All The Claims

1. A method for determining and recording the cementation and the saturation exponent of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
implementing measurements in said formations using electromagnetic energy at a plurality of at least three frequencies;
deriving, from said measurements, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities;
determining, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, the cementation and the saturation exponent of said formations and;
recording the determined cementation and saturation exponent of said formations.
2. The method comprising repeating said steps of claim 1 at different depth levels and producing a log of determined and recorded cementation and saturation exponent of said earth formations.
3. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different depths of investigation.
4. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different depths of investigation, and wherein said step of determining the cementation and the saturation exponent of said formations comprises determining a radial profile of at least one of said cementation and said saturation exponent.
5. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different polarizations, and wherein said step of determining the cementation and the saturation exponent of said formations comprises determining a radial profile of at least one of said cementation and said saturation exponent.
6. The method as defined by claim 1, wherein said plurality of frequencies are in the range about 100 MHz to 1 GHz.
7. A method for determining and recording the cementation and the saturation exponent of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
implementing measurements in said formations using electromagnetic energy at a plurality of frequencies;
deriving, from said measurements, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities;
determining, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, the formation water saturation and the formation DC resistivity;
selecting a further water saturation and deriving a corresponding further DC resistivity;
determining said cementation and said saturation exponent using said formation water saturation, said further water saturation, said formation DC resistivity, and said further DC resistivity; and
recording the determined cementation and saturation exponent of said formations.
8. The method as defined by claim 7, wherein said plurality of frequencies comprises at least three frequencies.
9. The method as defined by claim 8, further comprising the steps of deriving the permittivities of the formation matrix and hydrocarbons, and the formation water salinity, and using said derived permittivities of the formation matrix and hydrocarbons and said derived water salinity in said steps of determining said formation water saturation and formation DC resistivity and said further DC resistivity.
10. The method as defined by claim 9, further comprising the step of deriving aspect ratios associated with the formation matrix, and using said aspect ratios in determining said formation water saturation and formation DC resistivity and said further DC resistivity.
11. The method as defined by claim 10, wherein said step of determining, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, the formation water saturation and the formation DC resistivity, includes the following steps:
inverting, using a dispersion model and said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, to obtain said formation water saturation;
deriving, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, and said obtained formation water saturation, a formation conductivity dispersion curve; and
determining, from said formation conductivity dispersion curve, the formation DC resistivity.
12. The method as defined by claim 11, wherein said step of inverting, using a dispersion model and said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, is operative to further obtain rock texture parameters of the formation matrix.
13. The method as defined by claim 7, wherein said step of determining, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, the formation water saturation and the formation DC resistivity, includes the following steps:
inverting, using a dispersion model and said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, to obtain said formation water saturation;
deriving, using said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, and said obtained formation water saturation, a formation conductivity dispersion curve; and
determining, from said formation conductivity dispersion curve, the formation DC resistivity.
14. The method as defined by claim 13, wherein said step of inverting, using a dispersion model and said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, is operative to further obtain the salinity of the formation water and the permittivity of the formation matrix.
15. The method as defined by claim 14, wherein said step of inverting, using a dispersion model and said plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities, is operative to further obtain rock texture parameters of the formation matrix.
16. The method as defined by claim 15, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise aspect ratios of rock grains of the formation matrix.
17. The method as defined by claim 15, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise spherical grains and ellipsoidal micropores of the formation matrix.
18. The method as defined by claim 15, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise aspect ratios of macropores, grains, and hydrocarbons.
19. The method as defined by claim 13, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different depths of investigation, and wherein said step of inverting to obtain said formation water saturation comprises inverting to obtain a radial profile of formation water saturation.
20. The method as defined by claim 13, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different depths of investigation, and wherein said step of inverting to obtain said formation water salinity comprises inverting to obtain a radial profile of formation water salinity.
21. The method as defined by claim 13, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different polarizations, and wherein said step of inverting to obtain said formation water saturation comprises inverting to obtain a radial profile of formation water saturation.
