ZONES AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of illumination and display technologies, especially to features of lighting fixtures which can display colored light in isolated zones and information clearly, including lighting fixture structure for the needs of displaying colored light in isolated zones and information, cable splitter system for electrical coupling of several lighting fixtures, topology recognition, controlling the array of lighting fixtures for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information.

The present invention may be used as lighting, entertaining and informative mean.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types and designs of lighting fixtures as well as methods of their controlling have been widely known over the years. U.S. Pat. Application No. 20130322082 describes a lighting fixture that include a printed circuit board and multiple light emitting diodes. Multiple connection terminals are electrically connected to the printed circuit board including alternating current connection terminals and communications connection terminals. A communications interface is electrically connectible to the communications connection terminals adapted to provide communications addressable to the control circuit. A communications signal for controlling the operating parameter is transferable to the communications interface via the other lighting fixture through the communications connection terminals.

US Patent US9521713B2 describes a programmable module for a modular installation of signal transmitters, in particular of the type light signal transmitter. The invention aims to provide a programmable module which allows to increase the size of the modular installation by adding new modules, by connection new modules with existing modules.

Above mentioned lighting fixtures have several disadvantages. Described systems can display one-color or diffused light only and cannot display colored light in isolated zones or clearly show text information, images, video and animation on one or plurality of coupled lighting devices, because mentioned lighting fixtures don't have strictly isolated zones by design, have one color per luminaire or blended light of several colors in one luminaire. The mechanical structure of the mentioned modular lighting fixtures doesn't allow building screens of different sizes and continuous pixel matrix across a plurality of luminaires for displaying colored light in isolated zones or information.

Lack of usability during the installation process. The installation process of mentioned lighting fixtures is not user-friendly as it requires to do several actions at the same time, namely, attach the lighting fixture to the wall and connect to a neighbor lighting fixture using a mechanical connector. Such combination of two simultaneous actions increase the probability of fails during the installation process and make the installation process more time- consuming and inconvenient for users.

Design of formerly known and mentioned lighting fixtures allows forming limited polygonal shapes as the modular lighting fixtures should be mechanically and electrically coupled side to side and cannot be assembled to touch each other in one point only, for example, it's impossible to assemble triangle fixtures that touch each other in one point only. Also, described luminaires do not allow assembling tangram figures where luminaires touch each other in one point only such as apex of a triangle or another polygon. Assembled shapes from a mentioned lighting fixtures are lighting systems only. It's impossible to add sound devices into an assembly and create audio-lighting systems.

The topology recognition methods of mentioned lighting fixtures require lighting devices to be physically and electronically coupled via edges with the connector that doesn't allow to coordinate lighting devices located on a distance or touched in one point only and therefore show on them synchronized visual effect. Methods of topology recognition which are based on the information how neighbor luminaires are electrically coupled between each other don't allow to show the synchronized visual effect on the assemblies or luminaires that electrically are not coupled between each other. They also display visual effects on the entire shape, don't allow to display different effects on different subsets of the assembled shape. Therefore, the creative potential, diversity of artistic shapes and visual effects on them are limited.

The present invention solves these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a luminaire is provided which comprises a frame that has a certain height and plural opaque walls that form at least two isolated zones, at least one lighting source in each of the isolated zones, neighbor isolated zones designed to avoid light blending between these zones when the lighting sources are switched on, a top cover which tightly coupled on top of the frame and made of a material that allows at least part of the light to pass through it.

According to an embodiment the thickness of the top cover is less than 1 mm.

According to an embodiment a top cover is made of translucent material that diffuses the light.

According to an embodiment a top cover is made of transparent material.

According to an embodiment a top cover is made of fabric.

According to an embodiment the frame with top cover is covered with an additional protective cover made of transparent material.

According to an embodiment the frame with top cover is covered with an additional protective cover made of translucent material.

According to an embodiment the protective cover is flat surface.

According to an embodiment the protective cover is 3D surface.

According to an embodiment every side of the frame forms transparent and opaque parts on the sides of the luminaire when lighting sources of the luminaire are switched on, and for each transparent part there is an opaque part of the identical shape symmetrical from the middle of the luminaire's side.

According to an embodiment at least one isolated zone when lighted up, forms a square pixel.

According to an embodiment each isolated zone has at least one lighting source independently connected with a power supply source.

According to an embodiment the luminaire contains the frame is sectioned by isolated zones, each zone has at least one light source inside and borders designed to avoid light blending from one zone to another.

According to an embodiment a square pixel is made by a plurality of lighting up neighbor isolated zones.

According to an embodiment isolated zones have the right triangle shape.

According to an embodiment at least two isolated zones of right triangle shape are arranged to each other and form a square shape. According to an embodiment isolated zones, placed along the luminaires contour, have the shape of half of the square pixel.

According to an embodiment isolated zones, placed along the luminaires contour, have the right triangle shape.

According to an embodiment the luminaire contains sidewall whose thickness is half of thickness of the internal borders between isolated zones.

According to an embodiment the different isolated zones light up in the same or different colors.

According to an embodiment the luminaire is designed to make walls between isolated zones invisible when the luminaire is turned off and clearly visible when the luminaire is turned on.

According to an embodiment the luminaire comprises one or more mechanical connections adapted to attach to a cable splitter and get mechanical support.

According to an embodiment the luminaire comprises one or more electrical connections adapted to couple with the cable splitter for getting electricity flow.

According to an embodiment the luminaire comprises one or more electrical connections adapted to couple with the cable splitter for getting electricity flow and data signals.

According to an embodiment the luminaire comprises a controller adapted to independently change drive currents on each lighting source in each of the isolated zones.

According to the invention a lighting system comprising a plurality of luminaires is provided wherein a plurality of luminaires coupled or not coupled together forms seven pieces of tangram and adapted to form tangram figures.

According to an embodiment each luminaire has the right triangle shape and the number of luminaires is sixteen.

According to an embodiment each luminaire comprises one or more mechanical connections adapted to attach to a cable splitter and get mechanical support.

According to an embodiment each luminaire comprises one or more electrical connections adapted to couple with cable splitter for getting electricity flow.

According to an embodiment each luminaire comprises one or more electrical connections adapted to couple with cable splitter for getting electricity flow and data signals. According to the invention a lighting system comprising a plurality of luminaires is provided, wherein each luminaire reflects a certain part of the whole object such as text, picture, animation, video or its combinations.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the lighting system comprises a set of pixelated lighting (led) fixtures, connected to the modular cable splitters which transfer electricity flow and control signals, that can form artistic or tangram shapes to display visual effects and screens to clearly display text, images, animations, video, and other pixel- based information.

According to the invention a cable splitter system to transfer at least electricity flow into different directions for attached fixtures is provided. The cable splitter network system comprises a plurality of cable splitters, wherein each cable splitter has at least two connectors to transfer electricity flow to other connected cable splitters, and at least one connector to transfer electricity flow to one or more attached fixtures, wherein at least one cable splitter is connected to a power source.

According to one of the embodiments of the present invention the cable splitter network system comprises a set of modular cable splitters, which, when assembled in different shapes and connected via cables, form a network that transfers electricity flow and control signals to all attached fixtures, allow to attach lighting fixtures or loudspeakers and build lighting, sound and/or mixed assembly where fixtures touch each other in one point only or located on a distance.

According to an embodiment at least two connectors of at least one cable splitter of the plurality of cable splitters, for transferring electricity flow to other connected cable splitters, are adapted to bi-directionally transfer data signals together with electricity flow.

According to an embodiment the plurality of cable splitters is configured to electrically couple to each other via a plurality of cables.

According to an embodiment the attached fixtures are manageable by at least one controller electrically connected with all attached fixtures via the plurality of cable splitters and adapted to send control data signals into different directions via connected cable splitters to attached fixtures and receive data from them.

