Dim2Amber

Light and Circadian Rhythm

Circadian rhythm is a body’s internal process which regulates 24-hour sleep-wake cycles. This natural process responds primarily to the changes of sunlight.

We spend more than 87% of time indoors (Klepeis et al., 2001) under electric artificial light. During the day, humans are exposed to indoor light that is much dimmer and is only 1/100 of natural sunlight in intensity. During the night in contrast, humans are exposed to artificial light 1000 times brighter than the natural dark.

Insufficient light during the day and excessive light during the evening disrupts circadian rhythm and can cause sleep, immunity, and mood disorders (Bass and Lazar, 2016; Panda, 2016; Stevens et al., 2014).

Melatonin and Dim2Amber

In humans, a hormone called melatonin is produced at night and helps regulate our 24-hour circadian rhythm. This melatonin secretion is suppressed by certain spectrum of light as shown below. Light around 470nm wavelength most strongly suppresses melatonin secretion (Moore-Ede et. al., 2020) and keeps us alert.

We developed a new light source which adjusts its spectrum upon dimming with substantial changes in the melatonin suppression spectrum and named the patented technology “Dim2Amber”.

Dim2Amber technology provides bright and crisp 2000 lx white light at max level with a rich melatonin suppression spectrum to help improve focus and productivity. (Fig ①) As you dim down the light, Dim2Amber elegantly changes the color of the light to cozy warm white (Fig ②) and then to relaxing amber (Fig ③) by smoothly adjusting light spectrum. Such amber light without the melatonin suppression spectrum enables proper melatonin secretion while facilitating necessary visual function. In other words, you can still read books and recognize objects with less side effects of the typical electric light.

Dim2Amber is a registered trademark and a patented technology.

* Melanopic/photopic ratio is a metric for evaluating the health and wellbeing-related consequences of light such as alertness, relaxation, or sleep. For sleep, a low M/P ratio light is recommended. Dim2Amber technology provides a very low M/P ratio at low brightness levels, minimizing the negative biological impact of artificial light while allowing visual functions.