Tube light with improved LED array

• US 9,719,642 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2013
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt International Clothing, Inc. (d/b/a Colt LED)
• Original Assignee: Colt International Clothing, Inc. (d/b/a Colt LED)
• Inventors: Macias, Guillermo
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, William N
• Application Number:
  US13/896,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 362231, 362225, 362219, 362236, 362230, 362 1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/278 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/023 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/10 of different colours
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/12 Arrangements for reducing harmonics from ac input or output
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/53803 with automatic control of output voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/00 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing or adjusting assemblages of electric components

Abstract

Apparatus and system for producing light using LED lighting with output within a predetermined desired color temperature range for commercial lighting uses. A preferred embodiment includes a first and second group of LEDs arranged in an alternating matrix configuration, each group of LEDs configured to produce light in a predetermined color temperature range. In a preferred embodiment, an LED light system includes a tubular LED lamp having substantially the same size and dimensions as a traditional fluorescent lamp tube and a control box for controlling power input and power gain to the first, second, or both groups of LEDs.

Claims

1. An LED light system configured for providing broad-spectrum white light suitable for a commercial image recording in a form factor of a fluorescent tube, the LED light system comprising:

a housing having ends and including a support structure in a form of an elongated and narrow surface and having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of first LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light in a first predetermined Kelvin temperature range of daylight;

a plurality of second LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light in a second predetermined Kelvin temperature range of tungsten;

circuitry mounted to the support structure including an LED driver circuit and including means for selectively electronically switching between driving either (i) the first LEDs while the second LEDs are off and (ii) the second LEDs to provide light while the first LEDs are off, wherein the first and second temperature ranges are nonoverlapping, and including a printed circuit board mounted to the support structure for carrying electrical power from a connection to the LED driver and then to the first and second LEDs;

an elongate cover extending substantially a length of the support structure and covering the top side of the support structure for diffusing light emitted by the first and second LEDs; and

wherein the housing and cover together have a linear form factor of a fluorescent tube light having no greater than a length of four feet and a diameter of no greater than about one to one and a half inches, wherein, at one end there is a connection for receiving AC power to be provided to the LED light system and wherein the LED light system is configured to use the power received only at the one said end, and wherein the first and second LEDs are disposed in a plurality of rows and are equally distributed along the length of the top side of the support structure such that the first LEDs and the second LEDs, whichever are on, evenly emit light along the length of the top side of the support structure, wherein the light is diffused by the cover and is suitable for the commercial image recording both when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the first temperature range of daylight and when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the second temperature range of tungsten.

2. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein the first LEDs are each configured to emit light with a color temperature between 5000 K and 5800 K, the second LEDs are each configured to emit light between 2800 K and 3300 K.

3. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein the first LEDs and the second LEDs are distributed in a checkerboard pattern on the support structure, the first LEDs and the second LEDs alternating at regular intervals along a first axis and along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular.

4. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an aluminum housing.

5. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein the color rendering index of each of the first LEDs and each of the second LEDs is greater than 90.

6. The LED light system of claim 1, further comprising:

a manual knob for selectively controlling the LED driver.

7. The LED light system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control box electrically coupled to the support structure, the control box including;

a first switch configured to turn the first LEDs and an additional plurality of first LEDs on and off;

a first dimming control configured to control power gain of the first LEDs and the additional first LEDs;

a second switch configured to turn the second LEDs and an additional plurality of second LEDs on and off; and

a second dimming control configured to control power gain of the second LEDs and the additional second LEDs.

12. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein the light emitted from the LED light system is at least 1000 lux or at least 1000 lumens.

13. The LED light system of claim 1, wherein there is a controller in the support structure connected to the LED driver for generating a plurality of output signals and outputting the output signals to the LED driver in response to a predetermined setting.

8. An LED light system configured for providing broad-spectrum white light suitable for a commercial image recording, in a form factor of a fluorescent tube, the LED light system comprising:

a housing having ends and including a support structure in a form of an elongated and narrow surface and having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of first LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light in a first predetermined Kelvin temperature range of daylight;

a plurality of second LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light in a second predetermined Kelvin temperature range of tungsten;

circuitry mounted to the support structure including an LED driver circuit and including means for selectively electronically switching between driving either (i) the first LEDs while the second LEDs are off and (ii) the second LEDs to provide light while the first LEDs are off, wherein the first and second temperature ranges are nonoverlapping, and including a printed circuit board mounted to the support structure for carrying electrical power from a connection to the LED driver and then to the first and second LEDs;

an elongate cover extending substantially a length of the support structure and covering the top side of the support structure for diffusing light emitted by the first and second LEDs; and

