LIGHTING DEVICE

• US 20070236911A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creeled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: NEGLEY, Gerald
• Granted Patent: US 7,614,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/505 characterised by the shape, e.g. plate or foil
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body

Abstract

A lighting device comprising at least one solid state light emitter and at least one luminescent element spaced from the light emitter, a surface of the luminescent element being at least twice as large as the illumination surface of the light emitter. Also, a lighting device comprising at least one solid state light emitter and at least one luminescent element spaced from the light emitter, a surface of the luminescent element surface being at least twice as large as and substantially parallel to the illumination surface of the light emitter. Also, a lighting device comprising at least one solid state light emitter and at least one luminescent element spaced from the light emitter, a surface area of a projection of the luminescent element being at least twice as large as a surface area of a projection of the light emitter.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

at least one luminescent element, said luminescent element comprising at least one luminescent material, said luminescent element being spaced from said solid state light emitter,

said solid state light emitter having an illumination surface,

said luminescent element having a luminescent element surface,

said luminescent element surface being at least twice as large as said illumination surface.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance which is at least equal to a largest dimension of said illumination surface.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said solid state light emitter is a light emitting diode chip.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element surface is at least five times as large as said illumination surface.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element surface is at least ten times as large as said illumination surface.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said illumination surface is substantially planar.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element surface is substantially planar.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element comprises a matrix in which a luminescent material is contained.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 8, wherein said matrix comprises a polymeric material.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 9, wherein said polymeric material has been cured.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein a content of said luminescent material in said luminescent element is not greater than about 15% by volume.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element comprises at least one phosphor.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element comprises particles of luminescent material, said particles of luminescent material having an average particle size of not greater than 50 microns.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein a thickness of said luminescent element is not greater than 1 cm.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one scattering layer.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one brightness enhancing film.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element is also a scattering layer.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 100 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from the solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 500 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.

20. A lighting device comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

at least one luminescent element, said luminescent element comprising at least one luminescent material, said luminescent element being spaced from said solid state light emitter,

said solid state light emitter having an illumination surface facing said luminescent element,

said luminescent element having a luminescent element surface facing said solid state light emitter,

said luminescent element surface being substantially parallel to said illumination surface, said luminescent element surface being at least twice as large as said illumination surface.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance which is at least equal to a largest dimension of said illumination surface.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said solid state light emitter is a light emitting diode chip.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element surface is at least five times as large as said illumination surface.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element surface is at least ten times as large as said illumination surface.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said illumination surface is substantially planar.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element surface is substantially planar.

27. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element comprises a matrix in which a luminescent material is contained.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said matrix comprises a polymeric material.

29. A lighting device as recited in claim 28, wherein said polymeric material has been cured.

30. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein a content of said luminescent material in said luminescent element is not greater than about 15% by volume.

31. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element comprises at least one phosphor.

32. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element comprises particles of luminescent material, said particles of luminescent material having an average particle size of not greater than 50 microns.

33. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein a thickness of said luminescent element is not greater than 1 cm.

34. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising at least one scattering layer.

35. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising at least one brightness enhancing film.

36. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element is also a scattering layer.

37. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 100 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.

38. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from the solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 500 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.

39. A lighting device comprising:

at least one solid state light emitter; and

at least one luminescent element, said luminescent element comprising at least one luminescent material, said luminescent element being spaced from said solid state light emitter,

a surface area of a projection of said luminescent element in the form of a first flat shape being at least twice as large as a surface area of a projection of said solid state light emitter in the form of a second flat shape, said solid state light emitter having a largest second flat shape of every solid state light emitter in said lighting device,

said first flat shape being defined by a set of luminescent element points, each said luminescent element point being located in an x-y plane oriented relative to said z axis and having x, y coordinates which correspond, for each radial position relative to said z axis, to x, y coordinates of a point on said luminescent element which is the farthest from said z axis at such radial location,

said second flat shape being defined by a set of light emitter points, each said light emitter point being located in an x-y plane oriented relative to a z axis which passes through a center of said solid state light emitter and a center of said luminescent element and having x, y coordinates which correspond, for each radial position relative to said z axis, to x, y coordinates of a point on said solid state light emitter which is the farthest from said z axis at such radial location.

40. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance which is at least equal to a largest dimension of said first flat shape.

41. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said solid state light emitter is a light emitting diode chip.

42. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said second flat shape is at least five times as large as said first flat shape.

43. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said second flat shape is at least ten times as large as said first flat shape.

44. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element comprises a matrix in which a luminescent material is contained.

45. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein said matrix comprises a polymeric material.

46. A lighting device as recited in claim 45, wherein said polymeric material has been cured.

47. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein a content of said luminescent material in said luminescent element is not greater than about 15% by volume.

48. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element comprises at least one phosphor.

49. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element comprises particles of luminescent material, said particles of luminescent material having an average particle size of not greater than 50 microns.

50. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein a thickness of said luminescent element is not greater than 1 cm.

51. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, further comprising at least one scattering layer.

52. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, further comprising at least one brightness enhancing film.

53. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element is also a scattering layer.

54. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from said solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 100 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.

55. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said luminescent element is spaced from the solid state light emitter by a distance in the range of from about 500 micrometers to about 750 micrometers.