22. The method as defined by claim 13, wherein at least some of said measurements of electromagnetic energy in said formations are taken at different polarizations, and wherein said step of inverting to obtain said formation water salinity comprises inverting to obtain a radial profile of formation water salinity.
23. A method for determining and recording a radial profile of permittivity andor conductivity of anisotropic earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
implementing measurements in said formations of electromagnetic energy, at a plurality of frequencies, and at different depths of investigation;
deriving, from said measurements of electromagnetic energy, at said plurality of frequencies, and at said different depths of investigation, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities;
determining, using said respective plurality of formation permittivities and said respective plurality of formation conductivities, a radial profile of vertical and horizontal permittivity andor a radial profile of vertical and horizontal conductivity; and
recording said radial profile of vertical and horizontal permittivity andor said radial profile of vertical and horizontal conductivity.
24. A method for determining and recoding a radial profile of permittivity andor conductivity of anisotropic earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
implementing measurements in said formations of electromagnetic energy, at a plurality of frequencies, and at different polarizations;
deriving, from said measurements of electromagnetic energy, at said plurality of frequencies, and at said different polarizations, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities;
determining, using said respective plurality of formation permittivities and said respective plurality of formation conductivities, a radial profile of vertical and horizontal permittivity andor a radial profile of vertical and horizontal conductivity; and
recording said radial profile of vertical and horizontal permittivity andor said radial profiIe of vertical and horizontal conductivity.
25. A method for determining and recording effective permittivity of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
deriving a mixing law permittivity as volumetric fractions of formation matrix, water, and hydrocarbon permittivities;
deriving an effective permittivity model as a function of mixing law permittivity and rock texture parameters;
implementing measurements in said formations using electromagnetic energy at a plurality of at least three frequencies;
deriving, from said measurements, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities;
determining effective permittivity of said formations using said model and said derived plurality of formation permittivities and formation conductivities; and
recording said effective permittivity of said formations.
26. The method as defined by claim 25, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise aspect ratios of rock grains of the formation matrix.
27. The method as defined by claim 25, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise spherical grains and ellipsoidal micropores of the formation matrix.
28. The method as defined by claim 25, wherein said rock texture parameters comprise aspect ratios of macropores, grains, and hydrocarbons.
29. A method for determining and recording rock type of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising the steps of:
deriving a mixing law permittivity as volumetric fractions of formation matrix, water, and hydrocarbon permittivities;
deriving an effective permittivity model as a function of mixing law permittivity and rock texture parameters;
implementing measurements in said formations using electromagnetic energy at a plurality of at least three frequencies;
deriving, from said measurements, a respective plurality of formation permittivities and a respective plurality of formation conductivities; and
determining rock type of said formations using said model, said derived plurality of formation permittivities and said derived plurality of formation conductivities; and
recording said determined rock type.
30. The method comprising repeating the steps of claim 29 at different depth levels and producing a log of the determined and recorded rock type.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal positioned within a target zone, said apparatus comprising:
(a) an animal positioning device for defining the target zone and for positioning the animal therewithin, said animal positioning device comprising first and second sides, a floor and an upper portion;
(b) a first camera disposed on said first side of said animal positioning device for obtaining a first range image of the animal;
(c) a second camera disposed proximate to said upper portion of said animal positioning device for obtaining a second range image of the animal; and
(d) data processing means operably associated with said first and second cameras for acquiring said first and second range images produced thereby to produce a plurality of acquired range images and for processing said plurality of acquired range images to form a three-dimensional data set defining at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a third camera disposed proximate said second side of the animal positioning device for obtaining a third range image of the animal.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a fourth camera disposed on said upper portion of said animal positioning device for obtaining a thermal image of the animal.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said first, second and third cameras comprise single lens reflex digital cameras.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said first, second and third cameras comprise video cameras.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said data processing means comprises a digital signal processing unit.
7. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said data processing means comprises a personal computer
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including weighing means carried by the floor of the animal positioning device.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including illumination means carried by said positioning device for illuminating the target area.
10. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said illumination means comprises an illuminator that includes a flash source, a pattern mask and a lens system for projecting a pattern onto the animal.
