LIGHTING DEVICE, ILLUMINATED ENCLOSURE AND LIGHTING METHODS

• US 20080112183A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: NEGLEY, Gerald H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device, comprising at least one solid state light emitter and one (or more) optical device(s) which (each) comprises at least first, second and third optical structures, first and second surfaces of the second structure being in contact with a surface of the first structure and a surface of the third structure, respectively. The third structure has at least one optical feature. The light emitter is positioned, the optical feature is positioned, and the regions of the structures have indices of refraction, such that if the light emitter is illuminated, at least a portion of the emitted light will enter into the second optical device structure and exit from the optical feature on the third structure. Also, a method of lighting comprising illuminating a light emitter in such a device.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

at least a first solid state light emitter; and

at least a first optical device,

said first optical device comprising at least a first optical device structure, a second optical device structure and a third optical device structure,

said first optical device structure comprising a first structure first surface and a first structure second surface,

said second optical device structure comprising a second structure first surface and a second structure second surface,

said third optical device structure comprising a third structure first surface and a third structure second surface,

said first structure second surface being in contact with said second structure first surface,

said second structure second surface being in contact with said third structure first surface,

a first region of said first optical device structure comprising said first structure second surface,

a first region of said second optical device structure comprising said second structure first surface,

a second region of said second optical device structure comprising said second structure second surface,

a first region of said third optical device structure comprising said third structure first surface,

said first region of said first optical device structure having a first optical device structure first index of refraction,

said first region of said second optical device structure having a second optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second region of said second optical device structure having a second optical device structure second index of refraction,

said first region of said third optical device structure having a third optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second optical device structure first index of refraction being greater than said first optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second optical device structure second index of refraction being greater than said third optical device structure first index of refraction,

said first solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light will enter into said second optical device structure,

said third optical device structure comprising at least a first optical feature, said first optical feature being positioned such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, whereby at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light will enter into said second optical device structure, at least some of said portion of said first solid state emitter light will exit said third optical device structure from said third structure second surface.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a first luminescent material, said first luminescent material being positioned such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, and at least a portion of said first luminescent material is excited so as to emit first luminescent material emitted light, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light and at least a portion of said first luminescent material emitted light will mix.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a first luminescent material, said first luminescent material being positioned such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light will contact at least a portion of said first luminescent material.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a first luminescent material, said first solid state light emitter being embedded within an encapsulant element in which at least a portion of said luminescent material is also embedded.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a second solid state light emitter, said second solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light will enter into said second optical device structure, and at least some of said portion of said second solid state emitter light will exit said lighting device from said third structure second surface.

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

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second optical device structure first index of refraction and said second optical device structure second index of refraction are substantially equal.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first optical device structure has a substantially uniform index of refraction, said second optical device structure has a substantially uniform index of refraction, and said third optical device structure has a substantially uniform index of refraction.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first solid state light emitter is embedded in said second optical device structure.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second optical device structure comprises at least a first cavity, and said first solid state light emitter is positioned within said first cavity.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first solid state light emitter is embedded in an edge region of said second optical device structure, said edge region being located between said second structure first surface and said second structure second surface.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second optical device structure comprises at least a first cavity, said first cavity is formed in an edge region of said second optical device structure, said edge region is located between said second structure first surface and said second structure second surface, and said first solid state light emitter is positioned within said first cavity.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a first reflector, said first reflector being positioned such that if any light exits said first optical device structure from said first structure first surface, at least a portion of said light which exits said first optical device structure from said first structure first surface will be reflected by said reflector and will re-enter said first optical device structure through said first structure first surface.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said reflector is positioned and oriented relative to said first optical device such that a center of said first structure first surface, a center of said third structure second surface and a center of said reflector are substantially aligned.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rim portion, said rim portion being positioned such that said rim portion blocks said first solid state light emitter from view from a vantage point along a line segment spaced from and perpendicular to said third structure second surface and extending from said third structure second surface and away from said third structure first surface.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 15, wherein said rim portion extends around an entire periphery of said third structure second surface.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first optical device is substantially disc-shaped.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein said first optical device is substantially circular disc-shaped.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein said first optical device is substantially square disc-shaped.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a second solid state light emitter and at least a second optical device,

said second optical device comprising at least a fourth optical device structure, a fifth optical device structure and a sixth optical device structure,

said fourth optical device structure comprising a fourth structure first surface and a fourth structure second surface,

said fifth optical device structure comprising a fifth structure first surface and a fifth structure second surface,

said sixth optical device structure comprising a sixth structure first surface and a sixth structure second surface,

said fourth structure second surface being in contact with said fifth structure first surface,

said fifth structure second surface being in contact with said sixth structure first surface,

a first region of said fourth optical device structure comprising said fourth structure second surface,

a first region of said fifth optical device structure comprising said fifth structure first surface,

a second region of said fifth optical device structure comprising said fifth structure second surface,

a first region of said sixth optical device structure comprising said sixth structure first surface,

said first region of said fourth optical device structure having a fourth optical device structure first index of refraction,

said first region of said fifth optical device structure having a fifth optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second region of said fifth optical device structure having a fifth optical device structure second index of refraction,

said first region of said sixth optical device structure having a sixth optical device structure first index of refraction,

said fifth optical device structure first index of refraction being greater than said fourth optical device structure first index of refraction,

said fifth optical device structure second index of refraction being greater than said sixth optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light will enter into said fifth optical device structure,

