Phosphorous fluorescent light assembly excited by light emitting diodes

• US 6,068,383 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HE Williams Incorporated (H.E. Williams)
• Original Assignee: HE Williams Incorporated (H.E. Williams)
• Inventors: Williams, Mark, Eckels, Paul, Pyrtle, Randy, Weller, Peter, Backler, Randy, Robertson, Roger, Lambeth, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US09/033,430
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 250/461.1, 40/542, 40/543, 40/544, 362/84, 362/230, 362/235, 362/240, 362/242, 362/260, 362/293, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention incorporates a series of light emitting diodes which transmit an ultra-violet region of the electromagnetic spectrum to a bed of phosphorous to provide a fluorescent light source.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising:

(1) a housing;

(2) a source of electric power transmitted within the housing;

(3) a series of light emitting diodes mounted within said housing and sufficient in output wavelength for excitation of phosphorous receptive to an ultra-violet region of the electromagnetic spectrum;

(4) transforming means to convert power into a known voltage for use by a plurality of said light emitting diodes;

(5) a light emitting transparent surface having an interior surface area; and

(6) a coating of ultra-violet excitable phosphorous and placed on the interior surface area of said transparent enclosure, whereby when said phosphorous coating is excited by light emitted from said diodes, a light spectrum visible to the naked eye is produced by said coating and through the transparent surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each diode has a peak intensity wavelength of 371 nm and a full width at 1/2 maximum dispersion of about 8.6.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each diode output is no less than about 6 nm of a secondary ultra-violet output peak of a fluorescent mercury arch.