Patent Abstract:
A skylight LED lighting system is described. The system utilizes LED lights attached to or near a skylight in order to provide a user with the ability to increase the amount of light being directed into an area. The system can utilize a LED controller to allow the user to control the light output intensity. The LED controller provides a smooth range of changing brightness levels. The system can utilize one or more solar cells and batteries to power the LED lights. The system can be controlled via a radio frequency remote control. Additionally, the system can utilize a flexible, skylight-shaped installation housing that can be inserted into the skylight under compression. When the compression is released, the ring expands to press against the inside of the skylight and holds the skylight LED lighting system in place.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/070,588, entitled “Skylight LED Lighting System” and filed on Feb. 19, 2008, which is itself a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/906,009, entitled “LED Controller and Lighting System” and filed on Sep. 29, 2007, both of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that they disclose and teach. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to the lighting industry and more particularly to a skylight LED lighting system. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Electrical lights have been around for well over 100 years. During that time, many variations and improvements in the technologies utilized to produce light have occurred. One of the most recent developments has been the widespread adoption of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting systems as a replacement for older incandescent and fluorescent systems. 
         [0004]    In the last twenty years, rapid commercialization of LED technologies has occurred. LED lighting systems can be found in everything from hand-held flashlights to standard floor and desk lamps. In fact, the more powerful LEDs of recent manufacture are even being utilized in large-scale outdoor lighting projects. 
         [0005]    Nevertheless, while LED lights have made impressive inroads in many areas of the lighting industry, current LED systems still have a few problems and limitations. One such limitation is the general lack of LED controller systems that provide varying intensity outputs for LED lighting systems. A variety of multi-step systems are available, but the resulting lighting effect is similar to a standard three-way incandescent bulb in that three predefined levels of brightness are apparent rather than a smooth increasing and decreasing of the light output levels. 
         [0006]    Another technology that is often utilized in LED systems is called a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM). PWMs are used to control the light output of LEDs. A PWM acts by providing segmented pulses of voltage to a LED, causing a flashing or pulsing effect in the light output of the LED. The pulsing effect causes the human eye to perceive an erratic flashing effect when a PWM is used to dim or brighten LED lights. Thus, a need exists for a LED controller and lighting system that can smoothly increase and decrease LED light output intensities without utilizing apparent brightness steps/levels or causing a pulsing of the LED. 
         [0007]    As LED lighting systems have grown and evolved so too have passive solar lighting solutions, i.e., skylights. One common embodiment has seen a recent surge in installations because of its flexibility: the tube skylight. The traditional skylight is a window-like device that is placed in the roof of a building and allows sunlight to shine in from above. If a building has an attic area beneath the roof, it is difficult to utilize a traditional skylight since the attic blocks the path of the sunlight into the interior of the building. In such a situation, a serviceable alternative is the tube skylight. Tube skylights utilize a cylindrically shaped pipe, tube or other similar structure to direct and funnel the outside light from the skylight through an attic and into the ceiling of a room in the interior of a building. The inside of the tube-structure is reflective, allowing the structure to be bent, angled, and turned without significantly reducing the amount of outside light transmitted to the room below. 
