Lighting devices with discrete lumiphor-bearing regions within or on a surface of remote elements

• US 8,921,876 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2009
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: van de Ven, Antony P., Negley, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): REAMES, MATTHEW L
• Application Number:
  US12/476,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20100301360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,037 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98, 257/E33.061, 257/E33.073
• US Class Current: 257/98
• 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 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/8592 Applying permanent coating, e.g. protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/504 Elements with two or more wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/505 characterised by the shape, e.g. plate or foil
• 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: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 : Reflective elements

Abstract

A lighting device includes a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto, an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED, and a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of, or within, the element. The lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The remote element may be a lens, a reflective element, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto;

an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED;

a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions within or on a surface of the element, wherein the lumiphor-containing regions are spaced apart from each other, wherein the lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and to convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a different wavelength than the first peak wavelength; and

an intermediate material between at least some of the adjacent ones of the lumiphor-containing regions, wherein the intermediate material comprises reflective material capable of reflecting the light at the first peak wavelength.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the element comprises a lens.

3. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the element comprises a reflective element.

4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions comprises a plurality of first and second lumiphor-containing regions, wherein the first lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a second peak wavelength and the second lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a third peak wavelength, shorter than the second peak wavelength.

5. The lighting device of claim 4, wherein the first peak wavelength comprises a blue or UV wavelength, wherein the first discrete lumiphor-containing regions comprise a first color phosphor and wherein the second discrete lumiphor containing regions comprise a second color phosphor.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises a component.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises a module.

8. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises a self-ballasted lamp.

9. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the lighting device comprises a light fixture.

16. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions are within and on a surface of the element.

10. A lighting device, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto;

a lens in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED;

a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of the lens, wherein the pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions comprises a plurality of first and second lumiphor-containing regions spaced apart from each other, wherein the first lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a second peak wavelength and the second lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a third peak wavelength, shorter than the second peak wavelength; and

an intermediate material between at least some of the adjacent ones of the spaced apart first and second discrete lumiphor containing regions, wherein the intermediate material comprises reflective material capable of reflecting the light at the first peak wavelength.

11. A lighting device, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto;

a reflective element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED;

a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of the reflective element, wherein the pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions comprises a plurality of first and second lumiphor-containing regions spaced apart from each other, wherein the first lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a second peak wavelength and the second lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a third peak wavelength, shorter than the second peak wavelength; and

an intermediate material between at least some of the adjacent ones of the spaced apart first and second discrete lumiphor containing regions, wherein the intermediate material comprises reflective material and/or refractive material.

12. A lighting device, comprising:

a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto;

an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED;

a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions within the element, wherein the lumiphor-containing regions are spaced apart from each other, wherein the lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and to convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a different wavelength than the first peak wavelength; and

an intermediate material between at least some of the adjacent ones of the lumiphor-containing regions, wherein the intermediate material comprises reflective material capable of reflecting the light at the first peak wavelength.

13. The lighting device of claim 12, wherein the element comprises a lens.

14. The lighting device of claim 13, wherein the pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions comprises a plurality of first and second lumiphor-containing regions, wherein the first lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a second peak wavelength and the second lumiphor-containing region is configured to convert light emitted by the LED to light having a third peak wavelength, shorter than the second peak wavelength.

15. The lighting device of claim 14, wherein the first and second discrete lumiphor-containing regions are spaced apart from one another within the element.