FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to using coherent light devices, such as lasers, in illumination sources, and more specifically to dynamically controlling coherent light sources to adjust the direction, shape, and/or quality of the emitted light of illumination sources.

BACKGROUND

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have become a popular choice for lighting applications. LED lamps are significantly brighter, more efficient, and have a lifespan much longer than incandescent lamps. Although LEDs have significant benefits over traditional incandescent light sources, Applicant recognizes that a light source having a smaller beam of spatially coherent light, such as laser, may provide improved efficiency over LEDs in some illumination applications, such as spot lighting and linear accents. In addition, the smaller source size of the laser can lead to improved dynamic optical control and enable applications such as entertainment lighting and way finding. Moreover, as the cost of lasers, particularly for vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), continues to drop, their appeal in lighting applications increases.

While the smaller beam and source size of lasers may be beneficial, coherent light emitted from lasers also presents challenges. Specifically, coherent light is not only monochromatic, but also potentially hazardous to eyes/retina and other tissues. For this and other reasons, the adoption of lasers in commercial and residential lighting applications is still in its infancy.

Applicant recognizes the need for a dynamic illumination using coherent light while avoiding the hazards of coherent light. The present invention fulfills this need among others.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Applicant recognizes that while coherent light presents challenges in connection with its monochromicity and its potential hazard to eyes/retina, it also presents an enhanced ability to control the direction, shape and quality of the emitted light compared to incoherent light sources. For example, in one embodiment, the direction of the incoherent emitted light is controlled by controlling the direction of the coherent light. In another embodiment, the outputs of different wavelength coherent light sources are combined and balanced to achieve desired spectrums for white light, circadian-friendly lighting, and/or antibacterial lighting, just to name a few.

In one embodiment, an illumination source comprises: (a) at least one coherent light emitting device (CLED) configured for emitting coherent light having an optical path; (b) at least one optical element in the optical path for converting at least a portion of the coherent light to incoherent light, the optical element being configured to emit the incoherent light in a direction; and (c) a light control mechanism (LCM) for altering the direction of the incoherent light.

In another embodiment, an illumination source comprises: (a) an array of coherent light emitting devices (CLEDs), each CLED configured for emitting coherent light having an optical path, at least two or more of CLEDs configured for emitting coherent light having different wavelengths, wherein the array of CLEDs comprises separately controllable drivers controlled by a control signal such that the output of at least a portion of the array of CLEDs is variable based on the control signal; and (b) at least one optical element in the optical path for converting at least a portion of the coherent light to incoherent light.