         [0008]    Although the tube skylight has significant advantages over the traditional skylight, both suffer from the same inherent deficiency: at night (or on cloudy days), there is little outside light for a skylight to transmit into a building. In order to overcome this shortcoming, lighting companies have begun to offer incandescent add-on lights that can be attached to skylights. However, installations of such lights usually require the services of an electrician since standard household alternating current is used to power the lights. Furthermore, the additional wiring that is required can add considerable expense to the lighting project. Additional problems with the traditional incandescent approach include: relatively low efficiency, high heat output per lumen of light, large size, difficulty installing and changing bulbs, etc. Therefore, there is a need for a skylight lighting add-on that is efficient, comparatively cool, and relatively inexpensive and simple to install. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Embodiments described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems by providing a skylight LED lighting system. The system can utilize an LED controller to allow the user to control the output intensity of one or more LED lighting systems. The intensity levels or brightness of the LED lights are not limited to 3, 4 or even 10 levels of light output; instead, the LED controller provides what appears to the human eye as a smooth range of changing brightness levels, depending on the needs of the user. Furthermore, the system does not require expensive rewiring since it can utilize one or more solar cells and batteries or power storage devices to power the LED lights. A solar cell can use a portion of the outside light that is transmitted through the skylight to charge its battery. The LED light system can be controlled via a radio frequency remote control unit in order to further simplify the installation process (i.e., a hard-wired control unit does not have to be installed). Because of the small size of the LED lights that are used, their low heat output and simplified wiring, installation of the system is much improved over existing technologies. Additionally, the system can utilize a flexible, skylight-shaped installation housing ring that can be inserted into the skylight under compression. When the compression is released, the housing ring expands to press against the inside of the skylight and holds the skylight LED lighting system in place. Double-sided adhesive safety tape can be used to ensure the security and stability of the installation. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of a preferred embodiment and other embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system operating on an alternating current power system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system operating on an alternating current power system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system operating on a direct current power system. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system that utilizes a radio frequency module for wireless remote control functionality. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a microchip component of a LED controller and lighting system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system and utilizing a wall-mountable switch. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system utilizing a radio frequency remote switch. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a microchip controller component of a skylight LED lighting system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  illustrates a view of a compressed skylight LED lighting system prior to insertion in a tube-style skylight. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In one embodiment, a LED controller utilizes United States standard residential alternating current (A/C) as a power source (either 110 volt or 220 volt). In another embodiment, a LED controller utilizes direct current (D/C) as a power source (for example, a 12 volt solar-powered system). Other voltage types and sources are contemplated. 
         [0022]    A LED controller can be a component in a skylight LED lighting system. In one embodiment, a LED controller is used within a skylight LED lighting system to provide a dimming and brightening function. In such a system, a 12 volt solar cell can act as the D/C power source (other voltage types and amounts are contemplated). In another such system, a standard A/C power source is used. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system  100  operating on an A/C power system. The primary components shown in  FIG. 1  include: a LED controller  110 ; a system of LED lights  120 ,  121 , and  122 ; an A/C power source  130 ; and the D/C power output  140 . The LED controller  110  shown in  FIG. 1  is illustrated as a simple switchbox. In other embodiments, other types of switches and/or controls are contemplated. In  FIG. 1 , the LED controller and lighting system  100  is operating on a standard A/C power source  130 . The A/C power source  130  feeds into the LED controller  110 . The LED controller  110  contains a number of subcomponents that are not shown in  FIG. 1  (see detailed description of the LED controller  110  below). The subcomponents act on the incoming A/C power source  130  and output the D/C power output  140 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the D/C power output  140  is routed directly to the LED lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122 . However, in alternate embodiments, the D/C power output  140  could connect to other components before being routed to the LED lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122 . 
         [0024]    Once the A/C power source  130  is routed to the LED controller  110 , a user of the system can operate the rocker switch  111  to control the light output levels of the lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122 . The LED controller  110  is connected to the lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122  by the D/C power output  140 . Because the LED controller  110  does not rely upon a pulse width modulator (PWM) but instead utilizes a custom-coded microchip (among other components) to vary the light intensity of the lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122 , the user will experience a gradual increasing or decreasing of light brightness/intensity while operating the rocker switch  111  instead of a pulsing or flashing effect common to PWM systems. 
         [0025]    The lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122  as shown in  FIG. 1  only has three LED lights. In other embodiments, the lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122  can contain fewer lights or more lights than that shown in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, the lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122  can be composed of LED lights having different colors, sizes, shapes, intensities, etc. The lighting system  120 ,  121 , and  122  components are illustrated in the embodiment in  FIG. 1  as being mounted in a box-shaped mounting bracket  119 . In other embodiments, the lighting system is employed without the use of a mounting bracket  119 .  FIG. 1  also shows a set of hanging wall cabinets  197 . The hanging cabinets  197  are for illustrative purposes and are not an integral part of a LED controller and lighting system  100 . Similarly,  FIG. 1  also includes a set of base cabinets with countertop  198 . The base cabinets with countertop  198  are for illustrative purposes and do not form a part of the LED controller and lighting system  100 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system  200  operating on an A/C power system. In the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , a switch plate  210  can be used to bring the A/C power from the A/C power source  230  to the terminal blocks  251 . The switch plate  210  holds the LED controller  250  in position and the line wires coming from the A/C power source  230  bring the A/C power to the terminal blocks  251  to start the rectification of power to a D/C source. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the subcomponents of the LED controller  250  are represented by simple rectangles. Furthermore, in alternate embodiments, other subcomponents arranged in similar or different ways are contemplated. 