11. An apparatus for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal positioned within a target zone, said apparatus comprising:
(a) an animal positioning device for defining the target zone and for positioning the animal therewithin, said animal positioning device comprising first and second sides, a floor and an upper portion;
(b) a camera disposed on said first side of said animal positioning device for obtaining a first range image of the animal;
(c) a camera disposed on said second side of said animal positioning device for obtaining a second range image of the animal;
(d) a camera disposed proximate said upper portion of said animal positioning device for obtaining a second range image of the animal;
(e) data processing means operably associated with said first, second and third cameras for acquiring said first and second range images produced thereby to produce a plurality of acquired range images and for processing said plurality of acquired range images to form a three-dimensional data set defining at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 further including a camera disposed proximate said upper portion of said animal positioning device for obtaining a thermal image of the livestock animal.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said cameras disposed on said first and second sides of said animal and proximate said upper portion of said animal positioning device comprise digital cameras.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 in which said data processing means comprises a digital signal processing unit.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 further including illumination means carried by said positioning device for illuminating the target area.
16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said illumination means comprises a structured light source.
17. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 further including proximity sensors operable coupled with said cameras to trigger said cameras.
18. A method for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal having first and second sides and a back, said animal being positioned within a target zone having first and second sides, an upper portion and a bottom portion using an apparatus comprising means for defining the target zone, a first camera disposed on said first side of said target zone, a second camera disposed on said second side of target zone, a third camera disposed proximate said upper portion of said target zone and data processing means operably associated with said first, second and third cameras for processing data received from said cameras, said first, second and third cameras, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning the animal within the target zone;
(b) using the first camera, obtaining a range of image of at least a portion of the first side of the animal;
(c) using the third camera, obtaining a range of image of at least a portion of the back of the animal; and
(d) entering into the data processing means, said range images to produce a plurality of entered range images and processing said plurality of entered range images to form a three-dimensional set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
19. The method as defined in claim 18, including the step of processing said plurality of entered range images to form a three-dimensional point cloud set which three-dimensional point cloud set is used to form a unified data set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal
20. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step, of using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining at least a portion of the volume of the animal.
21. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three dimensional data set, determining the hip height of the animal.
22. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining the hip width of the animal.
23. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining a cross-sectional area of the animal at a selected location.
24. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining at least a portion of the surface area of the animal.
25. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining the length of at least a portion of the animal.
26. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, for determining the frame size of the animal.
27. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the thickness of the animal.
28. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the yield grade of the animal.
29. The method as defined in claim 19, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the quality grade of the animal.
30. The method as defined in claim 19 in which said apparatus further includes an infrared camera disposed proximate said upper portion of said target zone and in which said method comprises the further step of measuring the back fat of the animal.
31. The method as defined in claim 19 in which the apparatus used in accomplishing the method of the invention further includes weighing means for weighing the animal disposed at the bottom of the target zone, and in which said method includes the further steps of:
(a) weighing the livestock animal using the weighing means to determine the weight of the animal; and
(b) using the data processing means acquiring the weight of the animal and then determining the number of remaining days the animal is to be fed.
32. The method as defined in claim 31 including the further step of, using the date processing means, determining a feeding regimen for the animal.
33. A method for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal having first and second sides disposed on either side of a median plane and a back portion, said animal being positioned within a target zone having first and second sides, a top and a bottom using an apparatus comprising an animal positioning device for defining the target zone, a first camera disposed on one of said first and second sides of said target zone, a second camera disposed proximate said top of target zone and data processing means operably associated with said first and second cameras for processing data received from said first and second cameras, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning the animal within the target zone;
(b) using the first camera, obtaining a range image of at least a portion of the first side of the animal;
(c) using the second camera, obtaining an image showing the position of the median plane;
(d) using the data processing means, acquiring said first range image to produce a first acquired range image, acquiring said image showing the position of the median plane to produce an acquired median plane image and processing said first acquired range image and said acquired median plane position image to form a reverse duplicate analog of said first acquired range image to represent an inferred range image of at least a portion of the second side of the animal; and
(e) using the data processing means, the first acquired image and the inferred range image of at least a portion of the second side of the livestock animal to form a three-dimensional data set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
34. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining at least a portion of the volume of the animal.
35. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining the hip height of the animal.
36. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining the hip width of the animal.
37. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining at least a portion of the length of the animal.
38. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining a cross-sectional area of the animal at a selected location.
39. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set, determining at least a portion of the surface area of the animal.
40. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the thickness of the animal.
41. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the yield grade of the animal.
42. The method as defined in claim 33, including the further step of, using the data processing device and the three-dimensional data set for determining the quality grade of the animal.
43. The method as defined in claim 33 in which the apparatus includes a thermal camera disposes proximate the top of the target zone and in which the method comprises the additional steps of using the data processing means, determining the back fat of the animal.
44. A method for measuring the physical characteristics of an animal having first and second sides, a rear portion, and a back portion, said animal being positioned within a target zone having first and second sides, an upper portion, a rear portion and a bottom using an apparatus comprising an animal positioning device for defining the target zone, a first camera disposed on a selected one of said first and second sides of said target zone, a second camera disposed proximate a selected one of said upper portion of target zone and said rear portion of said target zone and data processing means operably associated with said cameras for processing data received from said cameras, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) positioning the animal within the target zone;
(b) using the first camera, obtaining a range image of a selected one of the first and second sides of the animal;
(c) using the second camera, obtaining a range image of a selected one of the back portion and the rear portion of the animal; and
(d) entering into the data processing means, said range images to produce a plurality of entered range images and processing said plurality of entered range images to obtain a data set representing at least a portion of the surface of the animal.
45. The method as defined in claim 44, in which the apparatus includes a thermal camera disposed at a selected one of the upper portion of the target zone and the first side of the target zone, and in which the method comprises the additional steps of using the data processing means, determining the back fat of the animal.
46. The method as defined in claim 45, including the further step of using the data processing means to determine areas of localized injury to the animal.
47. The method as defined in claim 45, including the further step of using the data processing means to determine the general wellness of the animal.

1. A surface covering composition comprising:
a polymer;
a bio-based plasticizer;
a stabilizer; and
a co-stabilizer.
2. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride or alkyl methacrylate.
3. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
4. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is at least 90% bio-based content as defined by an ASTM-D6866 standard.
5. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is 25-40 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
6. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is chloro-methoxy fat diethylene glycol dinitrate.
7. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is 1-2 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
8. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer is organocalcium, organozinc, organotin, organobarium or a combination thereof.
9. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the co-stabilizer is 1.5-7 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
10. The surface covering composition of claim 1, wherein the co-stabilizer is an epoxidized polyglyceride.
11. The surface covering composition of claim 10, wherein the epoxidized polyglyceride is expoxidized soybean oil or epoxidized linseed oil.
12. The surface covering composition of claim 1, further comprising a lubricant.
13. The surface covering composition of claim 12, wherein the lubricant is paraffin wax, calcium stearate, calcium acid, or a combination thereof.
14. The surface covering composition of claim 1, further comprising a filler.
15. The surface covering composition of claim 14, wherein the filler comprises calcium carbonate, talc, mica, fibers, silica, wollastonite, or a combination thereof.
16. The surface covering composition of claim 1, further comprising a pigment.
17. The surface covering composition of claim 16, wherein the pigment includes carbon black, titanium oxide, iron oxide, chromium oxide, lead chromate, silica, talc, china clay, metallic oxides, silicates, chromates, phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, carbazole violet, antrhrapyrimidine yeloow, flavanthrone yellow, isoindoline yellow, indanthrone blue, quinacridone violet, perylene reds, or diazo red, or combinations thereof.
18. A surface covering composition comprising:
a polymer;
a bio-based plasticizer;
a stabilizer; and
a co-stabilizer;
the composition having a total bio-based content of 1-35% as defined by an ASTM-D6866 standard.
19. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the total bio-based content is 15-35% as defined by the ASTM-D6866 standard.
20. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the total bio-based content is 20-30% as defined by the ASTM-D6866 standard.
21. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is at least 90% bio-based content as defined by the ASTM-D6866 standard.
22. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride or alkyl methacrylate.
23. The surface covering composition of claim 22, wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride.
24. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is at least 90% bio-based content as defined by the ASTM-D6866 standard.
25. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is 25-40 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
26. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is chloro-methoxy fat diethylene glycol dinitrate.
27. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the stabilizer is 1-2 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
28. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the stabilizer is organocalcium, organozinc, organotin, organobarium or a combination thereof.
29. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the co-stabilizer is 1.5-7 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
30. The surface covering composition of claim 18, wherein the co-stabilizer is an epoxidized polyglyceride.
31. The surface covering composition of claim 30, wherein the epoxidized polyglyceride is expoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, or a combination thereof.
32. A surface covering comprising:
a polymer; and
a bio-based plasticizer being 25-40 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
33. The surface covering of claim 32, further comprising a stabilizer being 1-2 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
34. The surface covering of claim 33, wherein the stabilizer is organocalcium, organozinc, organotin, organobarium or a combination thereof.
35. The surface covering of claim 33, further comprising a co-stabilizer being 1.5-7 parts per 100 parts of the polymer.
36. The surface covering of claim 35, wherein the co-stabilizer is an epoxidized polyglyceride.
37. The surface covering of claim 36, wherein the epoxidized polyglyceride is expoxidized soybean oil or epoxidized linseed oil.
38. A surface covering comprising:
a layer of polymer having a bio-based plasticizer and cork.
39. The surface covering of claim 40, wherein the cork is granulated cork homogenously dispersed throughout the layer of the polymer.
40. The surface covering surface covering of claim 39, wherein the cork is 35-70 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the layer of polymer.
41. The surface covering of claim 40, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is 20-40 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the layer of polymer.
42. The surface covering of claim 41, further comprising a second layer of polymer having a second bio-based plasticizer.
43. The surface covering of claim 42, wherein the second bio-based plasticizer is 25-45 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the second layer of polymer.
44. The surface covering of claim 42, wherein the second bio-based plasticizer is the same as the bio-based plasticizer.
45. The surface covering of claim 42, wherein the second layer of polymer further includes a second cork.
46. The surface covering of claim 45, wherein the second cork is 35-70 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the second layer of polymer.
47. The surface covering of claim 45, wherein the second cork is the same as the cork.
48. The surface covering of claim 42, further comprising a third layer of polymer having a third bio-based plasticizer.
49. The surface covering of claim 48, wherein the third bio-based plasticizer is 30-50 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the third layer of polymer.
50. The surface covering of claim 48, wherein the third bio-based plasticizer is the same as the second bio-based plasticizer.
51. The surface covering of claim 48, wherein the third layer of polymer further includes a third cork.
52. The surface covering of claim 51, wherein the third cork is 35-70 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the third layer of polymer.
53. The surface covering of claim 51, wherein the third cork is the same as the second cork.
54. The surface covering of claim 40, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is 25-45 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the layer of polymer.
55. The surface covering of claim 40, wherein the bio-based plasticizer is 30-50 parts per 100 parts of polymer in the layer of polymer.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A lighting device comprising:
a first string of LEDs and a first switch coupled in series between a power supply node and ground;
a temperature sensor; and
a system controller configured to:
close the first switch during a normal operation mode to deliver a drive current to the first string of LEDs;
detect an over-temperature condition based on information provided by the temperature sensor; and
upon detecting the over-temperature condition, open the first switch to stop the drive current from flowing through the first string of LEDs.
2. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the system controller is further configured to keep the first switch open upon detecting the over-temperature condition until the system controller is reset.
3. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein the system controller is reset when a voltage powering the system controller is dropped below a level that will allow the system controller to operate and then raised above the level that will allow the system controller to operate.
4. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein the system controller derives power from the power supply node and the system controller is reset when power at the power supply node is turned off and then turned back on.
5. The lighting device of claim 2 wherein system controller is further configured to close the first switch after being reset.
6. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising voltage sensing circuitry configured to provide a signal indicative of a voltage at the power supply node and wherein the system controller is configured to keep the first switch open upon detecting the over-temperature condition until the voltage at the power supply node is below a defined threshold.
