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US 6,774,584 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for sensor responsive illumination of liquids
AssigneeColor Kinetics Incorporated
InventorsIhor A. Lys, Frederick M. Morgan, George G. Mueller, Kevin J. Dowling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for sensor responsive illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based sensor responsive light sources are employed to achieve a wide range of enhanced lighting effects in liquids. In another example, a pool or spa is illuminated by one or more multi-color sensor responsive light sources that may be employed as individually and independently controllable devices, or coupled together to form a networked lighting system to provide a variety of programmable and/or coordinated color illumination effects in the pool or spa environment.
Claims79
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid, the at least one light source being positioned so as to illuminate the liquid with substantially unguided radiation;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one environmental condition in or external to the liquid, and wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to output the at least one detection signal in response to the at least one environmental condition.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one liquid condition of the liquid, and wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to output the at least one detection signal in response to the at least one liquid condition.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid;
- and
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one operating condition of the at least one light source, and wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to output the at least one detection signal in response to the at least one operating condition.
3 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising acts of:
- a) illuminating the liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with variable color radiation;
- and
- b) controlling the variable color radiation based on at least one detectable condition, wherein the act b) comprises acts of:
- determining a readiness for use of the liquid based on the at least one detectable condition;
- and
- controlling the variable color radiation so as to indicate to a user the readiness for use of the liquid.
3 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising acts of:
- a) illuminating the liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with variable color radiation:
- and
- b) controlling the variable color radiation based on at least one detectable condition,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one environmental condition in or external to the liquid, and wherein the act b) comprises an act of:
- controlling the variable color radiation based on the at least one environmental condition.
2 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising acts of:
- a) illuminating the liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with variable color radiation;
- and
- b) controlling the variable color radiation based on at least one detectable condition,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one liquid condition of the liquid, and wherein the act b) comprises an act of:
- controlling the variable color radiation based on the at least one liquid condition.
2 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising acts of:
- a) illuminating the liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with variable color radiation;
- and
- b) controlling the variable color radiation based on at least one detectable condition,
- wherein the at least one detectable condition includes at least one operating condition of at least one light source that generates the variable color radiation, and wherein the act b) comprises an act of:
- controlling the variable color radiation based on the at least one operating condition of the at least one light source.
2 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid, comprising acts of:
- illuminating the liquid with substantially unguided radiation output simultaneously by at least two differently colored LEDs;
- and
- controlling the radiation based on at least one detectable condition.
An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one light source to illuminate a liquid, the at least one light source including at least two differently colored LEDs to generate variable color radiation, the at least one light source being positioned so as to illuminate the liquid with substantially unguided radiation;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control the variable color radiation generated by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal,
- wherein the at least one controller is adapted to determine a readiness for use of the liquid based on the at least one detection signal, and is further adapted to control the radiation output by the at least one light source so as to indicate to a user the readiness for use of the liquid.
3 more elements
A method for illuminating a liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising acts of:
- a) illuminating the liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with substantially unguided variable color radiation;
- and
- b) controlling the variable color radiation based on at least one detectable condition.
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the one of the pool and the spa, to illuminate the liquid;
- at least one sensor to output at least one detection signal in response to a detectable condition;
- and
- at least one controller, coupled to the at least one light source and the at least one sensor, to control radiation output by the at least one light source based on the at least one detection signal,
- wherein the one of the pool and the spa has a range of typical liquid levels of the liquid during use, and wherein the at least one light source is adapted to be disposed below the range of typical liquid levels,
- and wherein the at least one light source includes means for engaging the at least one light source mechanically and electrically with a conventional light socket supported by the one of the pool and the spa.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.