SOLID STATE LIGHTING APPARATUSES AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20140232289A1
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creeled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brandes, George R., Underwood, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/250
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/48 having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices

Abstract

Solid state lighting apparatuses and related methods are described. In certain embodiments, a solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source is provided. The lighting apparatus can include a substrate and an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or supported by the substrate. Multiple solid state light emitter sets of the array can be arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle. The lighting apparatus can also include at least one reflective structure arranged between one or more solid state light emitters and at least one driver circuit component, to reduce or eliminate absorption by the driver circuit component(s) of light generated by the solid state light emitter(s).

Claims

1. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or supported by the substrate, the array comprising a plurality of mutually exclusive solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle;

at least one driver circuit component arranged on or over the substrate and arranged to drive the array of solid state light emitters; and

at least one reflective structure positioned between one or more solid state light emitters of the array of solid state light emitters and the at least one driver circuit component and arranged to reduce or eliminate absorption by the at least one driver circuit component of light generated by the one or more solid state light emitters.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electrically conductive traces along at least one face of the substrate.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises at least one raised element adhered to or deposited on a first face of the substrate.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises a plurality of reflective structures.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure is arranged on or over at least a portion of the at least one driver circuit component.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure is diffusively reflective or specularly reflective.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises at least one of a white color and a silver color.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises silicone.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises a diffuser or lens.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising at least one other reflective structure disposed along or bounding at least a portion of the diffuser or lens.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises a dispensed silicone dam.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reflective structure comprises a reflective coating.

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

14. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or supported by the substrate, the array comprising a plurality of mutually exclusive solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle;

at least one driver circuit component arranged on or over the substrate and arranged to drive the array of solid state light emitters; and

a reflective coating arranged over at least a portion of the at least one driver circuit component.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reflective coating is arranged over an entirety of the at least one driver circuit component.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of electrically conductive traces along at least one face of the substrate.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one reflective structure is diffusively or specularly reflective.

18. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reflective coating comprises at least one of a white color and a silver color.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

20. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reflective coating is dispensed, painted, or sprayed over portions of the at least one driver circuit component.

21. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the reflective coating comprises a wavelength conversion material.

22. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising

a substrate including a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, electrical traces arranged on or over the first surface, and electrical traces arranged on or over the second surface;

an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or over the first surface, the array comprising a plurality of mutually exclusive solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle; and

at least one driver circuit component arranged on or over the second surface and arranged to drive the array of solid state light emitters.

23. The lighting apparatus according to claim 22, being devoid of any driver circuit component arranged on or over the first surface.

24. The lighting apparatus according to claim 22, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

25. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or supported by the substrate, the array comprising a plurality of mutually exclusive solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle; and

at least one surge protection component arranged on or over the substrate and adapted to reduce or eliminate transmission of voltage transients exceeding the line voltage to the array of solid state light emitters.

26. The lighting apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising at least one driver circuit component arranged on or over the substrate and arranged to drive the array of solid state light emitters.

27. The lighting apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the at least one surge protection component comprises multiple surge protection components.

28. The lighting apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets are each associated with a different surge protection component of the multiple surge protection components.

29. The lighting apparatus according to claim 25, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

30. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a first array of solid state light emitters including a first plurality of solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters arranged in or on a first elongated body structure, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the first plurality of individually controllable solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle;

at least one driver circuit component arranged to drive the first array of solid state light emitters; and

at least one electrical connector arranged to permit electrical communication between the first array of solid state light emitters and a second array of solid state light emitters that includes a second plurality of solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters arranged in or on a second elongated body structure,

wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the second plurality of solid state light emitter segments are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during the portion of the AC cycle, with a first solid state light emitter set of the first array of solid state light emitters in electrical communication with a first solid state light emitter set of the second array of solid state light emitters, and with a second solid state light emitter set of the first array of solid state light emitters in electrical communication with a second solid state light emitter set of the second array of solid state light emitters.

31. The lighting apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first elongated body structure comprises a first flexible body structure, and the second elongated body structure comprises a second flexible body structure.

32. The lighting apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising an AC plug in electrical communication with the at least one driver circuit component.

33. The lighting apparatus according to claim 30, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

34. A solid state lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an array of solid state light emitters arranged on or supported by the substrate, the array comprising a plurality of mutually exclusive solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle; and

at least one optical element comprising a lens and/or a diffuser arranged to receive emissions from each solid state light emitter of the array of solid state light emitters.

35. The lighting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of solid state light emitter sets is mounted on or over a first face of the substrate, and the at least one optical element is mounted on or over the first face of the substrate.

36. The lighting apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising at least one driver circuit component arranged on or over the first face of the substrate and arranged to drive the array of solid state light emitters.

37. The lighting apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising at least one reflective structure arranged between at least some solid state light emitters of the array of solid state light emitters and the at least one driver circuit component and arranged to reduce or eliminate impingement of light generated by the at least some solid state light emitters on the at least one driver circuit component.

38. The lighting apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one of a lens and a diffuser.

39. A lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting device comprising:

a base end;

a light-transmissive end opposing the base end;

an array of solid state light emitters including a plurality of solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of individually controllable solid state light emitter segments are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a portion of an AC cycle; and

a reflector including a cavity and a reflective surface arranged to permit transmission of light reflected by the reflector toward the light-transmissive end;

wherein the array of solid state emitters is arranged in or above the cavity to transmit emissions of the solid state emitters toward the reflective surface; and

wherein the array of solid state emitters are arranged to emit light in a direction toward the base end to impinge on the reflective surface for reflection of light toward the light-transmissive end.

40. The lighting apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the reflector comprises a cup-shaped body.

41. The lighting apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the reflective surface is diffusively reflective or specularly reflective.

42. The lighting apparatus according to claim 39, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.

43. A lighting apparatus adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received from an AC power source, the lighting device comprising:

a light-transmissive end;

an array of solid state light emitters including a plurality of solid state light emitter sets each comprising multiple solid state light emitters, wherein at least two different solid state light emitter sets of the plurality of individually controllable solid state light emitter sets are arranged to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relative to one another during a period of the AC waveform; and

a reflector defining a cavity and comprising a reflective surface arranged to permit transmission of light reflected by the reflector toward the light-transmissive end;

wherein the array of solid state emitters is arranged in or above the cavity to transmit emissions of the solid state emitters toward the reflective surface; and

wherein light emissions transmitted through the light-transmissive end comprise emissions reflected by the reflective surface and are devoid of direct emissions from the array of solid state emitters.

44. The lighting apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the reflector comprises a cup-shaped body that defines the cavity.

45. The lighting apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the reflective surface is diffusively reflective or specularly reflective.

46. The lighting apparatus according to claim 43, being devoid of any AC-to-DC converter in electrical communication between the AC power source and the array of solid state light emitters.