ADJUSTABLE LIGHT SOURCE
A light source includes a light emitting device that emits light, and a spectrum adjuster that is positionable relative a light path of the light emitted by the light emitting device. The spectrum adjuster includes a region of continuously-variable spectrum adjusting material, usable for adjusting the spectrum of light passing through the spectrum adjuster. The variable spectrum adjusting material may be color-attenuating material, such as a filtering material, or may be wavelength-shifting material, such as a phosphor. The light source has adjustable spectrum of its output light depending upon the relative positioning of the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster.
1 . A light source comprising:
a light emitting device; and
a variable spectrum adjuster in a light path of light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein:
the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster are positionable relative to one another;
the spectrum adjuster comprises a color-attenuating region comprising color-attenuating material for attenuating a portion of the spectrum of the light, the color-attenuating material having a continuously varying color-attenuating property based on position in the color-attenuating region; and
the color-attenuating region has dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster.
2 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the spectrum adjuster additionally comprises an additional color-attenuating region of an additional color-attenuating material for attenuating a different portion of the spectrum of the light, the additional color-attenuating material having a continuously varying color-attenuating property based on position in the additional color-attenuating region.
3 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the spectrum adjuster additionally comprises a non-color-attenuating region, adjacent to the color-attenuating region, the non-color-attenuating region containing no operably-effective amount of a color-attenuating material.
4 . The light source of claim 3 , wherein:
the spectrum adjuster additionally comprises an additional color-attenuating region of an additional color-attenuating material for attenuating a different portion of the spectrum of the light, the additional color-attenuating material having a continuously varying color-attenuating property based on position in the additional color-attenuating region; and
the non-color-attenuating region is between the color-attenuating regions.
5 . The light source of claim 3 , wherein the non-color-attenuating region has dimensions greater than the cross sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster.
6 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the light source additionally comprises an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to adjust the relative positioning of the light path of the light emitting device and the color-attenuating region.
7 . The light source of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a mechanism that maintains the relative positioning of the light path and the color-attenuating region.
8 . The light source of claim 6 , wherein the adjustment mechanism provides a visual indication of the relative positioning of the light path and the color-attenuating region.
9 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the spectrum adjuster has a curved shape.
10 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting device is a broad-spectrum light emitting device in the visible spectrum.
11 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the color-attenuating region comprises overlapping color-attenuating materials, each of the color-attenuating materials having a respective continuously varying color-attenuating property for a respective color based on position in the color-attenuating region.
12 . The light source of claim 11 , wherein the light emitting device is a broad-spectrum light emitting device in the visible spectrum.
13 . The light source of claim 1 , further comprising wavelength-shifting material between the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster.
14 . The light source of claim 13 , wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting device emitting light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nm.
15 . The light source of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting device is a solid state light emitting device.
16 . The light source of claim 15 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
17 . A light source comprising:
a light emitting device; and
a variable spectrum adjuster in a light path of light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein:
the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster are positionable relative to one another;
the spectrum adjuster comprises a wavelength-shifting region comprising wavelength-shifting material, the wavelength-shifting material having a continuously varying wavelength-shifting property based on position in the wavelength-shifting region; and
the wavelength-shifting region has dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster.
18 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting region comprises a phosphor material.
19 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting region comprises a luminescent nanomaterial.
20 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting region comprises one or more of: a conjugated polymer material, an organic fluorescent dye, and an organic phosphorescent dye.
21 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting material has a concentration that continuously varies with position in the wavelength-shifting region.
22 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting material has a thickness that continuously varies with position in the wavelength-shifting region.
23 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the wavelength-shifting region comprises two wavelength-shifting materials with different wavelength-shifting properties, a ratio between the wavelength-shifting materials continuously varying with position in the wavelength-shifting region.
24 . The light source of claim 23 , wherein the wavelength-shifting materials are in respective layers.
25 . The light source of claim 23 , wherein the wavelength-shifting materials are in a single layer.
26 . The light source of claim 23 , wherein the wavelength-shifting materials are differently patterned.
27 . The light source of claim 26 , wherein one of the wavelength-shifting materials is continuous, and the other of the wavelength-shifting materials is non-continuous.