According to an embodiment at least one controller is the main controller which instructs controllers inside attached fixtures. According to an embodiment at least one cable splitter is plugged to the power source by a power adapter.

According to an embodiment the controller housed into the power adapter.

According to an embodiment the controller is housed into the attached fixture.

According to an embodiment the controller is housed into the cable splitter.

According to an embodiment one or more of the plurality of the cable splitters have any shape, including, but not limited to right triangle, equilateral triangle, square, rectangle, parallelogram, oval, round or irregular shapes.

According to an embodiment one or more of the plurality of cable splitters have the same shape as attached fixtures.

According to an embodiment one or more of the plurality of cable splitters have a shape different from the shape of the attached fixtures.

According to an embodiment one or more of the plurality of cable splitters have means of mechanical support to attached fixtures.

According to an embodiment one or more of the one or more attached fixtures are luminaires or audio devices or decorative fixtures.

According to an embodiment an enclosure of cable splitters comprises at least one cable holder.

According to an embodiment the at least one controller comprises a wireless communication module or an Ethernet communication module.

According to an embodiment at least one of cable splitters comprises a wireless communication module or an Ethernet communication module.

According to an embodiment at least one of attached fixtures comprises a wireless communication module or an Ethernet communication module.

According to an embodiment the power adapter comprises a wireless communication module or an Ethernet communication module.

According to an embodiment the cable splitter comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted on the enclosure and equipped with at least two connectors to transfer electricity flow and data signals into different directions to other cable splitters connected via the cables.

According to an embodiment the printed circuit board (PCB) is equipped with a contact pads, adapted to electrically connecting with the attached fixture. According to an embodiment the printed circuit board (PCB) is equipped with a male rigid bodies or male connector, adapted to electrically connecting with the attached fixture.

According to an embodiment the printed circuit board (PCB) is equipped with female connector, adapted to electrically connecting with the attached fixture.

According to an embodiment one or more of the connectors for cables on PCB are male connectors.

According to an embodiment one or more of the connectors for cables on PCB are female connectors.

According to an embodiment one or more of the cables for connecting cable splitters have male connector on the ends, adapted to connect with the connector of the PCB of the cable splitter.

According to an embodiment the cables for connecting cable splitters have female connector on the ends, adapted to connect with the connector of the PCB of the cable splitter.

According to an embodiment the cables for connecting cable splitters have different length.

According to the invention a luminaires' topology recognition method, performed by a remote device with a camera located in front of an array of luminaires is provided. The method comprises:

- connecting all luminaires in parallel to a common power source,

- illuminating all luminaires with the predetermined lighting pattern 1,

- taking a set of photos by a camera of a remote device where, on each of the photo, the luminaire with unique identifier illuminating with the predetermined lighting pattern 2,

- a remote device creates a set of images by cutting from the photos same size rectangle where there are only luminaires with the predetermined specific lighting pattern 1 and predetermined lighting pattern 2,

- on each image, a remote device recognizes coordinates and rotation of luminaire with unique identifier and predetermined lighting pattern 2.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the method of topology recognition of a luminaire is performed via scanning the color code displayed on lighting fixtures using a remote device camera that allow to synchronize and reproduce visualizations, animations, images, text information on an array of lighting fixtures that are not required to be electrically connected with each other, and could be even located on a distance.

According to an embodiment photo or video perspective is adjusted in case the photo or video is taken under an angle.

According to an embodiment predetermined lighting pattern 1 or predetermined lighting pattern 2 are colors.

According to an embodiment predetermined lighting pattern 1 or predetermined lighting pattern 2 are color flickering.

According to the invention a luminaires' topology recognition method, performed by a remote device with a camera located in front of an array of luminaires with isolated zones is provided. The method comprises:

- connecting all luminaires in parallel to a power supply,

- isolated zones of each luminaire illuminate color barcode that comprises illuminating isolated zones on luminaire's contour with color 1, illuminating isolated zones inside luminaire in a unique color combination that doesn't include color 1 and represents a unique identifier of a luminaire,

- taking a photo by a camera of a remote device,

- a remote device recognizes a number of luminaires, their positions and rotations by recognizing contours of luminaires represented with color 1 on the photo,

- a remote device recognizes unique identifiers of luminaires by recognizing unique color combinations on the isolated zones inside luminaires on the photo.

According to an embodiment color barcode on the isolated zones additionally comprises illuminating isolated zones inside luminaire in a unique color combination that doesn't include color 1 and represents checksum of a unique identifier of a luminaire to verify by a remote device whether the checksum of recognized unique identifier equals to recognized checksum.

According to an embodiment color barcode on the isolated zones additionally comprises illuminating isolated zones inside luminaire in color combination that doesn't include color 1 and is used for adjusting a perspective of the taken photo by a remote device.

According to an embodiment color barcode on the isolated zones is represented by colors. According to an embodiment color barcode on the isolated zones is represented by color flickering.

According to the invention a method of controlling of an array of luminaires using a remote device is provided. The method comprises: choosing visual effects on the array of luminaires via the remote device, reception by at least one controller a topology, recognized by the remote device with a camera, and generating visual frames on the array of luminaires in according to the selected visual effects and recognized topology by selecting part of a frame of the visual effects that should be visible on certain luminaire of the array by the controller.

According to an embodiment the method of controlling lighting fixtures using a remote device or controller allows to color individual sections of the fixture, subset of the sections of one fixture, display different visualizations on different subsets of lighting fixtures and also display pixel-based information like text/images/videos on pixelated lighting fixtures.

According to an embodiment generating visual frames comprises set color for each isolated zone of certain luminaire and coloring each isolated zone of certain luminaire.

According to an embodiment visual effects include images and/or animations and/or text and/or videos effects.

According to an embodiment choosing visual effects comprises splitting the array of luminaires on several virtual displays by the remote device.

According to an embodiment generating visual frames comprises generating different visual frames on different virtual displays.

According to an embodiment reception the topology comprises reception the set of virtual devices on which the topology is divided.

According to an embodiment the method comprises reception the topology and generating the visual frames by at least one main controller, coupled to the array of luminaires.

According to an embodiment the method comprises reception the topology by at least one main controller and generating the visual frames by at least one controller of each luminary.

According to an embodiment the main controller instructs the controllers of each luminary.

According to an embodiment the main controller is coupled to the array of luminaires via a cable splitter system. Mechanical design of the invented lighting fixture, namely frame of the light surface and thin semi-transparent diffusion top cover tightly coupled on the top of the frame form a pixelated pattern for displaying colored light in isolated zones with clearly distinct zones and separators when lighting fixture is switched on, several distinct isolated zones form square pixels which besides visual effects allow to clearly display information. Sidewalls of the frame which two times thinner than internal ones, their mechanical structure that doesn't allow light blending between isolated zones of several luminaires and isolated zones shape, which equal to half of the square pixel, on the contour of invented luminaire allow building informative screens of different size and form continuous pixel pattern for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information by placing the plurality of lighting fixtures close to each other, side by side. It gives an opportunity to clearly display text information, images, video, colored light in isolated zones and related pixelated lighting effects on the single and plurality of invented lighting fixtures. The geometric shape of invented lighting fixture in a form of right triangle allows to build 7 (seven) tangram pieces from 16 (sixteen) light fixtures, which opens an opportunity to assemble on the wall, ceiling or other flat surface all known tangram shapes.

The invented cable splitter and the cable splitter network system that consist of assembled cable splitters allow focusing a person on one action at each period of time during the installation process - attaching splitters to the wall as a first step. Then cable splitters are connected with cables as a second and separate step. As a third step, a person needs to cover up cable splitter network with lighting fixtures which are not connected between each other. Also, a person can re-adjust cable splitters if he/she changed his/her mind on a desired shape before the actual mounting of lighting fixtures. The current design separates steps during the installation process and focuses a person on one thing at a time which makes the entire process more convenient, less time-consuming and error-free.

