Lighting device with remote lumiphor and non-planar optical element

• US 9,335,029 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pickard, Paul Kenneth, Medendorp, Nicholas W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
• Application Number:
  US13/864,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/311.02, 362/800, 362/231, 362/235, 362/84
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/00 Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00 controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements F21V14/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/22 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings, e.g. dichroic reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device includes an electrically activated emitter, a lumiphoric material spatially segregated from the emitter, and an optical element arranged between the emitter and the lumiphoric material, wherein at least a portion of the optical element is curved or includes a non-planar shape. The optical element may include a reflective material disposed proximate to at least one peripheral edge and/or may include at least one peripheral edge that is non-perpendicular to a face of the optical element and arranged to reflect light in a direction toward the lumiphoric material.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

at least one electrically activated solid state emitter;

at least one lumiphoric material spatially segregated from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter, and arranged to receive at least a portion of emissions from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter; and

at least one optical element, including at least one of an optical filter and an optical reflector, arranged between the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter and the at least one lumiphoric material, wherein the at least one optical element comprises an inner face proximate to the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter, an outer face distal from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter, and at least one peripheral edge bounding the inner face and the outer face;

wherein at least a portion of the inner face includes a cross-sectional shape that is curved or non-planar, at least a portion of the outer face includes a cross-sectional shape that is curved or non-planar, the at least a portion of the inner face is arranged to transmit at least a portion of emissions from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter to impinge on the at least one lumiphoric material, and at least a portion of the outer face is arranged to transmit at least a portion of emissions from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter to impinge on the at least one lumiphoric material.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector element arranged to reflect emissions from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter toward the at least one optical element.

3. A lighting device according to claim 2, further comprising a base supporting the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter, wherein the reflector element comprises a reflective floor, and the reflective floor is arranged on or above the base.

4. A lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the base comprises at least one of a submount and a heat sink.

5. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises an anti-reflective surface along the outer face and a dichroic filter or dichroic mirror surface along the inner face.

6. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element includes an interference filter.

7. A lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the interference filter comprises a dichroic filter.

8. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element includes an interference reflector.

9. A lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the interference reflector comprises a dichroic mirror.

10. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter comprises a light emitting diode.

11. A lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a scattering or diffusing element segregated from the at least one lumiphoric material.

12. A lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in conductive thermal communication with the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter and arranged to dissipate heat to an ambient environment, and comprising electrical contacts arranged to receive current from a power source, wherein the heat sink is arranged between the at least one optical element and the electrical contacts.

13. A light bulb or light fixture comprising the lighting device of claim 1.

14. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the inner face includes a cross-sectional shape that is curved, and the at least a portion of the outer face includes a cross-sectional shape that is curved.

15. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the inner face is arranged distal from the at least one peripheral edge, and the at least a portion of the outer face is arranged distal from the at least one peripheral edge.

16. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the inner face is centrally arranged over the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter, and the at least a portion of the outer face is centrally arranged over the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter.

17. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lumiphoric material is disposed in a layer arranged in contact with the at least one optical element.

18. A lighting device according to claim 1, being devoid of a gap or void between the at least one optical element and the at least one lumiphoric material.

19. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of an optical filter and an optical reflector is arranged along the inner face of the at least one optical element.

20. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is devoid of any path for escape of light emanating from the at least one electrically activated solid state emitter through any peripheral edge of the at least one peripheral edge without interaction with the at least one lumiphoric material.