LED LAMP WITH DIFFUSER HAVING SPHEROID GEOMETRY

• US 20130201680A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Allen, Gary Robert, Chowdhury, Ashfaqul Islam, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose, Martins, Jeremias Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/366,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201680A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• 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 29/77 with essentially identical diverging planar fins or blades, e.g. with fan-like or star-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/10 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Embodiments of a lamp are described that use light emitting diodes (LEDs) to generate an intensity distribution that is consistent with incandescent lamps. In one embodiment, the lamp comprises a diffuser having a spheroid geometry with a light reflective upper portion and a light transmissive lower portion. The lamp also includes a thermal management system with a plurality of optically active heat dissipating elements disposed annularly about the diffuser. In one example, the heat dissipating elements are spaced apart from the diffuser to promote convective heat dissipation.

Claims

1. A lamp, comprising:

a diffuser having a spheroid geometry, the diffuser comprising an upper portion defining a reflective area and a lower portion defining a transmissive area, the lower portion terminating at an opening in the diffuser; and

a light engine disposed proximate the opening and outside of an interior volume defined by the diffuser, the light engine comprising a light-emitting diode directing light into the interior volume.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the transmissive area comprises a low loss material.

3. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the reflective area is opaque.

4. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the reflective area comprises a light-reflective coating.

5. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the transmissive area comprises a light-transmissive coating.

6. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a generally flattened top defining the reflective area, the generally flattened top consistent with a prolate spheroid.

7. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the spheroid geometry has an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the light engine.

8. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the reflective area is part of a reflective dome element that forms part of the diffuser.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein the transmissive area is part of a transmissive body element that comprises a plurality of panels secured at adjacent edges and to the reflective dome element to form the spheroid geometry.

10. The lamp of claim 1, wherein light engine comprises a plurality of the light-emitting diodes.

11. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the reflective area covers an area of the diffuser to disperse the light at distribution angles of at least about 135°

or more relative to a central axis.

12. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the reflective area exhibits one or more of specular reflectivity, diffuse reflectivity, and combinations thereof.

13. A lamp, comprising:

a diffuser having a spheroid geometry with a central axis, the diffuser comprising an upper portion and a lower portion terminating at an opening in the diffuser, the upper portion and the lower portion having different optical properties;

a plurality of optically active heat dissipating elements arranged radially about the center axis and spaced apart from the diffuser forming an air gap; and

a light engine in thermal contact with the optically active heat dissipating elements, the light source disposed proximate the opening and outside of an interior volume defined by the diffuser.

14. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the air gap is about 1.75 mm or greater.

15. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the spheroid geometry has an outer diameter that is greater than the diameter of the light engine.

16. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the upper portion reflects light at distribution angles of at least about 135°

or more relative to the central axis.

17. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the upper portion is partially transmissive.

18. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the upper portion exhibits one or more of specular reflectivity, diffuse reflectivity, and combinations thereof.

19. A diffuser for use in a lamp comprising a spheroid geometry with an upper portion defining a reflective area and a lower portion defining a transmissive area, the lower portion terminating at an opening in said diffuser.

20. The diffuser of claim 19, wherein the upper portion is part of a reflective dome element and the lower portion is part of a transmissive body element that comprises a plurality of panels secured at adjacent edges, the reflective dome element and the transmissive body element secured together to form the spheroid geometry.

21. A lamp, comprising:

a diffuser having a spheroid geometry, the diffuser comprising an upper portion defining a reflective area and a lower portion defining a transmissive area, the lower portion terminating at an opening in the diffuser; and

a light engine disposed proximate the opening, the light engine comprising a light-emitting diode directing light into the interior volume.