Design of the present invention, namely the mechanical structure of cable splitter and approach to connect cable splitters by running cables via sides or corners of the splitter shape allows forming more complex lighting assemblies where lighting fixtures are touched in one point only. The invented cable splitter allows attaching lighting and sound fixtures that gives an opportunity to build lighting, sound or mixed assemblies and expand the potential use cases.

Invented methods of topology recognition, that use the camera of a remote device and are not based on the electrical connection between lighting fixtures, allow to coordinate and display synchronized visual effects on lighting fixtures that touch each other in one point only or even physically not connected or located on a distance. Invented method of controlling lighting fixtures lets display different visual effects and information on different arrays of lighting fixtures assembled into one shape, including informative screens. These inventions make lighting system more versatile regarding possible shapes assembled out of lighting fixtures and visual effects or information displayed on them.

The invented lighting system is more versatile than above-mentioned lighting fixtures which allows reaching the increased aesthetic and functional potential of the product, avoiding errors during installation and eliminates the disadvantages of the existing lighting fixtures on the market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures, embodiments are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and figures are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding.

Fig. 1 illustrates the structure of cable splitter and parts from which it consists: enclosure, printed circuit board, bottom cover, screws.

Fig. 2 illustrates cable splitters of different shapes.

Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B, Fig. 3C, Fig. 3D, Fig. 3E illustrate assembling methods which can be applied during assembling of cable splitters on a flat surface.

Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B, Fig. 4C, Fig. 4D illustrate that cable splitters can be covered with different type of accessories: lighting surfaces (Fig. 4A), sound accessories (Fig. 4B) and decorative surfaces (Fig. 4C). Fig. 4D illustrates that light surfaces, sound devices and/or decorative surfaces of different shapes can cover right triangle splitters.

Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B, Fig. 5C, Fig. 5D, Fig. 5E, Fig. 5F illustrate assemblies that consist of different types of accessories: assemblies comprise light surfaces that have the same shape (Fig. 5A), assemblies comprise light surfaces that have different shapes (Fig. 5B), assemblies comprise light surfaces and decorative surfaces (Fig. 5C), assemblies comprise light surfaces and sound accessories (Fig. 5D), assemblies comprise sound accessories (Fig. 5E), assemblies comprise decorative surfaces (Fig. 5F).

Fig. 6 illustrates long and short cables which are used to connect cable splitters. Fig. 7 illustrates how female connector on the end of a cable is inserted into a male connector of a cable splitter when connecting cable splitters.

Fig. 8 illustrates the structure of light surface for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information, parts from which it consists of: top cover, frame, printed circuit board, bottom cover, screws.

Fig. 9 illustrates how light surface covers up the cable splitter.

Fig. 10A illustrates that pixelated pattern of light surface for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information is not visible when light surface is turned off. Fig. 10B illustrates the pixelated pattern of right triangle light surface that is visible only when light surface is turned on. Fig. IOC illustrates square pixel zones which are visible when two neighbor zones are illuminated in the same color. Fig. 10D illustrates continuous pixelated pattern with square pixel zones when pixelated light surfaces are closely located near each other, it is used to clearly display pixel-based information.

Fig. 11 illustrates several examples of different shapes and pixelated patterns of light surface for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information.

Fig. 12 illustrates several examples of screens, rectangle shapes assembled from connected cable splitters and covered with right-triangle pixelated light surfaces, that clearly show text information and pictures.

Fig. 13 illustrates several examples of informative screens, square shapes assembled from connected cable splitters and covered with right-triangle pixelated light surfaces, that clearly show pictures.

Fig. 14 illustrates several examples of artistic shapes, assembled from different amounts of connected cable splitters and covered with right-triangle pixelated light surfaces, that show colored light in isolated zones and related pixelated light effects.

Fig. 15 illustrates seven (7) tangram pieces gathered from sixteen (16) pixelated right- triangle light surfaces and several examples of tangram shapes that show pixelated light effects, assembled from sixteen (16) connected cable splitters and covered with right-triangle pixelated light surfaces.

Fig. 16 illustrates several examples of pixelated light effects displayed on assemblies that consist of light surfaces.

Fig. 17A, Fig. 17B, Fig. 17C illustrate how power adapter is connected to one of the cable splitters of certain assemble and to the mains (Fig. 17A), the off assemble state when a pixelated pattern is not visible on light surfaces (Fig. 17B), the on assemble state when a pixelated pattern is visible on light surface (Fig. 17C).

Fig. 18 illustrates the example of the product kit which customer receives to make an assemble from light surfaces on the wall or ceiling.

Fig. 19 illustrates the block scheme of the topology recognition method 1 of even not connected pixelated luminaires for discovering their location in space and relation to each other, the method uses the camera of the remote device.

Fig. 20 illustrates the method of accelerated search of universal unique identifiers of light surfaces performed by main controller after powering up the lighting system.

Fig. 21 illustrates the sequence diagram of an example of communication between the main controller and light surfaces during the execution of an accelerated search of universal unique identifiers of light surfaces.

Fig. 22 illustrates how surface controllers encode outline, square, short unique identifier and checksum into the color code of a light surface during the process of topology recognition method 1.

Fig. 23A illustrates an example of how a remote device, located in front of lighting system, takes a photo of an assembly, consisted of light surfaces that displaying a color code of the topology recognition method 1. Fig. 23B illustrates an example of how a remote device, located in front of several not-connected lighting systems, takes a photo of not-connected assemblies, consisted of light surfaces that displaying a color code of the topology recognition method 1.

Fig. 24 illustrates the block scheme of the topology recognition method 2 of even not connected luminaires for discovering their location in space and relation to each other, the method uses the camera of the remote device.

Fig. 25A illustrates an example of how a remote device, located in front of lighting system, receives a video on which there is an assembly, consisted of light surfaces that displaying a color code of the topology recognition method 2. Fig. 23B illustrates an example of how a remote device, located in front of several not-connected lighting systems, receives a video on which there are not-connected assemblies, consisted of light surfaces that displaying a color code of the topology recognition method 2.

Fig. 26 illustrates method of controlling lighting fixtures using a remote device or main controller that allows to color individual sections of the light surface, subset of the sections of one light surface, display different visualizations on different subsets of light surfaces. It is used to display one or several effects, information on all light surfaces of assembly in sync.

Fig. 27 illustrates method of controlling lighting fixture using its surface controller that allows to color individual sections or subset of the sections of one light surface without main controller or remote device involved. It is used to display the same effect on all light surfaces of assembly without synchronization.

Fig. 28 illustrates how the main controller preprocesses any pixel based information to display it on triangle zones of the light surfaces clearly.

Fig. 29 illustrates an example of an interface of a remote device that allows controlling artistic shape assembled from light surfaces: change color, select visual effect, change effect settings, connect to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Flome Kit for voice control.

Fig. 30 illustrates an example of an interface of a remote device that allows controlling information screen assembled from light surfaces: change color, select information app, change app settings, connect to Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Apple Flome Kit for voice control.

Fig. 31 illustrates the structure of the main controller and parts from which it consists: enclosure, printed circuit board with CPU and Wi-Fi or other wireless interface module, bottom cover, screws.

Fig. 32 illustrates the frame of the cable splitter, namely that the thickness of the sidewalls are two times less than the thickness of internal borders of a frame.

Fig. 33 illustrates another embodiment of cable splitter and parts from which it consists of: enclosure, printed circuit board, bottom cover, screws.

