# US 9,039,746 B2 · Solid state light emitting devices including adjustable melatonin suppression effects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,746 B2 - Document ID: US9039746B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/763,579 - Filed: 2013-02-08 - Published: 2014-08-14 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-08 - Assignees: Cree, Inc. - Applicants: Cree, Inc. - Inventors: Antony Paul van de Ven; Paul Kenneth Pickard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039746B2 ## CPC - H05B 45/00: Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] - A61M 21/00: Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis - A61N 5/0618: {Psychological treatment} - H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light - A61M 2021/0044: {by the sight sense} - A61M 2021/0083: {especially for waking up} - A61N 2005/0626: {Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods} - A61N 2005/0652: {Arrays of diodes} - A61N 2005/0662: {Visible light} - H05B 45/325: Pulse-width modulation [PWM] - H05B 45/3577: Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps - H10W 72/536: {the connected ends being ball-shaped} - H10W 72/5363: {the connected ends being wedge-shaped} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects. Multiple LED components may be operated simultaneously according to different operating modes according to which their combined output provides the same or similar chromaticity, but provides melatonin suppressing effects that differ by at least a predetermined threshold amount between the different operating modes. Switching between operating modes may be triggered by user input elements, timers/clocks, or sensors (e.g., photosensors). Chromaticity of combined output of multiple LED components may also be adjusted, together with providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects at each selected combined output chromaticity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light emitting apparatus comprising: a first LED component; and a second LED component; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated in a first operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of a target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated in a second operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of the target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a second melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value that is at least about 10 percent greater than the first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; and wherein the light emitting apparatus comprises at least one of the following features (a) and (b): (a) at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises at least one LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one lumiphoric material; and (b) combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in the first operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 80. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises at least one LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one lumiphoric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first LED component comprises at least one first LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one first lumiphoric material, and wherein the second LED component comprises at least one second LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one second lumiphoric material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in the first operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 80. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in the second operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 30. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises a principally blue LED having a peak wavelength of from about 455 nm to about 480 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises a principally blue LED having a peak wavelength of from about 465 nm to about 480 nm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises a principally cyan LED having a peak wavelength of from about 481 nm to about 505 nm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one control circuit arranged to adjust supply of current to at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component to operate the first LED component and the second LED component according to the first operating mode or the second operating mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one user input element arranged to receive a user input to trigger switching between the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a timer or clock arranged to trigger switching between the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a photosensor arranged to trigger switching between the first operating mode and the second operating mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the photosensor is arranged to receive ambient light, and is shielded or otherwise placed to prevent receipt of direct light emissions from the first LED component and the second LED component. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value is at least about 20 percent greater than the first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value is at least about 30 percent greater than the first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising at least one of the following features: a single leadframe arranged to conduct electrical power to the first LED component and the second LED component; a single reflector arranged to reflect at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component; a single submount supporting the first LED component and the second LED component; a single lens arranged to transmit at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component; and a single diffuser arranged to diffuse at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target correlated color temperature comprises a value in a range of from about 2500K to about 6000K. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An electronic device including a backlight comprising the light emitting apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A light fixture comprising the light emitting apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method comprising illuminating an object, a space, or an environment, utilizing a light emitting apparatus according to claim 1. ### Claim 21 A light emitting apparatus comprising: a first LED component; and a second LED component; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated at or near a first target correlated color temperature in a first operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of the first target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated at or near the first target correlated color temperature in a second operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of the first target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a second melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value that is at least about 10 percent greater than the first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated at or near a second target correlated color temperature in a third operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of the second target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a third melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; wherein the first LED component and the second LED component are arranged to be operated at or near the second target correlated color temperature in a fourth operating mode in which combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component (i) are within four MacAdam ellipses of the second target correlated color temperature, and (ii) embody a fourth melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value that is at least about 10 percent greater than the third melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value; and wherein the second target correlated color temperature differs from the first correlated color temperature by at least about 300K. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first LED component includes multiple LEDs and the second LED component includes multiple LEDs. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component comprises at least one LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one lumiphoric material. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first LED component comprises at least one first LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one first lumiphoric material, and wherein the second LED component comprises at least one second LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one second lumiphoric material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in at least one of the first operating mode and the third operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 80. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 25, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in at least one of the second operating mode and the fourth operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 30. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in each of the first operating mode and the third operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 80. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein combined emissions of the first LED component and the second LED component, when operated in each of the second operating mode and the fourth operating mode, embody a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least about 30. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising at least one control circuit arranged to adjust supply of current to at least one of the first LED component and the second LED component to operate the first LED component and the second LED component according to the first operating mode, the second operating mode, the third operating mode, or the fourth operating mode. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising at least one of the following elements (A) to (C) arranged to trigger switching between the any of the first through fourth operating modes: (A) at least one user input element arranged to receive a user input; (B) a timer or clock; and (C) a photosensor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the first LED component comprises at least one first LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one first lumiphor, and the second LED component comprises at least one second LED arranged to stimulate emissions of at least one second lumiphor. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, comprising at least one of the following features (i) and (ii): (i) the second melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value is at least about 20 percent greater than the first melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value, and (ii) the fourth melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value is at least about 20 percent greater than the third melatonin suppression milliwatt per hundred lumens value. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, comprising at least one of the following features: a single leadframe arranged to conduct electrical power to the first LED component and the second LED component; a single reflector arranged to reflect at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component; a single submount supporting the first LED component and the second LED component; a single lens arranged to transmit at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component; and a single diffuser arranged to diffuse at least a portion of light emanating from each of the first LED component and the second LED component. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of the first target correlated color temperature and the second target correlated color temperature value is selected from the range of from about 2500K to about 6000K. ### Claim 35 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second target correlated color temperature differs from the first correlated color temperature by at least about 600K. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) A light emitting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the second target correlated color temperature differs from the first correlated color temperature by at least about 1000K. ### Claim 37 (depends on 21) An electronic device including a backlight comprising the light emitting apparatus according to claim 21. ### Claim 38 (depends on 21) A light fixture comprising the light emitting apparatus according to claim 21. ### Claim 39 (depends on 21) A method comprising illuminating an object, a space, or an environment, utilizing a light emitting apparatus according to claim 21.