LAMP USING SOLID STATE SOURCE AND DOPED SEMICONDUCTOR NANOPHOSPHOR

• US 20110175528A1
• Filed: 02/01/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Renaissance Lighting Incorporated (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ramer, David P., RAINS, Jack C. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/51
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/233 specially adapted for generating a spot light distribution, e.g. for substitution of reflector lamps
• 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 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/63 using electrically-powered vibrating means; using ionic wind
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/44 Devices characterised by the luminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/775 Nanosized powder or flake, e.g. nanosized catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/95 Electromagnetic energy

Abstract

A lamp uses a solid state source to pump one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors to produce a light output of a desired characteristic. The nanophosphor(s) is dispersed in a material, examples of which include liquids and gases. Various nanophosphors are discussed. In the examples, the material with the doped semiconductor nanophosphor(s) dispersed therein appears at least substantially clear when the lamp is off. The exemplary lamp also includes circuitry for driving the solid state source and a housing that at least encloses the drive circuitry. The lamp has a lighting industry standard lamp base mechanically connected to the housing and electrically connected to provide electricity to the circuitry for driving the solid state source.

Claims

1. A lamp for producing visible light, comprising:

a solid state source for producing energy in a wavelength range having an upper limit of 460 nm;

a container formed of optically transmissive material, coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from the solid state source;

a material at least substantially filling an interior volume of the container;

one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors dispersed in the material in the container, each doped semiconductor nanophosphor being of a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths in the range having an upper limit of 460 nm from the solid state source for re-emitting visible light of a spectrum having substantially no overlap with an absorption spectrum of any of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors;

circuitry for driving the solid state source to emit the electromagnetic energy into the container to excite the one or more nanophosphors;

a housing enclosing at least the circuitry; and

a lighting industry standard lamp base mechanically connected to the housing and electrically connected to provide electricity to the circuitry for driving the solid state source.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors dispersed in the material comprises a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors,

each of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors being of a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy from the solid state source for re-emitting visible light of a different spectrum having substantially no overlap with absorption spectra of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors, and

the doped semiconductor nanophosphors together producing visible light for inclusion in the output from the lamp when excited by electromagnetic energy received from the solid state source.

3. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the visible light output from the lamp produced by excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors is at least substantially white;

(b) the visible light output from the lamp produced by the excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher; and

(c) the visible light output from the lamp produced by the excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color temperature in one of the following ranges;

2,725±

145°

Kelvin;

3,045±

175°

Kelvin;

3,465±

245°

Kelvin; and

3,985±

275°

Kelvin

4. The lamp of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors comprises zinc selenide quantum dots doped with manganese or copper.

5. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the material is selected from either a liquid or a gas.

8. The lamp of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors exhibits an absorption spectrum having an upper limit at or below 430 nm.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein the solid state source is a source for producing energy in a wavelength range having an upper limit of 430 nm.

10. The lamp of claim 9, wherein the solid state source is a source for producing near ultraviolet (UV) energy in a wavelength range of 380-420.

12. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the solid state source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) each for emitting electromagnetic energy in said wavelength range.

14. The lamp of claim 12, further comprising:

a circuit board within the housing having a surface on which the LEDs are mounted;

a diffuse reflector on the surface of the circuit board in one or more regions between the LEDs; and

a heat dissipater within the housing for receiving and dissipating heat produced by the LEDs during operation, wherein;

the heat dissipater comprises a heat sink coupled to receive the heat produced by the LEDs during operation; and

the housing comprises an air vent.

21. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured and connected to the LEDs to provide three different light levels for the output for the lamp in response to a three-way dimming control setting input.

22. The lamp of claim 21, wherein:

the LEDs are configured as two groups, one group having a first number of one or more LEDs and the other group having a second number of LEDs larger than the first number, and

the circuitry is configured to;

(a) respond to a standard low three-way control setting input to turn on the one group of LEDs while keeping the other group of LEDs off;

(b) respond to a standard medium three-way control setting input to turn on the other group of LEDs while keeping the one group of LEDs off; and

(b) respond to a standard high three-way control setting input to concurrently turn on both groups of LEDs.

24. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the container provides a form factor and a light distribution in the output of the lamp corresponding to an industry standard light bulb.

25. The lamp of claim 24, wherein a region of the container for emission of light produced by the excitation of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors as the output for the lamp is at least substantially transparent, frosted or translucent.

27. The lamp of claim 24, wherein the container corresponds to an industry standard light bulb selected from the group consisting of:

a type-A light bulb, a R-lamp bulb and a Par-lamp bulb.

28. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a light transmissive glass enclosure enclosing the container, wherein;

light produced by the excitation of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors passes through the enclosure and is emitted through at least a portion of the enclosure as the output for the lamp; and

the enclosure provides a form factor and a light distribution in the output of the lamp corresponding to an industry standard light bulb.

29. The lamp of claim 28, wherein a portion of the enclosure for emission of light produced by the excitation of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors as the output for the lamp is frosted or translucent.

30. The lamp of claim 28, wherein a region of the enclosure for emission of light produced by the excitation of the one or more doped semiconductor nanophosphors as the output for the lamp is at least substantially transparent.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

15-20. -20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. A lamp for producing visible white light, comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) for producing electromagnetic energy in a wavelength range having an upper limit of 420 nm;

a circuit board having a surface on which the LED is mounted;

a heat dissipater for dissipating heat produced by the LED during operation;

a container formed of optically transmissive material, coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from the LED;

a material at least substantially filling an interior volume of the container;

a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors dispersed in the material in the container, each of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors being of a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy of one or more wavelengths in said range for re-emitting visible light of a different spectrum having substantially no overlap with absorption spectra of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors, the doped semiconductor nanophosphors together producing visible light for output from the lamp when the nanophosphors are excited by electromagnetic energy received from the LED;

wherein;

(a) the visible light output from the lamp produced by excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors is at least substantially white;

(b) the light output from the lamp produced by the excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher;

(c) the light output from the lamp produced by the excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color temperature in one of the following ranges;

2,725±

145°

Kelvin;

3,045±

175°

Kelvin;

3,465±

245°

Kelvin;

3,985±

275°

Kelvin; and

(d) the material with the doped semiconductor nanophosphors dispersed therein appears at least substantially clear when the lamp is off;

circuitry for driving the LED to emit the electromagnetic energy into the container to excite the one or more nanophosphors;

a housing enclosing at least the circuitry and the circuit board; and

a lighting industry standard lamp base mechanically connected to the housing and electrically connected to provide electricity to the circuitry for driving the LED.

34-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A lamp, comprising:

a solid state source;

a container formed of optically transmissive material;

a gas filling an interior volume of the container;

a doped semiconductor nanophosphor dispersed in the gas in the container of a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy from the solid state source;

a lighting industry standard lamp base for providing electricity from a lamp socket;

a housing supporting the container in a position to receive electromagnetic energy from the solid state source, the housing being mechanically connected to the lamp base; and

circuitry in the housing connected to receive electricity from the lamp base, for driving the solid state source to emit the electromagnetic energy into the container to excite the doped semiconductor nanophosphor in the gas.