28 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the spectrum adjuster comprises an additional region of wavelength-shifting material, the wavelength-shifting material having a continuously varying wavelength-shifting property based on position in the additional region.
29 . The light source of claim 28 , wherein the wavelength-shifting material in the additional wavelength-shifting region produces a different spectrum adjustment than the wavelength-shifting material in the wavelength-shifting region.
30 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the spectrum adjuster additionally comprises a non-wavelength-shifting region, adjacent the wavelength-shifting region, the non-wavelength-shifting region containing no operably-effective amount of a wavelength-shifting material.
31 . The light source of claim 30 , wherein:
the spectrum adjuster comprises an additional wavelength-shifting region of wavelength-shifting material, the wavelength-shifting material having a continuously varying wavelength-shifting property based on position in the additional wavelength-shifting region; and
the non-wavelength-shifting region is between the wavelength-shifting regions.
32 . The light source of claim 30 , wherein the non-wavelength-shifting region has dimensions greater than the cross sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster.
33 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein:
the light emitting device is a light emitting device emitting light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nm; and
the spectrum adjuster converts the light from the light emitting device to broad-spectrum visible light.
34 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the light emitting device is a broad-spectrum light emitting device in the visible spectrum.
35 . The light source of claim 17 , wherein the light emitting device is a solid state light emitting device.
36 . A light source comprising:
a light emitting device;
a variable color attenuator and a variable wavelength shifter in tandem in a light path of light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein:
the color attenuator, the wavelength shifter, and the light path are variably positionable relative to one another;
the color attenuator comprises a first region of color-attenuating material for attenuating a first portion of the spectrum of light incident thereon, the color-attenuating material having a continuously varying color-attenuating property based on position in the first region;
the first region has a first area greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the color attenuator;
the wavelength shifter comprises a second region of wavelength-shifting material, the wavelength-shifting material having a continuously varying wavelength-shifting property based on position in the second region; and
the second region has a second dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the wavelength shifter.
37 . The light source of claim 36 , wherein the light emitting device is a broad-spectrum light emitting device in the visible spectrum.
38 . The light source of claim 36 , wherein the light emitting device is a solid state light emitting device.
39 . A light source comprising:
a light emitting device; and
a variable spectrum adjuster in a light path of light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein:
the light path of light emitted by the light emitting device and the variable spectrum adjuster are positionable relative to one another;
the spectrum adjuster comprises a spectrum-adjusting region comprising spectrum-adjusting material, the spectrum-adjusting material having a continuously varying spectrum-adjusting property based on position in the spectrum-adjusting region; and
the region has dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster.
40 . The light source of claim 39 , wherein the spectrum-adjusting material is a color-attenuating material for attenuating a portion of the spectrum of the light, the color-attenuating material having a continuously-varying color-attenuating property based on position in the spectrum-adjusting region.
41 . The light source of claim 39 , wherein the spectrum-adjusting material is wavelength-shifting material, the wavelength-shifting material having a continuously varying wavelength-shifting property based on position in the spectrum-adjusting region.
42 . The light source of claim 39 , wherein the light emitting device is a broad-spectrum light emitting device in the visible spectrum.
43 . The light source of claim 39 , wherein the light emitting device is a light emitting device emitting light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nm.
44 . The light source of claim 39 , wherein the light emitting device is a solid state light emitting device.
45 . The light source of claim 44 , wherein the solid state light emitting device is a light emitting diode.
46 . A method of adjusting light from a light emitting device, the method comprising:
providing a variable spectrum adjuster within a light path of light emitted by the light emitting device, wherein:
the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster are positionable relative to one another;
the spectrum adjuster comprises a spectrum-adjusting region comprising spectrum-adjusting material, the spectrum-adjusting material having a continuously varying spectrum-adjusting property based on position in the spectrum-adjusting region; and
the spectrum-adjusting region has dimensions greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the light path at the spectrum adjuster; and
changing a positional relationship between the variable spectrum adjuster and the light path of the light emitted by the light emitting device to adjust the spectrum of the light emitted by the light emitting device.