Enhanced color contrast light source at elevated color temperatures

• US 8,373,338 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Beers, William Winder
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago, Mariceli
• Application Number:
  US12/256,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20100096998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 313485-489
• US Class Current: 313/485
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7734 Aluminates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7777 Phosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7787 Oxides C09K11/7785 takes precedence

Abstract

A lamp having improved color quality scale, especially at elevated color temperatures, is provided. The light generated by the light-emitting elements of the lamp, when the lamp is energized, has delta chroma values for fifteen color samples of the color quality scale within select parameters. The delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB color space.

Claims

1. A lamp which when energized exhibits a correlated color temperature of between about 3000 kelvin to about 4500 kelvin and having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising:

at least one light-emitting element having a light emission when energized; and

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5 to 2 for VS1;

−

2 to 5 for VS2;

−

5 to 0 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

2.5 to 8 for VS4;

−

2 to 15 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

0 to 21 for VS6;

3 to 22 for VS7;

2 to 7 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

6 to 5.5 for VS9;

−

4 to 5 for VS10;

−

4 to 2 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

0.5 to 5 for VS12;

1 to 12 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

7 to 4 for VS14;

−

7 to 7 for VS15;

wherein said delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB space;

with the proviso that the lamp does not comprise an incandescent light-emitting element, wherein the lamp is a low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp optionally supplemented by one or more of OLED and LED, and wherein said at least one light-emitting element is phosphor.

2. The lamp of claim 1, comprising:

a combination of two or more light-emitting elements, said combination comprising a red light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 590 to about 670 nm, a first green light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 500 to about 570 nm, and a blue light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 430 to about 490 nm,

wherein a single light emitting element may emit one or more colors;

and optionally further comprising at least one of an amber light emitting element and a blue-green light emitting element.

3. The lamp of claim 2, wherein each of the peak emission for said red light-emitting element, said first green light-emitting element, and said blue light-emitting element has a half-value width of about 1 to about 100 nm.

4. The lamp of claim 2, wherein said combination further comprises a second green light-emitting element different from said first green light emitting element and having a peak emission in the range of from about 530 to about 560 nm and a half-value width of about 1 to about 20 nm.

5. The lamp of claim 2, wherein said red light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

Y₂O₃;

Eu;

3.5MgO*0.5MgF₂*GeO₂;

Mn⁴ ;

Gd(Zn,Mg)B₅O₁₀;

Ce,Mn; and

(Sr, Mg)₃(PO₄)₂;

Sn² .

6. The lamp of claim 2, wherein said first green light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇:

Eu² , Mn² ;

LaPO₄;

Ce,Tb;

Zn₂SiO₄;

Mn;

(Ce,Tb)MgAl₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,La)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉; and

SrAl₁₂O₁₉;

Mn² .

7. The lamp of claim 2, wherein said blue light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇;

Eu² ;

(Sr,Ba,Ca,Mg)₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu² ; and

Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅;

Eu² .

8. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp is fluorescent lamp.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein said lamp is a fluorescent lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, a fill gas sealed inside said envelope, wherein at least one of said light-emitting elements is a phosphor.

10. The lamp of claim 1,

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows:

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5 to 2 for VS1;

−

2 to 5 for VS2;

−

4 to −

1 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

2.5 to 6 for VS4;

−

2 to 13 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

1 to 20 for VS6;

3 to 21 for VS7;

2 to 7 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

6 to 5 for VS9;

−

4 to 4 for VS10;

−

4 to 2 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

0 to 4 for VS12;

2 to 10 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

6 to 2 for VS14;

−

7 to 6 for VS15.

31. The lamp in accordance with any one of claim 1, 11 or 21, with the proviso that the lamp does not comprise Y(V,P)O₄:

Eu phosphor.

11. A lamp which when energized exhibits a correlated color temperature of between about 4500 kelvin to about 7500 kelvin and having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising:

at least one light-emitting element having a light emission when energized; and

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5 to 2 for VS1;

−

2 to 4 for VS2;

−

5 to 3 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

2 to 5 for VS4;

−

2 to 15 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

0 to 20 for VS6;

1 to 22 for VS7;

2 to 8 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5.5 to 5.5 for VS9;

−

5 to 4 for VS10;

−

4 to 1 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

1.5 to 6 for VS12;

0.5 to 12 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

5 to 6 for VS14;

−

5.5 to 5 for VS15,

wherein said delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB space;

with the proviso that the lamp does not comprise an incandescent light-emitting element, wherein the lamp is a low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp optionally supplemented by one or more of OLED and LED, and wherein said at least one light-emitting element is phosphor.

12. The lamp of claim 11, comprising:

a combination of two or more light-emitting elements, said combination comprising a red light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 590 to about 670 nm, a first green light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 500 to about 570 nm, and a blue light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 430 to about 490 nm,

wherein a single light emitting element may emit one or more colors;

and optionally further comprising at least one of an amber light emitting element and a blue-green light emitting element.

13. The lamp of claim 12, wherein each of the peak emission for said red light-emitting element, said first green light-emitting element, and said blue light-emitting element has a half-value width of about 1 to about 100 nm.

