Lighting devices utilizing optical waveguides and remote light converters, and related methods
First Claim
1. A lighting device, comprising:
- a housing enclosing a housing interior and comprising a light exit for outputting a combination of primary light and secondary light;
a light converter comprising a luminescent material spaced from the light exit by a distance along an axial direction, and a reflective substrate comprising a plurality of nanofibers, wherein the luminescent material is supported by the substrate;
a light source mounted at the housing and configured for emitting a primary light beam of a primary wavelength; and
an optical waveguide comprising an input end optically coupled to the light source and an output end facing the housing interior and positioned at an angle to the axial direction, wherein the optical waveguide is configured for directing the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward the luminescent material, and the luminescent material is configured for emitting secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam, andwherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of a light pipe, an optical fiber, a dielectric slab, a prism, a photonic crystal, a photonic-crystal fiber, a mirror, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting device (100) includes a housing (104), a light converter (136), one or more light sources (132), and one or more optical waveguides (160). The housing includes a light exit (124) for outputting a combination of primary light (140) and secondary light (156,158). The light source emits a primary light beam of a primary wavelength. The optical waveguide includes an input end (162) optically coupled to the light source, and an output end (164) facing a housing interior (108) and positioned at an angle to an axial direction through the housing interior. The optical waveguide directs the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward a luminescent material of the light converter. The luminescent material emits secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam. The light source may be mounted outside the housing interior so as not to obstruct light propagation.
62 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A lighting device, comprising:
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a housing enclosing a housing interior and comprising a light exit for outputting a combination of primary light and secondary light; a light converter comprising a luminescent material spaced from the light exit by a distance along an axial direction, and a reflective substrate comprising a plurality of nanofibers, wherein the luminescent material is supported by the substrate; a light source mounted at the housing and configured for emitting a primary light beam of a primary wavelength; and an optical waveguide comprising an input end optically coupled to the light source and an output end facing the housing interior and positioned at an angle to the axial direction, wherein the optical waveguide is configured for directing the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward the luminescent material, and the luminescent material is configured for emitting secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam, and wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of a light pipe, an optical fiber, a dielectric slab, a prism, a photonic crystal, a photonic-crystal fiber, a mirror, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for producing output light from a lighting device, the method comprising:
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generating a plurality of primary light beams of a primary wavelength from a plurality of respective light sources mounted at a housing of the lighting device; transmitting the primary light beams from the light sources into a plurality of respective optical waveguides communicating with a housing interior enclosed by the housing, wherein the optical waveguides are selected from the group consisting of a light pipe, an optical fiber, a dielectric slab, a prism, a photonic crystal, a photonic-crystal fiber, a mirror, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing; emitting the primary light beams from the optical waveguides along respective nominal output axes oriented at respective angles to a central axis of the housing interior, wherein; the primary light beams are directed through the housing interior and at least a portion of the primary light beams are incident on a light converter comprising a luminescent material; the luminescent material comprises a first luminescent section configured to emit secondary light at a first wavelength and a second luminescent section configured to emit secondary light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; and at least one of the primary light beams predominantly illuminates the second luminescent section relative to the other primary light beams; emitting secondary light from the luminescent material through the housing interior, in response to excitation by the primary light beam, wherein the secondary light is emitted at one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength; and outputting output light from a light exit communicating with the housing interior, wherein the output light comprises a combination of primary light and secondary light. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A lighting device, comprising:
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a housing enclosing a housing interior and comprising a light exit for outputting a combination of primary light and secondary light, and a heat sink outside the housing interior; a light converter comprising a luminescent material spaced from the light exit by a distance along an axial direction; a light source mounted at the heat sink and configured for emitting a primary light beam of a primary wavelength; and an optical waveguide comprising an input end optically coupled to the light source and an output end facing the housing interior and positioned at an angle to the axial direction, wherein the optical waveguide is configured for directing the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward the luminescent material, and the luminescent material is configured for emitting secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam, and wherein the optical waveguide is selected from the group consisting of a light pipe, an optical fiber, a dielectric slab, a prism, a photonic crystal, a photonic-crystal fiber, a mirror, and combinations of two or more of the foregoing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification