METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A LIGHT SOURCE THAT COMBINES DIFFERENT COLOR LEDS

• US 20070164268A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Original Assignee: Dialight Corporation (Dialight PLC)
• Inventors: CURRAN, JOHN, Goldstein, Peter, Peck, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,777,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/13
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A method for creating an improved signal light is disclosed. For example, the improved signal light includes a housing, one or more first type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting a light energy having a first dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, one or more second type of LEDs emitting a light energy having a second dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, a filter and a mixer. The filter may filter the light energy of the one or more second type of LEDs such that only a third dominant wavelength passes from the one or more second type of LEDs. The mixer may mix the light energy having the first dominant wavelength and the filtered light energy having the third dominant wavelength to form a light energy having a desired fourth dominant wavelength.

Claims

15-1. The signal light of claim 1, wherein said fourth dominant wavelength is approximately 590 nanometers having a yellow color

17. The signal light of claim 16, wherein said light energy of said desired fourth wavelength comprises x and y coordinates in accordance with a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram within the boundaries of:

x y 0.53 0.47 0.51 0.47 0.59 0.39 0.61 0.39 0.53 0.47.

18. A method of creating a signal comprising:

providing one or more first type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting a light energy having a first dominant wavelength;

providing one or more second type of LEDs emitting a light energy having a second dominant wavelength;

filtering said light energy of said one or more second type of LEDs such that only a third dominant wavelength passes from said one or more second type of LEDs;

mixing said light energy having said first dominant wavelength and said filtered light energy having said third dominant wavelength to form a light energy having a desired fourth dominant wavelength; and

emitting a light energy having said desired fourth dominant wavelength.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

placing said one or more first type of LEDs adjacent to said one or more second type of LEDs in an alternating fashion.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said first dominant wavelength, said second dominant wavelength and said third dominant wavelength are outside a pre-defined range and said desired fourth dominant wavelength is within said pre-defined range.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said light energy of said desired fourth wavelength is approximately 590 nanometers having a yellow color.

22. A signal light comprising:

a housing;

one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting a light energy having a dominant wavelength of approximately 595 nanometers (nm) deployed in said housing;

one or more LEDs emitting a light energy having a dominant wavelength of approximately 450 nm deployed in said housing;

a filter, wherein said filter filters said light energy of one or more LEDs having a dominant wavelength of approximately 450 nm such that only a light energy having a dominant wavelength of approximately 580 nm passes; and

a mixer, wherein said mixer mixes said light energy having said dominant wavelength of approximately 595 nm and said light energy having said dominant wavelength of approximately 580 nm to form a light energy having a dominant wavelength of approximately 590 nm.