LED LAMP

• US 20110080096A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lumination LLC
• Inventors: Rintamaki, Joshua I., Kuenzler, Glenn H., Allen, Gary R., Dudik, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/112
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/77 with essentially identical diverging planar fins or blades, e.g. with fan-like or star-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/80 with pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/86 Ceramics or glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light emitting apparatus comprising an at least substantially omnidirectional light assembly including an LED-based light source within a light-transmissive envelope. Electronics configured to drive the LED-based light source, the electronics being disposed within a base having a blocking angle no larger than 45°. A plurality of heat dissipation elements (such as fins) in thermal communication with the base and extending adjacent the envelope.

Claims

1. A light emitting apparatus comprising a light transmissive envelope;

a light emitting diode light source illuminating the interior of the light transmissive envelope;

said light source in thermal communication with a base element; and

a plurality of surface area enhancing elements in thermal communication with said base element such that said elements are communicating optically with said light transmissive envelope.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 possessing an omindirectional light intensity distribution.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements possess a surface that is specular, diffuse, or combination thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, where the surface area of said surface area enhancing elements is varied as a function of latitude angle to tailor the output light intensity distribution

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where the quantity of said surface area enhancing elements is varied as a function of latitude angle to tailor the output light intensity distribution

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements comprise flat planar fins or flat curved fins, bars, or pins, extending outward from the light source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements comprise a first narrow width portion adjacent said base element, a second narrow width portion adjacent said envelope and an intermediate relatively wider width portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said envelope is substantially spheroidal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements are at least about 60% optically reflective.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements are at least about 75% optically reflective.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surface area enhancing elements are at least about 90% optically reflective.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said surface area enhancing elements have at least an IR emittance of at least 0.5.

13. The light emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base element has a relatively smaller size proximate to the light transmissive envelope and a relatively larger size distal from said envelope.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said base element has a light blocking angle of between 0°

and 90°

.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base element includes a base for electrical connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 including LED driver electronics encompassed by the base element.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 providing an optical efficiency of at least or about 80%.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 providing an optical efficiency of at least or about 90%.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface area enhancing elements increase the thermal dissipation capacity of the thermal heat sink by a factor of at least 2×

and absorb less than 20% of emitted light flux.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface area enhancing elements increase the thermal dissipation capacity of the thermal heat sink by a factor of at least 3×

and absorb less than 15% of emitted light flux.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface area enhancing elements increase the thermal dissipation capacity of the thermal heat sink by a factor of at least 4×

and absorb less than 10% of emitted light flux.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 having a variation in average light intensity where the unmodified light intensity distribution of the light source is not altered by more than ±

30%.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 having a variation in average light intensity between a 0 and 90°

viewing angle of less than ±

30%.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 having a variation in average light intensity between a 0 and 120°

viewing angle of less than ±

30%.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 having a variation in average light intensity between a 0 and 135°

viewing angle of less than ±

20%.

26. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a said light transmissive envelope outer diameter to fin thickness ratio of greater than 8:

1.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fins have a first lesser thickness adjacent said envelope and a second greater thickness adjacent said base element.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fins include an arcuate outer surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said surface area enhancing elements have a specularity in excess of 50%.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 including at least four surface area enhancing elements.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said light transmissive envelope is diffusing.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said device is dimensioned to meet ANSI C78.20-2003

33. A light emitting apparatus comprising a base element having a light blocking angle of between 15°

and 45°

;

a light emitting diode light source in thermal communication with said base element;

a plurality of surface area enhancing elements in thermal communication with said base element, wherein said surface area enhancing elements increase the thermal dissipation capacity of said apparatus by a factor of 4× and

absorb less than 10% of an emitted light flux.

34. A light emitting device comprising at least one light emitting diode;

a heat sink, said heat sink having a relatively smaller size proximate to the at least one light emitting diode and a relatively larger size distal from said diode;

said at least one light emitting diode positioned in thermal communication with said heat sink;

an electrical connection positioned adjacent said distal portion of said heat sink;

a light diffusing envelope extending from said heat sink and encompassing said at least one light emitting diode;

a plurality of diffuse or specular fins in thermal communication with said heat sink and extending therefrom radially adjacent said envelope, said fins having a first relatively thin section adjacent said heat sink, a second relatively thin section adjacent the envelope distal from said heat sink and a relatively thicker intermediate section, wherein said device is dimensioned to meet ANSI C78.20-2003.