Chromaticity tuned solid state lighting apparatus

• US 8,115,375 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LEDnovation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LEDnovation, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhai, Jinhui, Morejon, Israel, Bui, Thong, O'Sullivan, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): HINES, ANNE M
• Application Number:
  US12/390,747
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512
• US Class Current: 313/498
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• 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 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/10 on concave supports or substrates, e.g. on the inner side of bowl-shaped supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting apparatus includes at least one LED and a chromaticity tuning cavity adapted to capture light from the LED. The chromaticity tuning cavity is defined by a light translucent window and a plurality of backscattering light recycling surfaces. The light translucent window is adapted to backscatter at least a portion of the LED light. A preselected chromaticity tuning member is positioned within the chromaticity tuning cavity. It is selected from a group of chromaticity tuning members adapted to tune the chromaticity of various lighting apparatuses within one quadrangle on a chromaticity diagram. At least a portion of the LED light, having been backscattered and tuned by the preselected tuning member, passes through the light translucent window as warm white extraction light.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED;

a chromaticity tuning cavity adapted to capture light from said at least one LED;

said chromaticity tuning cavity defined by a light translucent window and a plurality of backscattering light recycling surfaces;

said light translucent window adapted to backscatter at least a portion of said LED light;

a preselected chromaticity tuning member positioned within said chromaticity tuning cavity;

said preselected chromaticity tuning member being selected from a group of chromaticity tuning members adapted to tune the chromaticity of various lighting apparatuses within one quadrangle on a chromaticity diagram; and

at least a portion of said LED light, having been backscattered and tuned by said preselected tuning member, passing through said light translucent window as extraction light.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a thermal conductive heat sink body having a hollow interior;

an inverter disposed external to said cavity in said hollow interior of said thermal conductive heat sink body;

said inverter being in electrical communication with said at least one LED; and

a mounting socket adapted to provide electrical communication between an AC power source and said inverter.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

said mounting socket adapted to mechanically and electrically engage a conventional Edison-mount screw-type light bulb socket, a fluorescent tube coupler arrangement, and a halogen MR-16 socket arrangement.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning cavity, said light apparatus thermal conductive heat sink body and said mounting socket collectively forming a light bulb shape.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

said light bulb shape being an A19 incandescent bulb shape.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters and at least one luminescent material;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a primary blue light;

at least one luminescent material deposited in overlying relation to at least one of said semiconductor light emitters and adapted to absorb at least a portion of said primary blue light, thereby leaking at least a portion of said primary blue light, and to excite a second yellow light;

said leaked primary blue light and excited second yellow light combining to produce a white light.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

at least one luminescent material deposited in overlying relation to at least one semiconductor light emitter of said plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a primary blue light and a second reddish orange light;

at least one luminescent material deposited in overlying relation to said blue light emitters and adapted to absorb at least a portion of primary blue light, thereby leaking a portion of said primary blue light, and to excite a third yellow light;

said combination of reddish orange light, leaked primary blue light and excited second yellow light adapted to produce a warm white light.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters including a first group of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit primary blue light and a second group of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a second reddish orange light;

the semiconductor light emitters of said first group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another; and

the semiconductor light emitters of said second group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another; and

said first group of semiconductor light emitters being disposed radially outwardly of said second group of semiconductor light emitters.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters including at least one luminescent material disposed in overlying relation to at least one of said semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a primary blue light, a second reddish orange light and a third green light;

at least one luminescent material deposited in overlying relation to said blue light emitters being adapted to absorb at least a portion of primary blue light, to leak at least a portion of said primary blue light, and to excite a fourth yellow light; and

said combination of reddish orange light, leaked primary blue light, excited second yellow light and third green light adapted to produce a warm white light with a high color rendering index.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters including a first group of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit primary blue light, a second group of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a second reddish orange light and a third group of semiconductor light emitters adapted to emit a third green light;

said first group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another;

said second group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another;

said third group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another;

said first group of semiconductor light emitters being disposed radially outwardly of said second group of semiconductor light emitters and said second group of semiconductor light emitters being disposed radially outwardly of said third group of semiconductor light emitters.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning cavity having a frusto-conical configuration including a flat thermal conductive substrate, a reflective frusto-conical heat sink wall and a translucent output window having a dome shape;

said at least one LED including a plurality of semiconductor light emitters;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters mounted on said flat thermal conductive substrate;

said backscattering light recycling reflector surface disposed in overlying relation to said flat thermal conductive substrate and between said plurality of semiconductor light emitters; and

said reflective frusto-conical sink wall deflecting wide-angle emitting light from said plurality of semiconductor light emitters into a forward-transferred light.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said light translucent window adapted to provide a hazing effect to diffuse said extraction light.

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said light translucent window including plurality of luminescent particles dispersed into a transparent resin to diffuse the extraction light as well as to convert the wavelength of primary light into a longer wavelength light.

14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning member being a separated luminescent sheet positioned in overlying relation to a preselected backscattering light recycling reflector surface;

said chromaticity tuning member adapted to absorb a portion of primary LED light and convert it into secondary spectrum light;

said secondary spectrum light adapted to slightly shift the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus on said chromaticity diagram; and

said group of chromaticity tuning members including reddish orange wavelength conversion sheets, green wavelength conversion sheets, yellow wavelength conversion sheets;

whereby said lighting apparatus includes a specific chromaticity tuning luminescent sheet selected from said group of chromaticity tuning members to shift its chromaticity coordinates towards to a specific area of one quadrangle on said chromaticity diagram so that multiple lighting apparatuses may include differing chromaticity tuning luminescent sheets.

