Solid-state lamp with angular distribution optic

• US 9,702,512 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Jeremy, Power, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/657,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20160265728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• 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 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/50 Cooling arrangements air-treatment systems dissipating or using the heat of lighting fixtures F24F3/056
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A solid-state lamp with an angular distribution optic is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention can provide for improved luminous intensity distribution in the vertical plane for a vertically oriented solid-state lamp. A lamp according to some example embodiments of the invention includes at least one LED, an optically transmissive enclosure for the LED or LEDs, and a base. The lamp also includes a distribution optic conformably disposed in or on the base to conduct light for angularly distributed emission from the base of the lamp. In some embodiments, the lamp is dimensioned as a replacement for a candelabra type incandescent bulb. The distribution optic can be composed of any optical medium, and in some embodiments, may be from about 1 mm to about 5 mm thick. In some embodiments, the distribution optic is made of thermally conductive plastic.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

at least one LED;

an optically transmissive enclosure for the at least one LED;

a base;

a distribution optic conformably disposed in or on the base to conduct light from the at least one LED for angularly distributed emission from the base of the lamp; and

a guide optic arranged to direct light from the at least one LED into the distribution optic.

2. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the optically transmissive enclosure is transmissively coupled to the distribution optic.

3. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the guide optic also directs light to the interior of the optically transmissive enclosure.

4. The lamp of claim 1 wherein both the guide optic and the optically transmissive enclosure are transmissively coupled to the distribution optic.

5. The lamp of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a power supply.

6. The lamp of claim 5 further comprising a reflective insert between the distribution optic and the power supply.

7. The lamp of claim 5 wherein the distribution optic further comprises thermally conductive plastic.

8. The lamp of claim 1 dimensioned as a replacement for a candelabra type incandescent bulb.

9. The lamp of claim 1 dimensioned as a replacement for an A-series incandescent bulb.

10. A method of assembling an LED lamp, the method comprising:

assembling a power supply within or conforming to a base of the LED lamp;

connecting at least one LED to the power supply;

connecting an optically transmissive enclosure to the base of the LED lamp to enclose the at least one LED;

installing a distribution optic in or on the base so as to conduct light from the at least one LED for angularly distributed emission from the base of the LED lamp; and

installing a guide optic to direct light from the at least one LED into the distribution optic.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising installing a reflective insert between the distribution optic and the power supply.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising forming the distribution optic from thermally conductive plastic.

13. A candelabra lamp comprising:

an optically transmissive enclosure;

at least one LED disposed in the optically transmissive enclosure;

a driver base connected to the optically transmissive enclosure and to the at least one LED;

an optical medium having a thickness from about 1 mm to about 5 mm, the optical medium substantially conforming to the driver base and receiving light from the at least one LED to provide angularly distributed emission from the driver base; and

a TIR optic that directs light into the optically transmissive enclosure.

14. The candelabra lamp of claim 13 wherein the TIR optic is transmissively coupled to the optical medium.

15. The candelabra lamp of claim 13 wherein the optically transmissive enclosure is transmissively coupled to the optical medium.

16. The candelabra lamp of claim 13 wherein the TIR optic and the optically transmissive enclosure are both transmissively coupled to the optical medium.

17. The candelabra lamp of claim 13 further comprising a reflective insert disposed between the optical medium and the driver base.

18. The candelabra lamp of claim 13 wherein the optical medium is thermally conductive.

19. The candelabra lamp of claim 18 wherein the optical medium further comprises a thermally conductive additive.

20. An LED candelabra lamp comprising:

a driver base;

an optical dome connected to the driver base;

a power supply in the driver base; and

a reflective insert between the distribution optic and the power supply;

wherein when viewed at a distance, the LED candelabra lamp gives of light in substantially all directions in the vertical plane to give the appearance of a traditional, incandescent candelabra bulb.

21. The LED candelabra lamp of claim 20 further comprising a distribution optic conformably disposed in or on the driver base to conduct light from at least one LED for angularly distributed emission from the driver base.

22. A lamp comprising:

at least one LED;

an optically transmissive enclosure for the at least one LED;

a base;

a distribution optic conformably disposed in or on the base to conduct light from the at least one LED for angularly distributed emission from the base of the lamp; and

a support between the at least one LED and the base with the distribution optic.

23. The lamp of claim 22 wherein the base further comprises a power supply.

24. The lamp of claim 23 further comprising a reflective insert between the distribution optic and the power supply.

25. The lamp of claim 23 wherein the distribution optic further comprises thermally conductive plastic.

26. The lamp of claim 22 dimensioned as a replacement for a candelabra type incandescent bulb.

27. A candelabra lamp comprising:

an optically transmissive enclosure;

at least one LED disposed in the optically transmissive enclosure;

a driver base connected to the optically transmissive enclosure and to the at least one LED; and

an optical medium having a thickness from about 1 mm to about 5 mm, the optical medium substantially conforming to the driver base and indirectly receiving light from the at least one LED to provide angularly distributed emission from the driver base.

28. The candelabra lamp of claim 27 wherein the optically transmissive enclosure is transmissively coupled to the optical medium.

29. The candelabra lamp of claim 27 further comprising a reflective insert disposed between the optical medium and the driver base.

30. The candelabra lamp of claim 27 wherein the optical medium is thermally conductive.

31. The candelabra lamp of claim 30 wherein the optical medium further comprises a thermally conductive additive.