INVERSE VISIBLE SPECTRUM LIGHT AND BROAD SPECTRUM LIGHT SOURCE FOR ENHANCED VISION

• US 20170045201A1
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Gary W. Jones
• Original Assignee: Gary W. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Gary W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,288,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/02 for simulating daylight F21V9/04, F21V9/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/504 Elements with two or more wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A visible light spectrum and light source apparatus are described that provide over 80% of their total radiant flux power within the 385 nm-530 nm and the 570 nm-800 nm spectral ranges, collectively. The objective of the light spectrum and apparatus is to improve the visibility and shape of a wider range of objects than is practical using conventional LED white light sources at similar radiant flux power conditions. The new light source can provide good Scotopic or Mesopic at low power levels compared to most other light sources for illumination and improved differential photopic color-range vision. One illustrative embodiment of this new spectrum and light source provides a full visible light spectrum with at least 6% of the highest peak radiant power of all wavelengths between 405 nm-730 nm, and another illustrative embodiment provides a similar full spectrum between 440 nm and 730 nm. In both embodiments, the peak radiant power wavelength in the 475-510 nm cyan spectral region or the red 600-680 nm spectral peak is at least 1.1-times the lowest relative radiant flux power in the 530-570 nm spectral region.

Claims

1. A cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source, comprising a light source configured to generate a light output for enhanced scotopic and mesopic visual acuity, said light source comprising (i) an array of LEDs, or (ii) one or more LEDs and one or more spectrum converters operatively arranged to convert light emitted by at least one of the one or more LEDs;

wherein (i) the array of LEDs, or (ii) the one or more LEDs and the one or more spectrum converters, is constructed and arranged to produce a light output spectrum in said light output including radiant power peaks in the red spectral range of 610-710 nm, in the blue-violet spectral range of 365-465 nm, and in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm; and

wherein the cyan-boosted light source is configured so that in the light output spectrum produced by (i) the array of LEDs, or (ii) the one or more LEDs and the one or more spectrum converters, the radiant power of the light output spectrum in each of (a) the red spectral range of 610-710 nm of said light output spectrum, (b) the blue-violet spectral range of 365-465 nm of said light output spectrum, and (c) the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm of said light output spectrum, is greater by at least 10% than (d) the radiant power in the yellow-green spectral range of 530-570 nm of said light output spectrum.

2. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, comprising (i) an array of LEDs.

3. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, comprising (ii) one or more LEDs and one or more spectrum converters operatively arranged to convert light emitted by at least one of the one or more LEDs.

4. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, wherein the one or more spectrum converters comprises at least one spectrum-converter material selected from the group consisting of spectrum-converting phosphors, spectrum-converting dyes, spectrum-converting quantum dots, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.

5. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, wherein the light source is comprised in a light source article selected from the group consisting of lamps, reading lights, body-mounted lights, flashlights, lanterns, architectural lighting articles, retail product lighting articles, signaling lights, horticultural lighting articles, streetlights, automotive lighting articles, home lighting articles, and bicycle lights.

6. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, wherein average radiant power in the cyan spectral range of 475-510 nm of the light output spectrum is at least 1.1 times the average radiant power in the yellow-green spectral range of 530-570 nm.

7. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, comprising at least one selected from blue and violet LEDs, and at least one spectrum converter effective to increase cyan and yellow-green light output therefrom.

8. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, further comprising at least one non-LED light source component selected from the group consisting of fluorescent, gas discharge, arc, plasma, halogen, incandescent, electroluminescent, cathodoluminescent, laser diode, and OLED light source components.

9. The cyan-boosted inverse spectrum light source of claim 1, further comprising an optical structure that is translatable to vary spectral character of the light output spectrum with change of position thereof.