Fig. 34 illustrates another embodiment of light surface for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information, parts from which it consists of: protective cover, top cover, frame, printed circuit board, bottom cover, screws.

Fig. 35 illustrates an embodiment of visual pattern on the sides of the lighting surface formed by sides of the frame of lighting surface.

Fig. 36 illustrates how visual pattern on the edges of the lighting surface formed by the sides of the frame of lighting surface helps to avoid light blending between zones of two lighting surfaces located closely side by side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The application is directed to lighting systems, smart displays, and decor technologies. On the market, there were smart lighting systems which can only display one color or diffused colors and personal smart display for home and office which show important information like weather, time, business metrics from the Internet or notifications from smart home devices at a glance, in real-time. There was a demand for a new device for a wall with bigger physical dimensions that could show important information at a glance. The problem of devices with bigger dimensions is the cost of manufacturing which makes the price for end customers not affordable and limits the potential of the product for business customers only. To meet the demand and decrease the entry price for end customers, applicant decided to apply modular approach and invented informative pixelated lighting fixtures that is a product on the intersect of lighting and display technologies as it allows to build artistic shapes from the modules on the wall and display colored light in isolated zones to enhance interior, and, in the same time, allows to build a smart display of a needed size on the wall from the same modules and display information from the Internet or notifications from smart home device at a glance.

The informative pixelated lighting fixtures system for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information according to the application is based on the three major principles:

1) User-friendly and easy setup to make the product available for the mass market.

2) The high creative potential of the product for home and office decoration.

3) Functional versatility to meet requirements of end-users and business customers.

These are major elements of the invented pixelated lighting fixtures system for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information that give advantages over all existing lighting fixtures on the market:

1) The cable splitter network system is invented:

a) to improve the unfriendly setup process of existing products on the market by focusing installation process on one thing at a time - first, attach cable splitters to the wall, second, connect splitters with a cable, third, cover them with light surfaces;

b) to increase the creativity of assembled shapes by connecting the cable splitters via cables that allows creating shapes where light surfaces touch each other in one point only;

c) to increase the functional versatility of the lighting system by creating lighting, sound, and decorative assemblies via supporting the lighting, decorative and sound accessories. This transforms invented lighting fixtures system into sound or audio-lighting hybrid systems.

2) The pixelated light surface is invented to increase the functional versatility by using the special pixelated pattern on top of light surface to clearly display colored light in isolated zones and pixel-based information like text, images, video, animations, pixelated lighting effects.

3) The luminaire topology recognition methods using the camera of a remote device are invented to increase the creativity value of the lighting system by allowing to coordinate and display synchronized visual effects on lighting fixtures that touch each other in one point only or even physically not connected or located on a distance.

4) The method of controlling of an array of luminaires is invented to increase the creative value of the lighting system by allowing to display different visual effects on different arrays of lighting fixtures assembled into one shape.

Informative pixelated lighting fixtures system, according to presented invention, consists of cable splitters, pixelated light surfaces, main controller, cables, power adapter for transferring power via cables and cable splitters to all pixelated light surfaces.

Cable splitters and assembling methods. Cable splitter network.

The cable splitter is an electrical device, which aims to transfer electricity flow or electricity flow with data signals into different directions via connected cables and to the lighting or sound accessory connected directly to cable splitter.

The secondary purpose of the cable splitter is to provide mechanical support to the connected lighting, sound accessory or decorative surface. Cable splitters could be mounted on any flat surface such as wall or ceiling using adhesive tape, they also might have several holes for screw mount.

On Fig. 1 and Fig. 33 illustrative embodiments of a cable splitter are shown. Cable splitter 100 comprises enclosure 101, printed circuit board (PCB) 102 and bottom cover 103. On the front surface of enclosure 101, there are several rises: a big round rise 107 with several holes on the bezel 106 and several holes on top 108; several optional small rises 109 across the top surface. Printed circuit board 102, Fig. 1, has a round shape with several (four in this case) male connectors 105 on the sides and several (three in this case) contact pads 112 in the middle. Printed circuit board 102, on Fig. 33, has irregular shape with several (six in this case) male connectors 105 on the sides and several (four in this case) contact pads 112 in the middle. These connectors and pads fit the holes of the big rise 107 of enclosure when PCB 102 is inserted from the rear side of enclosure 101. Bottom cover 103 closes the rear side of the enclosure when PCB 102 is inserted. Screws 104 are used to fix PCB 102 and bottom cover 103 with an enclosure 101. Male connectors 105 on the sides of the big rise are used for electrical connection of cable splitters 100 between each other via cables 600A, 600B or 600C. In case of embodiment of cable splitter illustrated on Fig. 33 only cables 600A, 600C are used. One type of cable 600A is enough for most type of connections between splitters (Fig. 3A, Fig. 3B, Fig. 3C, Fig. 3D). In the illustrated embodiments, contact pads 112 are used for electrical connection with the male connectors 808 located on the rear side of the pixelated light surface 800 or similar connectors of a sound accessory. Two contact pads are used for transferring electricity flow to attached fixtures, one (bi-directional single bus interface) contact pad is used for data transfer. In embodiments where RS-485 (bi-directional two pins interface) is used for data transfer, there will be two contact pads for data transfer (for example, in embodiment illustrated on Fig. 33). In embodiments where only electricity flow should be transferred across cable splitters, data pins will be missed in contact pads 112 and connectors 105. In other embodiments, instead contact pads 112 can be used any other type connectors like female connector, male connector, male rigid bodies or others. All rises on the top surface of enclosure are used for mechanical connection with the appropriate slots on the rear side of the pixelated light surface 800, sound accessory or decorative surface when assembled. On the top surface of enclosure 101 there are holes 110 for screw mount of cable splitter on the flat surface. On the top surface of enclosure 101 there are also cable holders 111 in the middle of every sides and on the corners of cable splitter to fix cables 600A, 600B or 600C when splitters are connected.

Cable splitters could have different shapes: right triangle, equilateral triangle, square, round, oval, line, irregular, and other shapes. Some of the illustrative embodiments of cable splitter shapes are shown in Fig. 2. In some cases, the shape of cable splitters is the same as the shape of accessories which are mounted on these cable splitters. In other cases, cable splitters might have the shape different from the shape of attached fixtures.

Several cable splitters 100 are connected between each other using cables 600A, 600B or 600C. Cable splitters might have cable holders 111 to fix cables that connect cable splitters during setup. Several cable splitters joined together via cables form a modular cable network that transfers electricity flow and control signals for lighting and sound accessories.

Cable splitters could be mounted on the wall or ceiling using the following assembling methods: a) the corner of one cable splitter to the corner of other cable splitter (one of the illustrative embodiment of corner connection is shown on Fig. 3B), b) the side of one cable splitter to the side of other cable splitter(one of the illustrative embodiment of side connection is shown on Fig. 3A), c) the part of the side of one cable splitter to part of the side of other cable splitter(one of the illustrative embodiment of partly side connection is shown on Fig. 3C), d) the corner of one cable splitter to the side of other cable splitter(one of the illustrative embodiment of corner to side connection is shown on Fig. 3D), e) two cable splitters on a distance connected with long cable (one of the illustrative embodiment of distances connection is shown on Fig. 3E). These assembling methods give the possibility to form different artistic, tangram, rectangle or square (screen like) cable networks by assembling mounting plates on the wall or ceiling. These methods of assembling cable splitters much increase the creative potential of existing products on the market and allows to build shapes which have not been possible to build before.

Assembled cable network consisting of cable splitters provides better user experience during the process of assembling desired shape from lighting and sound accessories - it allows assessing the decorative value (how the desired shape looks) on cable network before it is covered with accessories. If the cable network looks as not as planned by a customer and requires amendments, a customer can easily re-assemble it before cable splitters are covered with accessories, thus investing less amount of time for installation process. Cable splitters can be covered with pixelated light surfaces of the same shape as the shape of cable splitters (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 4A), sound accessories (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 4B) and decorative surfaces (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 4C). It's possible to cover cable splitters with the light surfaces of different shapes in the same assembly, for example, square light surface covers two cable splitters of right triangle shape (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 4D).