         [0027]    Power is brought in to the LED controller  250  through the terminal blocks  251 . The terminal blocks can consist of any components or subcomponents which function as a power input conduit for the LED controller  250 . The terminal blocks  251  route power to a bridge rectifier  252 . The bridge rectifier  252  transforms the A/C power into a D/C current. The resulting D/C current is then transferred to a capacitor-input filter  253  to smooth the voltage supply. Alternatively, a voltage regulator can be used either instead of or in addition to the capacitor-input filter  253 , both to remove the last of the ripple and to deal with variations in supply and load characteristics. 
         [0028]    Once the system has access to a D/C current, the power flow must be regulated. In one embodiment, the unregulated D/C power is routed to a capacitor  254  that subsequently produces a supply of relatively clean, uninterrupted D/C power output. Other embodiments may utilize other means or methods of regulating the D/C power. Furthermore, the power could be cleaned and regulated at a completely different location in the circuit, in yet another embodiment. Depending on the specific voltage requirements of other components, an additional voltage regulator  255  could be utilized to bring the exemplary 12 volt D/C current down to a 5 volt D/C current if needed for a 5 volt microchip, for example. 
         [0029]    The resulting, D/C current is then routed to a microchip  256 . In one embodiment, a pre-programmed, static microchip  256  design is used. In another embodiment a re-programmable microchip  256  is used. Regardless of the type of microchip  256  used, its main function is to control the output of the 12 volt signal to the LED lighting system  220  in order to provide dimming and brightening of the LED lighting system  220 . This is accomplished by using a programmable code-based microchip  256  that uses an oscillation chip with two hundred and fifty-five or more incremental steps rather than the segmented pulses of a standard PWM. In alternate embodiments, fewer than two hundred and fifty-five incremental steps may be used. In yet another embodiment, more than two hundred and fifty-five incremental steps may be used. Providing incremental steps at a much greater numerical value results in a smooth up and down transition of brightness/intensity of the LED lighting system  220  while maintaining the 12 volt D/C voltage supply. The transition of light output from low intensity to maximum intensity is achieved without the flickering effect of the traditional PWM. The program can be set to dim or intensify in variable increments. Those increments can be either an instantaneous change or a smooth transition without the flickering visual effect. This non-flickering effect is a result of the custom programming of the microchip  256 . 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the microchip  256  is programmed to provide a range of brightness from 25% to 75% of the LED lighting system&#39;s  220  maximum lumens. In another embodiment, the microchip  256  specifies that on initial power-up, the LED lighting system  220  produces 10% output and then slowly progresses to 100% output over a 30 second period; while a user can halt the progression at any time. 
         [0031]    A number of additional capacitors  257  and additional resistors  258  are also utilized throughout the LED controller in order to regulate power, depending upon the desired leg from the microchip  256  and its final function. The additional legs can be used to show and verify that the system has power to a unit (i.e., a LED on the unit showing that the system has power and is functioning). One or more additional LEDs can be used to show if a unit is at fault or has a line short, has crossed wires or a polarity problem, etc. Additional capacitors  257  and additional resistors  258  are utilized to provide the correct power requirements to the LEDs in order to activate them and the corresponding function(s). 
         [0032]    In addition to the programmable microchip  256  dimming/brightening functions, the user can also manually affect the dimming/brightening. This is accomplished by operating a rocker switch  211  built into the switch plate  210  described above. The rocker switch  211  sends a signal to the microchip  256  to manually brighten or dim the LED lighting system  220 . 
         [0033]    The LED controller  250  has a set of outbound terminals  259 . The outbound terminals  259  provide the conduit that allows outbound flow of D/C power output  240  from the LED controller  250  to the LED lighting system  220 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the LED lighting system  220  has three LED lights. Other embodiments with a different number of LED lights are contemplated. 