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

said separated luminescent sheet being selected from a group of sheets including a polymer phosphor film, a luminescent ceramic sheet and an organic dye sheet.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a preselected chromaticity tuning member being deposited onto an interior surface of said light translucent window;

said preselected chromaticity tuning member adapted to absorb primary blue light and convert said primary blue light into a reddish orange light, or a green light, or a yellow light, to thereby shift the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

said preselected chromaticity tuning member being laminated onto said light translucent window.

18. The lighting apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

said preselected chromaticity tuning member adapted to adjust the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus back to its original chromaticity over a life time of said lighting apparatus.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning member being a separated color filter sheet disposed in overlying relation to at least one backscattering light recycling reflector surface of said plurality of backscattering light recycling reflector surfaces;

said chromaticity tuning member adapted to absorb at least a portion of one spectrum light from backscattering light to tune the chromaticity of said lighting apparatus; and

said group of chromaticity tuning members including green color filters, yellow color filters and reddish orange color filters;

whereby said lighting apparatus includes a specific chromaticity tuning color filter sheet selected from said group of chromaticity tuning members to shift its chromaticity coordinates towards a specific area of one quadrangle on said chromaticity diagram so that multiple lighting apparatuses may include differing chromaticity tuning color filter sheets.

20. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED a thermally conductive substrate;

a first group of semiconductor light emitters mounted on said thermally conductive substrate and adapted to emit a primary blue light and to excite a yellow light;

a second group of semiconductor light emitters mounted on said thermally conductive substrate and adapted to emit a reddish orange light;

a third group of semiconductor light emitters mounted on said thermally conductive substrate and adapted to emit a green light;

a dome-shaped light translucent window;

a heat sink body including a frusto-conical heat sink wall;

a chromaticity tuning cavity enclosed by said dome shaped light translucent window, said frusto-conical heat sink wall and said thermally conductive substrate;

said light translucent window adapted to backscatter at least a portion of said primary blue light;

a light recycling reflective sheet disposed in overlying relation to said frusto-conical heat sink wall and said thermally conductive substrate between said semiconductor light emitters to recycle backscattered light;

a preselected chromaticity tuning member positioned within said chromaticity tuning cavity, said chromaticity tuning member adapted to absorb a portion of said primary LED light and to convert it to secondary spectrum light, said secondary spectrum light adapted to slightly shift chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus;

said preselected chromaticity tuning member being selected from a set of said chromaticity tuning members adapted to tune the chromaticity of various lighting apparatuses within one quadrangle on a 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram;

an inverter disposed external to said chromaticity tuning cavity and inside said heat sink body, said inverter being in electrical communication with said at least one LED; and

at least one mounting socket adapted to mechanically and electrically engage an Edison-mount screw-type light bulb socket, a fluorescent tube coupler arrangement, and a halogen MR-16 socket arrangement, said mounting socket being in electrical communication with said inverter.

21. The lighting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

said first group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another;

said second group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another; and

said third group of semiconductor light emitters being circumferentially spaced apart from one another; and

said first group of semiconductor light emitters being disposed radially outwardly of said second group of semiconductor light emitters and said second group of semiconductor light emitters being disposed radially outwardly of said third group of semiconductor light emitters.

22. The lighting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

said light recycling reflective sheet being a diffusive reflector.

23. The lighting apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning member being a separated luminescent sheet positioned in overlying relation to a preselected backscattering light recycling reflector surface;

said set of chromaticity tuning members including reddish orange wavelength conversion sheets, green wavelength conversion sheets, yellow wavelength conversion sheets.

24. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

at least one LED;

a chromaticity tuning cavity;

said chromaticity tuning cavity enclosed by a dome shaped light translucent output window, a reflective annual sidewall and a light redirection reflective member;

a thermally conductive heat sink body adapted to support said chromaticity tuning cavity;

said light translucent window adapted to backscatter at least a portion of LED light;

a plurality of semiconductor light emitters mounted around said interior annual sidewall of said thermally conductive heat sink body;

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters including at least two groups of semiconductor light emitters and at least one luminescent material;

a chromaticity tuning member positioned within said cavity, said chromaticity tuning member adapted to absorb a portion of primary LED light and convert it to secondary spectrum light, said secondary spectrum light adapted to slightly shift the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus;

a set of said chromaticity tuning members adapted to tune the chromaticity of various lighting apparatuses within one quadrangle on a 1931 CIE chromaticity diagram during a manufacturing process;

an inverter disposed internally of said heat sink body and external to said chromaticity tuning cavity, said inverter being in electrical communication with said at least one LED;

at least one mounting socket adapted to mechanically and electrically engage an Edison-mount screw-type light bulb socket, a fluorescent tube coupler arrangement, and a conversional halogen MR-16 socket arrangement; and

said mounting socket being in electrical communication with said inverter.

25. The lighting apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

said plurality of semiconductor light emitters comprising at least a first group of semiconductor blue light emitters and a second group of reddish orange light emitters; and

said at least one luminescent material being yellow phosphor deposited onto said first group of blue light emitters to excite a yellow light.

26. The lighting apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

said light redirection reflective member being a diffusive reflector having a convex shape in the center disposed under said plurality of the lighting emitters to redirect the light from said plurality of semiconductor light emitters into a forward light.

27. The lighting apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning member being deposited onto an inside surface of said light translucent window;

said chromaticity tuning layer on said light translucent window adapted to absorb primary blue light and convert into a reddish orange light, a green light, or a yellow light, to shift the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus.

28. The lighting apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

said chromaticity tuning member being deposited onto an inside surface of said light translucent window; and

said chromaticity tuning member deposited on said light translucent window adapted to adjust the chromaticity coordinates of said lighting apparatus to its original chromaticity over a life time of said lighting apparatus.