle  424  as observed by the driver of vehicle  424 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  4 D , an exemplary beam pattern  432  may result when vehicle  434  is performing a power slide, whereby the rear end of vehicle  434  has lost traction and assumes a heading along vector  440 , yet remains traveling in direction  442 , as may be detected, for example, by sensors that are on-board vehicle  434  (e.g., sensors  212 - 218  and  222  of  FIG.  2   ). In such an instance, a discrepancy may exist between heading vector  440  and the direction of travel  442 , which may be resolved by an illumination of LED-based light fixtures  436  and  438  (e.g., LED-based light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3   ) as controlled by an on-board lighting control system (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) to effect the intensity of each LED/optic group of LED-based light fixtures  436  and  438  to appropriately illuminate portions that are substantially aligned with vector  440 , yet also illuminate portions that are substantially aligned with and to the right of vector  442  as observed by the driver of vehicle  434  during the power slide. Similar, but opposite, modifications to illumination of LED-based light fixtures  436  and  438  may occur when vehicle  434  experiences a power slide to the other side. 
     In other embodiments, vertical discrepancies between heading and direction of travel may also be detected and compensated. For example, the longitudinal axis of the vehicle may be aligned above or below the horizon, while the direction of travel of the vehicle remains substantially parallel to the horizon. In such an instance, the on-board lighting control system (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) may select the widest beam width available as the primary mode of illumination to illuminate portions forward of the vehicle that are both above and below the horizon. 
     Turning to  FIG.  4 E , exemplary beam patterns  444  and  446  may result when vehicle  456  and  458 , respectively, are approaching each other while traveling in opposite directions. Glare, as may be detected, for example, by sensors that are on-board vehicles  456  and  458  (e.g., photodiode  220  of  FIG.  2   ) may be reduced by an appropriate illumination modification of LED-based light fixtures  448 / 450  and  452 / 454  (e.g., LED-based light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3   ) as controlled by respective on-board lighting control systems (e.g., lighting control system  200  of  FIG.  2   ) on each of vehicles  456  and  458  to effect the intensity of each LED/optic group of LED-based light fixtures  448 / 450  and  452 / 454  to appropriately illuminate portions forward of vehicles  456  and  458  that are specifically designed to reduce glare as perceived by the respective drivers of vehicles  456  and  458 . 
     Turning back to  FIG.  2   , the control system associated with each LED-based light fixture mounted to a vehicle may be equipped with an inertial measurement unit (e.g., IMU  222 ) having wireless communication capability (e.g., thread-based or Bluetooth mesh network capability) such that the mounting orientation of each LED-based light fixture may be made known to all other light fixtures within the lighting system. For example, the three-dimensional mounting attitude of each LED-based light fixture may be detected by an internally mounted IMU (e.g., IMU  222  of  FIG.  2   ) to identify and self-report its mounting orientation to a microprocessor of such a control system (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     Accordingly, for example, the three-dimensional orientation of each LED-based lighting fixture may be known to microprocessor  210  such that the illumination of each light fixture may be commanded to maximize performance in relation to a characteristic of the vehicle (e.g., the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal axis or the current direction of travel of the vehicle). As an example, multiple light fixtures mounted to a vehicle may function as a system of light fixtures interconnected via a mesh network, whereby the three-dimensional attitude of each light is used to maximize the efficiency of the lighting system. 
     As an example, a forward mounted light fixture may be activated for use by microprocessor  210  when the vehicle is moving in a forward direction along its longitudinal axis, whereas a reverse mounted light fixture may instead be activated for use by microprocessor  210  when the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction along its longitudinal axis. As per another example, a light fixture mounted with its optical axis 5 degrees to the left of the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal axis may be activated for use during left turns while a light fixture mounted with its optical axis 5 degrees to the right of the vehicle&#39;s longitudinal axis may be activated for use during right turns. 
     The control system of  FIG.  2    may, for example, enable a user of the lighting system to select lighting configurations via a wired interface (e.g., via local control  228 ) or via a wireless interface (e.g., remote control  226 ). Preselected lighting configurations may, for example, be communicated to microprocessor  210  via wireless interface  226  (e.g., a Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, thread-based mesh, or magnetic interface) established between remote control  224  and wireless module  248  of processor  210 , where such preselected lighting configurations as may be programmed by the user via an application running on the user&#39;s smartphone, tablet or computer (e.g., as discussed in more detail below in relation to  FIGS.  9  and  10   ) or programmed by the user via remote control  224  (e.g., magnet) as discussed in more detail below. For example, a first preselect may enable the lighting system for 100% flood beam illumination. As per another example, a second preselect may enable the lighting system for 100% spot beam illumination. As per another example, a third preselect may enable the lighting system for configurable beam illumination depending upon each lens type that may be configured within the light fixture. A fourth preselect, for example, may enable adaptive operation, whereby as discussed above, any one or more beam widths may be automatically commanded in response to certain characteristics of the vehicle to which the lighting system is mounted. 
     In an alternate embodiment, any one of the preselected lighting configurations may, for example, be selected via local control mechanism  228  (e.g., one or more rocker switches and/or rotary switches within a cabin of the vehicle) so as to allow the user to transition between adaptive operation and any one of a number of static lighting preselects. As per one example, control bus  250  may be comprised of a number of control wires (e.g., 3 trigger wires for each of current controllers  208 ) and power bus  252  may be comprised of a number of power wires (e.g., an operational power and reference wire for each of buck/boost converters  204 ). 
     In operation, power bus  252  may be operative to connect/disconnect vehicle power supply  202  to respective buck/boost converters  204 . Control bus  250  may be operative to activate/deactivate a first light beam (e.g., a light beam that may be generated by the top two LEDs of light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) via a signal from a first trigger wire and control bus  250  may be operative to activate/deactivate a second light beam (e.g., a light beam that may be generated by the bottom two LEDs of light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) via a signal from a second trigger wire. Each of the first and second trigger wires may, for example, be manually manipulated from within vehicle  100  via switches that may be operable by a driver of vehicle  100  such that a control voltage (e.g., either a reference voltage or an operational power voltage) may be applied to the trigger wires and thereby construed as a binary logic signal that may exist on the trigger wire. 
     In a first embodiment, the intensity produced by the first and second light beams may depend upon which light beam is activated. If a single light beam is activated by manual operation via a signal provided by the first trigger wire (e.g., via a rocker and/or rotary switch contained within vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ), then the corresponding light beam (e.g., the light beam produced by the top two LEDs or the bottom two LEDs of light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) may be illuminated at 100% intensity. If, on the other hand, both light beams are activated by manual operation via signals provided by the first and second trigger wires (e.g., via first and second rocker and/or rotary switches contained within vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ), then the corresponding light beams (e.g., a first light beam produced by the top two LEDs of light fixture  106  and a second light beam produced by the bottom two LEDs of light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) may split the available power and illuminate at a shared (e.g., 50%) intensity each. 
     As discussed in more detail below in relation to  FIGS.  9 B,  9 C and  9 D  and  FIG.  1   , for example, the left A pillar light (e.g., light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) may be configured (e.g., via remote control device  950  of  FIG.  9 D ) to include upper lenses (e.g., lenses  918  and  920  of  FIG.  9 B ) having “SPOT” characteristics and to include lower lenses (e.g., lenses  922  and  924  of  FIG.  9 B ) having “FLOOD” characteristics. Similarly, the right A pillar light (e.g., light fixture  108  of  FIG.  1   ) may be configured (e.g., via remote control device  950  of  FIG.  9 D ) to include upper lenses (e.g., lenses  928  and  930  of  FIG.  9 C ) having “SPOT” characteristics and to include lower lenses (e.g., lenses  932  and  934  of  FIG.  9 C ) having “FLOOD” characteristics. 
     Further, left and right A pillar light fixtures  106  and  108 , respectively, may be configured for manual (e.g., trigger wire) operation (e.g., via button  982  of  FIG.  9 D ) such that a first trigger wire may activate the “SPOT” configured portions of light fixtures  106  and/or  108  while a second trigger wire may activate the “FLOOD” configured portions of light fixtures  106  and/or  108 . 
