Abstract:
A heat pipe for transporting heat from light emitting elements includes a sealed body made of a non-porous ceramic, a vapor channel inside the body that extends between two heat transfer locations spaced apart on an exterior surface of the body, a ceramic wick inside the body that extends between the two heat transfer locations, and a working fluid that partially fills the vapor transport channel. In a method of making this heat pipe, the body and wick are desirably formed together as a seamless monolithic structure made of the same ceramic material. Using a ceramic makes the heat pipe corrosion resistant and allows electrical components like LEDs to be mounted directly on the body because the ceramic is a dielectric.
Abstract:
A lamp assembly includes a base having power input terminals, a fluorescent lamp connected to the terminals through a manually operated switch that is on an exterior of the base so that when power is supplied to the terminals the fluorescent lamp is selectively powered by manual operation of the switch, and a light emitting diode (LED) inseparably connected to the terminals so that when power is supplied to the terminals the LED is always powered. This arrangement allows the LED to be ON regardless of the operating status of the fluorescent lamp and allows the fluorescent lamp to be turned OFF while the LED remains ON. Operation is controlled by a toroid transformer with plural sets of turns, with one set of turns providing a feedback voltage for operation of the fluorescent lamp and another set of turns being shorted to turn OFF the fluorescent lamp.
Abstract:
Intelligently crafting a dynamic video tour using a plurality of video devices selected in real time is provided. A list of attributes is received, the list of attributes describing at least one characteristic of a video device. A list of factors is continuously received, the list of factors describing one or more events, an event occurring at a point in time. A subset of the plurality of video devices is selected, based upon the received list of attributes and the received list of factors. The subset changes over time due to one or more changes in the list of factors. Video is displayed from the selected subset of the plurality of video devices as a tour, the displayed video changing over time as the selected subset changes over time.
Abstract:
Light-based communication (LCom) techniques are disclosed for adaptively adjusting the baud rate of a luminaire to optimize the LCom signal transmitted for an intended receiver device. The adaptive baud rate can be adjusted by a process that includes: determining decoding parameters of the receiver device, the device including a camera for receiving LCom signals, and a display. The process further includes calculating a baud rate suitable for the receiver device based on the decoding parameters, and causing the baud rate to be set at the luminaire. The process may further include at least one of: verifying the baud rate at the receiver device; adjusting the decoding parameters of the receiver device if baud rate cannot be adjusted to meet a current configuration of decoding parameters; and prompting a user to rotate receiver device to improve orientation of the luminaire with respect to a raster direction of the camera.
Abstract:
A luminaire having a plurality of power sockets arranged over its housing is disclosed. In some embodiments, the luminaire includes a driver operatively coupled with all (or some sub-set) of the power sockets and configured to control the light output of a modular solid-state light source operatively interfaced therewith. In some such embodiments, the luminaire also includes a power-line communication (PLC) module configured to output a PLC signal utilized by the driver in controlling the modular light source's output. In some other embodiments, the modular light source includes the driver, which may utilize a PLC signal, a command signal received from a remote source, or both, in controlling light output.
Abstract:
An edge assembly (108, 108') comprising at least a first edge component (110A, HOB, 110), flexible substrate (102) and a compression retainer component (118) attaching the first edge component (110A, HOB, 110) to the flexible substrate (102). The first edge component (HOA, HOB, 110) includes at least one conductor (112A, 112B, 112) to mate with one or more conductors (104) on a surface of a flexible substrate (102) after the first edge component (HOA, HOB, 110) is affixed to an edge of the flexible substrate (102) by the compression retainer component (118). The edge assembly (108, 108') may also comprises a second edge component (116), wherein the flexible substrate (102) may be compressed between the first and second edge components (106) and held in place by the compression retainer component (118). The first edge component (HOA, HOB, 110) further comprises an extension (114), including the at least one conductor (112A, 112B, 112), that is used to convey power from a power source (404) to the flexible substrate (102). The extension (114) is accessible from outside the flexible substrate (102) via a port (124) in the compression retainer component (118).
Abstract:
There is herein described a patterned thin-film wavelength converter (100,200) which comprises a substrate (104) having a first patterned surface with a first pattern, and a thin film (106,206) deposited on the first patterned surface. The thin film consists of a wavelength converting material and has a second patterned surface that is distal from the substrate. The second patterned surface has a second pattern that is substantially the same as the first pattern of the substrate. An advantage of the patterned thin-film wavelength converter is that post-deposition processing is not required to produce a textured surface on the wavelength converting material. A method of making the patterned thin-film wavelength converter is also described.
Abstract:
A hybrid optical system, and lighting devices including the same, are provided. The hybrid optical system includes a cellular optical element a light control film. The cellular optical element includes a first opening, a second opening, and a space defined therebetween. The light control film includes a single layer of light transparent material having a first side and a second side, and a plurality of first microstructures formed on the first side. The light control film is located within the space of the cellular optical element. The light control film may include a plurality of second microstructures formed on the second side to reduce glare. The hybrid optical system may include a plurality of interconnected cellular optical elements.
Abstract:
Circuits to provide phase-cut analog dimming of solid state light sources are presented. Each circuit comprises an anchoring circuit to communicate with a dimming controller circuit, the anchoring circuit having a proportional direct current (DC) voltage input, a biasing voltage input, a connection to a ground reference, and an output in communication with a dimming controller circuit. The anchoring circuit provides a reference voltage to permit phase cut dimming to be operable at a plurality of line voltages.
Abstract:
Techniques are disclosed for projecting visible cues to assist with light-based communication (LCom), the visible cues referred to herein as visual hotspots. The visual hotspots can be projected, for example, using a luminaire that may be LCom-enabled. The visual hotspots may be projected onto the floor of an area including an LCom system. The visual hotspots can be used for numerous benefits, including alerting a potential user that LCom is available, educating the user about LCom technology, and assisting the user in using the LCom signals available in the area. The visual hotspots may include images, symbols, cues, characters (e.g., letters, words, numbers, etc.), indicators, logos, or any other suitable content. In some cases, the visual hotspots may be interactive, such that a user can scan the hotspot to cause an action to occur (e.g., launch an application or website).