Methods and apparatus for generating and modulating illumination conditions

An apparatus for generating essentially white light, comprising:

• at least one first white LED characterized by a first spectrum, the at least one first white LED including a first phosphor, the at least one first white LED generating at least one first wavelength that is converted by the first phosphor to provide the first spectrum;
• at least one second white LED characterized by a second spectrum, the at least one second white LIED including a second phosphor, the at least one second white LED generating at least one second wavelength that is converted by the second phosphor to provide the second spectrum, the first spectrum being substantially different than the second spectrum;
• at least one non-white LED;
• and
• at least one controller to independently control at least a first intensity of first radiation emitted from the at least one first white LED, a second intensity of second radiation emitted from the at least one second white LED, and a third intensity of third radiation emitted front the at least one non-white LED.

A lighting fixture for generating white light comprising:

• at least one first white LED characterized by a first spectrum, the at least one first white LED including a first phosphor, the at least one first white LED generating at least one first wave length that is converted by the first phosphor to provide the first spectrum;
• at least one second white LED characterized by a second spectrum, the at least one second white LED including a second phosphor, the at least one second white LED generating at least one second wave length that is converted by the second phosphor to provide the second spectrum, the first spectrum being substantially different than the second spectrum;
• and
• at least one third LED characterized by a first chromaticity to the right of the 2300 Kelvin point of a Planckian locus on a conventional chromaticity chart.

A method for generating essentially white light, comprising:

• generating first radiation from at least one first white LED, the first radiation characterized by a first spectrum having a first color temperature, the at least one first white LED including a first phosphor, the at least one first white LED generating at least one first wavelength that is converted by the the first phosphor to provide the spectrum;
• generating second radiation from at least one second white LED, the second radiation characterized by a second spectrum having a second color temperature, the at least one second white LED including a second phosphor, the at least one second white LED generating at least one second wavelength that is convened by the second phosphor to provide the second spectrum, wherein the first color temperature differs from the second color temperature by at least 2200 degrees Kelvin;
• and
• combining the first radiation and the second radiation to form a light output.