     In operation, for example, the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configured portions may individually, or in combination, consume 100% of the power available to each of light fixtures  106  and  108 . Stated differently, if the “SPOT” configured portions of light fixtures  106  and  108  are activated while the “FLOOD” configured portions are deactivated, then the “SPOT” configured portions of each light fixture may consume 100% of the total power available to each light fixture. If, on the other hand, the “FLOOD” configured portions of light fixtures  106  and  108  are activated while the “SPOT” configured portions are deactivated, then the “FLOOD” configured portions of each light fixture may consume 100% of the total power available to each light fixture. However, if both the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configured portions of light fixtures  106  and  108  are activated, then the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configured portions of the light fixtures may share the available power (e.g., 50% power to each of the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configured portions). 
     A third trigger wire may be included within control bus  250  that may allow a secondary effect (e.g., backlighting) to be activated/deactivated manually. In one embodiment, a light fixture (e.g., light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) may include a backlight/running light feature (e.g., as discussed below in relation to light pipe  870  of  FIG.  8 B ). As such, for example, a daytime running light may, for example, be activated independently of any primary lighting that may be produced by the light fixture. 
     As per another example, the backlight/running light feature may be implemented as individually controllable LEDs that may be arranged in proximity to the primary lighting of the vehicle, whether mounted on the same PCB as the primary LEDs or on an auxiliary PCB. One or more of the individually controllable LEDs may further be configured to implement lighting features, such as a rotating light pattern, a flashing light pattern, a strobing light pattern, a multi-color strobing light pattern and a color cycling light pattern to name only a few. The backlight/running light features may be configured (e.g., as discussed in more detail below in relation to  FIG.  10   ) and controlled as discussed herein (e.g., in relation to the controls discussed in relation to  FIG.  2   ) with wired and/or wireless topologies. 
     In alternate embodiments, the third trigger wire may instead invoke a strobing function (e.g., as may be useful for aviation). In such an instance, the primary light beams may be activated in an alternating fashion (e.g., at a 1 Hz rate with 50% duty cycle) such that each light beam (e.g., two light beams) may be illuminated at 100% intensity independently of one another. Accordingly, each light beam may be strobed in synchronization with one another or asynchronously as required. 
     Alternately, the third trigger wire may be utilized in aviation applications whereby a “SPOT” or “FLOOD” configuration may be automatically selected depending upon the detected airspeed of the aircraft (e.g., “SPOT” selected for fast airspeeds and “FLOOD” selected for relatively slower airspeeds). A third trigger wire may also be utilized to change lighting configurations based on other control inputs to the aircraft. As per one example, autothrottles may be used on certain aircraft in conjunction with a Takeoff/Go Around (TOGA) button such that once the TOGA button is activated, the thrust produced may also be automatically increased via the autothrottle. As such, if thrust is automatically increased (and airspeed is thereby increased) based on the activation of the TOGA button, then one or more configured light fixtures may automatically toggle from “FLOOD” mode to “SPOT” mode as the airspeed increases above a threshold airspeed. 
     In yet other embodiments, the third trigger wire may be used by the user to manually activate alternate lighting features. As per one example, the third trigger wire may invoke a color tuning mode, whereby intensities of multiple channels (e.g., a red, green and blue channel) of LEDs may be modified (e.g., 0-100% for each channel) such that each activated channel of lighting may be blended to generate a particular color of light. 
     In yet other embodiments, as discussed in more detail below in reference to  FIGS.  9 A- 9 D and  10   , each light fixture may be configured with multiple zones and one trigger wire may be allocated for each configured zone (e.g., as may be configured via trigger wire allocation control  974  of  FIG.  9 D ). As such, commanded operation of each zone may be configured by allocating the appropriate zone settings for each trigger wire, whereby each light fixture may include one or more (e.g.,  4 ) trigger wires whose functionality may be configured manually (e.g., magnetically) or via control  974  and the remaining configuration controls of  FIGS.  9 A- 9 D and  10   . 
     As per one example, one or more optics of roll bar  956  may be configured with spot lenses  966  and each spot lens may be configured to operate at the intensity selected by intensity control  1032  of  FIG.  10   . In addition, trigger wire #1 may be associated with all spot lenses configured within roll bar  956  such that once trigger wire #1 is activated, all spot lenses configured within roll bar  956  may activate at the intensity level selected by intensity control  1032 . Additionally, one or more optics of roll bar  956  may be configured with flood lenses and each flood lens may be configured to operate at the intensity selected by intensity control  1032  of  FIG.  10   . In addition, trigger wire #2 may be associated with all flood lenses configured within roll bar  956  such that once trigger wire #2 is activated, all flood lenses configured within roll bar  956  may activate at the intensity level selected by intensity control  1032 . As can be seen, many different configurations may be allocated to each trigger wire such that activation of any one or more trigger wires may elicit light fixture operation as defined by their associated configurations. 
     Turning to  FIG.  5   , an LED-based light fixture  500  is exemplified, which may exhibit two or more LED groups (e.g., 5 LED groups  502 - 510 ) where any one LED group may exhibit the same or different beam pattern as any other LED group. Furthermore, through independent control of the magnitude of current conducted by each LED group or LED groups, the intensity (e.g., 0-100%) of the beam pattern generated by each LED group may be controlled. Still further, by independently controlling the current conducted by each LED group in response to certain dynamic characteristics of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to which LED-based light fixture  500  (e.g., LED-based light fixtures  102  of  FIG.  1   ) may be mounted, adaptive control of the light generated by LED-based light fixture  500  may be achieved in response to certain dynamic characteristics (e.g., position, speed, acceleration, direction of travel, heading and attitude) of the vehicle. 
     LED-based light fixture  500  may, for example, include one or more groups of LED/optic combinations (e.g., LED/optic combination  502 ) that may produce a narrow beam pattern (e.g., a 10-degree FWHM beam pattern) that may or may not be symmetric about the optical axis of LED/optic combination  502 . Similarly, LED-based light fixture  500  may also, for example, include one or more groups of LED/optic combinations (e.g., LED/optic combinations  508  and  510 ) that may produce a wide beam pattern (e.g., a greater than 60-degree FWHM beam pattern) that may or may not be symmetric about the optical axis of LED/optic combinations  508  and  510 . LED-based light fixture  500  may also include LED/optic combinations that do not produce symmetrical beam patterns, but rather may produce beam patterns that may be skewed about the optical axis (e.g., LED/optic combination  504  that may provide a beam pattern 10-20 degrees to the left of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  504  and greater than 10-20 degrees to the right of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  504 ) and the other side of the optical axis (LED/optic combination  506  that may provide a beam pattern 10-20 degrees to the right of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  506  and greater than 10-20 degrees to the left of the optical axis of LED/optic combination  506 ). 
     By controlling LED-based light fixture  500  as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  2   , it can be seen that each of the respective groups of LED/optic combinations of LED-based light fixture  500  may be adaptively and independently controlled in response to certain dynamic characteristics of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to which LED-based light fixture  500  may be attached. While an unlimited number of control algorithms potentially exist, control algorithms (e.g., as discussed above in relation to Table 1) may be used to control the intensity of the multiple LED/optic combinations of LED-based light fixture  500  based on, for example, the speed and direction of travel of the vehicle to which LED-based light fixture  500  may be mounted. 
     Turning to  FIGS.  6 A- 6 F , various optics and respective shaded illuminance plots are exemplified as may be associated with LED-based light fixture  500  of  FIG.  5    (or the LED-based light fixtures of  FIGS.  8  and  9   ).  FIG.  6 A , for example, exemplifies LED/optic combination  602  that may be used to generate a wide (flood) beam pattern as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot of  FIG.  6 B  (e.g., as may be generated by LED/optic combinations  508  and  510  of  FIG.  5   ).  FIG.  6 C , for example, exemplifies LED/optic combination  606  that may be used to generate a narrow (spot) beam pattern as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot  608  of  FIG.  6 D  (e.g., as may be generated by LED/optic combination  502  of  FIG.  5   ).  FIG.  6 E , for example, exemplifies LED/optic combination  610  that may be used to generate a directed beam pattern as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot  612  of  FIG.  6 F  (e.g., as may be generated by LED/optic combinations  504  and  506  of  FIG.  5   ). 
