Phosphor-containing LED light bulb

• US 8,638,033 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Ronald J., Carsten, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US13/892,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 313/512, 313/46
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• 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 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/145 Arrangements of the electroluminescent material

Abstract

An LED bulb, which includes a shell, a filler material within the shell of the bulb, at least one type of phosphor dispersed inside the filler material and at least one LED within the shell.

Claims

1. A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb comprising:

a shell having a volume defined within the shell;

a liquid at least partially filling the volume defined within the shell of the bulb;

a first type of phosphor distributed in the liquid; and

an LED disposed within the volume defined within the shell,

wherein a first portion of the liquid has a first concentration of the first type of phosphor,

wherein a second portion of the liquid has a second concentration of the first type of phosphor,

wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration, and

wherein the first portion and the second portion are not identical.

2. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portion is closer to the center of the LED bulb than the second portion.

3. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first portion includes the center of the LED bulb.

4. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second type of phosphor distributed in the liquid, wherein the first type of phosphor and second type of phosphor are different.

5. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid is thermally conductive.

6. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the shell of the LED bulb is a first shell,

wherein the volume defined within the first shell is a first volume,

wherein the LED within the LED bulb comprises a second shell having a second volume defined within the second shell, and

wherein the second volume is inside the first volume and is sealed from the liquid that fills the first volume.

7. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 6,

wherein the LED further comprises an LED die disposed within the second volume, and

wherein the second shell keeps the liquid away from the LED die.

8. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second volume is without phosphor.

9. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 7, wherein the LED is without phosphor.

10. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 7, wherein the LED die is a blue or ultraviolet LED die.

11. A light-emitting diode (LED) incandescent bulb replacement comprising:

a screw base shaped to screw into an electrical socket;

a shell coupled to the screw base and having a volume defined within the shell of the bulb;

a liquid at least partially filling the volume defined within the shell of the bulb;

a first type of phosphor distributed in the liquid; and

an LED disposed within the volume defined within the shell,

wherein a first portion of the liquid has a first concentration of the first type of phosphor,

wherein a second portion of the liquid has a second concentration of the first type of phosphor,

wherein the first concentration is higher than the second concentration, and

wherein the first portion and the second portion are not identical.

12. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first portion is closer to the center of the LED bulb than the second portion.

13. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first portion includes the center of the LED bulb.

14. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a second type of phosphor distributed in the liquid, wherein the first type of phosphor and second type of phosphor are different.

15. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the liquid is thermally conductive.

16. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 11,

wherein the shell of the LED bulb is a first shell,

wherein the volume defined within the first shell is a first volume,

wherein the LED within the LED incandescent bulb replacement comprises a second shell having a second volume defined within the second shell, and

wherein the second volume is inside the first volume and is sealed from the liquid that fills the first volume.

17. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 16,

wherein the LED further comprises an LED die disposed within the second volume, and

wherein the second shell keeps the liquid away from the LED die.

18. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 17, wherein the second volume is without phosphor.

19. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 17, wherein the LED is without phosphor.

20. An LED bulb as set forth in claim 17, wherein the LED die is a blue or ultraviolet LED die.