Other

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Lear Corporation

Mark Feldmeier

H Winston Maue

Joseph A Paradiso

Richard Meinzer

John David Youngs

Gerald O Morrison

Michael Berta

Matthew Aldrich

Brian P Skarb

Joe Paradiso

In illustrative implementations of this invention, a lighting system comprises a plurality of LEDs, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, a processor, a sensor node and a human-computer interface. The sensor is adapted to be moved by a user and placed in the location that a user wants to illumine. The LED lights are adapted to emit pulse-width modulated (PWM) light, controlled by signals from the processor. The lighting system is adapted to optimize parameters (such as efficacy or color rendering index) selected by the user, subject to certain constraints (such as desired illuminance or color temperature). According to principles of this invention, if a sensor is moved, attenuation may be measured and the inverse square law may be used to determine how constraints in an optimization algorithm need to be updated.

Apparatus and methods for interactive illumination

A wireless switch is provided having a twenty-year life energy harvesting arrangement for self-powering a wireless transmitter. The energy harvesting arrangement is implemented in one embodiment using a piezoelectric switch element. A tritium light source and photovoltaic device are used in a second embodiment, while a black light source and photovoltaic device are used in a third embodiment. The energy harvesting wireless switch arrangement of the present invention can be combined, for example, with a vehicle side mirror switch, to reduce the complexity of the wire harness feeding the door. The wireless switch can be located without regard to accessability of a wiring harness or connector.

Self-powered wireless switch

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Mark Feldmeier