     Turning to  FIG.  7   , cross-section  700  of a portion of LED-based light fixture  500  is exemplified. As illustrated, each LED of each respective LED/optic combination  704 ,  706  and  708  may, for example, be mounted on the same plane of PCB  710 . Alternately, separate PCBs may be configured within different planes of cross-section  700 . In one embodiment, two columns of LED/optic combinations  706  may be included that may be used to generate a narrow (spot) beam pattern (e.g., as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot of  FIG.  6 D ), two columns of LED/optic combinations  704  may be included that may be used to generate a wide (flood) beam pattern (e.g., as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot of  FIG.  6 B ) and two columns of LED/optic combinations  708  may be included that may be used to generate a directed beam pattern (e.g., as depicted by the shaded illuminance plot of  FIG.  6 F ). It should be noted, however, that virtually any number of columns/rows of LED/optic combinations may be configured for use depending upon the application, whether arranged in a circular, rectangular, oval or linear format. In addition, outer lens  702  may be more efficient if contoured with the underlying LED/optic combinations  704 ,  706  and  708  as shown. 
     Turning to  FIG.  8 A , a light fixture exhibiting an alternate shape (e.g., rectangular) having a sealed and waterproof housing  802  and any number (e.g., 6) light elements  804 - 814  is exemplified in which each individual light element may represent an LED/optic group (e.g., an LED/optic group  206  of  FIG.  2   ) that may include one or more LEDs, a refractor (e.g., a total internal reflection (TIR) optic, a reflector or an optical lens) and a secondary lens. Any of light elements  804 - 814  may be exemplified by side-section view  850  of  FIG.  8 B , in which light element  850  may include a printed circuit board (e.g., PCB  854 ) having control circuitry (not shown) and one or more LEDs  856  to derive a selectable power signal from a power source (e.g., buck/boost converter  204  of  FIG.  2   ) to conduct a selectable current signal (e.g., selectable via current control  208  of  FIG.  2   ) to emit a light distribution having a selectable intensity (e.g., 0-100%) in proportion to an amount of current conducted by each light element  850 . The light distribution may be modified (e.g., via refractor  858 ) into a narrow beam pattern (e.g., using any one or more of a TIR optic, a reflector or an optical lens). 
     In addition, secondary lens  860  may be allocated for each light element  850  (e.g., light elements  804 - 814 ), where each lens  860  may be removably connected to housing  852 . In one embodiment, housing  852  may include heat sink  872  and bezel  864 , which may further include a mechanical arrangement (e.g., a threaded, slotted or snap-fit receptacle) into which lens  860  may be removably threaded or otherwise removably connected to bezel  864 . Accordingly, lens  860  and bezel  864  may combine to form a sealed, water-proof cavity  868  thereby protecting refractor  858  from harsh automotive conditions. It should be noted that refractor  858  may further form a seal around one or more LEDs  856  and PCB  854  thereby precluding access to one or more LEDs  856  within cavity  868  by a user of light fixture  802 . 
     Lens  860  may either be formed as a clear lens with minimized (e.g., zero) optical characteristics or may be formed as a single/multiple-axis diffuser allowing the light distribution to be diffused along one or more optical axes to form any beam pattern (e.g., spot, flood or DOT compliant beam pattern). In one embodiment, for example, lens  860  may include a lenticular portion  866  that may diffuse light into a direction as defined by the orientation of lenticular portion  866  in relation to bezel  864  (e.g., as shown in  FIG.  8 C ). Lens  860  may be rotated (e.g., rotated in 90 degree increments  862 ) within bezel  864  (e.g., as exemplified in  FIG.  8 D ) so as to orient lenticular portion  866  in a different direction (e.g., a direction that is offset by 90 degrees) in relation to bezel  864  as compared to the lens orientation as depicted in  FIG.  8 C . It should be noted that detents (not shown) may exist within bezel  864  and corresponding mechanical engagements (not shown) within lens  860  such that lens  860  may be securely positioned within bezel  864  at a multitude of distinct orientations (e.g., four distinct orientations having 90-degree relative offsets) while also forming a seal to keep contaminants (e.g., water and dirt) from entering cavity  868  while lens  860  is attached to bezel  864 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, as exemplified in  FIG.  8 E , lens  860  may be formed in the shape of the light fixture (e.g., rectangular) so that lens  860  may be associated with one or more light elements  804 - 814 . As per an example, a length of lens  860  may be such that a shape of lens  860  may be square whereby lens  860  may be attached to bezel  864  to receive the light distribution from only one light element  850  and multiple of lenses  860  (e.g., square-shaped lens  860 ) may be attached onto bezel  864  where each lens  860  may be associated with a single light element  850 . Conversely, a length of lens  860  may be such that lens  860  covers two or more light elements  850  (e.g., all light elements  804 - 814 ) such that lens  860  may receive the light distribution from more than one light element  850  (e.g., all light elements  804 - 814 ). 
     Accordingly, a user of the light fixture of  FIG.  8 A  may configure one or more lenses  860  in one or more light elements  804 - 814  to define aspects of light distribution as needed. In one embodiment, for example, one or more lenses  860  may be selected to produce a light distribution that may exhibit compliance to a particular standard (e.g., the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard) thereby providing Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance for on-road use. In such an instance, a user of light fixture  802  may interchange one or more lenses  860  as needed for both off-road (e.g., spot or flood) and on-road (e.g., SAE Fog or SAE Drive) use. 
     Each lens  860  may, for example, include indicia (not shown) to indicate a particular standard to which lens  860  may conform. Such indicia may be detectable (e.g., via near-field communications (NFC), radio frequency identification (RFID) or optically) by a sensor (e.g., indicia sensor  234  of  FIG.  2   ) that may be located within housing  852  and/or bezel  864  and communicated to a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ). In response, microprocessor  210  may command buck/boost  204  and/or current control  208  as may be necessary to constrain a feature of distributed light (e.g., intensity) from one or more light elements  804 - 814  so that the resulting light distribution from light fixture  802  may conform to the particular standard as may be indicated by any detected indicia that may be associated with each lens  860 . In alternate embodiments, a particular standard (e.g., SAE) may require that the entire light fixture be compliant to that standard. In such an instance, for example, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may disable the light fixture until all of the associated lenses indicate conformance to the requisite standard. 
     One or more light pipes  870  may further be utilized within light fixture  802  as exemplified in  FIG.  8 B . In one embodiment, for example, a separate LED (not shown) may be activated to produce light that may be redirected by light pipes  870  to, for example, provide light onto lens  860  for a daytime/nighttime running light application. In an alternate embodiment, light pipe  870  may redirect a portion of light generated by one or more LEDs  856  to augment/highlight lighting features that may be produced by one or more LEDs  856  in combination with optic  858 . In yet another embodiment, one or more LEDs may be arranged in proximity to LED  856  to act in a manner consistent with a daytime/nighttime running light application. 
     As discussed above, any of light elements  804 - 814  may be individually configured for any desirable light distribution pattern (e.g., spot, flood, SAE Drive, SAE Fog, etc.) by configuring each of light elements  804 - 814  with corresponding one or more lenses  860  that may produce the desired light distribution pattern. As discussed above, a sensor (e.g., indicia sensor  234  of  FIG.  2   ) may be used to automatically detect the type of lens  860  being utilized, or conversely, a user of light fixture  802  may manually enter the type of lens  860  being utilized into a configuration (as discussed in more detail below) that may be associated with light fixture  802 . 
     Lighting system  900  is exemplified that may include first automotive light fixture  901  of  FIG.  9 A  (e.g., light bar  104  of  FIG.  1   ), second automotive light fixture  903  of  FIG.  9 B  (e.g., light pod  106  of  FIG.  1   ), third automotive light fixture  905  of  FIG.  9 C  (e.g., light pod  108  of  FIG.  1   ) and remote control device  950  of  FIG.  9 D  (e.g., remote control  224  of  FIG.  2   ) that may include graphical user interface  950 A that may be executing on a user&#39;s device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, laptop, watch, etc.). 