As connected cable splitters form a modular electrical and data cable network and provide electrical flow, control signals and mechanical support for lighting, sound and decorative accessories, customers can create shapes which consist of different type of accessories: a) assembles that consist of lighting accessories of one shape(one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5A) b) assembles that consist of lighting accessories of different shapes (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5B) c) assembles that consist of lighting and decorative accessories (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5C) d) assembles that consist of lighting and sound accessories (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5D) e) assembles that consist sound accessories (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5E) f) assembles that consist of decorative accessories (one of the illustrative embodiment is shown on Fig. 5F). These possibilities of cable splitter increase the functional value of the invented light system by bringing decorative and audio use cases.

Pixelated light surface for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information. Artistic, tangram, informative screen shapes.

The invented pixelated light surface is a luminaire with the ability to light up a pixelated pattern when different zones of a luminaire are light up in the same or different colors without the ability to blend colors between these zones of the luminaire. This characteristic allows forming different visual forms on the luminaire, which differs from the shape of the luminaire, by lighting up neighbor cells in the same color. If such form is square, it allows displaying pixelated type of information like text, images, video. The pixelated nature of luminaire also allows displaying colored light in isolated zones - creative and dynamic pixelated light effects - effects which look the same way as on the pixel-based screen, for example on desktop monitor. The pixelated light surface could have different shapes: right triangle, equilateral triangle, round, oval, square, hexagon, line and even irregular shapes. The pixelated light surface could have different pixelated patterns which are visible when they are switched on. Several of the illustrative embodiments of a pixelated light surface with pixelated patterns are shown in Fig. 11.

On Fig. 8 and Fig. 34 illustrative embodiments of a pixelated light surface are shown.

The pixelated light surface 800 consists of frame 802, printed circuit board 803, top cover 801 and bottom cover 804, can also have protective cover 819. Frame 802 is sectioned on thirty-two (32), sixty-four (64) or other amount of small triangle pixelated zones 814 that allow to avoid light blending from one zone to another. Printed circuit board (PCB) 803 has thirty-two (32), sixty-four (64) or other amount of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 813 on top of it and, when assembled with the frame 802, each LED 813 goes inside one pixelated zone 814 of the frame. Each pixelated zone can have more than one LEDs 813 inside. There are several LED drivers 815(in current case six) on the PCB 803, they are needed to limit the current which goes on the LEDs 813, to change LEDs brightness by instruction from surface controller 810, to form one RGB component of a certain color of LEDs 813 by instruction from the surface controller 810. There is an accelerometer 812 on the PCB 803, it is used to measure non- gravitational acceleration and vibrations by surface controller 810 when a person touches a light surface, a more detailed description is below. There is a surface controller 810 on the PCB 803. The surface controller 810 is responsible for the following tasks: lighting up the individual LEDs 813 or subset of LEDs 813 independently based on visual effects stored in the non-volatile memory of the surface controller 810; lighting up the individual LEDs 813 or subset of LEDs 813 based on the visual frames received from a main controller 3100; analyzing data from accelerometer 812 and understanding when a person touches a light surface 800; answering the main controller 3100 when it asks for the touch events on the light surface 800; switching on/off all LEDs 813 when it receives the appropriate command from a main controller 3100; performing gamma correction of the visual information received from a main controller 3100 or stored in the non-volatile memory of the surface controller 810 before lighting up the LEDs in order to light up the colors of the visual information exactly in the same way as it does etalon sample on manufacturing; increasing/decreasing the LEDs brightness based on the command from a main controller 3100 by changing the current on LED drivers 815; answering to a main controller 3100 when it performs method of accelerated search, which is shown on Fig. 20, Fig. 21.; displaying color-code of topology recognition methods, which are shown on Fig. 19, Fig. 24. The top cover 801 is made of thin, semi-transparent light diffusing plastic material that evenly diffuses the light across the area of each pixelated zone 814 without hot spots. Flowever, in some embodiments, top cover 801 can be made of fabric. Top cover 801 creates visual pattern 809, with pixelated zones 814 and clear separators 821, that is invisible when the light surface is off, it's illustrated on the Fig. 10A. When light surface is turned on, pixelated zones 814 are clearly visible with distinct separators 821 between them, it's illustrated on the Fig. 10B. Clearly visible separators 821 between triangle zones 814 are very important for displaying colored light in isolated zones and information, for this matter the top cover 801 should be made from the thin semi-transparent light diffusion film with the thickness no more than 1 mm or fabric, otherwise separators 821 will be blurry and triangle zones will not be distinctly visible what will prevent displaying information clearly and led to blending colors. When there is no requirement to hide separators 821 when light surface is off, top cover 801 can be made of transparent material. Protective cover 819 is used to protect thin top cover 801 from accidental damage and is made of transparent material to do not interfere the visual effect on the top cover. Protective cover 819 can be a flat surface on top of the top cover 801 or 3D surface to add aesthetic value to luminaire when it's off. The side 820 of the frame 802 could have rectangle form as on Fig. 8 or irregular form, one of the embodiments is illustrated on Fig. 34. When lighting surface 800 is mounted and switched on, the irregular form of sides 820 creates a lighting pattern 822 on the sides of light surface 800 with transparent 823 and opaque 824 parts to aesthetically illuminate wall or ceiling with a glow. Flowever, to block the light blending between triangle zones 814 of two or more surfaces 800, located closely side by side, for clearly displaying information and visual effects, the pattern 822 should have specific form - each transparent parts 823 should correspond to symmetrical, from the middle of the edge, an opaque part 824 of the identical shape, what is illustrated on Fig. 35. The overlapping 825 of transparent and opaque parts of patterns 822 when two surfaces 800 are closely located near each other, side by side, in different variations is illustrated on Fig. 36. In case a pattern will not follow the rule described above, the blending of light will happen between triangle zones 814 what will interfere the lighting effects and text information displayed on the assembly of light surfaces 800.

The bottom cover 804 goes underneath of the printed circuit board 803 and has several holes 811 for male connectors 808 which are located on the other side of the printed circuit board 803 and are used for electrical connection between cable splitter 100 and pixelated light surface 800. The bottom cover 804 has one big slot 807 in the middle and optional several small slots 806 across the surface for mechanical connection between pixelated light surface and cable splitter. Screws 805 are used to fix frame 802, PCB 803 and bottom cover 804 together. The top cover 801 connects to the frame 802 via soldering, gluing or is fixed with a protective cover 819 that is mechanically coupled with frame 802.

When pixelated light surface 800 is assembled with cable splitter 100, big rise 107 of the cable splitter 100 together with big slot 807 of the light surface 800 form mechanical and electrical connections; small rises 109 of cable splitter 100 together with small slots 806 of the surface 800 form mechanical connections. Electrical connection is used to transfer electricity flow from a power source, as well as data signals from a main controller 3100 coupled with modular cable network to light surfaces. Data signals can be transferred via bi-directional single bus interface or bi-directional two pins interface (RS-485). However, a pixelated light surface 800 can work independently without the use of data signals from the main controller 3100 and show visual effects stored in non-volatile memory of the surface controller 810, for such case the electrical connection is used to transfer electricity flow only. Mechanical connections are used to hold light surfaces or other accessories and omit their falling. The process of connecting cable splitter 100 and light surface 800 is illustrated on Fig. 9.

