Patent ID: 12247731

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG.1, one embodiment of a module101of the artificial sunlight system100of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the artificial sunlight system comprises one or more modules101, each module101comprising at least the following, a frame102configured to be installed on a wall120; at least one panel103supported by the frame, the panel having first and second ends103a,103b, and an emission surface103cfor emitting panel light131, and the panel being configured to emit the panel light away from the wall when the frame is installed on the wall; and at least one ceiling light emitter104supported by the frame, the ceiling light emitter being configured to emit ceiling light132upward toward a ceiling121when the frame is installed on the wall. Each of these features are described below in greater detail and with respect to selected embodiments.

In one embodiment, the panel light and the ceiling light are configured to mimic sunlight, in which the ceiling light emulates the overhead sky, while the panel light emulates the light from the horizon up to the overhead sky. To that end, in one embodiment, the panel light and the ceiling light are different in at least spectrum and/or intensity

Generally, although not necessarily, the ceiling light is controlled to simulate the overhead sky. According, the ceiling light may have various embodiments. In one embodiment, the ceiling light is uniform. In another embodiment, the ceiling light displays different images (e.g., stars, clouds, multiple moving colors, etc.). In one embodiment, the ceiling light transitions among violet/blue, pale blue, and total darkness (i.e., off) to simulate the overhead sky.

The panel light is generally, but not necessarily, controlled to simulate light from the horizon upward. In this regard, in one embodiment, the first end of the panel is the top end and the second end of the panel is the bottom end when the frame is installed on the wall. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the panel light is configured in one or more of the following ways: to be uniform; and/or to have a gradient in color and/or a gradient of intensity between the first and second ends; and/or to be patterned; and/or to dynamically display images (e.g., clouds, stars, mountains, sea, animations, etc.).

In one embodiment, the panel light emits a color gradient between a first end light and a second end light that emulates natural sunlight through a window. Applicant discovered a surprisingly effective and simple approach for emulating natural sunlight through a window by introducing gradient color in light panels to provide a more pleasing aesthetic and a more convincing “artificial window” than can be provided by a uniform luminous panel.

In one embodiment, the first end light and the second end light are configured in at least a first mode and a second mode to emulate light during different times of the day. In one embodiment, the first end light and the second end light source are configured in at least a first mode, wherein the first end light is pale blue at a first intensity, and the second end light is cool white to emulate natural sunlight during the day. In one embodiment, the first end light and the second end light are configured in a second mode, wherein the first light is pale blue at a second intensity or violet/blue, and the second light is orange/amber to emulate light during dawn and sunset. In one embodiment, the first intensity is greater than the second intensity.

In one embodiment, the color of the panel changes throughout the day to emulate the sky as it changes throughout the day. For example, in an embodiment in which midday is represented by a first mode, and dawn and dusk are represented by the second mode, the light panel can be configured to transition between the second mode in the morning to the first mode midday, and back to the second mode at dusk, before going dark. For example, in one particular embodiment, during the course of a day, the top light source transitions from violet/blue to pale blue to violet/blue and finally to off, and the bottom light source transitions from orange/amber to cool white to orange/amber and finally to off.

For example, referring toFIGS.2(A) and2(B), an embodiment is shown having different color gradient modes. InFIG.2(A)(a daytime view) a pale blue light is the first or top end light, while a full-spectrum cool white light is the second or bottom end light. This configuration provides a view like a translucent glass pane might when facing a sunny exterior scene with a clear view of the horizon.

InFIG.2(B), a pale blue and a high color rendering 1800K light are used as the first and second end lights respectively. In this instance, the blue intensity is reduced such that the hue appears to shift darker as would be expected at sunrise or sunset. In this configuration, a violet light may be used in combination with the pale blue source to provide a more convincing shift into the night sky. Additionally, in one embodiment, Applicant suspects that adding a violet component to the “morning sky” may align a user's circadian rhythm and make the user more receptive to high blue/high circadian stimulation later in the day.

In one embodiment, pale blue and violet/blue are defined as within Region1inFIG.3, and, more particularly, pale blue is defined as Region1inFIG.6and violet/blue is defined as Region0inFIG.6. In one embodiment, cool white is defined as Region3inFIG.3, and, more particularly, as Region3inFIG.6. In one embodiment, orange/amber is defined as Region2inFIG.3, and, more particularly as Region2inFIG.6.