     It should be noted that each of light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  may include one or more DC-DC power converters (e.g., buck/boost converters  204  of  FIG.  2   ), one or more LEDs and associated optics (e.g., one or more LED/optic groups  206  of  FIG.  2   ), one or more current controllers (e.g., current controllers  208  of  FIG.  2   ), a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) and a myriad of sensors (e.g., sensors  240  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     Optionally, each of light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  may further include an internal battery and charging circuit (e.g., internal battery  232  and charging circuit  230  of  FIG.  2   ) that may facilitate removal of the light fixture (e.g., light pod  106 ) from a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to allow its use without requiring vehicle power (e.g., vehicle power supply  202  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     In one embodiment, for example, light fixtures  903  and/or  905  (e.g., light pods  106  and/or  108  of  FIG.  1   ) may be removed from the vehicle and utilized as a flashlight by the driver of the vehicle. In such an instance, the light fixture may be configured with a quick-release mount (not shown) that allows the light fixture to be removably connected to the vehicle. Power contacts (not shown) may also be provided within the mount, so that the light fixture may have access to vehicle power (e.g., vehicle power supply  202  of  FIG.  2   ) via the mount for recharging. As discussed in more detail below, one or more lenses of the light fixture may be removable and selected according to the duty intended (e.g., spot lenses may be installed to facilitate extended distance illumination or flood lenses may be installed for scene lighting). 
     Light fixtures  901 ,  903  and/or  905  may further include an amplifier (e.g., audio amplifier  236  of  FIG.  2   ). As discussed above, light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  may include sealed, waterproof enclosures  902 ,  916  and  926 , respectively (e.g., enclosure  852  of  FIG.  8 B ), that may include a heat sink (e.g., heat sink  872  of  FIG.  8 B ). Accordingly, for example, the audio amplifier (e.g., audio amplifier  236  of  FIG.  2   ) may be mounted to heat sink  872  to dissipate heat during operation and may also benefit from operation in a sealed and waterproof enclosure  852 . 
     The amplifier (e.g., audio amplifier  236  of  FIG.  2   ) may include a wired interface (e.g., an audio jack) that may accept an audio signal (e.g., signal “Audio In”) or a wireless interface (e.g., interface  241  of  FIG.  2    that may support Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi and/or thread-based wireless communications), whereby an audio signal may be provided to the amplifier using the user&#39;s device (e.g., a Bluetooth interface associated with the user&#39;s smartphone). Once amplified by the amplifier, the signal “Audio Out” may be provided to one or more speakers (e.g., speakers  110  of  FIG.  1   ) either wirelessly (e.g., via any of a Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi and/or thread-based wireless communications medium) or via a wired connection (e.g., via an audio jack). 
     As exemplified in  FIG.  9 A , light fixture  901  (e.g., light bar  104  of  FIG.  1   ) is shown that may include any number (e.g., 6) configurable lenses  904 - 914  that may mechanically engage housing  902  (e.g., as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  8 B ) and whose relative position within housing  902  may be denoted using location designators (e.g., “RR”, “RL”, “CR”, “CL”, “LR”, and “LL”, for the relative location of lenses  904 - 914 , respectively). As further discussed in relation to  FIG.  8 B , the one or more lenses may be associated with corresponding one or more DC-DC power converters (e.g., buck/boost converters  204  of  FIG.  2   ), one or more LEDs and associated optics (e.g., one or more LED/optic groups  206  of  FIG.  2   ) and one or more current controllers (e.g., current controllers  208  of  FIG.  2   ). Accordingly, a light distribution having selectable attributes (e.g., intensity and beam pattern) may be projected from one or more lenses  904 - 914  as may be determined by a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) and associated controls (e.g., remote control device  950 ). 
     Similarly, light fixtures  903  and  905  of  FIGS.  9 B and  9 C , respectively (e.g., light pods  106  and  108  of  FIG.  1   , respectively) may include any number (e.g., 4) lenses  918 - 924  and  928 - 934 , respectively, that may mechanically engage housings  916  and  926 , respectively (e.g., as discussed above in relation to enclosure  852  of  FIG.  8 B ), and whose relative position within their respective housings may be denoted using location designators (e.g., “UR”, “UL”, “LR”, and “LL”, for lenses  918 - 924  and  928 - 934 , respectively). As further discussed in relation to  FIG.  8 B , the one or more lenses may be associated with corresponding one or more DC-DC power converters (e.g., buck/boost converters  204  of  FIG.  2   ), one or more LEDs and associated optics (e.g., one or more LED/optic groups  206  of  FIG.  2   ) and one or more current controllers (e.g., current controllers  208  of  FIG.  2   ). Accordingly, a light distribution having selectable attributes (e.g., intensity and beam pattern) may be projected from one or more lenses  918 - 924  and  928 - 934  as may be determined by a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) and associated controls (e.g., remote control device  950 ) or an alternate remote control device such as a handheld magnet as discussed in more detail below. 
     Turning to GUI  950 A, an exemplary control console of remote control device  950  of  FIG.  9 D  (e.g., remote control  224  of  FIG.  2    implemented as a tablet, smartphone, laptop, watch, etc.) is shown, which may be utilized by a user to configure lighting system  900  as necessary. Text entry box  970  may, for example, allow the user to configure the number of light fixtures (e.g.,  3 ) that may exist within lighting system  900 . Alternately, remote control device  950  may instead attempt to pair (e.g., using a Bluetooth pairing function via interface  980 ) with as many lighting fixtures that may be in range and may then indicate the number of paired lighting fixtures in text box  970 . 
     In one embodiment, the user may command lighting system  900  to identify each light fixture of the number of light fixtures indicated in text box  970  through actuation of button  976 . As per one example, a single actuation (e.g., tactile depression) of button  976  of remote control device  950  (e.g., remote control  224  of  FIG.  2   ) may cause an identification signal to be transmitted (e.g., via interface  980  using any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium) to each light (e.g., as received by wireless module  248  of microprocessor  210  via interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ) that may be paired with remote control device  950 . In response, each processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) of each light fixture (e.g., lighting fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905 ) may receive its respective identification signal (e.g., via wireless interface  226 ) and may cause one or more of its LEDs (e.g., one or more LED/optic groups  206 ) to illuminate temporarily so that the user may locate the light fixture currently being identified. Once the light fixture that the user wishes to designate as the “Roll Bar” illuminates (e.g., as indicated by selection  956 ), the user may then actuate (e.g., by tactile depression) button  978 . In response, remote control device  950  may transmit a configuration signal (e.g., a configuration signal sent via interface  980  via any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium) thereby identifying the most recently illuminated light fixture as the “Roll Bar” light fixture. In response, remote control device  950  and the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) of the “Roll Bar” light fixture may make note of the selection accordingly. 
     As per one example, a memory located within the processor of the identified light fixture (e.g., memory  238  of microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may be updated to include the current identification of the associated light fixture. In addition, remote control device  950  may store the identified light fixture information so that future communications with the light fixture may be correctly addressed (e.g., commands specific to the “Roll Bar” light fixture may be correctly addressed to the “Roll Bar” light fixture via interface  980 ). 
     The user may then once again depress button  976  so that the remaining unidentified light fixtures paired within lighting system  900  may be properly identified and associated with a particular physical location on the vehicle. As per one example, light fixture  903  of  FIG.  9 B  (e.g., light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) may be identified and associated with the “Left A Pillar” location of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ). Similarly, light fixture  905  of  FIG.  9 C  (e.g., light fixture  108  of  FIG.  1   ) may be identified and associated with the “Right A Pillar” location of the vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     Once each light fixture of lighting system  900  has been provisioned to a specific vehicular location, each light fixture may report the number of light elements that may be included within the light fixture. As per one example, a memory (e.g., microprocessor memory  238  of  FIG.  2   ) of each light fixture may include a variable that may be indicative of the number of light elements (e.g., light elements  804 - 814  of  FIG.  8   ) that may be contained within the light fixture and may report the number of light elements to remote control device  950  (e.g., via wireless interface  980 ) as reported in box  972  of GUI  950 A. Alternately, a user of control device  950  may simply enter the number of light elements contained within the light fixture into text box  972 . 
