Light device with photonic band pass filter

• US 6,979,105 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Leysath
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Leysath
• Inventors: Leysath, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/346,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/219, 362/235, 362/249, 362/800, 313/113, 313/110, 313/112, 313/498, 313/512, 257/10, 385/901, 385/140, 385/147
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/43 General lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A light fixture having a light reflector, a light source mounted on the reflector, and a photonic filter mounted on the reflector in a position such that light emitting directly from the light source and light from the lamp reflecting from the light source impinges on a surface of the filter, the filter configured to transmit therethrough light of a selected range of wavelengths and to attenuate light of wavelengths outside of the selected range. The light source may be a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent lamp, a HID lamp, or an LED, and may be one of a plurality of light sources. The filter may be formed in a semiconductor substrate and may have an LED light source formed in the same substrate and positioned such that the light produced propagates in a direction away from the filter and toward the reflector, where it is reflected back to the filter.

Claims

1. A light fixture, comprising:

a light reflector;

a socket mounted on the reflector and configured to receive a lamp;

a photonic filter mounted on the reflector in a position such that light emitting directly from a lamp coupled to the socket and light from the lamp reflecting from the reflector impinges on a first surface of the filter, the filter configured to transmit therethrough to a second surface, light of a selected range of wavelengths and to attenuate light of wavelengths outside of the selected range.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the socket is configured to receive a fluorescent lamp.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 wherein the reflector and filter each have an elongated shape.

4. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the socket is configured to receive an incandescent lamp.

5. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the socket is configured to receive a light emitting diode.

6. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the socket is configured to receive a HID lamp.

7. The light fixture of claim 1 wherein the socket is one of a plurality of sockets mounted on the reflector, each configured to receive a lamp, and wherein the filter is sized and configured such that light emitting directly from lamps coupled to respective ones of the plurality of sockets and light from the lamps reflecting from the reflector impinges on the first surface of the filter.

8. A lighting device, comprising:

a photonic filter configured to pass selected wavelengths of light and to attenuate light of non-selected wavelengths;

an LED light source mounted on the filter; and

a reflector positioned in spaced-apart relationship with the filter and configured to reflect back to the filter light emanating from the light source in a direction away from the filter.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the LED light source is configured such that a greater part of the light produced from the light source propagates in a direction away from the filter and toward the reflector.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the LED light source and the photonic filter are manufactured concurrently on a common semiconductor substrate.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the LED light source is one of a plurality of LED light sources positioned on the one side of the filter.

12. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein the photonic filter is a bandpass filter.

13. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein the photonic filter is a bandgap filter.

14. A method, comprising:

forming, in a semiconductor substrate, a light emitting diode configured to produce light in a visible spectrum and to radiate the light away from a first surface of the substrate;

forming, in the semiconductor substrate;

a photonic filter; and

mounting a reflector in a spaced-apart relationship with the substrate, such that light produced by the light emitting diode is reflected back to the substrate.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising mounting a light diffuser on a side of the substrate opposite the reflector to diffuse light passing through the substrate.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the forming a photonic filter step comprises forming, in the semiconductor substrate, a photonic band-pass filter configured to admit light through the substrate in a selected range of wavelengths and to attenuate light outside the selected range of wavelengths.

17. A method, comprising:

generating light in an active device formed on a substrate;

filtering the light through a photonic filter also formed on the substrate;

drawing heat generated by the active device into the substrate; and

reflecting the light toward the filter, employing a reflector spaced apart from the active device and the substrate.

18. A lighting device, comprising:

a photonic filter;

an LED light source positioned on the filter; and

a reflector positioned in spaced-apart relationship with the filter to reflect back to the filter light emanating from the light source in a direction away from the filter.