Enhancements for use of a display in a software configurable lighting device

An apparatus, comprising:

• a display device comprising switchable components that are switchable between a display mode and a general illumination mode, and a light source, wherein the light source has a light output value that is greater in the illumination mode than the display mode;
• and
• a controller coupled to the display device and configured to:
• generate control signals to switch the switchable components between the display mode and the general illumination mode, and
• vary the output light intensity of the light source according to the mode of the display device.

A lighting device, comprising:

• a display device comprising:
• control inputs for receiving control signals;
• a light source for generating light suitable of general illumination, wherein the light source is coupled to the control inputs and responsive to received control signals;
• switchable light processing components:
• coupled to the light source and to the control inputs, and
• responsive to received control signals,
• wherein the switchable light processing components are arranged in a stack and light generated by the light source passes through the switchable light processing components;
• and
• an output surface, coupled to at least one of the switchable light processing components, that outputs general illumination light passed through the switchable light processing components, wherein the general illumination light output from the output surface complies with lighting industry standards for lighting devices installed in a premises.

A lighting device, comprising:

• a light output surface positioned on a front portion of the lighting device;
• a display panel behind the light output surface, the display panel comprising:
• a radio frequency power supply configured to provide radio frequency power;
• a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the power supply, and that transmits radio frequency signals suitable for generating microplasma;
• a radio frequency splitter/combiner coupled to the radio frequency transmitter that splits the radio frequency signals received from the radio frequency transmitter onto a plurality of radio frequency microstrip circuit paths;
• a plurality of individually controllable radio frequency amplifiers, individually coupled to a respective one of the plurality of radio frequency microstrip circuit paths, each of the number of individually controllable radio frequency amplifiers is configured to amplify the received radio frequency signals based on control signals;
• and
• a plurality of radio frequency microstrip plasma cells coupled to a respective one of the plurality of radio frequency amplifiers and configured to receive the amplified radio frequency signals, each of the plurality of radio frequency microstrip plasma cells is configured to generate light suitable for general illumination of a premises.