     A user of control device  950  may then configure a lens type that may be associated with the one or more light elements of the light fixture. In one embodiment, a single lens may be configured for each light element of light fixture  901  (e.g., lenses  904 - 914  of  FIG.  9 A ) and may include lens-type indicia that may be detectable (e.g., via indicia sensor  234  of  FIG.  2   ) to determine the type of lens (e.g., spot, flood, SAE Fog, SAE Drive, etc.) that may be currently installed in the light fixture. In an alternate embodiment, a number of lenses less than the number of light elements (e.g., as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  8 E ) may be configured having lens-type indicia that may be detectable (e.g., via indicia sensor  234  of  FIG.  2   ) to determine the type of lens (e.g., spot, flood, SAE Fog, SAE Drive, etc.) that may be currently installed in the light fixture. Alternately, a user of control device  950  may simply enter the type of lens installed within the light fixture. 
     In addition, location indicia (e.g., “RR”, “RL”, “CR”, “CL, “LR” and “LL”, respectively) may be selected by the user such that GUI  950 A may report each lens type and each lens type location for each lens (e.g., lenses  904 - 914 ). As per one example, menu selector  958  may indicate location ID  960  (e.g., location ID “CL” standing for “Center Left”) is currently selected for the “Roll Bar” light fixture, which may identify lens  910  as a spot lens (e.g., as identified by lens ID  966  of menu selector  964 ). Accordingly, a spot lens (e.g., lens  860  of  FIG.  8 B ) may be removably configured by the user as lens  910  within light fixture  901  so as to conform to the configuration as identified by GUI  950 A. The remaining lenses of light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  may be similarly configured and updated within GUI  950 A. 
     In operation, lighting system  900  may be configured to operate in one of several modes (e.g., a manual mode, an adaptive mode, an off-road mode or an on-road mode). Button  982 , for example, may be actuated (e.g., via tactile depression) to toggle between multiple (e.g., five) modes of operation, whereby a textual indicator for button  980  may transition between “Manual,” “Adaptive,” “Group,” “Off-Road” and “On-Road” for each depression of button  982  so that the user may discern the mode of operation within which lighting system  900  may be operating. In response, the mode of operation may be communicated (e.g., via interface  980  through any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium) to each processor of each light fixture. Accordingly, each processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may receive the mode of operation (e.g., via remote control  224 , wireless interface  226  and wireless module  248 ) and may either control operation of its respective light fixture through use of sensor inputs (e.g., in an adaptive mode using sensors  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220  and/or  222 ), control operation of its respective light fixture through use of local control  228  (e.g., rocker/rotary switches and/or knob-controlled potentiometers) or control operation of its respective light fixtures through a group mode as discussed in more detail below. 
     In a manual mode of operation, for example, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may, or may not, be involved in lighting control. In a first embodiment, for example, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) of each light fixture may receive operational input control via manual control mechanisms (e.g., one or more rocker/rotary switches  228  and/or one or more knob-controlled potentiometers  228  via control bus  254  of  FIG.  2   ), which may be located within the cab of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ). In such an instance, for example, the operation of each manual control mechanism may be configured via GUI  1000  of  FIG.  10   . Conversely, the operation of each manual control mechanism may be configured using a remote control device such as a handheld magnet as discussed in more detail below. 
     In an alternate embodiment, on the other hand, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may either be absent, or non-operational. As such, one or more current controllers  208  may receive operational input control via manual control mechanisms (e.g., one or more rocker/rotary switches  228  and/or one or more knob-controlled potentiometers  228  via control bus  250  of  FIG.  2   ), which may be located within the cab of a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ). Current controllers  208  may be pre-configured (e.g., wirelessly or factory preset) such that if a single current controller  208  is activated via its associated trigger wire of control bus  250 , then a percentage (e.g., 100%) of the available current may be conducted by the associated LED/Optic group  206  for maximum intensity. Generally, if more than one (N) current controller  208  is activated via its associated trigger wire of control bus  250 , then a reduced percentage (e.g., 100%/N) of the available current may be conducted by the associated LED/Optic groups  206  for maximum shared intensity. 
     As per one example of a wireless re-configuration, each of menu selectors  1002 - 1006  may be selected by the user (e.g., via scroll bars  1008 - 1012 , respectively) to configure each light fixture&#39;s operation when the associated “MANUAL” control for that light fixture is activated (e.g., as discussed above via button  982  of GUI  950 A of  FIG.  9 D ). In one embodiment, a first rocker/rotary switch and/or a control knob (e.g., local control  228  via control bus  254  of  FIG.  2   ) may be hardwired to a “ROLL BAR” light fixture (e.g., light fixture  104  of  FIG.  1   ), a second rocker/rotary switch and/or a control knob (e.g., local control  228  via control bus  254  of  FIG.  2   ) may be hardwired to a “LEFT A PILLAR” light fixture (e.g., light fixture  106  of  FIG.  1   ) and a third rocker/rotary switch and/or control knob (e.g., local control  228  via control bus  254  of  FIG.  2   ) may be hardwired to a “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixture (e.g., light fixture  108  of  FIG.  1   ). 
     Menu selector  1002  may, for example, be allocated to control the operation of the “ROLL BAR” light fixture when the associated rocker/rotary switch is activated. As illustrated, by highlighting the “SPOT” selection in menu selector  1002 , activation of the associated rocker/rotary switch causes the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) to activate each light element (e.g., light elements  904 - 914  of  FIG.  9   ) previously configured as spot lenses (e.g., as discussed above in relation to lighting system  900  of  FIG.  9   ). In addition, scroll bar  1014  may be used to select an attribute (e.g., intensity magnitude) that may be produced by light elements (e.g., light elements configured with spot lenses) of the “ROLL BAR” light fixture upon its activation and thereafter. Intensity magnitude control may, for example, be communicated wirelessly (e.g., via interface  1014  through any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium) to the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  via interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ) associated with the “ROLL BAR” light fixture. Alternately, intensity magnitude control may, for example, be manually communicated via a wired interface based, for example, on one or more knob-controlled potentiometers (e.g., local control  228  of  FIG.  2   ) thereby controlling an output (e.g., one or more 0-10V controllers  242  of  FIG.  2   ) to the one or more current control modules (e.g., current control modules  208  via control bus  244 ) associated with the “ROLL BAR” light fixture. Updates of such manually controlled intensity magnitude adjustments may be provided to the processor associated with the “ROLL BAR” light fixture and may then be communicated via an interface (e.g., interface  226  of  FIG.  2    and interface  1014 ) so that remote control device  1000  may update intensity indicator  1032  in accordance with the manually controlled intensity magnitude. 
     Similarly, menu selectors  1004 - 1006  may, for example, be allocated to control the operation of the “LEFT A PILLAR” and “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixtures, respectively, when their associated rocker switch is activated. As illustrated, by highlighting the “FLOOD” selection in menu selectors  1004  and  1006 , activation of the associated rocker switch causes the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) to activate each light element (e.g., light elements  918 - 924  and  928 - 934  of  FIG.  9   ) previously configured as flood lenses (e.g., as discussed above in relation to lighting system  900  of  FIG.  9   ). In addition, scroll bars  1016 - 1018  may be used to select an attribute (e.g., intensity magnitude) that may be produced by the “LEFT A PILLAR” and “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixtures upon activation and thereafter. Intensity magnitude control may, for example, be communicated (e.g., via interface  1014  through any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium) to the processor associated with the “LEFT A PILLAR” and “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixtures. Alternately, intensity magnitude control may, for example, be manually communicated via a wired interface based, for example, on one or more knob-controlled potentiometers (e.g., local control  228  of  FIG.  2   ) thereby controlling an output (e.g., one or more 0-10V controllers  242  of  FIG.  2   ) to the one or more current control modules (e.g., current control modules  208 ) associated with the “LEFT A PILLAR” and “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixtures. Updates of such manually controlled intensity magnitude adjustments may be provided to the processor associated with the “LEFT A PILLAR” and “RIGHT A PILLAR” light fixtures and may then be communicated via an interface (e.g., interface  226  of  FIG.  2    and interface  1014 ) so that remote control device  1000  may update intensity indicators  1034  and  1036 , respectively, in accordance with the manually controlled intensity magnitudes. 
