Electric Light Radiant Energy Control Systems

Abstract

Radiant energy control systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided. An example light emitting device may comprise a sensor operable to detect whether a space is occupied, and a controller in communication with the sensor and operable to cause output, via a first light emitter for a first time period in the space, of a white light comprising a spectral energy of up to 30% energy in a wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm, cause output, via a second light emitter for a second time period in the space, of a non-white light comprising a spectral energy greater than 70% energy in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm, and switch, based on whether the space is occupied and to achieve a minimum dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm during a third period that includes the first time period and the second time period, between causing output of the white light and causing output of the non-white light.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A light emitting device comprising:
 a sensor operable to detect whether a space is occupied; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and operable to:
 cause output, via a first light emitter and for a first time period in the space, of a white light comprising a spectral energy of up to 30% energy in a wavelength range of 380 to 420 nanometers (nm); 
 cause output, via a second light emitter and for a second time period in the space, of a non-white light comprising a spectral energy greater than 70% energy in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm; and 
 switch, based on whether the space is occupied and to achieve a minimum dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm during a third period that includes the first time period and the second time period, between causing output of the white light and causing output of the non-white light. 
   
     
     
         2 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine a dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm for the first time period;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         3 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine occupancy of the space for the first time period;   determine vacancy of the space for the second time period;   determine, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent occupancy of the space, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         4 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine occupancy of the space for the first time period;   determine vacancy of the space for the second time period;   determine, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent vacancy of the space, an intensity of the non-white light within the space.   
     
     
         5 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the light emitting device further comprises:
 a second sensor operable to detect an environmental characteristic of the space;   wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine, based on the environmental characteristic of the space, a threshold intensity of the white light; 
 adjust, based on the threshold intensity of the white light, an intensity of the white light. 
   
     
     
         6 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is further operable to detect more than one occupant in the space. 
     
     
         7 . The light emitting device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bioburden sensor operable to measure an amount of bioburden, wherein the minimum dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm is determined based on the amount of bioburden measured by the bioburden sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A light emitting device comprising:
 a sensor operable to detect whether a space is occupied; and   a controller in communication with the sensor and operable to:
 cause output, via a first light emitter within the space and based on detecting occupancy of the space, of a white light comprising a spectral energy of up to 30% energy in a wavelength range of 380 to 420 nanometers (nm); and 
 cause output, via a second light emitter and based on detecting vacancy of the space, of a non-white light comprising a spectral energy greater than 70% energy in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm. 
   
     
     
         9 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine a dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm for a first time period that the white light is output;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         10 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine occupancy of the space for a first time period;   determine vacancy of the space for a second time period;   determine, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent occupancy of the space, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         11 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine occupancy of the space for a first time period;   determine vacancy of the space for a second time period;   determine, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   compare the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjust, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent vacancy of the space, an intensity of the non-white light within the space.   
     
     
         12 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the light emitting device further comprises:
 a second sensor operable to detect an environmental characteristic of the space;   wherein the controller is further operable to:
 determine, based on the environmental characteristic of the space, a threshold intensity of the white light; 
 adjust, based on the threshold intensity of the white light, an intensity of the white light. 
   
     
     
         13 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is further operable to detect more than one occupant in the space. 
     
     
         14 . The light emitting device of  claim 8 , further comprising a bioburden sensor operable to measure an amount of bioburden, wherein the controller is further operable to determine, based on the amount of bioburden measured by the bioburden sensor, a minimum dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm to be output. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 outputting, via a first light emitter and for a first time period in a space, a white light comprising a spectral energy of up to 30% energy in a wavelength range of 380 to 420 nanometers (nm);   outputting, via a second light emitter and for a second time period in the space, a non-white light comprising a spectral energy having greater than 70% energy in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm; and   switching, to achieve a minimum dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm during a third period that includes the first time period and the second time period, between causing output of the white light and causing output of the non-white light.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining a dosage of light in the wavelength range of 380 to 420 nm for the first time period;   comparing the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjusting, based on the comparing, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, via a sensor, occupancy of the space for the first time period;   determining, via the sensor, vacancy of the space for the second time period;   determining, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   comparing the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjusting, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent occupancy of the space, an intensity of the white light within the space.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining occupancy of the space for the first time period;   determining vacancy of the space for the second time period;   determining, from a beginning of the first time period to an end of the second time period, a dosage of light supplied to the space;   comparing the dosage of light to a threshold; and   adjusting, based on the comparing and based on a subsequent vacancy of the space, an intensity of the non-white light within the space.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, an environmental characteristic of the space;   determining, based on the detected environmental characteristic of the space, a threshold intensity of the white light;   adjusting, based on the threshold intensity of the white light, an intensity of the white light.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting, via a sensor, more than one occupant in the space; and   adjusting, based on the detecting more than one occupant in the space, an intensity of the white light.