Controlled lighting methods and apparatus

Abstract

Provided herein are methods and systems for providing controlled lighting, including methods and systems for providing both white and non-white colored lighting, including color temperature controlled lighting. Such methods and systems include optical facilities for modifying light from a lighting unit, such as an LED-based lighting unit, including variable optical facilities and fixed optical facilities. Also provided are methods and systems for using multi-color lighting units in a variety of commercial applications. Also provided are methods and systems for lighting control, including methods to assist lighting designers and installers to improve the quality of lighting in environments. Also provided are intelligent dimmers, switches, sockets and fixtures, as well as facilities for programming and using them. Also provided are various sensor-feedback applications of lighting technology, including sensor-feedback involving light sensors and forward voltage sensors. Also provided are lighting methods and systems that operate on time-based parameters.

1 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    a controller for controlling the color of light coming from the LEDs;    a sensor for sensing at least one of the color and the color temperature of the light coming from the LEDs; and    a feedback loop for adjusting the color of light coming from the LEDs based on input from the sensor.    
     
     
         2 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    a controller for controlling the color of light coming from the LEDs; and    a variable optical facility for modifying the light coming from the LEDs in response to actuation by a user.    
     
     
         3 . A lighting system, comprising: 
 a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    a controller for controlling the color of light coming from the LEDs;    an optical facility for modifying the light coming from the LEDs; and    an actuator for actuating a change in the optical facility.    
     
     
         4 . A system of  claim 3 , wherein the optical facility comprises a fluid-filled lens.  
     
     
         5 . A system of  claim 3 , wherein the optical facility comprises a MEMs device.  
     
     
         6 . A system of  claim 3  wherein the optical facility comprises a digital mirror.  
     
     
         7 . A method of providing illumination, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    controlling the color of light coming from the LEDs;    sensing at least one of the color and the color temperature of the light coming from the LEDs; and    using a feedback loop to adjusting the color of light coming from the LEDs based on input from the sensor.    
     
     
         8 . A method of providing illumination, comprising: 
 providing light from a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    controlling at least one of the color and color temperature of light coming from the LEDs;    providing an optical facility for modifying the light coming from the LEDs; and    actuating a change in the optical facility to change the modification of the light coming from the LEDs.    
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical facility comprises a fluid-filled lens.  
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical facility comprises a MEMs device.  
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 8  wherein the optical facility comprises a digital mirror.  
     
     
         12 . A method of lighting a motion picture environment, comprising: 
 providing a camera;    providing a processor to control the camera;    providing a lighting system, the lighting system including a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs; and    using the processor to simultaneously control the camera and the lighting system.    
     
     
         13 . A method of providing control to a lighting system, comprising: 
 providing a lighting control facility for a lighting system that includes a processor and a plurality of LEDs;    providing a facility for requiring user authorization in order to allow a user to change the lighting condition generated by the lighting system.    
     
     
         14 . A method of providing a settable light, comprising: 
 providing a lighting unit, the lighting unit including a plurality of LEDs selected from the group consisting of red, green, blue, amber, white, orange and UV LEDs;    providing a scale, the scale representing at least one of a plurality of color temperatures, a plurality of colors, and a plurality of intensities of light output from the lighting unit; and    providing an interface, the interface allowing the user to set the light output from the lighting unit by setting the interface on a setting of the scale corresponding to that light output.    
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 configuring the scale to show a range of color temperatures of white light.    
     
     
         16 . A method of providing lighting control, comprising: 
 providing a socket for a lighting unit, the socket including a processor and memory for storing and processing lighting control signals for a lighting unit that is adapted to be placed in the socket.    
     
     
         17 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the socket further comprises a communications facility for receiving a lighting control signal from an external signal source.  
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the external signal source is a sensor.  
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the external signal source is a central controller for a lighting control system.  
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 16 , wherein the adapted lighting unit is configured to resemble a conventional lamp selected from the group consisting of a halogen lamp, an incandescent lamp, a metal halide lamp, a fluorescent lamp and a specialty lamp.