     A power smoothing function may also be implemented for each light fixture (e.g., light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  of lighting system  900  of  FIG.  9   ) when, for example, the requested intensity magnitude exceeds the capabilities of the associated light fixture. Such a power smoothing function may be activated via menu selectors  1020 ,  1022  and  1024  for each respective light bar (e.g., light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  of lighting system  900  of  FIG.  9   ). 
     As per one example, a user may wish to highlight the “ALL” selection of menu selectors  1002 - 1006  thereby activating all light elements in each light fixture (e.g., light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  of  FIG.  9   ) and may further choose to select an intensity magnitude setting for each light element of each light fixture via scroll bars  1014 - 1018 , respectively. Such intensity magnitude settings may, however, exceed the maximum current magnitude (e.g., as controlled via current control modules  208  of  FIG.  2   ) that may be generated by a single DC-DC converter (e.g., one of buck-boost converters  204  of  FIG.  2   ). Such a scenario may be a possibility in the event that only a single buck-boost converter is being utilized to drive current into all light elements of the light fixture. In such an instance, the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may scale the intensity selection down to the maximum current magnitude achievable for each light element of each light fixture when the associated power smoothing selectors  1020 ,  1022  and/or  1024  are set to the “ON” selection. 
     As per another example, an “OFF-ROAD” or an “ON-ROAD” mode of operation may be selected via mode selector  982  whereby each processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) of each light fixture may receive operational input control via automotive sensors (e.g., headlight indicators  221  of  FIG.  2   ). In such an instance, for example, the operation of each light fixture of  FIG.  9    may be governed depending upon whether the headlights of the associated vehicle are activated or deactivated. If headlights are activated and mode selector  982  is set to “ON-ROAD”, for example, then the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may activate each light element (e.g., light elements  904 - 14 ,  918 - 924  and  928 - 934  of  FIG.  9   ) previously configured as either SAE Drive, SAE FOG or both. Conversely, if headlights are activated and mode selector  982  is set to “OFF-ROAD”, for example, then the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may activate each light element (e.g., light elements  904 - 914 ,  918 - 924  and  928 - 934  of  FIG.  9   ) previously configured as either SPOT, FLOOD or SPOT/FLOOD MIX. 
     A backlight/running light function (e.g., as discussed above in relation to light pipe  870  of  FIG.  8 B ) may be selected via selectors  1026 ,  1028  and  1030  whereby such selections may be communicated via interface  1014  and received/implemented by the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  via interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ). In one embodiment, the backlight/running light function may utilize different colors of illumination, whereby the color of illumination may be selected by utilizing the power cycling control aspects as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,648,686 entitled “LED device with power removal detection and method for using the same” issued on May 9, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such power removal detection may, for example, be implemented through use of a switch (e.g., a rocker switch located on the inside of vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) to control the connection and disconnection of a vehicle power supply (e.g., via switch  246  of  FIG.  2   ) which may apply and remove vehicle power from the light fixture (e.g., light fixture  200  of  FIG.  2   ) as may be detected by the processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  via interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ). In response, the processor may activate one or more different colored LEDs (e.g., LED/optic groups  206 ) sequentially with each power cycle. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a remote control device (e.g., a handheld magnet) may be used in proximity to a light fixture to wirelessly control functionality. Each light fixture may, for example, include a magnetic interface (e.g., wireless interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ) that may be sensitive to a magnetic field generated by a user (e.g., via remote control device  224  of  FIG.  2   ). The presence of the magnetic field may be detected (e.g., via wireless module  248  of  FIG.  2   ), which may be utilized by a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) to configure the operation of a light fixture upon the activation of one or more trigger wires and/or one more power wires that may be associated with one or more light fixtures by the user. 
     As per one example, activation of one or more trigger and/or power wires that may be associated with one or more light fixtures may place the associated one or more light fixtures into a configuration mode, whereby in response to a number of magnetic field variations (e.g., as implemented by the placement of a handheld magnetic device into and out of proximity of magnetic interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ) during configuration mode, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may toggle through a list of configuration entries contained within a look-up table (e.g., a look-up table that may be contained within memory  238  of  FIG.  2   ). Once the final magnetic field variation is detected, the then current configuration activated within the look-up table may become the programmed configuration associated with the active trigger wire and/or active power wire. It should be noted that the processor may either automatically continue to toggle through each entry of the look-up table so long as the magnetic field is present or conversely may require a complete cycle (e.g., detected presence followed by a detected absence) of the magnetic field to sequentially toggle through each entry of the look-up table one at a time. 
     In one embodiment, a first rocker/rotary switch and/or a control knob and/or a keypad (e.g., as implemented by local control  228  via control bus  254  of  FIG.  2   ) may be hardwired to provide one or more trigger wires (e.g., N=3 trigger wires) to a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ). Each of the N trigger wires may be configured to effectuate exemplary operation of each respective light fixture (e.g., via control bus  260  of  FIG.  2   ) in accordance with Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SPOT (%) 
                 DRIVE (%) 
                 FLOOD (%) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 100 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 80 
                 20 
                 0 
               
               
                 50 
                 50 
                 0 
               
               
                 20 
                 80 
                 0 
               
               
                 0 
                 100 
                 0 
               
               
                 0 
                 80 
                 20 
               
               
                 0 
                 50 
                 50 
               
               
                 0 
                 20 
                 80 
               
               
                 0 
                 0 
                 100 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As per one example, activation of a single trigger wire (e.g., via local control  228  of  FIG.  2   ) may place the one or more light fixtures into a configuration mode, whereby the intensity of the associated light distribution may be configured in accordance with a table column (e.g., the first or third column of Table 2). In response to each detected magnetic field variation, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may sequentially activate the intensity (e.g., the SPOT or FLOOD intensities as defined by each row of the first or third columns, respectively, of Table 2) by appropriate current control (e.g., via control bus  260  using current control modules  208  of  FIG.  2   ). Once the activated intensity produced by each associated light fixture conforms to the user&#39;s desired intensity, the user may discontinue the use of magnetic field variations to exit configuration mode (e.g., via a timer feature implemented by processor  210  to detect the absence of magnetic field variations over a threshold amount of time). Once the single trigger wire is configured, subsequent activations of the single trigger wire may then be used to effectuate the desired intensity of the desired distribution (e.g., 80% SPOT distribution intensity or 50% FLOOD distribution intensity). 
     As per another example, simultaneous activation of more than one trigger wire (e.g., two trigger wires via local control  228  of  FIG.  2   ) may place the one or more light fixtures into a configuration mode, whereby the intensity of multiple associated light distributions may be configured in accordance with multiple table columns (e.g., the first and second columns of Table 2). In response to each detected magnetic field variation, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may sequentially activate two or more intensities (e.g., the SPOT and DRIVE intensities as defined by each row of the first and second columns, respectively, of Table 2). Once the activated intensities produced by each associated light fixture conform to the user&#39;s desired intensities, the user may discontinue the use of magnetic field variations to exit configuration mode. Once the multiple trigger wires are configured, subsequent simultaneous activations of the multiple trigger wires may then be used to effectuate the desired intensities of the desired distributions (e.g., 20% SPOT distribution intensity and 80% DRIVE distribution intensity simultaneously). 
     As per yet another example, activation of a single trigger wire (e.g., via local control  228  of  FIG.  2   ) may place the one or more light fixtures into a configuration mode to allow a secondary effect (e.g., backlight color) to be configured as defined in Table 3. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
                 Red 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Green 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Blue 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Light Blue 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Purple 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Amber 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Warm White 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Cool White 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Color Rotation 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Animation1 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Animation2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Animation3 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Animation4 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Animation5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In response to each detected magnetic field variation, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may sequentially activate the color (e.g., the colors as defined by the top eight rows of Table 3) or the special effects (e.g., the special effects as defined by the bottom six rows of Table 3). Once the activated color or special effect produced by each associated light fixture conforms to the user&#39;s desires, the user may discontinue the use of magnetic field variations to exit configuration mode. Once the single trigger wire is configured, subsequent activations of the single trigger wire may then be used to effectuate the desired backlight color or special effect. 
