WHITE LIGHT LAMP USING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTER(S) AND REMOTELY DEPLOYED PHOSPHOR(S)

• US 20110193473A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: SANDERS, Chad N., Phipps, J. Michael, Rains, Jack C. JR., Ramer, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,461,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/483
• 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 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• 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 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: H01L 33/483 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/02 Details

Abstract

The present subject matter relates to lamps for general lighting applications. More specifically, white light lamps described herein use semiconductor source to pump remotely deployed phosphor to produce light of desired characteristics. The lamps conform to form factors and/or use lamp base connectors of widely accepted lamp designs, such as those of common incandescent lamps and/or compact fluorescent lamps.

Claims

1. A lamp, comprising:

a plurality of solid state light emitters;

a bulb;

a pedestal extending into an interior of the bulb supporting the solid state light emitters, at least some of the solid state light emitters being supported on the pedestal in an orientation such that principal directions of light emissions from respective emitters are radial outward from the pedestal through the bulb in a plurality of different radial directions, and at least one of the solid state emitters being supported on an end of the pedestal in such an orientation so that a principal direction of emission of light from the at least one solid state light emitter is substantially the same as or parallel with a longitudinal axis of the lamp; and

a phosphor, remotely deployed in the lamp with respect to the solid state light emitters, the phosphor being of a type for converting at least some portion of light from the solid state light emitters from a first spectral characteristic to a second spectral characteristic, to produce an output of the lamp from the bulb that is at least substantially white.

2. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

an inner member, of a material that is at least partially light transmissive, radially and longitudinally around the solid state light emitters between an inner surface of the bulb and the solid state light emitters.

4. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

the inner member remotely deploys the phosphor with respect to the solid state light emitters, and

the phosphor is coated on an inner or outer surface of the inner member.

5. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

the inner member remotely deploys the phosphor with respect to the solid state light emitters, and

the phosphor is impregnated in the material of the inner member, wherein the material is either gas permeable or non-gas permeable.

6. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

the inner member remotely deploys the phosphor with respect to the solid state light emitters, and

the material of the inner member is a permeable light transmissive mesh.

9. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

the inner member forms at least one wall of a gas-tight container enclosing the phosphor; and

the gas-tight container is filled with a gas that is at least substantially oxygen free.

11. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the pedestal includes a multi-surfaced three-dimensional core, and

lateral surfaces of the core face outward from a longitudinal axis of the lamp and support the at least some of the solid state light emitters in different radial principal emission orientations.

12. The lamp of claim 11, wherein one of the solid state emitters is supported on an end surface of the multi-surfaced three-dimensional core.

13. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the solid state light emitters are emitters for emitting light that is at least substantially white at a first color temperature; and

the phosphor is of a type for converting at least some portion of the white light from the solid state light emitters from the first spectral characteristic to the second spectral characteristic to produce the white light output from the bulb at a second color temperature.

14. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the phosphor comprises at least one semiconductor nanophosphor.

15. The lamp of claim 14, wherein the light output from the lamp via the bulb, produced by a combination of some light from the solid state emitters and excitation of the semiconductor nanophosphors, has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher.

16. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the light output from the lamp via the bulb, produced by a combination of some light from the solid state emitters and excitation of the semiconductor nanophosphors, exhibits 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.

17. The lamp of claim 16, wherein the solid state light emitters are emitters for emitting light that is at least substantially white at a color temperature greater than 4260°

Kelvin.

18. The lamp of claim 17, wherein each of the solid state light emitters is rated with a principal wavelength of emission in a range of about 460 nm and below;

and

the phosphor further comprises a rare earth phosphor.

19. The lamp of claim 18, wherein the substantially white light output from the lamp 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;

4503±

243°

Kelvin;

5028±

283°

Kelvin;

5665±

355°

Kelvin; and

6530±

510°

Kelvin.

22. The lamp of claim 1, wherein:

the phosphor comprises a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors;

the plurality of solid state light emitters are emitters having an wavelength output in the near UV range of 380-460 nm; and

each semiconductor nanophosphor is of a type for converting at least some portion of the near UV wavelength range from the solid state emitter.

23. The lamp of claim 22, wherein:

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

(b) the substantially white light output from the lamp has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher; and

(c) the substantially white light output from the lamp 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;

4503±

243°

Kelvin;

5028±

283°

Kelvin;

5665±

355°

Kelvin; and

6530±

510°

Kelvin.

24. The lamp of claim 23, wherein the substantially white light corresponds to a point on a black body radiation spectrum.

25. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

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

circuitry connected to receive electricity from the lamp base, for driving the solid state emitters of the source to emit the light and to excite the remotely deployed semiconductor nanophosphors.

3. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

26. A lamp, comprising:

a solid state light emitter;

a bulb;

a pedestal extending into an interior of the bulb supporting the solid state light emitter, the solid state light emitter being supported on the pedestal in an orientation such that principal direction of light emissions from the emitter is outward from the pedestal through the bulb; and

a phosphor, remotely deployed in the lamp with respect to the solid state light emitter, the phosphor being of a type for converting at least some portion of light from the solid state light emitter from a first spectral characteristic to a second spectral characteristic, to produce an output of the lamp from the bulb that is at least substantially white.