Lighting devices using a plurality of light sources

Abstract

A device is disclosed that uses a plurality of light sources. The light sources may be light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light sources are arranged and mounted to a deformable flexible substrate. The light sources are arranged and mounted to the substrate as to emit their radiation perpendicular to the substrate. The substrate is flexed in a concave or convex manner by motor, magnetic field or other mechanical means. The light sources may emit their radiation perpendicular to the substrate, or the may diverge or converge their radiation away from the substrate. Perforations in the substrate provide cooling to the light sources by convection or forced air. A threaded holder may be screwed onto threads on a case in order to bend the flexible substrate to change the direction of light from the light sources mounted to the flexible substrate.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible substrate to which a plurality of light sources are fixed;   a flexible substrate housing in which the flexible substrate is located;   wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a peripheral region and a center region;   and further comprising a flexing device for flexing the flexible substrate by applying pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate to cause the flexible substrate to deform;   and wherein in a first state when the flexible substrate is not deformed by the flexing device, each of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a first direction;   and wherein in a second state when the flexible substrate has been deformed by the flexing device, at least one of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a second direction which differs from the first direction; and   wherein the flexible substrate housing is comprised of a removable holder and a case;   wherein the flexing device is comprised of the removable holder and the case;   and wherein the removable holder can be connected onto the case; and   and wherein the connecting of the removable holder onto the case can cause the flexible substrate to deform.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  and wherein
 the removable holder can be connected to the case by variably tightening the removable holder to the case to thereby apply a variable amount of pressure to the flexible substrate and a corresponding variable amount of deformation of the flexible substrate. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein
 the removable holder when tightened causes the center region of the flexible substrate to be forced upwards by a surface of a battery. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 the removable holder when screwed tightly causes the center region of the flexible substrate to be forced upwards by a terminal of a battery. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  and wherein
 the removable holder is in the form of a cover and the case is in the form of a flashlight case. 
 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible substrate to which a plurality of light sources are fixed;   a flexible substrate housing in which the flexible substrate is located;   wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a peripheral region and a center region;   and further comprising a flexing device for flexing the substrate by applying pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate to cause the flexible substrate to deform;   wherein in a first state when the flexible substrate is not deformed by the flexing device each of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a first direction;   wherein in a second state when the flexible substrate has been deformed by the flexing device at least one of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a second direction which differs from the first direction;   and wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a center electrical terminal located at the center region of the flexible substrate and wherein the flexing device makes electrical contact with the center electrical terminal of the flexible substrate when the flexing device applies pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein
 each light source on the flexible substrate has a first terminal and a second terminal, 
 and each first and second terminal is electrically connected to its own first and second conductive material on the flexible substrate, respectively; 
 wherein the first conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to a center conductive material on the flexible substrate; 
 wherein the second conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to a peripheral conductive material on the flexible substrate; 
 and wherein by applying a positive terminal of a signal source to the center conductive material and by applying a negative terminal of the signal source to the peripheral conductive material, the plurality of light sources can be turned on. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein
 each light source on the flexible substrate has a first terminal and a second terminal, 
 and each first and second terminal is electrically connected to its own first and second conductive material on the flexible substrate, respectively; 
 wherein the first conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to a center conductive material on the flexible substrate; 
 wherein the second conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to its own separate distinct peripheral conductive material on the flexible substrate; 
 and wherein by applying a positive terminal of a signal source to the center conductive material and by applying a negative terminal of the signal source to the appropriate peripheral conductive material, a particular light source can be turned on. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein
 the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible substrate to which a plurality of light sources are fixed;   a flexible substrate housing in which the flexible substrate is located;   wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a peripheral region and a center region;   and further comprising a flexing device for flexing the substrate by applying pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate to cause the flexible substrate to deform;   wherein the flexible substrate housing applies pressure to the peripheral region of the flexible substrate in a substantially opposite direction to the pressure being applied to the center region and while pressure is being applied to the center region of the flexible substrate;   and wherein in a first state when the flexible substrate is not deformed by the flexing device each of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a first direction;   and wherein in a second state when the flexible substrate has been bent by the flexing device at least one of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a second direction which differs from the first direction; and   wherein the flexing device is comprised of a battery having a first terminal, wherein the first terminal of the battery applies pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate to cause the flexible substrate to deform.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible substrate to which a plurality of light sources are fixed;   a flexible substrate housing in which the flexible substrate is located;   wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a peripheral region and a center region;   and further comprising a flexing device for flexing the substrate by applying pressure to the center region of the flexible substrate to cause the flexible substrate to deform;   and wherein in a first state when the flexible substrate is not deformed by the flexing device, each of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a first direction;   and wherein in a second state when the flexible substrate has been bent by the flexing device at least one of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a second direction which differs from the first direction;   wherein each light source on the flexible substrate has a first terminal and a second terminal, each first and second terminal is electrically connected to its own first and second conductive material on the flexible substrate, respectively;   wherein the first conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to a center conductive material on the flexible substrate;   wherein the second conductive materials for all the light sources are electrically connected to a peripheral conductive material on the flexible substrate;   and wherein by applying a positive terminal of a signal source to the center conductive material and by applying a negative terminal of the signal source to the peripheral conductive material, the plurality of light sources can be turned on.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus comprising:
 a flexible substrate to which a plurality of light sources are fixed;   a flexible substrate housing in which the flexible substrate is located;   wherein the flexible substrate is comprised of a first region and a second region;   and further comprising a flexing device for flexing the substrate by applying pressure in a first direction to the second region of the flexible substrate and simultaneously applying pressure in a second direction to the first region of the flexible substrate, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite the second direction, to cause the flexible substrate to deform;   and wherein in a first state when the flexible substrate is not deformed by the flexing device each of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a third direction;   and wherein in a second state when the flexible substrate has been deformed by the flexing device at least one of the plurality of light sources emits light which is concentrated in a fourth direction which differs from the third direction; and   wherein the flexible substrate housing is comprised of a removable holder and a case;   wherein the flexing device is comprised of the removable holder and the case;   and wherein the removable holder can be connected to the case; and   and wherein the connecting of the removable holder onto the case can cause the flexible substrate to deform.   
     
