LED lighting arrangement including a substantially spherical optical component having a surface partially coated with a light emitting phosphor

• US 8,067,884 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intematix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intematix Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Yi-Qun
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago; Mariceli
• Application Number:
  US12/624,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20100067216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512, 313110-117, 257 98-100, 362/255, 362/800, 362/555, 36231101-3111, 362/293
• US Class Current: 313/501
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/0883 Arsenides; Nitrides; Phosphides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/77342 Silicates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7741 Sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7774 Aluminates
• 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 5/041 Ball lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0041 relating to wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 Of epoxy ether
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane

Abstract

A lighting arrangement comprising: a light reflective enclosure; at least one radiation source housed within the enclosure and operable to generate excitation light of a first wavelength range; a substantially spherical optical component mounted over the enclosure opening and at least one phosphor operable to absorb at least a portion of the excitation light and to emit light of a second wavelength range, wherein light generated by the arrangement comprises the combined light of the first and second wavelength ranges and wherein the at least one phosphor material is provided as a layer on at least a part of the surface of the optical component that is enclosed within the volume of the enclosure when the component is mounted to the enclosure.

Claims

1. A lighting arrangement comprising:

a light reflective enclosure;

at least one radiation source housed within the enclosure and operable to generate excitation light of a first wavelength range;

a substantially spherical optical component mounted over the enclosure opening and at least one phosphor operable to absorb at least a portion of the excitation light and to emit light of a second wavelength range, wherein light generated by the arrangement comprises the combined light of the first and second wavelength ranges and wherein the at least one phosphor material is provided as a layer on at least a part of the surface of the optical component that is enclosed within the volume of the enclosure when the component is mounted to the enclosure.

2. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the inner surfaces of the enclosure comprise metallic silver.

3. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the enclosure comprises stainless steel.

4. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the phosphor layer is of thickness in a range 20 to 500 μ

m.

5. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the optical component is made from one of a plastics material, a polycarbonate, a glass and a silica glass.

6. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one phosphor has a general formula A₂SiO₄:

Eu²⁺D where A is a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd and D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N.

7. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one phosphor has a formula (YA)₃(AlB)₅(OC)₁₂:

Ce³⁺ where A is a trivalent metal selected from the group consisting of Gd, Tb, La, Sm or divalent metal ions such as Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn and Cd;

B is selected from the group consisting of Si, B, P, and Ga; and

C is a dopant selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, P, S and N.

8. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one phosphor comprises an orange-red silicate-based phosphor having a formula (SrM1)₃Si(OD)₅:

Eu where M1 is selected from the group consisting of Ba, Ca, Mg, Zn . . . ; and

D is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, S, and N.

9. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the phosphor comprises a red silicon nitride based phosphor having a formula (SrM1)Si₅N₈ where M1 is selected from the group consisting Sr, Ca, Mg, and Zn.

10. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the phosphor comprises a red sulfate based phosphor having a formula (SrM1)S where M1 is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ba, and Mg.

11. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the phosphor comprises a green sulfate based phosphor having a formula (SrM1)(GaM2)₂S₄:

Eu where M1 is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ba, and Mg, and M2 is selected from the group consisting of Al and In.

12. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one phosphor comprises a powder which is incorporated within one of an light transmissive epoxy resin, a silicone material and a polymer material.

13. The lighting arrangement according to claim 11, and further comprising incorporating a light diffusing material with the phosphor powder.

14. The lighting arrangement according to claim 12, in which the light diffusing material is selected from the group consisting of:

titanium oxide, silica and alumina.

15. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one radiation source comprises a light emitting diode.

16. The lighting arrangement according to claim 14, in which the light emitting diode comprises a gallium nitride LED light emitting diode.

17. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which said at least one radiation source is operable to emit light having a wavelength in a range of 300 to 500 nm.

18. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the at least one phosphor is configured to emit radiation light having a wavelength in a ranging from 450 to 700 nm.

19. The lighting arrangement according to claim 1, in which the arrangement is operable to generate white light.

20. A lighting arrangement comprising:

a light reflective enclosure;

at least one light emitting diode housed within the enclosure and operable to generate light having a wavelength ranging from 300 to 500 nm;

a solid substantially spherical optical component mounted over the enclosure opening and at least one phosphor operable to absorb at least a portion of the light emitted by the light emitting diode and to emit light having a wavelength ranging from 450 to 700 nm, wherein light generated by the arrangement comprises the combined light emitted by the light emitting diode and the at least one phosphor and is configured to appear white in color and wherein the at least one phosphor material is provided as a layer on at least a part of the surface of the optical component that is enclosed within the volume of the enclosure when the component is mounted to the enclosure.

21. An optical component for a lighting arrangement comprising:

a light reflective enclosure;

at least one radiation source housed within the enclosure and operable to generate excitation light of a first wavelength range;

at least one phosphor operable to absorb at least a portion of the excitation light and to emit light of a second wavelength range, wherein light generated by the arrangement comprises the combined light of the first and second wavelength ranges and wherein the optical component is a substantially spherical and the at least one phosphor material is provided as a layer on at least a part of the surface of the optical component that is enclosed within the volume of the enclosure when the component is mounted to the enclosure opening.