In one embodiment, the panel light and ceiling light are coordinated to produce synergistic results. For example, several different color systems can be used to accomplish these effects, some of which will have greater impacts on the Circadian system than others. In one embodiment, the panel light source and the ceiling light emitter operate in at least a high circadian stimulation (CS) mode and a low CS mode. In one body, in the high CS mode, the ceiling light is a high CS blue and the panel light has a color gradient from pale blue to white from the first end to the second end. In one embodiment, in the low CS mode, the ceiling light is off, and the panel light is a dim, warm, low CS light emitted only at the second end.

In one embodiment, the panel light emits a color gradient between the first and second ends, wherein during the course of a day, the panel light at the first end transitions from violet/blue to pale blue to violet/blue and finally to off, and the panel light at the second end transitions from orange/amber to cool white to orange/amber and finally to off. In this embodiment, during the course of a day, the ceiling light transitions from violet/blue to pale blue to violet/blue and finally to off.

To enhance the realism of the artificial sunlight system, in one embodiment, the system comprises coordinating multiple panels and/or modules. For example, in one embodiment, multiple modules are synchronized to emulate multiple windows in a room. In such an embodiment, it may be preferable to independently control the different modules. For example, in one embodiment, each of the modules is configurable to specify the orientation of the module in the room (e.g., north, south, east or west), thereby facilitating independent and different control of each module according to its orientation. For example, modules having different orientation may, in one embodiment, vary in color and/or intensity (e.g., a panel mounted on a north wall will have lower intensity compared to a panel mounted on a southern facing wall).

In another embodiment, the module may comprise multiple panels. That is, although the module101shown inFIG.1is configured with a single panel, in other embodiments the module may comprise two or more panels. For example, in one embodiment, the module may comprise multiple panels arranged as windowpanes. In such an embodiment, multiple panels within a module are synchronized to pass the color gradient from one to the next to make a big continuous gradient. In another embodiment, multiple panels are synchronized to show the same effect across all the panels. Still other embodiments will be obvious to those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Referring toFIG.5, an exploded view of the module101of the system100ofFIG.1is shown. As shown, the module101comprises at least the following: a frame102configured to be installed on a wall, at least one panel103supported by the frame. In this embodiment, the panel103comprises a lightguide503having first and second ends503a,503band an emission surface503c. In this embodiment, the panel103also comprises first and second LED boards504,505respectively, which are optically coupled to the first and seconds ends of lightguide503. The module101also comprises at least one ceiling light emitter104supported by the frame. In this embodiment, the ceiling light emitter104is an asymmetrical ceiling lens506. In this embodiment, the first LED board504couples light not only to the lightguide503, but also to the asymmetrical ceiling lens506.

Referring toFIGS.4A and4B, a more particular embodiment of the light panel400of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the light panel400comprises (a) a planar waveguide401having a top404A, a bottom404B, and an emission surface401cfor emitting emitted light, and (b) at least two light sources, a first light source402configured to emit a first light and being optically coupled to the top of the planar waveguide, and a second end light403configured to emit a second light and being optically coupled to the bottom of the planar waveguide. The emitted light is the first light at the top and the second light at the bottom with a light gradient from the first light to second light between the top and the bottom.

The waveguide may comprise any known material for conducting light including, for example, glass and optically transparent polymeric materials. Additionally, the waveguide may comprise light extraction features which cause the light being conducted by the waveguide to be emitted from the waveguide through the emission surface. Such light extraction features are well known. In the embodiment ofFIG.4B, waveguide401also comprises a diffuser405on emission surface401c, and a reflector404on the backside of the waveguide.