     It should be noted that preconfiguration of the trigger wires need not be implemented via remote control device  224  of  FIG.  2    as discussed above. Instead, each light fixture may include a physical input/output (I/O) device (e.g., a push button or capacitive sensing device) with which the user may cause traversal of the light distribution intensities, colors and/or special effects of Tables 2 and 3. In operation, the user may actuate the physical I/O device and in response, the light fixture may enter a configuration mode whereby a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may sequentially activate the light distribution intensities, colors and/or special effects of Tables 2 and 3 until the user is satisfied. Once the one or more trigger wires are configured, subsequent activations of the one or more trigger wires may then be used to effectuate the desired light distribution intensity, backlight color and/or special effect. 
     Turning to  FIG.  11   , GUI  1100  is exemplified, which may be activated on a remote control device (e.g., a user&#39;s smartphone, tablet, laptop, watch, etc.) when an adaptive mode is activated (e.g., button  982  of  FIG.  9 D  is selected to “ADAPTIVE”) as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  9 D . In such an instance, a user may configure the various light fixtures (e.g., light fixtures  901 ,  903  and  905  of  FIG.  9   , light fixture  300  of  FIG.  3    and/or light fixture  500  of  FIG.  5   ) that may be provisioned on a particular vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) for operation in an adaptive mode where certain light characteristics are configured based upon measured dynamic attributes of a vehicle upon which the light fixtures may be mounted. If the remote control device includes a GPS, then selectors  1118 - 1124  may be configured to allow the GPS settings to be measured by the user&#39;s remote control device and communicated to each light fixture via interface  1126  (e.g., via interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ). Conversely, such a mode may be turned off, such that GPS measurements may be derived locally within each light fixture (e.g., via sensor  216  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     Light fixtures  300 ,  500  and those identified by selectors  1102 ,  1104  and  1106  may, for example, be identified and provisioned as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  9   , whereby the LIGHT ID, LOCATION ID and LENS ID for each light fixture as well as the adaptive settings as exemplified by GUI  1100  may be configurable, whereby the configuration may be locally stored within a memory of each light fixture (e.g., within memory  238  of  FIG.  2   ). In addition, the configuration settings as exemplified by  FIGS.  9 - 11    may be shared across multiple remote control devices via a configuration data exchange done wirelessly between one or more remote control devices (e.g., via interfaces  980 ,  1014  and/or  1126  through any one or more of an NFC, thread, WiFi or Bluetooth communication medium). 
     As exemplified by selectors  1102 ,  1104 ,  1106  and  1108 , adaptive settings may be configured for each light fixture based on certain dynamic attributes that may be associated with the vehicle upon which each light fixture may be mounted. In one embodiment, for example, those light elements in each light fixture configured with spot (or narrow) lenses may be operated at, for example, a percentage (e.g., 30%) when the velocity of the vehicle is between a velocity range (e.g., between 0-40 mph) and increased linearly between a percentage range (e.g., 30-100%) when the corresponding velocity increases linearly between a velocity range (e.g., 40-60 mph). Similarly, for example, those light elements in each light fixture configured with flood (or wide) lenses may be operated at, for example, a percentage (e.g., 100%) when the velocity of the vehicle is between a velocity range (e.g., 0-40 mph) and decreased linearly between a percentage range (e.g., 100-20%) when the corresponding velocity increases linearly between a velocity range (e.g., 40-60 mph). 
     In addition, turning attributes of the vehicle may be sensed which may further modify the light distribution of one or more light fixtures provisioned within the light system. As per an example, a left turn rate of the vehicle may be measured and in conformance with the configuration settings of selectors  1110  and  1114 , the light fixtures provisioned on the left side of the vehicle (e.g., on the left A pillar and the left bumper) may produce an intensity (e.g., 100% intensity) from light elements configured with a flood (or wide) lens. Similarly, a right turn rate of the vehicle may be measured and in conformance with the configuration settings of selectors  1112  and  1116 , the light fixtures provisioned on the right side of the vehicle (e.g., on the right A pillar and the right bumper) may produce an intensity (e.g., 100% intensity) from light elements configured with a flood (or wide) lens. 
     Still further, certain attributes of the vehicle may determine whether a sleep mode (e.g., via selectors  1126 - 1132 ) may be activated. If configured for sleep mode, a processor (e.g., processor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) may determine whether the vehicle is operable (e.g., whether the vehicle&#39;s ignition system is activated or whether the vehicle&#39;s power supply  202  is available for use). If the vehicle is not operable, for example, processor  210  may disable all controls (e.g., current control modules  208 ) that may be associated with each associated light fixture configured for sleep mode to reduce the power consumed by each light fixture to a very low level (e.g., zero amp current draw) so as to preclude depletion of the power available from power supply  202  and/or battery  232 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  12   , light fixtures provisioned for use by each of vehicles  1202 - 1212  as discussed herein may be operating in a group mode of operation (e.g., as activated via button  982  of  FIG.  9 D  when selected to “Group”) to provide full-perimeter adaptive lighting on demand. While in group mode, for example, each provisioned light fixture of each vehicle  1202 - 1212  may each comprise a node within a network of nodes that may be operating via wireless network  1208  (e.g., a Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC or thread-based mesh wireless network) that may be established between a remote control device (e.g., remote control  224  of  FIG.  2   ) and each respective light fixture (e.g., via wireless interface  226  and wireless module  248  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     In one embodiment, a single operator of any vehicle may establish a group mode of operation whereby each light fixture of each vehicle operating within network  1208  may be synchronized to the corresponding light fixture of each other vehicle operating in network  1208 . As per one example, the operator establishing group mode may act as the master controller within wireless network  1208 , whereby lighting controls associated with the operator&#39;s remote control device (e.g., as discussed above in relation to  FIGS.  9 ,  10  and  11   ) may be synchronized across all slave light fixtures operating within the group. Upon establishment of group mode, a processor (e.g., microprocessor  210  of  FIG.  2   ) of each slave light fixture of the remaining vehicles may override manual selectability and may instead implement lighting controls in conformance with lighting commands received within wireless network  1208  from the master controller. 
     Turning back to  FIG.  2   , for example, processor  210  of each slave light fixture may implement such lighting commands received via remote control  224  by utilizing local control  228  to modulate 0-10V controller  242  with discrete data that may be indicative of such lighting commands. Accordingly, binary data that may be represented by voltage extremities presented on control bus  244  (e.g., binary voltage extremities operating at a predetermined baud rate between 0 volts and approximately 10-12 volts) may be received by current controllers  208 , which may then be used to control each LED/optic group  206  as discussed herein in accordance with the received binary data. As such, control bus  244  may be used as a digital control bus (e.g., whereby data is transmitted discretely as either a logic “1” or a logic “0”) at a particular baud rate during a particular mode of operation (e.g., group mode), but may instead operate as an analog control bus (e.g., whereby data is relayed as an analog control voltage magnitude anywhere between about 0 and 10 volts) during any other mode of operation (e.g., group mode or any other mode of operation). 
     In alternate embodiments, a combination of control may be utilized. As discussed above, for example, trigger wires may be utilized to manually activate any one or more light configurations within any one light fixture or across any two or more light fixtures. For example, if a trigger wire from local control bus  250  of  FIG.  2    is activating “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configurations of light fixtures  106  and  108  of  FIG.  1    and control bus  244  does not indicate any further control information (e.g., either the 0-10V control is maintained at a deactivated control voltage of 12 volts or is devoid of digital control information), then the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configurations of light fixtures  106  and  108  may share equally the total power available to light fixtures  106  and  108 . Conversely, for example, if a trigger wire from local control bus  250  of  FIG.  2    is activating “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configurations of light fixtures  106  and  108  of  FIG.  1    and control bus  244  indicates further control information (e.g., either the 0-10V control indicates a control voltage between 0-10 volts or is modulated by digital control information), then the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configurations of light fixtures  106  and  108  may split the total power available to light fixtures  106  and  108  in accordance with such control information (e.g., the “SPOT” and “FLOOD” configurations may operate at 25% of the available power when the control voltage is held at 2.5 volts or if the digital control information modulates the control voltage with digital control information indicating a 25% intensity level). 
