Patent ID: 8852254

Claim:
A method of providing a multi-stage light protocol, the method comprising: operating a light source to emit at least broad spectrum white light during first, second and third stages of light emission such that, for a predetermined distance of about 45 cm from the light source: i. the first stage of light emission includes a simulated dawn process wherein the intensity of light gradually at the predetermined distance increases from substantially zero lux to between about 500 lux and about 1200 lux over a period of between about 20 minutes and about 90 minutes; ii. the second stage of light emission is subsequent to the first time window and includes a second time window of at least 90 minutes such that: A. for every 45 minute sub-window within the second time window, the light intensity at the predetermined distance, for a majority of the time of the sub-window, is equal to at least a second minimum value of at least about 500 lux; B. for a majority of the time of the second time window, the light intensity at the predetermined distance is equal to at most 2,000 lux; and C. for a majority of the time of the second window, light emitted from the light source comprises at least about 20% and at most about 60% colored light having a wavelength between 520 and 535 nm; and iii) the third stage of light emission is subsequent to the second time window and includes a third time window of at least 20 minutes such that, for a majority of the time of the third time window, the light intensity at the predetermined distance is equal to at least a high-intensity minimum value of at least about 5000 lux.