When pixelated light surfaces of right triangle shape 800 cover cable splitter network consisting of cable splitters 100, they form decorative artistic or tangram lighting shapes where pixelated lighting effects can be displayed or informative screen where information, images or video can be shown.

Right triangle pixelated zones 814 of the surface's frame 802 form a special pattern 809 that consists of triangle pixelated zones 814 with clearly visible separators 821 between them, as it is shown on Fig. 10B. When two neighbor right triangle zones 814 of the pattern 809 illuminate in the same color, they form square pixel zones 816 for displaying text information, as shown on Fig. IOC. The internal borders 818 of frame 802 have thickness two times more than sidewalls 817, which is shown on Fig. 32. It allows building screens and artistic shapes from pixelated lighting surfaces where formed square pixel zones 816 have borders of the same thickness across the entire assembly and the assembly looks as a coherent piece, not as a thing built from the modules. When several pixelated light surfaces 800 are located near each other, they continuously expand the same pattern 809 which gives the opportunity to build informative screens of different size with the matrix of square pixel zones 816 and clearly display text, images, videos and other pixelated visual effects, as shown on Fig. 10D. The current pattern 809 of light surface and the structure of the frame 802 increases the functional versatility of the lighting system by turning it into the screen for displaying information, moreover making the shape assembled from the pixelated lighting surfaces looks like a coherent piece, not as a thing built from the modules.

Pixelated light surfaces 800 can be assembled into informative screens 1200 and 1300 of different size that show information, images, animations, video, pixelated light effects (several illustrative embodiments of informative screens are shown on Fig. 12 and Fig. 13).

Pixelated light surfaces 800 can be assembled into artistic shapes 1400 that show pixelated visual effects or triangle visual effects (several illustrative embodiments of artistic shapes assembled from different amount of cable splitters and surfaces are shown on Fig. 14).

Pixelated light surface 800 has a right triangle form, it allows to build seven (7) pieces of tangram puzzle 1500 from sixteen (16) pixelated light surfaces 800, as shown on Fig. 15. It opens the opportunity to assemble any of the known tangram shapes 1510 on the wall, ceiling or another flat surface. Several illustrative embodiments of tangram shapes 1510 assembled from sixteen (16) cable splitters and surfaces are shown on Fig. 15.

Different types of pixelated and triangle visual effects can be shown on artistic shapes 1400, tangram shapes 1510 or informative screens 1200, 1300. Several illustrative embodiments of visual effects 1600 are shown on Fig. 16.

Every pixelated light surface 800 has accelerometer 812 inside; it is used to measure non-gravitational acceleration and vibrations. Surface controller 810 analyzes data from accelerometer 812 and understands when person touches a surface. If the timings between touches are not bigger than a threshold, surface controller 810 understands sequential touches as one event like double, triple touch or another touch event. The main controller 3100 from time to time polls surface controllers 810 via bi-directional single bus interface or bi-directional two pins interface (RS-485) if there are any touch events, if yes it can control a lighting system appropriately - for example, show next effect or portion of informative when person touches light surface one time, switch on/off a lighting system when person touches light surface twice. Main controller.

The main controller 3100 is one of cable splitters, it is illustrated on Fig. 31. In the main controller 3100, the printed circuit board 3101, besides several male connectors 105 and contact pads 112, includes CPU 3102, which sends control signals to all surface controllers 810 of pixelated light surfaces 800 or sound accessories connected to the entire cable network, volatile and non-volatile memory, and Wi-Fi or other wireless protocol chip 3103 which connects to the cloud server 2600 and remote device 2200. In other embodiments, the main controller 3100 comprises an Ethernet communication module. The printed circuit board 3101 also includes USB or other interface 3104 for connecting the system to remote device or computer and updating the firmware. It also might include audio in or microphone connector 3105 for capturing the audio signal and retranslating it on the attached sound accessories 800B or show visual effects on light surfaces 800 in accordance to the audio signal, audio out for streaming music from main controller 3100 to external music systems. When cable splitters are connected and pixelated light surfaces and/or sound accessories are assembled, the main controller 3100 is connected to all pixelated light surfaces at the same time via bi directional single bus interface or bi-directional two pins interface (RS-485). The main controller can be connected with any of the cable splitters.

The CPU 3102 of a main controller 3100 is responsible for the following tasks: finding number of light surfaces in the lighting system, seeking their universal unique identifiers (UUIDs), assigning short addresses to surface controllers 810 by executing the method of accelerated search, illustrated on Fig. 20, as a part of topology recognition methods; together with remote device 2200 participating in the process of execution of topology recognition methods, illustrated on Fig. 19, Fig. 24; connecting lighting system to the Internet using Wi-Fi or another wireless protocol chip 3103 and Wi-Fi credentials received from a remote device 2200 which is in the same local area network and connected to the same Wi-Fi as the main controller; sending commands to surface controllers 810 to display particular color or effects, which are stored in the non-volatile memory of the surface controllers 810; coordinating an array of light surfaces by using topology of the light system and sending commands to surface controllers 810 to display the appropriate part of the visual frames of effects, animations, images, text that are received from remote device 2200 which is in the same local area network and connected to the same Wi-Fi as the main controller, cloud server 2600 which has Internet connection with the main controller or stored in the non-volatile memory of a main controller 3100; sending commands to surfaces controllers 810 for switching on/off the light surfaces 800 based on the commands got from a remote device 2200 which is in the same local area network and connected to the same Wi-Fi as the main controller, voice assistant which has Internet connection with the main controller or surface controllers 810 (events from accelerometers 812); sending commands to surfaces controllers 810 for increasing/decreasing LEDs brightness based on the commands got from a remote device 2200 which is in the same local area network and connected to the same Wi-Fi as the main controller or voice assistant which has Internet connection with the main controller.

The major task is coordinating an array of light surfaces by using the topology of the light system and displaying visual effect or information on a set of light surfaces in synchronization, this process is illustrated on Fig. 26. Based on the command received from the remote device 2200 it seeks for the visualization apps in its non-volatile memory or downloads them from the cloud server 2600, which has Internet connection with the main controller, and/or remote device 2200, which is in the same local area network and connected to the same Wi-Fi as the main controller. The main controller receives the topology of the assembled shape from the remote device via Wi-Fi or another wireless network interface or an Ethernet communication module which was recognized via the phone camera of the remote device 2200. It also receives the sets of virtual displays on which the topology is divided by a user. The main controller runs the app and generates visual frames. Using topology, the main controller selects part of the frame that should be visible on every surface of the virtual displays and sends it to the surface controllers 810 located on every of the light surface 800 for visualization. Every surface controller 810 lights up individual LEDs based on the visual information received from a main controller.

Cables to connect cable splitters. Power adapter. Sample kit.

Cables are used to connect cable splitters 100 between each other. There are short and long cables, that have different length. Cables transfers electricity flow and data signals between cable splitter.

Several illustrative embodiments of cables are shown on Fig. 6. Short cables 600A are used to connect cable splitters 100 that are located side by side (Fig. 3A) or corner to side (Fig. 3D), long cables 600B are used to connect cable splitters 100 that are touched on the corners (Fig. 3B) or touched by a part of the sides (Fig. 3C). Cables could have different length, especially for connecting cable splitters that are located on the distance (Fig. 3E). Cables transmit electricity and control signals between cable splitters. On the ends of the cable there are female connectors 601 which are inserted into male connectors 105 of the cable splitters during connection of cable splitters between each other, this process is illustrated on Fig. 7.

The power adapter 1700 is connected to any of the cable splitters 100 or controller

3100. On the end of the power cable there is a female connector 601 which is inserted into any male connector 105 located on the cable splitter. Power adapter is plugged into the mains from which it takes electricity to power the lighting system.