     
       13. A lighting apparatus comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of light emitting diodes, including a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh, and an eighth light emitting diode;   a lamp driver circuit;   a communications component;   a base housing;   a lamp housing in which the substrate is located;   means for remote positioning of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing so that an actual azimuth of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing is set to a predetermined azimuth value and an actual elevation of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing is set to a predetermined elevation value, and so that light from the plurality of light emitting diodes is projected onto a predetermined location of a projection surface as determined by the actual azimuth and the actual elevation, and in response to one or more control signals which specify the predetermined azimuth value and the predetermined elevation value;   wherein the substrate has a plurality of circuits; and   wherein the lamp driver circuit is configured to individually vary the intensity of the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh and the eighth light emitting diode in response to a first control command received by the communications component.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein
 at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes is a white light emitting diode.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein
 at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes is an amber light emitting diode.   
     
     
       16. The lighting apparatus of claim 13 wherein
 an electrical component is located within the base housing.   
     
     
       17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16 wherein
 the electrical component is a processor.   
     
     
       18. The lighting apparatus of claim 13 wherein
 the lamp housing is configured to pan and tilt in relation to the base housing by a motor.   
     
     
       19. The lighting apparatus of claim 13 wherein
 a position of the lamp housing relative to the base housing is caused by remote control.   
     
     
       20. The lighting apparatus of claim 13 further comprising
 a communications line and the communications line is configured to provide a control signal.   
     
     
       21. The lighting apparatus of claim 20 wherein
 the communications line is connected to the base housing.   
     
     
       22. A lighting apparatus comprising:
 a substrate;   a plurality of light emitting diodes including a first white light emitting diode, a second white light emitting diode, a third white light emitting diode, and a fourth white light emitting diode;   a lamp driver circuit;   a base housing;   a communications component;   a lamp housing in which the substrate is located;   means for remote positioning of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing so that an actual azimuth of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing is set to a predetermined azimuth value and an actual elevation of the lamp housing with respect to the base housing is set to a predetermined elevation value, and so that light from the plurality of light emitting diodes is projected onto a predetermined location of a projection surface as determined by the actual azimuth and the actual elevation, and in response to one or more control signals which specify the predetermined azimuth value and the predetermined elevation value;   wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes is fixed to the substrate;   wherein the substrate has at least one circuit connected to the lamp driver circuit;   wherein the plurality of light emitting diodes emit a light in a first state; and   further comprising a light parameter modifying component;   wherein the light parameter modifying component is located to intercept the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes in the first state;   and wherein the light parameter modifying component can modify the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes from the first state to a second state in response to a first control command received by the communications component.   
     
     
       23. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 wherein
 the light modifying component is a variable filter.   
     
     
       24. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 wherein
 the light modifying component is comprised of plastic.   
     
     
       25. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 wherein
 the light modifying component is comprised of glass.   
     
     
       26. The lighting apparatus of claim 23 wherein
 the variable filter is comprised of liquid crystals.   
     
     
       27. An apparatus for generating an improved spectrum of light comprising
 a plurality of light emitting diodes;   a control circuit;   wherein a first portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes are comprised of a first continuous spectrum white light emitting diode, a first red light emitting diode, a first green light emitting diode and a first blue light emitting diode;   wherein a second portion the plurality of light emitting diodes are also comprised of a second continuous spectrum white light emitting diode, a second red light emitting diode, a second green light emitting diode and a second blue light emitting diode;   wherein the first portion of emitting diodes can be controlled by the control circuit to emit light of a first color; and   wherein the second portion of light emitting diodes can be controlled by the control circuit to emit light of a second color;   a remotely controllable light direction altering device; and   wherein the remotely controllable light direction altering device intersects the light emitted by the first portion and the second portion and wherein the remotely controllable direction light direction altering device can vary the angle of the light emitted by the apparatus;   and wherein the remotely controllable light direction altering device is a liquid crystal filter.   
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein
 the remotely controllable light direction altering device is comprised of plastic.   
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein
 the remotely controllable light direction altering device is comprised of glass.