         [0034]    The controller  250  shown in  FIG. 2  can be utilized as a controller component in a skylight LED lighting system (reference the controller  650  component in the detailed description of  FIG. 6  below as an example). 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system  300  operating on a D/C power system. In the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , a switch plate  310  can be used to bring the D/C power from the D/C power source  330  to the terminal blocks  351 . The switch plate  310  holds the LED controller  350  in position and the line wires coming from the D/C power source  330  bring the D/C power to the terminal blocks  351 . As power is brought in to the LED controller  350  from the terminal blocks  351  it is routed to a voltage regulator  352  to bring the voltage to 12 volts D/C. Other voltages are contemplated. 
         [0036]    In one embodiment, the unregulated D/C power is routed to a capacitor  354  that subsequently produces a supply of relatively clean, uninterrupted D/C power output. Other embodiments may utilize other means or methods for regulating the D/C power. Furthermore, the power could be cleaned and regulated at a completely different location in the circuit, in yet another embodiment. Depending on the specific voltage requirements of other components, an additional voltage regulator  355  could be utilized to bring the exemplary 12 volt D/C current down to a 5 volt D/C current if needed for a 5 volt microchip, for example. 
         [0037]    The resulting D/C current is then routed to a microchip  356 . In one embodiment, a pre-programmed, static microchip  356  design is used. In another embodiment a re-programmable microchip  356  is used. Regardless of the type of microchip  356  used, its main function is to control the output of the 12 volt signal to the LED lighting system  320  in order to provide dimming and brightening of the LED lighting system  320 . This is accomplished by using a programmable code-based microchip  356  that uses an oscillation chip with two hundred and fifty-five or more incremental steps rather than the segmented pulses of a standard PWM. In alternate embodiments, fewer than two hundred and fifty-five incremental steps may be used. Providing incremental steps at a much greater numerical value results in a smooth up and down transition of brightness/intensity of the LED lighting system  220  while maintaining the 12 volt D/C voltage supply. The transition of light output from low intensity to maximum intensity is achieved without the flickering effect of the traditional PWM. The program can be set to dim or intensify in variable increments. Those increments can be either an instantaneous change or a smooth transition without the flickering visual effect. This non-flickering effect is a result of the custom programming of the microchip  356 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the microchip  356  is programmed to provide a range of brightness from 50% to 100% of the LED lighting system&#39;s  320  maximum lumens. In another embodiment, the microchip  356  specifies that on initial power-up, the LED lighting system  320  produces 10% output and then slowly progresses to 80% output over a 20 second period; while a user can halt the progression at any time. 
         [0039]    A number of additional capacitors  357  and additional resistors  358  are also utilized throughout the LED controller  350  in order to regulate power, depending upon the desired leg from the microchip  356  and its final function. The design of the LED controller  350  and additional legs can be used to attach a remote controlled RF modulator. The RF modulator can then perform the same functions as the rocker switch  311  to dim and/or brighten the lights. 
         [0040]    In addition to the programmable microchip  356  dimming/brightening functions, the user can also manually affect the dimming/brightening. This is accomplished by operating a rocker switch  311  built into the switch plate  310  described above. The rocker switch  311  sends a signal to the microchip  356  to manually brighten or dim the LED lighting system  320 . The LED controller  350  has a set of outbound terminals  359 . The outbound terminals  359  provide the conduit that allows outbound flow of D/C power output  340  from the LED controller  350  to the LED lighting system  320 . 
         [0041]    The controller  350  shown in  FIG. 3  can be utilized as a controller component in a skylight LED lighting system (reference the controller  650  component in the detailed description of  FIG. 6  below as an example). 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a LED controller and lighting system  400  that utilizes a radio frequency (RF) module  470  for remote control functionality. The LED controller  450  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 3  in that it utilizes a D/C power source  430 . However, instead of having a manual user control in the form of a rocker switch on the switch plate  410 , the embodiment in  FIG. 4  utilizes a RF module  470  to allow the user to wirelessly control the brightness/dimming features of the LED controller  450  in order to brighten or dim the LED lighting system  420 . As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the rocker switch  311  on the switch plate  410  from  FIG. 3  has been removed and a RF module  470  with an RF interface  480  to the microchip  456  has been added to the LED controller  450 . The remaining LED controller components are similar: the terminal blocks  451 , voltage regulator  452 , capacitor  454 , additional voltage regulator  455 , microchip  456 , additional capacitors  457 , additional resistors  458 , and outbound terminals  459 . Furthermore, the D/C power output  440  corresponds to that shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0043]    The controller  450  shown in  FIG. 4  can be utilized as a controller component in a skylight LED lighting system (reference the controller  650  component in the detailed description of  FIG. 6  below as an example). 
