Light bulb with omnidirectional output

• US 8,750,671 B1
• Filed: 04/29/2012
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fusion Optix Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fusion Optix Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Timothy, Yeo, Terence, Morin, David, Sherman, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): RAHLL, JERRY T
• Application Number:
  US13/459,249
• Time in Patent Office: 772 Days
• Field of Search: 385/146, 362/628, 362/335
• US Class Current: 385/146
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/15 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the outer surface of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/049 Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/10 of the optical waveguide type G02B6/02, G02B6/24 take precedence; devices or arrangements for the control of light by electric, magnetic, electro-magnetic or acoustic means G02F1/00; transferring the modulation of modulated light G02F2/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00

Abstract

An outcoupling optic and omnidirectional lamp are provided which enable an omnidirectional light distribution from a lamp with directional light sources such as light emitting diodes. Specific embodiments include the A-type lamp, A19.

Claims

1. A light emitting device comprising:

a) a light source; and

b) an outcoupling optic comprising;

i. a bulb shaped non-planar light guide of optically transmissive material having a refractive index greater than 1 and a first input edge disposed to receive light from a light source and propagate light through total internal reflection within the walls of the light guide;

ii. a light extracting region comprising a plurality of light extracting features;

c) a reflecting component positioned within the interior of the non-planar light guide;

wherein light is output with an omnidirectional luminous intensity distribution.

2. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the light extracting region is optically coupled to the non-planar light guide.

3. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the light extracting region is a volumetric light scattering region.

4. The light emitting device of claim 3 wherein the volumetric light scattering region is comprised of matrix and domain regions with differing indices of refraction such that Δ

|n_p−

n_m|>

0.001 where n_p is the index of refraction of the domain and n_m is the index of refraction of the matrix.

5. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the light extracting region is a plurality of surface features on the non-planar light guide.

6. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the light extracting region is a reflective region optically coupled to the light guide.

7. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the light extracting region is at the output surface of the non-planar light guide.

8. The light emitting device of claim 1 in which the omnidirectional light distribution pattern is that of an A-type lamp.

9. The light emitting device of claim 1 having an even distribution of luminous intensity within the 0°

to 135°

zone (vertically axially symmetrical) wherein luminous intensity at any angle within the 0°

to 135°

zone shall not differ from the mean luminous intensity for the entire 0°

to 135°

zone by more than 20%.

10. The light emitting device of claim 1 further comprising an E26 base.

11. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the non-planar light guide is tapered.

12. The light emitting device of claim 1 wherein the reflecting component forms a cavity within which less than 10% of light emitted from the light source enters.

13. A light emitting device comprising:

a) a light source; and

b) an outcoupling optic comprising

i. a non-planar light guide of optically transmissive material having a refractive index greater than 1 and a first input edge disposed to receive light from a light source and propagate light through total internal reflection within the walls of the light guide;

ii. a light extracting region comprising matrix and domain regions with differing indices of refraction such that Δ

|n_p−

n_m|>

0.001 where n_P is the index of refraction of the domain and n_m is the index of refraction of the matrix;

c) a reflecting component positioned within the interior of the non-planar light guide;

wherein light is output with an omnidirectional luminous intensity distribution.

14. An outcoupling optic with an omnidirectional shape comprising;

a) A bulb shaped non-planar light guide of optically transmissive material having a refractive index η

₁ greater than 1 and a first input edge disposed to receive light from a light source and propagate light through total internal reflection within the walls of the light guide;

b) a light extracting region comprising a plurality of light extracting features.

15. The outcoupling optic of claim 14 in which the omnidirectional shape is that of an A-type lamp.