Color Kinetics Incorporated (Stand R87) leveraged its presence at PLASA to showcase a wide range of new systems and technologies, including Powercore™ -- a patent-pending breakthrough in digital power-processing technology that increases efficiency, lowers the overall cost, and eases installation of intelligent solid-state lighting systems by integrating power and data management within the fixture.
Color Kinetics also demonstrated new products that exploit the increasing advantages of LEDs as a digital light source in both traditional and completely new lighting environments – from intelligent replacement lamps for commonly used MR16 fixtures, to modular panels with individually controlled LEDs that enable low-resolution video.
As the performance of LEDs continues to increase, giving way to higher-output systems for general illumination, efficient power distribution poses a challenge. Foreseeing this evolution, Color Kinetics integrated a complete line voltage power solution into its systems with Powercore, streamlining multiple conversion and regulation stages into a single, flexible, microprocessor-controlled power stage that efficiently controls power output to LED-based systems. Powercore eliminates the need for multiple external power supplies, reducing installation costs and complexities, and facilitates the installation of many units in a continuous run.
The iColor Cove MX Powercore is the newest Powercore-based system and highest-intensity member of Color Kinetics’ popular iColor family of intelligent cove lights. iColor Cove MX Powercore boasts more than double the intensity of iColor Cove, and provides uniform color mixing with maximized output to vibrantly fill alcoves and accent spaces, back- and edge-light signs and displays, and enable seamless streams of color in indoor architectural applications. The compact, 12” (30.5 cm) unit has a 100-degree beam angle, and its integral mounting bracket allows for simple 180-degree rotation in 10-degree increments, directing the output as desired.
Color Kinetics’ commitment to innovation is reflected by its diverse and growing product line, which extends the increasing benefits of LED sources into both new and traditional lighting applications. Products making their official PLASA debut are the iColor Module FX and the iColor MR g2.
The iColor Module FX is a 6” (15.2 cm) square modular unit for sophisticated designs that call for singularly controllable points of light. iColor Module FX incorporates 9 or 36 tri-color LED nodes, mounted on a printed circuit board, and driven by Color Kinetics’ custom Chromasic™ microchip. Each LED node within iColor Module FX is individually controllable, whether applied across one unit or a large-scale, multi-unit installation. The units may be conjoined to form grids and customized shapes for unique displays in retail, entertainment, hospitality and casino environments, among others.
The iColor MR g2 is an intelligent, color-changing lamp that generates saturated bursts of color from most standard MR16 fixtures and sockets. With more than three times the intensity of Color Kinetics’ popular iColor MR, the compact lamp facilitates both new and retrofit installations – bringing the aesthetic and practical benefits of intelligent solid-state light sources to existing installations and lighting environments, including commonly used tracks, rails, cables and pendants in interior retail, display, architectural and residential applications. It is also well suited for creating direct-view points of light in theater and stage environments.
Color Kinetics has an open, active OEM and Licensing program through which the company extends its core technologies, expertise and services to help partners go to market quickly without draining their own resources and budgets. On display at PLASA are: Soft-LED™, Chroma-Q™ Color Block, and Digital Light Engines.
The Soft-LED™ is a light drapery for entertainment applications developed by Color Kinetics OEM partner Main Light Industries. Soft-LED applies Color Kinetics’ patented technology to enable precise control of individual LED sources, allowing the creation of complex light shows that may span thousands of individually controlled LED nodes.
The Chroma-Q™ Color Block is a modular block of four DMX-controlled color-mixing LED lights developed by Spectrum Manufacturing with technology under license from Color Kinetics. Color Block is slated for September availability, and will be distributed by A.C. Lighting via its offices in North America and Europe (A.C. Lighting Stand J32).
Digital Light Engines are a growing selection of integrated OEM assemblies based on Color Kinetics’ proven technologies. These include LED-based lighting modules in various shapes and sizes, supported by comprehensive training, reference materials, and services to ensure the successful integration of Color Kinetics’ technology into existing fixtures or completely new fixture designs.
For more information, go to www.colorkinetics.com.