Method and apparatus for determining circadian input

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 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus comprising:
 a light system configured to emit polychromatic light comprising an output spectrum in a visible region of an electromagnetic spectrum, the output spectrum comprising a spectral region having a band of wavelengths from 424 nanometers (nm) to 505 nm, and wherein a power distribution within the output spectrum is such that a power emitted within said spectral region is more than a power emitted in any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the power distribution within the output spectrum is such that the power emitted within said spectral region is more than a power emitted by the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a housing, wherein the light system is further configured to emit the polychromatic light from the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the light system comprises a light source configured to emit light and at least one filtering component configured to filter the light emitted from the light source to produce the polychromatic light emitted from the light system. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the light system comprises a light source configured to emit light and a transparent composition configured to filter the light emitted from the light source to produce the polychromatic light emitted from the light system. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the light system comprises a light source configured to emit light and a translucent composition configured to filter the light emitted from the light source to produce the polychromatic light emitted from the light system. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the light system is further configured to allow a user to attenuate the power emitted within the spectral region to a level where the power emitted within said spectral region is no longer more than the power emitted in said any other region of equal bandwidth in the output spectrum. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the light system is further configured to allow a user to attenuate the power emitted within the spectral region more than the power emitted in said any other region of equal bandwidth is attenuated. 
     
     
         32 . 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.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a housing, wherein the light system is further configured to emit the polychromatic light from the housing. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light system comprises a transparent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light system comprises a translucent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the light system is further configured such that the spectral region without attenuation is enhanced with respect to the said any other region. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , 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. 
     
     
         39 . 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.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the light system is further configured to attenuate the spectral region more than the entire output spectrum outside the spectral region. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising a housing, wherein the light system is further configured to emit the polychromatic light from the housing. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the light system comprises a transparent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the light system comprises a translucent composition having at least one filtering component configured to attenuate the spectral region.