         [0044]      FIG. 5  illustrates a close-up view of an exemplary embodiment of a microchip component  556  of a LED controller and lighting system. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , there are a number of inputs and outputs associated with the microchip  556 . One set of inputs provides the microchip  556  with its supply of power. In the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 5 , the power supply inputs  591  receive 5 volts of clean, regulated D/C power. A second set of inputs, the switch inputs  592 , is shown in  FIG. 5 : they extend from the manual rocker switch  511  in the wall plate  510  to the microchip  556 . The rocker switch  511  is triggered manually by the user and signals to the microchip  556  that the LED lighting system should either be dimmed or brightened. In response, the microchip  556  enters a repeating loop process in which the microchip  556  first determines whether the rocker switch  511  is activated. If it is, the microchip  556  then determines the switch state of the rocker switch  511 : the switch is set to brighten or the switch is set to dim. In the first case, the microchip  556  increases the intensity level output to the LED lighting system and then enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop. In the second case, the microchip  556  decreases the intensity level output to the LED lighting system and then enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop. At the beginning of the loop, the microchip  556  once again determines whether the rocker switch  511  is active or inactive. If active, the loop progresses as above. If inactive, the microchip  556  exits the loop and holds steady the brightness level of the LED lighting system. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, the microchip  556  uses RF inputs  593  to determine the status of the RF interface  580 . If the RF interface  580  is active and the rocker switch  511  is active then the microchip  556  enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop by determining whether the rocker switch  511  and the RF interface  580  are active. If only one of the two is active, the microchip  556  then determines whether the rocker switch  511  or the RF interface  580  is set to brighten or dim. Once that determination is completed, the loop progresses as above: the microchip  556  appropriately modifies the intensity level of the output to the LED lighting system, enters a programmable delay period, and then restarts the loop. If neither of the two is active, the microchip  556  takes no overt action. 
         [0046]    In an alternative embodiment, the microchip  556  utilizes a non-volatile memory (NVM)  595  component. The NVM  595  allows the microchip  556  to reset itself to a user-defined or otherwise predetermined brightness/intensity level for the LED lighting system if the power is lost to the LED controller and lighting system. 
         [0047]    The microchip  556  shown in  FIG. 5  can be utilized within a controller component in a skylight LED lighting system (reference the controller  650  component in the detailed description of  FIG. 6  below as an example). 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system  600 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the skylight LED lighting system  600  is configured to be installed in a tube-style skylight. In other embodiments, traditional square or rectangular style skylights can be used; other types and styles of skylights are contemplated. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the primary components of the skylight LED lighting system  600  that are displayed include: a system housing  602 ; a number of LED lights  620 ,  621 , and  622 ; a power source  630 ; and a controller  650 . 
         [0049]    A system housing  602  can be shaped as needed to fit any type of skylight. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the system housing  602  is a round, ring-shaped device that is placed within the terminating end of a tube-style skylight. Constructing the system housing  602  from a material that is at least somewhat flexible allows the system housing  602  to be compressed and placed within a skylight. The installer then removes the compression causing the system housing  602  to flex back toward its original size. When the housing  602  contacts the interior wall of a skylight, the housing  602  can not flex outward any further and it is effectively locked into place inside the skylight. Additional details explaining this means for securing the system housing  602  can be found in the detailed description of  FIG. 10  below. 
         [0050]    The number of LED lights  620 ,  621 , and  622  can be greater or less than that shown in  FIG. 6 . Systems utilizing one, two, three, four, or even five or more LED lights  620 ,  621 , and  622  are contemplated. 
