LED lamp with remote phosphor and diffuser configuration utilizing red emitters

• US 9,024,517 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuan, Zongjie, Tarsa, Eric, Tong, Tao, Letoquin, Ronan, Keller, Bernd, Le, Long Larry, Lay, James Michael, Demuynck, Randolph Cary
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Sikha
• Application Number:
  US13/028,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 313/501, 313/512, 313/503, 313/500
• US Class Current: 313/501
• 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 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/745 the fins or blades being planar and inclined with respect to the joining surface from which the fins or blades extend
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/08 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Lamps and bulbs are disclosed generally comprising different combinations and arrangement of a light source, one or more wavelength conversion materials, regions or layers which are positioned separately or remotely with respect to the light source, and a separate diffusing layer. This arrangement allows for the fabrication of lamps and bulbs that are efficient, reliable and cost effective and can provide an essentially omni-directional emission pattern, even with a light source comprised of a co-planar arrangement of LEDs. Additionally, this arrangement allows aesthetic masking or concealment of the appearance of the conversion regions or layers when the lamp is not illuminated. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize LED chips to provide one or more lighting components instead of providing the components through phosphor conversion. This can provide for lamps that can be operated with lower power and can be manufactured at lower cost. In one embodiment, a red lighting component can be provided by red emitting LEDs as opposed to a red conversion material.

Claims

1. A solid state lamp, comprising:

a first light emitting diode (LED) emitting light at a first peak emission;

a second LED emitting light at a second respective peak emission;

a conversion material spaced from said first and second LEDs with light from said first and second LEDs passing through said conversion material, wherein said conversion material absorbs at least some of said light from said first LED and re-emits light at a third respective peak emission, said lamp emitting a combination of light from said first, second and third peak emissions; and

a diffuser over and spaced from said conversion material;

wherein said conversion material is globe-shaped, such that the portion of said globe-shaped conversion material closest to said LEDs is narrower than the widest portion of said globe-shaped conversion material.

2. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light from said second LED passes through said conversion material without substantial absorption.

3. The lamp of claim 1, wherein light from said first LED comprises blue light.

4. The lamp of claim 1, wherein light from said second LED comprises red light.

5. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said conversion material comprises phosphors.

6. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said conversion material comprises a three-dimensional shape.

7. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said conversion material absorbs light from said first LED and re-emits yellow or green light.

8. The lamp of claim 1, emitting a white light combination of red, blue and yellow or green.

9. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said first and second LEDs comprise a planar LED array.

10. The lamp of claim 1, emitting a white light combination or light from said first and second LEDs, and from said conversion material.

11. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said conversion material emits light at a fourth peak emission, said lamp emitting light with a combination of said peak emissions.

12. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said lamp emits light comprising an emission pattern that is compliant with Energy Star standards.

13. The lamp of claim 1, sized to fit an A19 size profile.

14. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said conversion material is planar.

15. A solid state lamp, comprising:

a heat sink;

an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted to said heat sink and providing light with first and second respective peak wavelengths, said second peak wavelength being a red wavelength;

a conversion material mounted to said heat sink, said conversion material over and remote to said array of LEDs, with light from said LEDs passing through said conversion material, said conversion material absorbing a portion of one of said first and second peak wavelengths of light and re-emitting a respective third peak wavelength and a respective fourth peak wavelength of light; and

a diffuser over and spaced from said conversion material;

said lamp emitting light comprising a combination of said first, second, third, and fourth peak wavelengths;

wherein said conversion material is globe-shaped such that the portion of said globe-shaped conversion material closest to said array of LEDs is narrower than the widest portion of said globe-shaped conversion material.

16. The lamp of claim 15, wherein a portion of the other of said first and second peak wavelengths of light passes through said conversion material without substantial absorption.

17. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said array of LEDs is planar.

18. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said array of LEDs comprises a blue emitting LED.

19. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said array of LEDs comprises a red emitting LED.

20. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said conversion material comprises a phosphor that absorbs blue light and re-emits yellow or green light.

21. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said conversion material comprises a phosphor that does not substantially absorb red light.

22. The lamp of claim 15, wherein said conversion material comprises a dome over said array of LEDs.

23. The lamp of claim 15, further comprising an optical cavity.

24. The lamp of claim 15, emitting a white light combination of light from said array of LEDs and said conversion material.

25. The lamp of claim 15, emitting light with an emission pattern that is Energy Star compliant.

26. The lamp of claim 15, sized to fit an A19 size profile.

27. A solid state lamp, comprising:

a blue emitting light emitting diode (LED);

a red emitting LED;

a phosphor over and spaced from said blue and red LEDs, with light from said blue and red LEDs passing through said phosphor, said phosphor absorbing at least some of said blue LED light and re-emitting a respective different wavelength of light, said lamp emitting a white light combination of red, blue and re-emitted phosphor light; and

a diffuser over and spaced from said phosphor;

wherein said phosphor is globe-shaped, such that the portion of said globe-shaped phosphor closest to said LEDs is narrower than the widest portion of said globe-shaped phosphor.

28. The lamp of claim 27, wherein said re-emitted phosphor light comprises yellow or green light.

29. The lamp of claim 27, wherein at least some of said light from said red emitting LED passes through said phosphor without being substantially absorbed.

30. The lamp of claim 27, further comprising an optical cavity.

31. The lamp of claim 27, emitting light with an emission pattern that is Energy Star compliant.

32. The lamp of claim 27, sized to fit an A19 size profile.

33. The lamp of claim 27, emitting light with a color rendering index of 80 or higher.

34. The lamp of claim 27, emitting light comprising a correlated color temperature from approximately 2500K to 3500K.

35. The lamp of claim 27, emitting light comprising a correlated color temperature from approximately 2700K to 3300K.

36. The lamp of claim 27, emitting light comprising a correlated color temperature from approximately 2725K to about 3045K.

37. A solid state lamp, comprising:

an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) providing light with first and second respective peak wavelengths, said second peak wavelength being a red wavelength;

a conversion means over and remote to said array of LEDs, said conversion means converting light from said first peak wavelength to a respective third peak wavelength; and

a diffuser over and spaced from said conversion means;

wherein said conversion means emits light at a fourth peak wavelength;

said lamp emitting a light comprising a white light combination of said first, second, third, and fourth peak wavelengths;

wherein said conversion means is globe-shaped, such that the portion of said globe-shaped conversion means closest to said array of LEDs is narrower than the widest portion of said globe-shaped conversion means.