14. The lamp of claim 12, wherein said combination further comprises a second green light-emitting element different from said first green light emitting element and having a peak emission in the range of from about 530 to about 560 nm and a half-value width of about 1 to about 20 nm.

15. The lamp of claim 12, wherein said red light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

Y₂O₃;

Eu;

3.5MgO*0.5MgF₂*GeO₂;

Mn⁴ ;

Gd(Zn,Mg)B₅O₁₀;

Ce,Mn; and

(Sr, Mg)₃(PO₄)₂;

Sn² .

16. The lamp of claim 12, wherein said first green light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇;

Eu² , Mn² ;

LaPO₄;

Ce,Tb;

Zn₂SiO₄;

Mn;

(Ce,Tb)MgAl₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,La)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉; and

SrAl₁₁O₁₉;

Mn² .

17. The lamp of claim 12, wherein said blue light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇;

Eu² ;

(Sr,Ba,Ca,Mg)₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu² ; and

Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅;

Eu² .

18. The lamp of claim 11, wherein said lamp is fluorescent lamp.

19. The lamp of claim 18, wherein said lamp is a fluorescent lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, a fill gas sealed inside said envelope, wherein at least one of said light-emitting elements is a phosphor.

20. The lamp of claim 11,

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows:

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5 to 0 for VS1;

−

2 to 4 for VS2;

−

4.5 to 2 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

2 to 5 for VS4;

−

2 to 13 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

1 to 20 for VS6;

2 to 21 for VS7;

2 to 8 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

5.5 to 5 for VS9;

−

5 to 3 for VS10;

−

4 to 1 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

0.5 to 4 for VS12;

1 to 10 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

4 to 4 for VS14;

−

5 to 3 for VS15.

21. A lamp which when energized exhibits a correlated color temperature of between about 7500 kelvin to about 20000 kelvin and having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising:

at least one light-emitting element having a light emission when energized; and

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

2 to 2 for VS1;

0 to 5 for VS2;

−

5 to 5.5 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

2.5 to 4 for VS4;

−

3 to 15 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

1 to 22 for VS6;

0 to 23 for VS7;

4 to 11 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

4.5 to 6 for VS9;

−

4 to 5 for VS10;

−

4 to 1 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

1.5 to 6 for VS12;

1 to 13 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

3 to 7 for VS14;

−

3 to 8 for VS15,

wherein said delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB space;

with the proviso that the lamp does not comprise an incandescent light-emitting element, wherein the lamp is a low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp optionally supplemented by one or more of OLED and LED, and wherein said at least one light-emitting element is phosphor.

22. The lamp of claim 21, comprising:

a combination of two or more light-emitting elements, said combination comprising a red light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 590 to about 670 nm, a first green light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 500 to about 570 nm, and a blue light-emitting element having a peak emission in the range of from about 430 to about 490 nm,

wherein a single light emitting element may emit one or more colors;

and optionally further comprising at least one of an amber light emitting element and a blue-green light emitting element.

23. The lamp of claim 22, wherein each of the peak emission for said red light-emitting element, said first green light-emitting element, and said blue light-emitting element has a half-value width of about 1 to about 100 nm.

24. The lamp of claim 22, wherein said combination further comprises a second green light-emitting element different from said first green light emitting element and having a peak emission in the range of from about 530 to about 560 nm and a half-value width of about 1 to about 20 nm.

25. The lamp of claim 22, wherein said red light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

Y₂O₃;

Eu;

3.5MgO*0.5MgF₂*GeO₂;

Mn⁴ ;

Gd(Zn,Mg)B₅O₁₀;

Ce,Mn; and

(Sr, Mg)₃(PO₄)₂;

Sn² .

26. The lamp of claim 22, wherein said first green light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇;

Eu² , Mn² ;

LaPO₄;

Ce,Tb;

Zn₂SiO₄;

Mn;

(Ce,Tb)MgAl₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉;

(Ce,La)(Mg,Mn)Al₁₁O₁₉; and

SrAl₁₂O₁₉;

Mn² .

27. The lamp of claim 22, wherein said blue light-emitting element comprises a phosphor selected from the group consisting of:

(Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl₁₀O₁₇;

Eu² ;

(Sr,Ba,Ca,Mg)₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu² ; and

Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅;

Eu² .

28. The lamp of claim 21, wherein said lamp is fluorescent lamp.

29. The lamp of claim 28, wherein said lamp is a fluorescent lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, a fill gas sealed inside said envelope, wherein at least one of said light-emitting elements is a phosphor.

30. The lamp of claim 21,

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows:

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

2 to 2 for VS1;

0 to 5 for VS2;

−

4 to 4 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

1.5 to 3 for VS4;

−

1 to 13 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

1 to 20 for VS6;

3 to 21 for VS7;

4 to 11 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−

3.5 to 5 for VS9;

−

3 to 5 for VS10;

−

4 to 1 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

1 to 5 for VS12;

2 to 12 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−

3 to 6 for VS14;

−

3 to 3 for VS15.