The waveguide may have any shape or configuration. For example, it may resemble a traditional window and be, for example, rectangular or square, or it may resemble a porthole and be, for example, round or oval. Other shapes include, for example, any polygon, stars, symbols, characters, etc. In one embodiment, the waveguide is planar, although it may be curved or even 3-dimentional (e.g., multifaceted, cylindrical, or spherical). Still other embodiments will be obvious to those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Although the embodiment ofFIG.4Aintroduces light at the top and bottom of the waveguide, it should be understood that other embodiments are possible. For example, in one embodiment, light is introduced at the sides of the waveguide. (In this respect, it should be understood that top and bottom are relative terms, and that the light panel may simply be turned sideways such that the top and bottom of the waveguide become the sides.) In another embodiment, light is introduced along all edges of the waveguide (e.g., top, bottom, and sides). In yet another embodiment, light is introduced only along one edge and light converting materials, such as phosphors, or other light converting features are selectively disposed in the waveguide to convert the introduced light (e.g., blue light) to a different color (e.g., white light) to create a color gradient. Still other embodiments will be obvious to those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Approaches for driving the light sources can vary from simple to complex. For example, in a simple embodiment, the light panel has a single driver for driving the first and second light sources. For example, in a simple embodiment, just one driver is used along with a splitter for providing power to the first and second light sources. For example, in an on/off or dim-only configuration, both of these LED strings could be driven together or with some minor current dividing circuit in place to minimize the electronic complexity. In one embodiment, the at least one driver comprises simple dimming functionality to change the intensity of at least one of the first or second light sources without changing color. In another embodiment, switching from first and second modes is done without transition and simply involves switching between different settings in the driver

In more complex embodiments, multiple drivers are used to drive and transition the top and bottom light sources from the first mode to the second mode. The transition may vary. For example, in one embodiment, the transition involves incremental color changes. In another embodiment, the transition is continuous, without discernible a step change differences in color changes. For example, in one embodiment, the color of the top light source is configured to vary from pale blue to violet/blue, and the color of the bottom light source is configured to vary from cool white to orange/amber. In one embodiment, variation of light color is controlled by a dimmer, or a timer synced to an astronomical clock. In one embodiment, the transition of the top and bottom light sources is controlled through a smart phone application, an on-fixture dimmer, a wall dimmer, or a timer synched to the date/time. In more complex embodiments, at least two drivers are used such that the first and second light sources have dedicated drivers. In one embodiment, the at least one driver comprises a plurality of drivers configured to independently vary at least the color or the intensity of the top and bottom light sources.

AlthoughFIG.4Ashows two light bars in which all the individual light sources (e.g., LEDs) operate in unison, other embodiments exist. For example, in one embodiment, the individual light sources are individually addressable allowing individual light sources to be driven individually to have different colors. Thus, rather than creating a color gradient by mixing the first and second colors in the waveguide as described above, a color gradient can be created along the light source. Such an embodiment is more complex, but may be preferable to control the light gradient more precisely. Such an embodiment also may be preferred if the panel is illumined from the sides as described above.

The light sources vary in configuration. For example, in one embodiment, the first and second light sources are light bars. Other embodiments may include, for example, discrete LEDs disposed on the top and bottom edges of the light guide. In one embodiment, the individual light sources are independently addressable as described above. In still another embodiment, the panel comprises a display having pixels which are individually addressable. Such displays are known and include, for example, backlit displays and emissive displays. Still other embodiments will be obvious by those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

The light sources for producing the colors as described above are commercially available. In one embodiment, the top light source is selected from the group consisting of Vigor Blue, Nichia phosphor converted Cyan or equivalent, Lumileds phosphor converted Blue, Full Vigor system, and any of the above with additional violet light. Still other light options will be obvious to those of skill the art in light of the disclosure.

In one embodiment, the bottom light source is selected from the group consisting of the Full Vigor System, 5700K Bridgelux Thrive, 5000K Samsung “Day”, 5000K Lumileds “Day”, and any of the above+1800K high CRI white for sunrise/sunset modes. Still other light options will be obvious to those of skill the art in light of the disclosure.

Regarding the ceiling light emitter, in one embodiment, it is an asymmetrical lens506as shown inFIG.5. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments are possible. For example, rather than the ceiling light emitter being a lens coupled to a light source of the panel, it might be a discrete light. Such an embodiment may be preferred if the ceiling light is to be independent of the first end light of the panel. In another embodiment, the ceiling light emitter is a discrete projector to project imagery onto the ceiling. As mentioned above, such imagery may include, for example, clouds, flowing colors, stars, etc.

The physical installation of the module on the wall can vary according to application. In one embodiment, as shown inFIG.1, the module101is a unitary component configured for hanging on a wall. Such embodiment, after hanging, then can be enhanced by window treatments or other features to emulate a window. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the module of the light system is integral to the wall. Again, in such an environment, the module can be augmented with window treatments and other features to enhance its appearance as a window. Still other embodiments will be obvious to those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

These and other advantages maybe realized in accordance with the specific embodiments described as well as other variations. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.