said sixth optical device structure comprising at least a second optical feature, said second optical feature being positioned such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, whereby at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light will enter into said fifth optical device structure, at least some of said portion of said second solid state emitter light will exit said lighting device from said sixth structure second surface.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said second optical device is positioned and oriented relative to said first optical device such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated, whereby at least some of said portion of said first solid state emitter light will exit said third optical device structure from said third structure second surface, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light which exits from said third structure second surface will exit said sixth structure from said sixth structure second surface.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said second optical device is positioned and oriented relative to said first optical device such that a center of said first structure first surface, a center of said third structure second surface and a center of said sixth structure second surface are substantially aligned.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising at least a first luminescent material-containing region and a second luminescent material-containing region,

said first luminescent material-containing region being positioned such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, and at least a portion of said first luminescent material is excited so as to emit first luminescent material emitted light, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light and at least a portion of said first luminescent material emitted light will mix,

said second luminescent material-containing region being positioned such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, and at least a portion of said second luminescent material is excited so as to emit second luminescent material emitted light, at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light and at least a portion of said second luminescent material emitted light will mix.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising at least a first luminescent material-containing region and a second luminescent material-containing region,

said first luminescent material-containing region being positioned such that if said first solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit first solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light will enter into said first luminescent material-containing region,

said second luminescent material-containing region being positioned such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light will enter into said second luminescent material-containing region.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising a rim portion, said rim portion being positioned such that said rim portion blocks said first solid state light emitter and said second solid state light emitter from view from a vantage point along a line segment spaced from and perpendicular to said sixth structure second surface and extending from said sixth structure second surface and away from said sixth structure first surface.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 25, wherein said rim portion extends around an entire periphery of said sixth structure second surface.

27. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said first optical device and said second optical device are each substantially disc-shaped.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said first optical device and said second optical device are each substantially circular disc-shaped.

29. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said first optical device and said second optical device are each substantially square disc-shaped.

30. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, further comprising at least a first reflector, said first reflector being positioned such that if any light exits said first optical device structure from said first structure first surface, at least a portion of said light which exits said first optical device structure from said first structure first surface will be reflected by said reflector and will re-enter said first optical device structure through said first structure first surface.

31. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least a first power line, at least a second solid state light emitter and at least a first luminescent material region comprising a first luminescent material,

said second solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented such that if said second solid state light emitter is illuminated so as to emit second solid state emitter light, at least a portion of said second solid state emitter light will enter into said second optical device structure, and at least some of said portion of said second solid state emitter light will exit said lighting device from said third structure second surface,

wherein:

said first solid state light emitter, if illuminated, would emit light having a peaks wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm;

said first luminescent material, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm;

said second solid state light emitter, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm.

32. A lighting device as recited in claim 31, wherein if power is supplied to each power line in said lighting device:

a mixture of (1) light emitted by each solid state light emitter in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm, (2) light emitted by each luminescent material region in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm, and (3) light emitted by each solid state light emitter in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm would, in an absence of any additional light, produce a mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and

a sub-mixture of light emitted by each solid state light emitter in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and each luminescent material region in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm would, in an absence of any additional light, produce a sub-mixture illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to a fifth point, and said fifth line segment connecting said fifth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38.

33. A lighting device as recited in claim 32, wherein said sub-mixture illumination has x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third and fourth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38.

34. An illuminated enclosure, comprising an enclosed space and at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device illuminates at least a portion of said enclosure.

35. An illuminated surface, comprising a surface and at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would illuminate at least a portion of said surface.

36. An illuminated area, comprising at least one item selected from among the group consisting of a structure, a swimming pool or spa, a room, a warehouse, an indicator, a road, a parking lot, a vehicle, signage, e.g., road signs, a billboard, a ship, a toy, a mirror, a vessel, an electronic device, a boat, an aircraft, a stadium, a computer, a remote audio device, a remote video device, a cell phone, a tree, a window, an LCD display, a cave, a tunnel, a yard, and a lamppost, having mounted therein or thereon at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1.

37. A method of lighting, comprising:

illuminating at least a first solid state light emitter to emit first solid state emitter light, said first solid state light emitter being positioned and oriented such that at least a portion of said first solid state emitter light will enter into a second optical device structure of a first optical device,

said first optical device comprising at least a first optical device structure, said second optical device structure and a third optical device structure,

said first optical device structure comprising a first structure first surface and a first structure second surface,

said second optical device structure comprising a second structure first surface and a second structure second surface,

said third optical device structure comprising a third structure first surface and a third structure second surface,

said first structure second surface being in contact with said second structure first surface,

said second structure second surface being in contact with said third structure first surface,

a first region of said first optical device structure comprising said first structure second surface,

a first region of said second optical device structure comprising said second structure first surface,

a second region of said second optical device structure comprising said second structure second surface,

a first region of said third optical device structure comprising said third structure first surface,

said first region of said first optical device structure having a first optical device structure first index of refraction,

said first region of said second optical device structure having a second optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second region of said second optical device structure having a second optical device structure second index of refraction,

said first region of said third optical device structure having a third optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second optical device structure first index of refraction being greater than said first optical device structure first index of refraction,

said second optical device structure second index of refraction being greater than said third optical device structure first index of refraction,

said third optical device structure comprising at least a first optical feature, said first optical feature being positioned such that at least some of said first solid state emitter light which enters into said second optical device structure will exit said third optical device structure from said third structure second surface.