Fig. 17A illustrates how power adapter 1700 is connected to one of the cable splitters 100 or main controller 3100 of modular cable network and plugged into the mains. Fig. 17B illustrates the off state of the assembled shape, when cable splitters and main controller are covered with the light surfaces 800 and electricity flow is transferred from the power adapter, but light surfaces are off and pixelated pattern 809 is not visible. Fig. 17C illustrates the on state of the assembled shape when cable splitters and main controller are covered with the light surfaces 800 and electricity flow is transferred from the power adapter and light surfaces are on, pixelated pattern 809 is visible.

On Fig. 18 illustrative embodiment of sample product kit is shown. The illustrated product kit consists of three (3) cable splitters 100, one main controller 3100, four (4) light surfaces 800, four (4) short cables 600A, four (4) long cables 600B, one (1) power adapter 1700.

Luminaire topology recognition method with the use of a camera of a remote device.

Another preferred embodiment of presented invention is luminaire topology recognition method 1 with the use of the camera of a remote device that increases the creativity value of the lighting system by allowing to coordinate and display synchronized visual effects on lighting fixtures which could be connected not only via edges but in one point only or even physically not connected or located on a distance.

When the desired shape is assembled, and covered up with pixelated light surfaces, to control and sync visualization effects on the array of light surfaces, the main controller needs universal unique identifiers (UUIDs) of the light surfaces to send commands to a certain light surface and topology of the light surfaces (position in the space and relation to each other) to send the correct parts of the frames of the visualization effects or information. UUID is a 32-bit value which is stored in the non-volatile memory of the surface controller 810 and flashed during manufacturing process. The topology recognition method 1 is shown on the Fig. 19, Fig. 22, Fig. 23A, Fig. 23B.

First of all user plugs in power adapter connected to the lighting system into the mains. The main controller 3100 communicates with the light surfaces 800 via bi-directional single bus interface or bi-directional two pins interface (RS-485). It means that only one of the parties can speak at one moment of time - the main controller or light surface(s). The main controller can speak to a certain surface only when it knows its UUID, otherwise it can speak to all surfaces at the same time. In some cases, main controller 3100 stores in non-volatile memory all universal unique identifiers (UUIDs) of light surfaces, they are flashed into the non volatile memory of the main controller during the manufacturing process. In such case, the main controller speaks to every surface and assign short address. In other cases, main controller doesn't know the surfaces' UUIDs. To know them, the main controller starts to seek UUIDs using the method of accelerated search 2000, per the process shown on Fig. 20. Flere is the description of this process:

1) The main controller has a Mask List used for requesting surfaces, at the beginning the Mask List is empty, main controller adds 0 (zero) to it.

2) Then, for every mask in the Mask List the main controller execute the following set of actions:

a) Main controller takes UUID mask from the Mask List.

b) Main controller requests surface without short address to optimize execution time.

c) Every surface controller checks whether it has short address assigned by the main controller. If no, surface controller replies the value that consists of UUID of a certain light surface and checksum. Otherwise, don't reply. d) If there is no reply, main controller goes to step k).

e) after receiving answers from the surface controllers, main controller calculates the checksum of the received UUID value and compares with the received checksum. In case received checksum is equal to calculated checksum, it means that only one surface answered, so the received UUID could be added to the list, short address could be assigned to this surface, main controller goes to step k). f) Main controller requests surface with UUID mask

g) If there is no reply, main controller goes to step 2)

h) Every surface controller of light surface that doesn't have the short address yet calculates bitwise expression UUID & UUID mask. In case the result equal to UUID mask, surface controller replies the value that consists of UUID of a certain light surface and checksum. Otherwise, don't reply.

i) After receiving answers from the surface controllers, main controller calculates the checksum of the received UUID value and compares with the received checksum. In case received checksum is equal to calculated checksum, it means that only one surface answered, so the received UUID could be added to the list, short address could be assigned to this surface, main controller goes to step k).

j) 32 times:

- main controller calculates bitwise expression: UUID mask = UUID mask | (l«i), where «i» is the sequencing number of iteration of the j) step.

- main controller requests surfaces with UUID mask

- if there is no reply, main controller goes to step j)

- every surface controller of light surface that doesn't have the short address yet calculates bitwise expression UUID & UUID mask. In case the result equal to UUID mask, surface controller replies the value that consists of UUID of a certain light surface and checksum. Otherwise, don't reply.

- after receiving answers from the surface controllers, calculates the checksum of the received UUID value and compares with the received checksum. In case received checksum is equal to calculated checksum, it means that only one surface answered, so the received UUID could be added to the list and short address could be assigned to this surface. In case received checksum is not equal to calculated checksum, it means several surfaces answered at the same time, so the main controller adds current UUID mask to the Mask List.

- Goes to the j step

k) Main controller finishes the algorithm. An example of the communication between main controller and surfaces during execution of the method of accelerated search is shown on Fig. 21.

At the end of this process, the main controller knows quantity of light surfaces, their UUIDs and assigned short addresses to them. It means it can speak directly with every of the light surfaces via bi-directional single bus interface or bi-directional two pins interface (RS- 485).

When the main controller 3100 knows all UUIDs and short addresses are assigned, remote device 2200 invokes main controller 3100 to instruct all light surfaces to display the color code (Fig. 22).

The color code of the light surface consists of the following elements: outline in color 1, square in color 2, short address in color 3(LEDs are off), color 4, color 5, color 6, checksum in color 3(LEDs are off), color 4, color 5, color 6. Outline consists of fourteen (14) triangle zones 814 lighted up in color 1 on the sides of right triangle surface 800, it is needed to recognize how surface is rotated on the wall/ceiling and located in relation to other surfaces. Square inside each of the surface consists of eight (8) triangle zones 814 lighted up in color 2, it is needed to adjust a photo perspective before recognition (in case assembled shape on the photo is visible under angle). Eight (8) triangle zones 814 inside every surface in four colors (color 3, color 4, color 5, color 6) display short address of the surface which is needed to understand where located the concrete light surface. For example, if we have binary representation of the short address, then every two bits from the right-side transform into the color of one triangle inside the surface: 00 transforms to color 3 (LEDs are off), 01 to color

4, 10 to color 5, 11 to color 6. Two (2) triangle zones 814 in four colors (color 3, color 4, color

5, color 6) show checksum of the short address for better reliability of the recognition process: the main controller calculates checksum (Cyclic Redundancy Check 4) of the short address, which is four-bit value that is transformed into the color of two (2) triangles inside the light surface. It works like a self-testing component of the image recognition technology - remote device performs Cyclic Redundancy Check 4 on the image-recognized value of the short address and compares with the image-recognized value of Cyclic Redundancy Check 4. In case, these values are equal, the recognized short address is correct.

The steps of the image recognition method 1, illustrated on the Fig. 19, are the following: 1) Light surfaces 800 shows color code with outline, square, short address and checksum.

2) Remote device 2200 takes a photo of the lighting system on which every light surface 800 shows color code, as shown on Fig. 23A, 23B. Fig. 23A illustrates that remote device takes a photo of a one shape. Fig. 23B illustrates that remote device takes a photo of the two shapes, located at a distance.

3) Remote device 2200 recognizes squares in color 2 on the photo and adjusts photo perspective in case photo is taken under the angle.

4) Remote device 2200 recognizes the number of light surfaces, how they are rotated, and their coordinates on the photo by seeking internal shape inside the outlines of the light surfaces in color 1.

5) Remote device 2200 should identify and match the recognized light surfaces with the short addresses, so it takes outline of the individual light surface from the photo and performs image recognition of the short addresses and checksum by reading the color value in the center point of every triangle zone. If the recognized checksum doesn't equal to calculated checksum of the recognized short address value, it means that short address might be recognized with mistakes and remote device 2200 takes colors of another points located in the middle of triangle zones, recognize short address and checksum, and again performs checksums comparison.

