# US 10,375,789 B2 · Directional lighting system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,375,789 B2 - Document ID: US10375789B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/836,458 - Filed: 2017-12-08 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-22 - Assignees: LIFI Labs, Inc. - Applicants: LIFI Labs, Inc. - Inventors: Phillip Anthony Bosua; Marc Alexander - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375789B2 ## CPC - F21K 9/232: specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb - F21V 23/0442: {activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors} - H05B 45/14: using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - H05B 45/22: using optical feedback - H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light - H05B 47/155: Coordinated control of two or more light sources - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - H05B 47/1985: {Creation of lighting zones or scenes} - F21K 9/235: Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps (F21K9/238 takes precedence) - F21K 9/238: Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source - F21Y 2113/13: comprising an assembly of point-like light sources - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - H05B 47/1965: {using handheld communication devices} - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract The method of spatial lightbulb operation includes determining the position of the lightbulb relative to a physical space, detecting a contextual event, determining a spatial lighting pattern associated with the contextual event, and selectively controlling lightbulb light emitting elements based on the position of the lightbulb and the spatial lighting pattern. A lightbulb including: a plurality of individually controlled light emitting elements mounted in fixed, predetermined positions on the substrate; a light sensor mounted to the substrate; a wireless communication module; and a processor configured to: index each light emitting element; progress each of the plurality of light emitting elements through an orientation pattern; associate a reference point on the lightbulb with an external reference point; and selectively operate individual light emitting elements of the plurality according to lighting instructions, based on a relationship between the reference point on the lightbulb and the external reference point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling lightbulb operation, comprising: determining a lightbulb orientation for the lightbulb within a venue, the lightbulb comprising a plurality of light emitting elements, each with a predetermined spatial position on the lightbulb; determining a spatial lighting pattern for the venue, the spatial lighting pattern comprising a set of light parameters for a target location within the venue; identifying a light emitting element from the plurality of light emitting elements based on the lightbulb orientation, the predetermined spatial positions, and the target location; and selectively operating the identified light emitting element, based on the set of light parameters, using a processor of the lightbulb. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lightbulb orientation within the venue is determined by an external device, external the lightbulb. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein determining the lightbulb orientation comprises: emitting a wireless signal from the lightbulb; and determining the lightbulb orientation based on an angle of arrival of the wireless signal at the external device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal comprises light emitted by the light emitting element, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise visible light-emitting elements and non-visible light-emitting elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial lighting pattern is determined by an external device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein selectively operating the identified light emitting element comprises synchronously operating the identified light emitting element with media playback with the external device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the light parameters are transmitted to the lightbulb by a secondary device, separate from the external device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the secondary device comprises a second lightbulb. ### Claim 9 A method for lightbulb control, comprising: determining relative positions of each of a set of lightbulbs within a venue; receiving a spatial lighting pattern for the venue, the spatial lighting pattern comprising a set of light parameters for a target location within the venue; automatically identifying a lightbulb from the set of lightbulbs based on the respective relative position and the target location; and selectively operating the identified lightbulb based on the set of light parameters using a processor of the lightbulb. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the relative position of each lightbulb within the set is determined relative to an external device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the relative position of each lightbulb of the set is determined by the external device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein determining the lightbulb orientation comprises: emitting a wireless signal from the lightbulb; and determining the lightbulb orientation based on an angle of arrival of the wireless signal at the external device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless signal comprises light emitted by the lightbulb, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements comprise visible light-emitting elements and non-visible light-emitting elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the relative positions are manually assigned. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the spatial lighting pattern is received from a remote computing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the lightbulb is identified from the set based on the spatial lighting pattern by an external device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising, at the external device: generating control instructions based on the set of light parameters; and transmitting the control instructions to the lightbulb. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the external device comprises a media device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the control instructions comprises a first and second instruction for the lightbulb and a second lightbulb, respectively, the method further comprising, at the lightbulb: wirelessly transmitting the second instruction for the second lightbulb to the second lightbulb. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein selectively operating the lightbulb comprises synchronously operating the lightbulb with media playback on an external device.