Semiconductor light emitting apparatus including elongated hollow wavelength conversion tubes

• US 8,362,681 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hussell, Christopher P., Edmond, John Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/180,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 257/99, 257/100, 313/488, 313/495
• US Class Current: 313/488
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• 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 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0003 the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material, such as phosphor, dispersed therein. A semiconductor light emitting device is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material dispersed therein. The elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube may have an open end, a crimped end, a reflective end, and/or other configurations. Multiples tubes and/or multiple semiconductor light emitting devices may also be used in various configurations. Related assembling methods are also described.

Claims

1. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

first and second mounting substrates; and

first and second domes on the respective first and second mounting substrates;

wherein the respective first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are located between the respective first and second mounting substrates and the respective first and second domes; and

wherein the respective first and second domes extend at least partially into the respective first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube and the respective first and second mounting substrates extend at least partially outside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube at the respective first and second ends.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are oriented such that at least about 20% of the emitted light strikes the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall at an oblique angle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are oriented such that at least about 90% of the emitted light strikes the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall at an oblique angle.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are blue light emitting diodes having an area of about 1mm² and wherein the semiconductor light emitting apparatus produces about 160 lumens per watt at a color temperature of about 4700K.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are blue light emitting diodes having an area of about 1mm² and wherein the semiconductor light emitting apparatus produces about 150 lumens per watt at a color temperature of about 5500K.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube is oriented relative to the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices so as to provide a longer path length through the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall for light that is emitted by the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices that does not strike the wavelength conversion material without increasing the path length of light that is converted by striking the wavelength conversion material.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tube wall defines a tube axis, wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are configured to emit light symmetrically about respective emission axes and wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are oriented such that the emission axes are coincident with the tube axis.

8. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

a screw-type base;

a pair of standoffs that maintain the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube and the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices spaced apart from the base; and

a bulb that is connected to the screw-type base and surrounds the hollow wavelength conversion tube and the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices.

9. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube and the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices define a light emitting filament, the apparatus further comprising at least one additional light emitting filament, each of which comprises;

an additional elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that comprises first and second opposing ends and that includes an additional elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material; and

additional first and second semiconductor light emitting devices adjacent the respective first and second ends of the additional elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube and that are oriented to emit light inside the additional elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the additional elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the light emitting filament and the at least one additional light emitting filament are oriented end-to-end in a linear array.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the light emitting filament and the at least one additional light emitting filament extend about a common origin in a three-dimensional array.

12. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices are packaged first and second semiconductor light emitting devices, each comprising;

a mounting substrate;

a dome on the mounting substrate; and

a semiconductor light emitting die that is located between the mounting substrate and the dome,

the respective first and second packaged semiconductor light emitting devices being oriented such that the dome thereof extends into the respective first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube, a base of the dome thereof extends adjacent the respective first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube, the mounting substrate thereof provides an end cap for the respective first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube, and the semiconductor light emitting die thereof is oriented to emit light through the dome thereof to inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the mounting substrate is wider than the first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube and the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube is of approximately same diameter as the base of the dome.

14. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a double-sided reflector in the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube between the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the respective first and second semiconductor light emitting devices extend at least partially into the respective first and second ends of the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube.

16. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube is crimped between the first and second semiconductor light emitting devices.

17. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube wall includes inner and outer surfaces and wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube further comprises a supporting layer on the inner surface and/or on the outer surface.

18. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising:

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube is a first elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube, the apparatus further comprising;

a second elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that comprises a second elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material, the first and second elongated hollow wavelength conversion tubes being coaxial to one another.

19. A semiconductor light emitting apparatus comprising;

an elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube that includes first and second opposing ends and that comprises an elongated wavelength conversion tube wall having wavelength conversion material;

a first semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the first end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material; and

a second semiconductor light emitting device adjacent the second end that is oriented to emit light inside the elongated hollow wavelength conversion tube to impinge upon the elongated wavelength conversion tube wall and the wavelength conversion material;

wherein the elongated tube wall includes inner and outer surfaces and wherein the inner and/or outer surfaces are textured.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the inner and/or outer surfaces are non-uniformly textured.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the elongated tube wall has wavelength conversion material uniformly and/or non-uniformly dispersed therein and/or thereon.