7. The lighting device of claim 6 wherein the system controller is further configured to close the first switch after the voltage at the power supply node falls below the defined threshold.
8. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein:
the system controller comprises an inputoutput port that is initially configured as an input port for receiving communications from an external device, and
the system controller is further configured to, upon detecting the over-temperature condition, reconfigure the inputoutput port as an output port and set the output port to a logic level indicative of the lighting device having experienced the over-temperature condition.
9. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein to set the output port to the logic level indicative of the lighting device having experienced the over-temperature condition, the output port is tied to ground.
10. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein the inputoutput port is coupled to an wireless communication sensor.
11. The lighting device of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication sensor is an infrared sensor.
12. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the system controller is associated with memory, and is further configured to store information that indicates an over-temperature condition has occurred upon detecting the over-temperature condition.
13. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein the system controller is configured to store information for each over-temperature condition that occurs.
14. The lighting device of claim 12 wherein the system controller is configured to keep track of a number of over-temperature conditions that have occurred.
15. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the over-temperature condition occurs when the information from the temperature sensor indicates a temperature associated with the first string of LEDs has exceeded a defined threshold.
16. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the over-temperature condition occurs when the information from the temperature sensor indicates a temperature associated with the first string of LEDs has exceeded a defined threshold for a given period of time.
17. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein light emitted from the lighting device is white light at a desired color temperature.
18. The lighting device of claim 17 wherein the first string of LEDs comprises a plurality of series connected LEDs.
19. The lighting device of claim 18 wherein the plurality of series connected LEDs comprises a plurality of LEDs of a first type that emit light of a first color and the plurality of LEDs of a second type that emit light of a second color.
20. The lighting device of claim 19 wherein the light of the first color is reddish light and the light of the second color is one of greenish light and yellowish light.
21. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising a second switch coupled across at least one of the plurality of LEDs of the first type and a third switch coupled across at least one of the plurality of LEDs of the second type wherein during the normal operation mode, the system controller is further configured to operate the second switch with a first pulse width modulated signal to control a relative intensity of the at least one of the plurality of LEDs of the first type and operate the third switch with a second pulse width modulated signal to control a relative intensity of the at least one of the plurality of LEDs of the second type.
22. The lighting device of claim 21 wherein the first pulse width modulated signal has a first duty cycle that is variable, the second pulse width modulated signal has a second duty cycle that is variable, and the system controller is configured to vary the first duty cycle and the second duty cycle based on an operating temperature derived from the temperature sensor.
23. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the lighting device has a power supply port, which is configured to receive DC power from a power supply that is separate from the lighting device.
24. The lighting device of claim 1 wherein the first switch is a transistor.
25. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a second string of LEDs and wherein the second string of LEDs and the first switch are coupled in series between the power supply node and ground.
26. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a second string of LEDs and a second switch coupled in series between the power supply node and ground wherein the system controller is configured to:
close the second switch during the normal operation mode to deliver a drive current to the second string of LEDs; and
upon detecting the over-temperature condition, open the second switch to stop the drive current from flowing through the second string of LEDs.
27. A lighting device comprising:
a first string of LEDs and a first switch coupled in series between a power supply node and ground;
a temperature sensor; and
a system controller configured to:
close the first switch during a normal operation mode to deliver a drive current to the first string of LEDs;
detect an over-temperature condition based on information provided by the temperature sensor;
upon detecting the over-temperature condition, open the first switch to stop the drive current from flowing through the first string of LEDs wherein the first switch is kept open upon until the system controller is reset; and
close the first switch after the system controller is reset.
28. The lighting device of claim 27 wherein the system controller is reset when a voltage powering the system controller is dropped below a level that will allow the system controller to operate and then raised above the level that will allow the system controller to operate.
29. The lighting device of claim 28 wherein the system controller derives power from the power supply node and the system controller is reset when power at the power supply node is turned off and then turned back on.
30. The lighting device of claim 29 wherein the first string of LEDs comprises a plurality of LEDs of a first type that emit light of a first color and a plurality of LEDs of a second type that emit light of a second color.