         [0051]    The power source  630  shown in  FIG. 6  can be a solar cell and battery. The cell receives light from the skylight and converts that light into electricity. The resulting electrical power can be stored in a battery or other form of electrical storage device. The skylight LED lighting system  600  can utilize the stored electricity as a source of power. In alternate embodiments, the system  600  can be connected to alternate sources of power; for example, a standard household A/C circuit can be used as the power source  630 . 
         [0052]    The controller  650  is shown in  FIG. 6  as a simple box. However, the controller  650  can be a complicated component in the system  600 ; it can contain a number of components and subcomponents as detailed herein (reference the detailed descriptions of the controller components  250 ,  350 , and  450  in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , respectively, above). In the alternative, a simple controller can function similar to an on/off switch. A primary controller function is to control the system  600 . It accepts input power in the form of electricity from a power source  630 , acts upon the electricity, and uses it to power the LED lights  620 ,  621 , and  622 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system  700  utilizing a wall-mountable switch  711 . A skylight LED lighting system  700  is shown installed within a tube-style skylight  701 . As noted above, the system  700  can be installed in other types and styles of skylights. Furthermore, the shape and size of the system housing  702  can vary considerably from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  in order to facilitate installation of the system, for aesthetic appearance, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the wall-mountable switch  711  can be used by a person to control the system. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the switch  711  is mounted on a wall. Other locations, types, and styles of switches are contemplated in alternate embodiments. The switch  711  can be a simple on/off switch as shown in  FIG. 7 , or it can be a more complicated switching device. In one embodiment, the switch  711  could have a dimming capability. In yet another embodiment, the switch  711  could incorporate a timer to automatically control the LED lights  720 ,  721 , and  722 . Yet more switching alternatives are contemplated, including, but not limited to: switches that control each individual LED light separately; switches that respond to user voice commands; switches that store, recall, and initiate user-lighting patterns; switches that are aware of available power and user lighting requirements and automatically adjust to compensate for various levels of available power; etc. 
         [0055]    The wall-mountable switch  711  shown in  FIG. 7  utilizes a wire  712  that attaches it to the system housing  702  in order to communicate user commands. In an alternate embodiment, the switch  711  functions wirelessly. 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a skylight LED lighting system  800  utilizing a radio frequency remote switch  870 . As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the remote switch  870  can be used by a person to control the system  800 . The remote switch  870 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , can function as an on/off switch with brightening and dimming capabilities. In an alternate embodiment, the remote switch  870  has only on/off functionality. In yet another embodiment, the remote switch  870  can be a more complicated switching device. For example, a remote switch  870  could incorporate a timer to automatically control the LED lights  820 ,  821 , and  822 . Yet more remote switching alternatives are contemplated, including, but not limited to: remote switches that control each individual LED light separately; remote switches that respond to user voice commands; remote switches that store, recall, and initiate user-lighting patterns; remote switches that are aware of available power and user lighting requirements and automatically adjust to compensate for various levels of available power; etc. In addition, skylight LED lighting systems  800  are contemplated that incorporate both a wall-mountable switch  711  and a remote switch  870 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the remote switch  870  is a keychain-style remote. In other embodiments, other sizes, styles and types of switches are contemplated. 
         [0057]    A skylight LED lighting system  800  is shown installed within a tube-style skylight  801 . As noted above, the system  800  can be installed in other types and styles of skylights. Furthermore, the shape and size of the system housing  802  can vary considerably from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8  in order to facilitate installation of the system, for aesthetic appearance, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0058]      FIG. 9  illustrates a view of an exemplary embodiment of a microchip controller component  956  of a skylight LED lighting system  900 . As mentioned above, the shape and size of the system housing  902  can vary considerably from the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  in order to facilitate installation of the system, for aesthetic appearance, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the number of LED lights  920 ,  921 , and  922  can vary as well. 
