# US 2018/0320860 A1 · Luminaire with independently-controllable focus-tunable lenses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320860 A1 - Document ID: US20180320860A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/584,318 - Filed: 2017-05-02 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Assignees: Excelitas Technologies Corp. - Applicants: Excelitas Technologies Corp. - Inventors: Wei Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320860A1 ## CPC - F21V 14/003: {by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices} - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - F21V 5/04: of lens shape - F21V 14/00: Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements (reflectors with provision for adjusting the curvature F21V7/16; light filters or the like with provision for controlling the colour or intensity F21V9/40; screens using adjustable parallel laminae or strips F21V11/04; screens using iris-type diaphragms F21V11/10; screens using movable sheets without apertures F21V11/18; adjustable mountings for lighting devices F21V21/14) - F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person} - F21V 7/06: with parabolic curvature - F21W 2131/20: Lighting for medical use - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS ## Abstract A luminaire includes multiple light emitting cells. Each light emitting cell has a light source, and a focus-tunable lens (e.g., a liquid lens) associated with the light source. Each respective one of the light emitting cells is independently controllable relative to the one or more other light emitting cells. In a typical implementation, the control of each light emitting cell may involve, for example, controlling a surface of liquid in the corresponding liquid lens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a plurality of light emitting cells, wherein each of the light emitting cells comprises: a light source; and a focus-tunable lens associated with the light source, wherein each respective one of the light emitting cells is independently controllable relative to the one or more other light emitting cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the focus-tunable lens is a liquid lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein controlling each respective one of the light emitting cells comprises adjusting a liquid surface in one or more of the liquid lenses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each liquid lens comprises: one or more fluids in a housing and configured such that light from the light source can pass through at least one surface defined by the one or more fluids; and a means for varying the at least one surface of the one or more fluids, wherein varying the at least one surface results in a change in direction, beam size, and/or intensity of light that exits the liquid lens after passing through the at least one surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a housing that defines a substantially flat mounting surface for the light emitting cells, wherein the light emitting cells are coupled to the substantially flat mounting surface such that an axis of each light emitting cell is substantially parallel to an axis of the overall apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the light emitting cells further comprises one or more optics configured to direct light from the light source to the liquid lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light emitting cells are coupled to a controller configured to control each respective one of the plurality of light emitting cells independently of the one or more other light emitting cells. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein controlling each respective light emitting cell comprises: causing a change in a fluid surface of the liquid lens in that light emitting cell; and/or causing a change in voltage or current to be delivered to the light source of that light emitting cell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the presence of any physical object between the apparatus and a site that is to be illuminated by the apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control each respective one of the plurality of light emitting cells independently of the one or more other light emitting cells based, at least in part, on a signal from the sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein controlling the light emitting cells reduces a shadow that might otherwise appear at the site to be illuminated by the apparatus because of a physical object located between the apparatus and the site. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of printed circuit boards, wherein each of the printed circuit boards has one or more of the light emitting cells coupled thereto. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a substrate to physically support the plurality of focus-tunable lenses; and electrical conductors at the substrate to deliver electrical energy to each of the focus-tunable lenses. ### Claim 13 A lighting module comprising: a printed circuit board; two or more light emitting cells coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein each of the two or more light emitting cells comprises: a light source; and a focus-tunable lens associated with the light source, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to facilitate independent control over each respective one of the light emitting cells relative to the one or more other light emitting cells. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lighting module of claim 13, wherein the focus-tunable lens is a liquid lens, wherein controlling each respective one of the light emitting cells comprises adjusting a liquid surface in one or more of the liquid lenses. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lighting module of claim 14, wherein each liquid lens comprises: one or more fluids in a housing and configured such that light from the light source can pass through at least one surface defined by the one or more fluids; and a means for varying the at least one surface of the one or more fluids, wherein varying the at least one surface results in a change in direction, beam size, and/or intensity of light that exits the liquid lens after passing through the at least one surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The lighting module of claim 13, further comprising: a housing that defines a substantially flat mounting surface for the light emitting cells, wherein the light emitting cells are coupled to the substantially flat mounting surface such that an axis of each light emitting cell is substantially parallel to an axis of the overall apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The lighting module of claim 13, wherein the light emitting cells are coupled to a controller configured to control each respective one of the plurality of light emitting cells independently of the one or more other light emitting cells, wherein controlling each respective light emitting cell comprises: causing a change in a fluid surface of the liquid lens in that light emitting cell; and/or causing a change in voltage or current to be delivered to the light source of that light emitting cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lighting module of claim 17, further comprising: a sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the presence of any physical object between the apparatus and a site that is to be illuminated by the apparatus, wherein the controller is configured to control each respective one of the plurality of light emitting cells independently of the one or more other light emitting cells based, at least in part, on a signal from the sensor. ### Claim 19 A method of delivering light to a site, the method comprising: providing an apparatus that comprises: a plurality of light emitting cells, wherein each of the light emitting cells comprises: a light source; and a focus-tunable lens associated with the light source, wherein each respective one of the light emitting cells is independently controllable relative to the one or more other light emitting cells; and controlling one of the light emitting cells in the apparatus independently from the other lighting emitting cell(s) in the apparatus to adjust the light beam produced by that light emitting cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the focus-tunable lens is a liquid lens, wherein controlling each respective one of the light emitting cells comprises adjusting a liquid surface in one or more of the liquid lenses.