Lighting device and lighting method

• US 9,297,503 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van De Ven, Antony Paul, Negley, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US14/252,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20140226326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• 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 23/001 the elements being electrical wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/041 with conical or pyramidal surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and first and second groups of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would have a correlated color temperature which differs by at least 50 K from a correlated color temperature which would be emitted by a combination of (3) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of emitters, and (4) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of lumiphors.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter;

a second group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter;

at least first and second portions of luminescent material; and

at least a first power line and a second power line,

wherein;

if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters would excite the first portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination corresponding to a first point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram;

if the second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters would excite the second portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination corresponding to a second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram,

a first ratio comprising a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the second group of solid state light emitters,

a second ratio comprising a number of solid state light emitters on the second power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the second power line that are in the second group of solid state light emitters,

the first ratio differing from the second ratio.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 2, wherein the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus in a first direction, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus in a second direction, the second direction different from the first direction.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 3, wherein:

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is above the blackbody locus, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is below the blackbody locus.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the lighting device further comprises at least a third group of solid state light emitters and at least a third portion of luminescent material, the third group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter, and

if the third group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters would excite the third portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a third group mixed illumination corresponding to a third point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, the third point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram differing from the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram and from the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 6, wherein the lighting device further comprises at least a third power line.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the lighting device further comprises a third power line,

a third ratio comprises a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the third group of solid state light emitters,

a fourth ratio comprises a number of solid state light emitters on the third power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the third power line that are in the third group of solid state light emitters, and

the third ratio differs from the fourth ratio.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 8, wherein the lighting device further comprises a fourth power line.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 6, wherein:

a third ratio comprises a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the first power line that are in the third group of solid state light emitters,

a fourth ratio comprises a number of solid state light emitters on the second power line that are in the first group of solid state light emitters, divided by a number of solid state light emitters on the second power line that are in the third group of solid state light emitters, and

the third ratio differs from the fourth ratio.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having a correlated color temperature that is:

in the range of from about 2700 K to about 3500 K,

in the range of from about 2200 K to about 4500 K,

in the range of from about 3500 K to about 5000 K,

in the range of from about 4500 K to about 6500 K, and/or

about 5000 K.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be white light.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be non-white light.

14. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter;

a second group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter; and

at least first and second portions of luminescent material,

wherein;

if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters would excite the first portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination corresponding to a first point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram;

if the second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters would excite the second portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination corresponding to a second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram,

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus in a first direction, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is spaced from the blackbody locus in a second direction, the second direction different from the first direction.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is above the blackbody locus, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is below the blackbody locus.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein:

the lighting device further comprises at least a third group of solid state light emitters and at least a third portion of luminescent material, the third group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter, and

if the third group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters would excite the third portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a third group mixed illumination corresponding to a third point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, the third point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram differing from the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram and from the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having a correlated color temperature that is:

in the range of from about 2700 K to about 3500 K,

in the range of from about 2200 K to about 4500 K,

in the range of from about 3500 K to about 5000 K,

in the range of from about 4500 K to about 6500 K, and/or

about 5000 K.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be white light.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 14, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be non-white light.

21. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter;

a second group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter; and

at least first and second portions of luminescent material,

wherein;

if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters would excite the first portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination corresponding to a first point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram;

if the second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters would excite the second portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the second portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination corresponding to a second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram,

the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is above the blackbody locus, and

the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is below the blackbody locus.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 21, wherein:

the lighting device further comprises at least a third group of solid state light emitters and at least a third portion of luminescent material, the third group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one solid state light emitter, and

if the third group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a portion of light emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters would excite the third portion of luminescent material, and a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the third portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a third group mixed illumination corresponding to a third point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, the third point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram differing from the first point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram and from the second point on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 21, wherein if the first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first group of solid state light emitters and light exiting the lighting device that was emitted from the first portion of luminescent material would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having a correlated color temperature that is:

in the range of from about 2700 K to about 3500 K,

in the range of from about 2200 K to about 4500 K,

in the range of from about 3500 K to about 5000 K,

in the range of from about 4500 K to about 6500 K, and/or

about 5000 K.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 21, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be white light.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 21, wherein if all of the solid state light emitters in the lighting device are illuminated, a mixture of light exiting the lighting device would be non-white light.