Systems and methods for controlling the spectral content of led lighting devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving color accuracy and uniformity in LED illumination systems are disclosed including light engines, switching circuits and methods of adding phosphors or lumiphoric materials for controlling the addition or subtraction of light from one or more color light sources of the light engines to produce light of a uniform and consistent color. Systems and methods of providing LED light engines and associated illumination spectrums that are both visually appealing, rich in melanopic flux and that reduce blue light hazard exposure are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An LED lighting module for generating illumination that produces white light with adequate melanopic flux, reduced blue light hazard flux and color uniformity comprising:
 one or more LED light sources, the lighting module being configured to emit, during operation of the system, light having a first spectral intensity profile in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm, wherein the total radiant power in a first wavelength band from 460 nm to 500 nm is greater than 14% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile and wherein the total radiant power in a second wavelength band from 500 nm to 700 nm is more than half of the total radiant power in the first spectral intensity profile and wherein the light emitted from said LED lighting module is substantially white light.   
     
     
         2 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 450 nm to 500 nm is greater than 17% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         3 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1 , wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 450 nm is less than 5% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         4 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 440 nm is less than 2% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         5 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 470 nm to 500 nm is at least 4 times greater than the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 440 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 460 nm to 500 nm is at least 8 times greater than the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 440 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The LED lighting module of  claim 1  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 480 nm to 500 nm is at least 70% of the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 500 nm to 700 nm. 
     
     
         8 . An LED lighting module comprising:
 one or more LED light sources wherein the lighting module is configured to emit, during operation of the module, light having a first spectral intensity profile in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm and wherein   
       the total radiant power in a first wavelength band from 450 nm to 500 nm is greater than 15% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile and wherein the total radiant power in a second wavelength band from 500 nm to 700 nm is greater than half the total radiant power in the first spectral intensity profile and wherein the light emitted from said LED lighting module is substantially white light. 
     
     
         9 . The LED lighting module of  claim 8  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in a wavelength band from 470 nm to 500 nm is greater than the maximum power density in a wavelength band from 400 nm to 470 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The LED lighting module of  claim 8  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in a wavelength band from 400 nm to 450 nm is less than 5% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         11 . The LED lighting module of  claim 8  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in a wavelength band from 400 nm to 440 nm is less than 2% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         12 . The LED lighting system of  claim 8  wherein the light emitted from said LED lighting module is substantially white light. 
     
     
         13 . An LED light engine comprising:
 a first color LED operable to emit substantially white light; and   a second color LED operable to emit substantially monochromatic light   wherein the light engine is configured to emit, during operation of the system, light having a first spectral intensity profile in a wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm, wherein the total radiant power in a first wavelength band from 460 nm to 500 nm is greater than about 14% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile and the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 450 nm is less than about 4% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile.   
     
     
         14 . The LED light engine of  claim 13  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 450 nm to 500 nm is greater than 17% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile and the total radiant power in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 440 nm is less than about 2% of the total radiant power in said first spectral intensity profile. 
     
     
         15 . The LED light engine of  claim 13  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 480 nm to 500 nm is at least 1.3 times greater than the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 480 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The LED light engine of  claim 13  wherein, in said first spectral intensity profile, the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 480 nm to 500 nm is at least 3 times greater than the maximum power density in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 440 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The LED light engine of  claim 13  wherein the spectral power density of the light emitted from said LED light engine approximates or nearly coincides with the spectral power density of a black body radiator.