     Turning back to  FIG.  12   , various tactical scenarios may be envisioned for a convoy of military vehicles or urban crowd control vehicles (e.g., vehicles  1202 - 1212 ) whose light fixtures may be operating in group mode within network  1208  to provide full perimeter, on demand lighting. As per one example, vehicles  1202 - 1212  may constitute a military convoy traveling at night through hostile territory, whereby a diversion may cause the convoy to stop. Pertinent light fixtures (e.g., forward facing light fixtures of vehicles  1202 - 1206  and rear facing light fixtures of vehicles  1208 - 1212 ) provisioned within the vehicles of the convoy may then be commanded in group mode to initiate full power lighting along with a long distance beam (e.g., a spot beam) to promote situational awareness beyond night vision device (NVD) usefulness (e.g., between about 200-400 feet) and without the associated tunnel vision. As such, conventional night vision technology may be used for target acquisition while the instant-on adaptive lighting may be used to illuminate, disorient and engage the target suspects of interest. 
     As per an alternate example, vehicles  1202 - 1212  may constitute a military convoy traveling at night engaging hostile contacts, whereby any operator in any vehicle may command the network of light fixtures in the relevant convoy (e.g., forward facing light fixtures of vehicles  1202 - 1206 ) to full power flood or spot light instantly. Conventional NVD systems may allow for automatic exposure gating to maintain the visibility and engagement of the hostile contacts while concealing the convoy of friendly soldiers that may be hidden behind the curtain of tactical flood light produced. Hostile fire may, for example, be directed at the perimeter of tactical lighting, thereby drawing the hostile fire away from the convoy of friendly soldiers while they engage the enemy from a safe distance behind the excessive perimeter lighting. Furthermore, wireless network  1208  may allow the vehicles to be vacated while group control of the associated lighting is nevertheless maintained. 
     Group mode may also include adaptive group lighting based on the dynamics of the military convoy&#39;s movements. As per one example, lighting produced toward the front and back of each vehicle may transition between flood and spot distributions depending upon the speed of the convoy and the relative location of the vehicle within the convoy. Vehicles that are not located at the front of the convoy (e.g., vehicles  1208 - 1212 ) may be assigned functionality to maintain dimmed fore lighting and maximized aft lighting while maintaining side lighting at increased intensity during movement while vehicles that are located at the front of the convoy (e.g., vehicles  1202 - 1206 ) may be assigned functionality to maintain dimmed aft lighting and maximized fore lighting while maintaining side lighting at increased intensity during movement. 
     Group mode may also include adaptive group lighting based on the dynamics of the atmosphere within which the military convoy may be operating. As per one example, all light fixtures within the group may include multiple colors (e.g., white, IR and amber) of lighting. IR may be selected, for example, when the convoy operates at night, but may quickly and immediately switch all light fixtures over to visible light (e.g., white or amber) upon demand. Amber may be used, for example, for obscured visibility (e.g., during fog or sand/dust conditions), which may be detected by an optical sensor (e.g., camera  221  of  FIG.  2   ). 
     In one embodiment, an optical sensor (e.g., photo diode  220  of  FIG.  2   ) may be used to detect the amount of light being reflected back to the light fixture by the atmosphere (e.g., fog, dust or sand). In response, either manually or automatically, a less reflective color of light may be selected (e.g., changed from white to amber) for distribution by the light fixture. In addition, by allowing for both a white and amber light distribution, a color temperature may be selected that may be warmer than the color temperature of a native white by itself. 
     In alternate embodiments, group mode may include a group of light fixtures that do not incorporate many of the control features as discussed above in relation to  FIG.  2   . For example, each light fixture may not include a processor  210  or any of sensors  212 - 222  and  234 . Instead, such devices may be included in a single control device (e.g., control device  258  of  FIG.  2   ), such that the control device may issue commands to each light fixture (e.g., via one or more wired interfaces) that may be based upon automated or manual control inputs. Such a wired interface may exhibit such characteristics as discussed above in relation to control busses  244 ,  250  and  254 . 
     Control device  258  may be interconnected within a vehicle (e.g., vehicle  100  of  FIG.  1   ) via a controller area network (CAN) bus. As a result, the control device may be seamlessly integrated within original equipment manufacturers&#39; (OEM) control systems and interconnected (e.g., via CAN bus  256  of  FIG.  2   ) to allow the OEM control systems to interact with control device  258  to effectuate the controls as discussed herein. Still further, control device  258  may include a wireless interface (e.g., as discussed above in relation to wireless interface  226  of  FIG.  2   ) including, for example, a Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, and/or a thread-based mesh interface to allow, for example, configuration as discussed above in relation to  FIGS.  9 A- 9 D and  10 - 11    or a magnetic interface to allow configurations as discussed above in relation to Tables 2 and 3. Further still, control device  258  may include a wired interface whereby a control panel (e.g., a touch screen interface of a CAN-bus control system) may be used to effectuate the configuration controls discussed herein. 
     Turning to  FIGS.  13 A- 13 D , vehicle lights are exemplified that may include a heat sink  1302  that may be shrouded by protective cover  1304 . As illustrated, protective cover may be arranged to preclude access to heat sink  1302  (e.g., egress vents sized small enough to prevent a human finger from gaining access to heat sink  1302 ) thereby substantially preventing risk of injury due to heat. As such, LEDs  1306  may be allowed to generate more heat onto heat sink  1302 , since heat sink  1302  may be allowed to operate at a higher temperature than would otherwise be prudent in the absence of protective cover  1304 . 
     In one embodiment, protective cover  1304  may be constructed from a thermally non-conductive material (e.g., high temperature plastic) with ventilation egress ports  1308  to allow convected heat that may be developed on heat sink  1302  to escape into the atmosphere. It should be noted that protective cover  1304  may be constructed in any shape or size to allow shrouding of virtually any vehicle light. In addition, protective cover  1304  may be fashioned to fit within open cavities of a vehicle that may, for example, be meant for OEM fog light applications. 
     The presence of protective cover  1304  may be conducive to certain design changes to be made relating to heat sink  1302 . As per one example, instead of overly complicated and typically heavy die cast materials used in the production of heat sinks intended for use in the absence of protective cover  1304 , lower cost and lighter weight extrusions may be used since they may be allowed to operate at a higher temperature. 
     Protective cover  1304  may also include features (not shown) that may allow a mechanical linkage of two or more vehicle lights. The mechanical linkage may provide a means to maintain a fixed, mechanical relationship between each linked vehicle light, such that each light may be allowed to swivel along an axis (e.g., a vertical axis or a horizontal axis) of the vehicle light while maintaining separation of each vehicle light in a direction perpendicular to the swivel axis (e.g., along a horizontal axis or vertical axis, respectively). 
     In one embodiment, the mechanical linkage may allow the entire light and protective cover to be rotated or swiveled in order to aim the light in user configurable directions. In alternate embodiments, the mechanical linkage may be arranged such the the light rotates or swivels inside of the protective cover, while the protective cover remains substantially stationary. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, portions of a single control module (e.g., as exemplified in  FIG.  2   ) may be utilized within each vehicle and distributed via the native vehicular Controller Area Network (CAN) bus system instead of being implemented within each light fixture. Alternately, any one or more of sensors  240  (e.g., such as those used for three-dimensional orientation as discussed above in relation to IMU  222 , gyroscope  212 , accelerometer  214 , GPS  216  and magnetometer  218  of  FIG.  2   ) may be collectively provided by a smart phone instead of as individual sensors. In addition, the speed-adaptive lighting disclosed herein may be applied to the aviation market for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, for example, to transition between spot and flood lighting as landing speed decreases to touchdown or to implement strobe functionality as needed. It is intended, therefore, that the specification and illustrated embodiments be considered as examples only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.