Light emitting diode lighting system

• US 20080192458A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intematix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intematix Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Yi-Qun
• Application Number:
  US11/827,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20080192458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/002 Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• 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 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide

Abstract

A lighting system for generating an illumination product comprises an excitation source, blue/UV LED, operable to generate excitation radiation and a remotely located phosphor, photo luminescent material. Excitation radiation is guided from the excitation source to the phosphor by a waveguiding medium, the waveguiding medium being configured such that the distance the radiation travels from the excitation source to the phosphor layer is at least one centimeter in length. The UV/blue excitation source provides excitation radiation to the phosphor(s), causing the phosphor(s) to photo luminesce, and it may also provide a component of the final illumination product. The configuration of the waveguide allows a greater flexibility in lighting system configurations, such as hanging lighting fixtures, desk lighting fixtures, floor standing lighting fixtures, desk lamps, track lighting, spot lighting, accent lighting, lighting panels, inspection lamps and endoscopes.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

(a) an excitation source operable to generate excitation radiation;

(b) a phosphor; and

(c) a waveguide configured to guide the excitation radiation from the excitation source to the phosphor;

wherein the configuration of the waveguide determines the configuration of the lighting system.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, and further comprising a reflective surface provided on at least a part of at least one surface of the waveguide, the reflective surface being configured to reflect excitation radiation toward a light emitting surface of the waveguide.

3. The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein the distance the excitation radiation travels from the excitation source to the phosphor is at least one centimeter in length.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the excitation source comprises a light emitting diode.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the excitation radiation comprises UV/blue light.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is configured to be in the shape of a system selected from the group consisting of hanging lighting fixtures, desk lighting fixtures, floor standing lighting fixtures, desk lamps, track lighting, spot lighting, accent lighting, inspection light, endoscope light and lighting panel.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the phosphor is coated in layer form on at least a part of a light emitting surface of the waveguide.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein a light emitting surface of the waveguide further includes a surface topology to enhance emission of light from the surface.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the phosphor is embedded in particulate form in at least a portion of the waveguide medium.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting system produces a white light illumination product.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is a medium selected from the group consisting of polymeric resins, acrylic, butylate and glasses.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the peak emission wavelength of the light emitted by the excitation source is greater than about 300 nm, and the peak emission wavelength of at least one component of the photo luminescent light emitted by the phosphor is greater than about 430 nm.

13. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the peak emission wavelength of the light emitted by the excitation source is in a range from about 300 to about 500 nm, and at least one component of the photo luminescent light emitted by the phosphor is greater than about 500 nm.

14. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the phosphor is a composition of at least two phosphors.

15. The lighting system of claim 13, wherein the phosphor composition contains at least one phosphor selected from the group consisting of phosphors that emit light in the blue, green, yellow, orange, and red regions of the electromagnet spectrum.

16. A method of generating a product illumination, the process comprising:

(a) generating excitation radiation from an excitation source;

(b) waveguiding the excitation radiation to a phosphor configured to photo luminesce upon absorption of at least some of the excitation radiation; and

(c) emitting waveguided excitation radiation from the excitation source and photo luminescent light from the phosphor as a combined, product illumination.

17. The method according to claim 16, and further comprising providing a reflective surface provided on at least a part of at least one surface of the waveguide, the reflective surface being configured to reflect excitation radiation toward a light emitting surface of the waveguide.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the distance the excitation radiation travels from the excitation source to the phosphor is at least one centimeter in length.

19. An endoscope lighting system comprising:

(a) a light emitting diode operable to generate excitation radiation of a first wavelength;

(b) a flexible fiber waveguide configured to guide the excitation radiation from the light emitting diode to a distal end of the fiber waveguide; and

(c) a lens provided at the distal end of the waveguide, said lens incorporating a phosphor operable to emit light of a second wavelength in response to the excitation radiation.

20. A lighting panel comprising:

(a) a plurality of light emitting diodes operable to generate excitation radiation of a first wavelength;

(b) a substantially planar waveguide having a light emitting face;

(c) a phosphor provided over the substantially the entire light emitting face; and

(d) a reflecting layer provided on at least the surface of the waveguide opposite the light emitting face, the lighting panel being configured such that excitation radiation from the light emitting diodes is coupled into at least one edge of the waveguide such that the excitation radiation propagates substantially throughout the waveguide and is then emitted through the light emitting face and wherein at least a part of the excitation radiation excites the phosphor which emits light of a second wavelength.

21. The lighting panel of claim 20, wherein the lighting panel is configured to fit an aperture of a suspended ceiling.

22. The lighting panel of claim 20, and further comprising a heat sink around at least a part of the edged of the waveguide, the heat sink being in thermal communication with the plurality of light emitting diodes.

23. A lighting system comprising:

(a) at least one light emitting diode source operable to generate excitation radiation of a first wavelength;

(b) a plurality of flexible optical fibers configured as a flexible sheet and each fiber having a phosphor on at least a part of its outer surface; and

(c) a flexible waveguide configured to couple excitation radiation from the excitation source to at least one end of each fiber such that the excitation radiation propagates substantially throughout the length of each fiber and is emitted through the light surface of each fiber and wherein at least a part of the excitation radiation excites the phosphor which emits light of a second wavelength.

24. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein the fibers are woven as a flexible sheet and comprise the warp and/or weft of the sheet.

25. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of fibers are mounted on a flexible backing material.