10. A cyan-boosted light source comprising one or more LEDs and optionally one or more spectrum converters responsive to light from at least one of the one or more LEDs to emit spectrum-converted light, wherein the one or more LEDs and when present the one or more spectrum converters, are configured so that the light source generates a light output with a light output spectrum with radiant flux peaks in (i) the blue-cyan spectral range of 430-510 nm, and (ii) the red spectral range of 600-700 nm, wherein each of said radiant flux peaks is at least 10% higher than (iii) the lowest point in the yellow-green spectral range of 540-580 nm in said light output spectrum.

11. The cyan-boosted light source of claim 10, comprising at least one selected from blue and violet LEDs, and at least one spectrum converter effective to increase cyan and yellow-green light output therefrom.

12. The cyan-boosted light source of claim 10, wherein said one or more LEDs comprise one or more cyan LEDs energizable to emit light in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm.

13. The cyan-boosted light source of claim 10, wherein the relative radiant flux peak in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm of the light output spectrum is at least 10% higher than the radiant flux in the yellow-green spectral range of 540-570 nm of the light output spectrum.

14. A method of enhancing visual perception and visual acuity in a locus under low light or dark conditions, said method comprising illuminating the locus with a cyan-boosted light source comprising one or more LEDs and optionally one or more spectrum converters responsive to light from at least one of the one or more LEDs to emit spectrum-converted light, wherein the one or more LEDs and when present the one or more spectrum converters, are configured so that the light source generates a light output with a light output spectrum characterized by at least one of the following characteristics (A), (B), and (C):

(A) radiant flux peaks in (i) the blue-cyan spectral range of 430-510 nm, and (ii) the red spectral range of 600-700 nm, each of which is at least 10% higher than (iii) the lowest point in the yellow-green spectral range of 540-580 nm in the light output spectrum;

(B) radiant power in each of (i) the red spectral range of 610-710 nm, (ii) the blue-violet spectral range of 375-465 nm, and (iii) the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm, each of which is greater by at least 10% than (iv) the radiant power in the yellow-green spectral range of 530-570 nm of the light output spectrum; and

(C) a relative radiant flux peak in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm that is at least 10% higher than radiant flux in the yellow-green spectral range of 540-570 nm of the light output spectrum

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the light output spectrum is characterized by characteristics (A).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the light output spectrum is characterized by characteristics (B).

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the light output spectrum is characterized by characteristics (C).

18. An active red filter configured to convert most shorter wavelengths of light below 600 nm into red light mostly in the red spectral range of 600-710 nm, wherein the red light resulting from such conversion is at least 90% of the light output of the active red filter in response to incident light including said shorter wavelengths of light below 610 nm.

19. The active red filter of claim 18, wherein non-red remaining light of the light output of the active red filter comprises no peak greater than 10% of the highest relative radiant flux power peak in the red part of the spectrum, and highest relative radiant flux power peak of light in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm being in the 1-10% of the highest peak in the red portion of the resulting spectrum.

20. The active red filter of claim 18, comprising a filter body of translucent or transparent character, and a red-emissive filter material on and/or within the filter body.

21. The active red filter of claim 20, wherein the red-emissive filter material comprises a perylene diimide red-emitting organic dye and/or inorganic red phosphors with a peak spectral power emission above 600 nm.

22. The active red filter of claim 18, in a light source assembly comprising one or more LEDs configured to emit light at wavelength below 600 nm.

23. The active red filter of claim 18, in an assembly in which the active red filter is translatable between respective positions comprising a non-filtering position and an active filtering position in which the active red filter is impinged by light including said shorter wavelengths of light below 610 nm.

24. An active cyan filter configured to convert shorter wavelengths of light below 450 nm into blue-cyan light in the spectral range of 450-510 nm, including cyan light in the spectral range of 470-510 nm, wherein the cyan light resulting from such conversion is at least 90% of the light output of the active cyan filter in response to incident light including said shorter wavelengths of light below 450 nm.

25. The active cyan filter of claim 24, in a light source assembly comprising one or more LEDs configured to emit light at wavelength below 450 nm.