6) If the number of recognized unique light surfaces is less than a number of light surfaces found by the main controller using the method of accelerated search described above, it means that photo shows only part of the assembled shape. In this case, the remote device 2200 asks a user to take an additional photo with the missed part of the assembly so the remote device can recognize another part of the topology and then merge them into one shape. Several photos process is used when the assembled shape is too big for one photo, so user needs to perform topology recognition by taking photos that show parts of the shape. It's important to mention that each next photo of the assembly should include several light surfaces from the previous photo, so the remote device can merge the topology of the entire shape. If this is the case, the method repeats from step 1) for each photo. At the end of the process, remote device 2200 knows how all surfaces with related short addresses are located in the space and in relation to each other, can display the assembled shape virtually for the user on the screen of remote device (as illustrated on Fig. 29 and Fig. 30). Flaving topology and short addresses of surfaces, the main controller can coordinate the array of surfaces, display a part of the image/effect/text on each of the surfaces so the full image or animation on all light surfaces looks synchronized, as shown on Fig. 12, 13, 16.

The current method 1 of topology recognition using remote device camera allows to coordinate light surfaces that are not only connected physically at edges but light surfaces which touch each other only in one point (as shown on Fig. 23A) or physically not connected and located at a distance (as shown on Fig. 23B).

This method allows to build much more creative shapes out of light surfaces, especially when light surfaces touch each other in one point only or located at a distance, and display on them different light effects or text/image information in sync. Existing inventions don't allow to reach such level of versatility in shapes creation.

Another preferred embodiment of presented invention is topology recognition method 2 with the use of the camera of a remote device that increases the creativity value of the lighting system by allowing to coordinate and display synchronized visual effects on lighting fixtures which could be connected not only via edges but in one point only or even physically not connected or located on a distance.

When the desired shape is assembled, and covered up with pixelated light surfaces, to control and sync visualization effects on the array of light surfaces the main controller needs universal unique identifiers (UUIDs) of the light surfaces to send commands to a certain light surface and topology of the light surfaces (position in the space and relation to each other) to send the correct parts of the frames of the visualization effects or information. The topology recognition method 2 is shown on the Fig. 24, Fig. 25A, Fig. 25B.

When a user plugs in a power adapter connected to the lighting system into the mains, the main controller seeks surfaces' universal unique identifiers (UUIDs) using the method of accelerated search, as described above. After this, the main controller knows all UUIDs of the light surfaces, number of light surfaces, all light surfaces have assigned short addresses. The main controller 3100 transfers all UUIDs and number of light surfaces to the remote device 2200 (smartphone, tablet or other) via Wi-Fi or another wireless network interface or an Ethernet communication module.

The steps of the image recognition method 2, illustrated on the Fig. 24, are the following:

1) Remote device 2200 opens camera in video mode as shown on Fig. 25A and Fig. 25B. Fig. 25A illustrates remote device 2200 in video mode in front of the assembled shape. Fig. 25B illustrates remote device 2200 in video mode in front of the two shapes, located at a distance.

2) Remote device 2200 asks the main controller 3100 to color the surface with the particular UUID in color 2.

3) Main controller 3100 paints requested surface in color 2 and all other surfaces in color 1 color.

4) Remote device 2200 seeks on the video a rectangle 2510 where all luminaires in color 1 & color 2 fit. It is illustrated on Fig. 25A and Fig. 25B.

5) Remote device 2200 performs video recognition of the requested surface by seeking for the right triangle shape in color 2. Then, the remote device identifies the requested surface's rotation and relative coordinates in the rectangle 2510 where an array of luminaires fit.

6) Remote device 2200 and main controller 3100 perform these operations for next light surfaces by going to step 2).

At the end of the process, remote device 2200 knows topology - how all surfaces are rotated and their relative coordinates in the rectangle 2510, can display virtual assembled shape 2910 for a user on a screen of remote device 2200, as it shown on Fig. 29, Fig. 30. By receiving topology from a remote device 2200 and having short addresses of surfaces, the main controller can coordinate the array of surfaces, display a part of the image/effect/text on each of the surfaces so the full image or animation on all light surfaces looks synchronized, as shown on Fig. 12, 13, 16.

The current method 2 of topology recognition using remote device camera allows to coordinates light surfaces that are not only connected physically at edges but light surfaces which touch each other in one point only (as shown on Fig. 25A) or physically not connected and located at a distance (as shown on Fig. 25B). This method allows to build much more creative shapes out of light surfaces, especially when light surfaces touch each other in one point only or located at a distance, and display on them different light effects or text/image information in sync. Existing inventions don't allow to reach such level of versatility in shapes creation.

The topology recognition method 2 and topology recognition method 1 have the same sequence of steps which are required to get a topology:

1) Illuminating a some or all luminaires with the predetermined specific lighting pattern.

2) Taking a photo or video of an array of lighting units by the camera of the remote device.

3) Recognition of the position of luminaires on the photo or video, taken by the remote device's camera.

4) Identifying certain luminaire by recognition of its illuminated specific lighting pattern on the photo or video, taken by the remote device's camera.

Specific lighting pattern used in topology recognition methods 1 is a color-code described on Fig. 22, in topology recognition method 2 it is a color of the light surface, in other embodiments it can be a flickering pattern of the light surface.

Method of controlling of an array of luminaires.

Another preferred embodiment of presented invention is method of controlling of an array of luminaires using a remote device 2200 or main controller 3100 that allows to color individual sections of the light surface, subset of the sections of one light surface, display different visualizations on different subsets of light surfaces. It increases the functional and creative value of the lighting system, especially in the possibility to show on the one shape different type of effects at the same time, for example, show text and visual effect on different parts of an assembly.

The method is shown on Fig. 26. Remote device 2200 is a mobile phone, tablet, PC computer or another device which is connected to the same WiFi network as main controller 3100, it means remote device can speak with a main controller as they are in the same local area network. The illustrative embodiments of the user interface launched on the remote device 2200 are shown on Fig. 29 and Fig. 30. On a remote device 2200 user reviews the apps which are stored on the cloud server 2600 and/or main controller 3100. Apps include images, animations, text, videos, effects. On Fig. 29 illustrated samples of the visual effects apps, on Fig. 30 illustrated samples of informative apps. On a remote device 2200 user might split the assembled shape of light surfaces on several virtual displays 2601. On a remote device 2200 user selects which app runs on each of the virtual displays 2601. The remote device 2200 sends a command to the main controller with the name of the apps which user would like to run on virtual displays 2601. The main controller 3100 seeks for the apps in the memory or downloads apps from the cloud server 2600. The main controller 3100 receives the topology from the remote device 2200 which it recognized via the camera using invented methods of topology recognition. It also receives the set of virtual devices 2601 on which the topology is divided by a user. The main controller 3100 runs the app and generates visual frames. The main controller 3100 using topology selects part of the frame that should be visible on every light surface of a particular virtual display 2601. To display images/video/text/pixelated animations the main controller 2x scales each of the frames, for triangle visual effects it leaves frame in the same scale. The main controller 3100 fills triangle zones 814 of the particular surface with the color: it puts triangle zones 814 on the 4-pixel zone of the particular frame, then colors them in the color of the pixel on which top with a right angle of triangle zone 814 is located (this process is illustrated on Fig. 28). The main controller 3100 sends a set of the colored triangle frames to each of the surface controllers 810. Every surface controller 810 is responsible for the coloring of the triangle zones of the particular light surface based on the visual frames received from main controller 3100.

Surface controllers 810 have also independent visual effects in the non-volatile memory that can be launched on individual surfaces 800 without the main controller 3100 involvement. The current controlling method is illustrated on Fig. 27.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that mentioned above embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Illustrated embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.