Methods and apparatus for illumination of liquids
AssigneeColor Kinetics Incorporated
InventorsGeorge G. Mueller, Frederick M. Morgan, Ihor A. Lys, Kevin J. Dowling
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for illumination of liquids in a variety of environments. In one example, multi-color LED-based 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 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.
Claims25
An apparatus, comprising:
- a body to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source, supported by the body, to illuminate the liquid, the at least one light source including at least one LED;
- and
- at least one microprocessor-based controller, coupled to the at least one light source, to control radiation output by the at least one light source;
- wherein the at least one light source includes at least a first light source and a second light source, wherein the at least one controller includes at least a first controller coupled to the first light source and a second controller coupled to the second light source;
- wherein each of the first controller and the second controller is adapted to be independently addressable;
- and
- wherein the first controller and the second controller are coupled together to form a networked lighting system.
A method for illuminating a flow of liquid in one of a pool and a spa, comprising:
- illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output by at least one independently, microprocessor controlled light source;
- and
- varying a color of the radiation based on control signals received from at least one accessory operating the one of the pool and the spa.
An apparatus, comprising:
- one of a pool and a spa to contain a liquid;
- at least one light source to illuminate a flow of liquid in the one of the pool and the spa with radiation of varying colors;
- and
- at least one microprocessor-based controller, coupled to the at least one light source, to control the color of the radiation based on control signals received from at least one accessory operating the one of the pool and the spa.
A method for illuminating a flow of liquid, comprising an act of illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output simultaneously by at least two differently colored independently addressable LEDs supported by a body containing the flow.
A method for illuminating a flow of liquid, comprising:
- sensing a temperature of the flow of liquid;
- illuminating the flow of liquid with radiation output by at least two independently addressable LEDs;
- and
- varying a color of the radiation with changes in the temperature of the flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.