         [0059]    As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , there are a number of inputs and outputs associated with the microchip  956 . One input, the power supply input  991 , provides the microchip  956  with its supply of power. In the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 9 , the power supply input  991  receives five volts of clean, regulated D/C power. Other voltages and types of power are contemplated. A second input, the switch input  992 , is shown in  FIG. 9 : it extends from the switch  911  in the wall plate  910  to the microchip  956  via a wire  912 . The switch  911  is triggered manually by a user and signals to the microchip  956  that the skylight LED lighting system  900  should either be dimmed or brightened. In other embodiments, the switch  911  sends much more complicated and actionable information to the microchip  956 , either via a wire  912  or wirelessly or a combination thereof. In response, the microchip  956  enters a repeating loop process in which the microchip  956  first determines whether the switch  911  is activated. If it is, the microchip  956  then determines the switch state of the switch  911 : the switch state is set to brighten or the switch state is set to dim. In the first case, the microchip  956  increases the intensity level of the light output by the system  900  and then enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop. In the second case, the microchip  956  decreases the intensity level of the light output by the system  900  and then enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop. At the beginning of the loop, the microchip  956  once again determines whether the switch  911  is active or inactive. If active, the loop progresses as above. If inactive, the microchip  956  exits the loop and holds steady the brightness level of the system  900 . 
         [0060]    In another embodiment, the microchip  956  uses RF inputs  993  to determine the status of the RF interface  980 . The RF interface  980  receives input signals from the RF remote switch  970 . These input signals tell the RF interface  980  what status to report. If the RF interface  980  has an active status and the switch  911  is also active then the microchip  956  enters a programmable-length delay mode before restarting the loop and again determining whether the switch  911  and the RF interface  980  are active. If only one of the two is active, the microchip  956  then determines whether the switch  911  or the RF interface  980  is set to brighten or dim. Once that determination is completed, the loop progresses as above: the microchip  956  appropriately modifies the intensity level of the output of the LED lights  920 ,  921  and  922 , enters a programmable delay period, and then restarts the loop. If neither the switch  911  nor the RF interface  980  is active, the microchip  956  takes no overt action. 
         [0061]    In an alternative embodiment, the microchip  956  utilizes a non-volatile memory (NVM)  995  component. The NVM  995  allows the microchip  956  to reset itself to a user-defined or otherwise predetermined brightness/intensity level for the LED lights  920 ,  921  and  922  if the power is lost to the skylight LED lighting system  900 . The NVM can store additional defaults or user-specified information that can be used by the system  900 . 
         [0062]    In yet other embodiments, the microchip  956  receives other inputs and incorporates them into in its decision process in order to determine appropriate output commands that it should give. Additionally, the microchip  956  could have other outputs as well. 
         [0063]      FIG. 10  illustrates a view of a compressed skylight LED lighting system  1000  prior to insertion in a tube-style skylight  1001 . As above, other sizes and styles of skylights  1001  are contemplated. Furthermore, the system housing  1002  can vary in size, style, shape, and appearance from that shown in  FIG. 10  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0064]    The system housing  1002  is illustrated in  FIG. 10  as being a round, cylindrically-shaped device. The housing  1002  has a break in the cylindrical-shape so as to allow the overall outside diameter of the housing  1002  to be increased or decreased. When the housing  1002  is not under compression, it is preferred that the overall outside diameter of the housing  1002  be larger than the inside diameter of the skylight  1001 . When a user applies inward pressure  1003  to installation pressure point  1005  and inward pressure  1004  to installation pressure point  1006 , the housing  1002  is put under compression and the overall outside diameter of the housing  1002  decreases. The housing  1002  can then be pushed up  1007  inside the skylight  1001  since the overall outside diameter of the housing  1002  is now less than the inside diameter of the skylight  1001 . When the user then relaxes the inward pressures  1003  and  1004  from the housing  1002 , the flexible property of the housing  1002  causes the housing  1002  to expand back towards its original dimensions. The overall outside diameter of the housing  1002  therefore increases until it is impeded by the interior walls of the skylight  1001 . The housing  1002  then exerts an outward pressure on the interior wall of the skylight  1001 . The pressure is sufficient to maintain the housing  1002  in place within the skylight  1001 . Nevertheless, double-sided adhesive safety tape can be used to ensure the security and stability of the installation. 
         [0065]    In an alternate embodiment, the skylight  1001  has a flange on its bottom interior edge, thus holding the housing  1002  within the skylight  1001 . In yet other embodiments, traditional methods of attaching the housing  1002  to the skylight  1001  are contemplated. 
         [0066]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. Many embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5