Photoreceptor system for melatonin regulation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the circadian input of a light source includes selecting a circadian input to be measured based on an action spectrum corresponding to a wavelength sensitivity of photoreceptors for a circadian regulation system, where the circadian input is configured to stimulate a retinaldehyde photopigment, and for measuring spectral intensity across the action spectrum to determine the circadian input of the light source.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a light system configured to emit polychromatic light, the emitted polychromatic light comprising an output spectrum in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the output spectrum comprising a spectral region having a band of wavelengths from 435 nanometers (nm) to 488 nm, and wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a housing, wherein the light system is further configured to emit the polychromatic light from the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the light system comprises a transparent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the light system comprises a translucent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the light system is further configured such that the spectral region without attenuation is enhanced with respect to the said any other region. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the light system comprises at least one filtering element that allows a user to adjust the spectral region between the enhanced spectral region and the attenuated spectral region. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a light system configured to emit polychromatic light, the emitted polychromatic light comprising an output spectrum in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the output spectrum comprising a spectral region having a band of wavelengths from 425 nanometers (nm) to 505 nm, and wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a housing, wherein the light system is further configured to emit the polychromatic light from the housing. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light system comprises a transparent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light system comprises a translucent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light system is further configured such that the spectral region without attenuation is enhanced with respect to the said any other region. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the light system comprises at least one filtering element that allows a user to adjust the spectral region between the enhanced spectral region and the attenuated spectral region. 
     
     
         29 . A method of regulating melatonin production in a human, comprising:
 emitting polychromatic light comprising an output spectrum in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the output spectrum comprising a spectral region having a band of wavelengths from 435 nanometers (nm) to 488 nm;   attenuating the spectral region more than any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum; and   regulating melatonin production in a human exposed to the emitted polychromatic light.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the attenuation of the spectral region comprises attenuating the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising enhancing the spectral region more than said any other region of the output spectrum. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising adjusting the spectral region between the enhanced spectral region and the attenuated spectral region. 
     
     
         33 . A method of regulating melatonin production in a human, comprising:
 emitting polychromatic light comprising an output spectrum in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, the output spectrum comprising a spectral region having a band of wavelengths from 425 nanometers (nm) to 505 nm;   attenuating the spectral region more than any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum; and   regulating melatonin production in a human exposed to the emitted polychromatic light.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the attenuation of the spectral region comprises attenuating the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising enhancing the spectral region more than said any other region of the output spectrum. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising adjusting the spectral region between the enhanced spectral region and the attenuated spectral region.