LED bulb having an adjustable light-distribution profile

• US 9,255,673 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2013
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, David, Bhattarai, Matrika
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US14/142,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20150184815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/502 characterised by the adaptation for cooling of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence

Abstract

A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb includes a reflector, a plurality of LEDs disposed within a recess of the reflector, a thermally conductive liquid disposed within the recess, and an adjustment mechanism to move the LEDs from a first position to a second position, with respect to the reflector. The thermally conductive liquid may transfer heat generated by the LEDs to the reflector, and the reflector may dissipate heat transferred by the thermally conductive liquid to the surrounding environment. The reflector may also reflect light from the LEDs to produce a first light-distribution profile, having a respective first beam angle, when the LEDs are in the first position, and to produce a second light-distribution profile, having a respective second beam angle, when the LEDs are in the second position.

Claims

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

a reflector having a recess and a reflective inner surface;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the recess of the reflector;

a thermally conductive liquid within the recess of the reflector and in thermal contact with the LEDs and the inner surface of the reflector; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the plurality of LEDs relative to the reflector from a first position to a second position,

wherein light generated by the plurality of LEDs produces a first light-distribution profile when the LEDs are in the first position, and produces a second light-distribution profile when the LEDs are in the second position.

2. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive liquid transfers heat generated by the LEDs to the reflector, and the reflector dissipates the heat transferred by the thermally conductive liquid to the surrounding environment.

3. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the first light-distribution profile is characterized by a first beam angle, and the second light-distribution profile is characterized by a second beam angle that is different from the first beam angle.

4. The LED bulb of claim 3, wherein the LEDs are closer to a base of the recess in the first position than in the second position, and the second beam angle is greater than the first beam angle.

5. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein:

the reflector has a longitudinal axis; and

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the LEDs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

6. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein:

the reflector has a longitudinal axis; and

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the LEDs in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

7. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein:

the reflector has a longitudinal axis; and

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the reflector parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

8. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein:

the reflector has a longitudinal axis; and

the LEDs face radially outward from the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

9. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the reflector is a paraboloid.

10. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the reflector is a diffused reflector.

11. The LED bulb of claim 1, further comprising a frosted lens.

12. The LED bulb of claim 1, wherein the LEDs are arranged in a radial pattern.

13. The LED bulb of claim 1, further comprising a volume-compensation mechanism, the volume-compensation mechanism configured to compensate for expansion of the thermally conductive liquid.

14. The LED bulb of claim 13, wherein the volume-compensation mechanism is a bladder.

15. The LED bulb of claim 13, wherein the volume-compensation mechanism is a diaphragm.

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

a reflector having a recess, an inner surface, and a longitudinal axis, the reflector comprising a plurality of sub-reflectors arranged around the longitudinal axis, each of the sub-reflectors having an optical axis substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of the reflector;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the recess of the reflector, wherein each of the LEDs is located proximate to an optical axis of one of the sub-reflectors;

a thermally conductive liquid within the recess of the reflector and in thermal contact with the LEDs and the inner surface of the reflector; and

an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the position of the plurality of LEDs relative to the reflector from a first position to a second position,

wherein light generated by the plurality of LEDs produces a first light-distribution profile when the LEDs are in the first position, and produces a second light-distribution profile when the LEDs are in the second position.

17. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive liquid transfers heat generated by the LEDs to the reflector, and the reflector dissipates the heat transferred by the thermally conductive liquid to the surrounding environment.

18. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein each of the sub-reflectors is a portion of a parabolic reflector.

19. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein the first light-distribution profile is characterized by a first beam angle and the second light-distribution profile is characterized by a second beam angle different from the first beam angle.

20. The LED bulb of claim 19, wherein the LEDs are closer to a base of the recess in the first position than in the second position, and the second beam angle is greater than the first beam angle.

21. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein:

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the LEDs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

22. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein:

the adjustment mechanism is configured to move the reflector parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reflector.

23. The LED bulb of claim 16, wherein at least one of the sub-reflectors is a diffused reflector.

24. The LED bulb of claim 16, further comprising a frosted lens covering.

25. The LED bulb of claim 16, further comprising a volume-compensation mechanism, wherein the volume-compensation mechanism is configured to compensate for expansion of the thermally conductive liquid.

26. The LED bulb of claim 25, wherein the volume-compensation mechanism is a bladder.

27. The LED bulb of claim 25, wherein the volume-compensation mechanism is a diaphragm.