Light assembly having light sources and adjacent light tubes

• US 8,723,424 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elumigen Llc
• Original Assignee: Elumigen Llc
• Inventors: Dassanayake, Mahendra, Fedele, Gennaro, Karchon, James A., Hiranthini, Alles
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US13/334,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 315/113, 315/112, 315/114, 315/116, 315/115, 315/117, 315/118, 362/551, 362/555
• US Class Current: 315/112
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/233 specially adapted for generating a spot light distribution, e.g. for substitution of reflector lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• 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 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/80 with pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/049 Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0033 with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits

Abstract

A light assembly includes a light source circuit board and a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed on the light source circuit board. A plurality of light pipes axially extends from and adjacent to each light-emitting diode. Each light pipe has a respective first end adjacent to the plurality of light-emitting diodes and a second end opposite to the light-emitting diodes. The plurality of light pipes communicates light from the light-emitting diodes therethrough and defines a cavity therebetween. A plurality of thermal vanes forms a heat sink for removing heat from the light-emitting diodes. The plurality of thermal vanes extend adjacent to the plurality of light pipes. A driver circuit board is disposed within the cavity.

Claims

1. A light assembly having an axis of symmetry comprising:

a light source circuit board;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed on the light-emitting diode circuit board;

a plurality of light pipes axially extending from and adjacent to each light-emitting diode, each light pipe having a respective first end adjacent to the plurality of light-emitting diodes and a second end opposite to the light-emitting diodes, said plurality of light pipes communicating light from the light-emitting diodes therethrough and defining a cavity therebetween;

a plurality of thermal vanes forming a heat sink for removing heat from the light-emitting diodes, said plurality of thermal vanes extending adjacent the plurality of light pipes; and

a driver circuit board disposed within the cavity.

2. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed in a first ring on the light source circuit board and have a center point aligned with the axis of symmetry.

3. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the first end of each of the plurality of light pipes comprises a collimating optic within a cavity adjacent to the respective light-emitting diodes.

4. A light assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein a wavelength-shifting element is disposed within the cavity to shift a wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting diodes.

5. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the second end comprises a beam forming optic.

6. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises at least one metallic layer and the plurality of thermal vanes extending from the metallic layer.

7. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the driver circuit board is disposed within a shielded enclosure within the cavity.

8. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cap adjacent to each of the plurality of second ends and enclosing the cavity, said cap having a light reflecting surface reflecting light out of the cap.

9. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of light pipes form a unitary structure.

10. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the light pipes are coated with a light-reflective coating on an external surface thereof.

11. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the light pipes each comprise a round cross-sectional area.

12. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the light pipes each comprise a rectangular cross-sectional area.

13. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the light pipes comprise a wavelength-shifting element for shifting the wavelength of light in the light pipes.

14. A light assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the wavelength-shifting element is disposed on an outer surface of the light pipe.

15. A light assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the wavelength-shifting element is disposed longitudinally within the light pipe.

16. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board is disposed on a plane perpendicular to an axis of symmetry of the light bulb.

17. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a plurality of wedge shaped sectors.

18. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the light pipes are coated with a reflective material.

19. A light assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a beam-forming surface is formed on a cap that is disposed adjacent to and extending between each light pipe.

20. A light assembly having an axis of symmetry comprising:

a light source circuit board having an electrically conductive layer;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes disposed on the light source circuit board in a ring shape;

a plurality of elongated light pipes axially extending from and adjacent to each of the plurality of light-emitting diodes, each light pipe having a first end adjacent to one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes and a second end opposite to the plurality of light-emitting diodes, said plurality of light pipes defining a cavity therebetween;

a plurality of thermal vanes thermally coupled to the conductive layer and forming a heat sink for removing heat from the light-emitting diodes, said plurality of thermal vanes extending axially along and adjacent to the plurality of light pipes; and

a driver circuit board disposed within the cavity.