wherein the housing and cover together have a linear form factor of a fluorescent tube light having no greater than a length of four feet and a diameter of no greater than about one to one and a half inches, wherein, at one, end there is a connection for receiving AC power to be provided to the LED light system and wherein the LED light system is configured to use the power received only at the one said end, and wherein the first and second LEDs are disposed in a plurality of rows and are equally distributed along the length of the top side of the support structure, whichever are on, evenly emit light along the length of the top side of the support structure, wherein the light is diffused by the cover and is suitable for the commercial image recording both when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the first temperature range of daylight and when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the second temperature range of tungsten, wherein the light emitted from the first LEDs and the light emitted from the second LEDs are each broad-spectrum white light containing a color deviation of no more than five points of green, and wherein the color rendering index of each of the first LEDs and each of the second LEDs is greater than 90.

9. The LED light system of claim 8, wherein the LED light system is provided without a gel or filter.

10. The LED light system of claim 9, the first LEDs each being configured to emit light with a color temperature between 5000 K and 5800 K, and the second LEDs each being configured to emit light between 2800 K and 3300 K.

11. The LED light system of claim 10, wherein the light emitted from the LED light system is at least 1000 lux or at least 1000 lumens.

14. The LED light system of claim 8, wherein there is a controller in the support structure connected to the LED driver for generating a plurality of output signals and outputting the output signals to the LED driver in response to a predetermined setting, and there is a step of controlling the LED driver using the predetermined setting.

15. An LED light system configured for providing broad-spectrum white light suitable for a commercial image recording in a form factor of a fluorescent tube, the LED light system comprising:

a. a support structure in a form of an elongated and narrow surface and having a base cap at each end and a top side and a bottom side;

b. a plurality of first LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to provide broad-spectrum white light within a first predetermined Kelvin temperature range;

c. a plurality of second LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to provide broad-spectrum white light within a second predetermined Kelvin temperature range;

d. circuitry mounted in the support structure including an LED driver circuit and including means for selectively electronically switching between driving the first LEDs to provide light within the first predetermined temperature range and the second LEDs to provide light within the second predetermined temperature range, wherein the first and second temperature ranges are nonoverlapping, and including a printed circuit board mounted to the support structure for carrying electrical power from a connection at the base cap to the LED driver and then to the first and second LEDs;

e. an elongate cover extending substantially a length of the support structure for diffusing light emitted by the first and second LEDs; and

f. wherein the support structure and cover together have a form factor of a fluorescent tube light having no greater than a size T12 having a length of four feet and a diameter of no greater than about one to one and a half inches, wherein, at only one said base cap, there is a connection for receiving power to be provided to the LED light system, and wherein the first and second LEDs are disposed on the support structure with the first and second LEDs equally distributed along the length of the top side of the support structure and the first and second LEDs are disposed in rows along the length of the top side of the support structure such that the first LEDs and the second LEDs evenly emit light which is diffused by the cover and is suitable for the commercial image recording both when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the first temperature range and when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the second temperature range;

g. wherein the first plurality of LEDs comprises daylight white LEDs, and the second plurality of LEDs comprises tungsten white LEDs; and

h. wherein the light emitted from the first LEDs and the light emitted from the second LEDs are each white light containing a color deviation of no more than five points of green.

16. An LED light system configured for providing broad-spectrum white light suitable for a commercial image recording in a form factor of a fluorescent tube, the LED light system comprising:

(a) a housing including a support structure in a form of an elongated and narrow surface and having a top side and a bottom side;

(b) a plurality of first LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light within a first predetermined Kelvin temperature range of daylight;

(c) a plurality of second LEDs mounted on the top side of the support structure and configured to emit broad-spectrum white light within a second predetermined Kelvin temperature range of tungsten;

(d) circuitry mounted to the support structure including an LED driver circuit and including means for selectively electronically switching between driving either (i) the first LEDs to provide light within the first predetermined temperature range while the second LEDs are off and (ii) the second LEDs to provide light within the second predetermined temperature range while the first LEDs are off, wherein the first and second temperature ranges are nonoverlapping, and including a printed circuit board mounted to the support structure for carrying electrical power to the LED driver and then to the first and second LEDs; and

(e) wherein the support structure fits within a form factor of a fluorescent tube light has no greater than a size T12 having a length of four feet and a diameter of no greater than about one to one and a half inches, wherein, at one end of the housing, there is a connection for receiving AC power to be provided to the LED light system and wherein the LED light system is adapted to light using the power received only at the one end, and wherein the first and second LEDs in a plurality of rows and are equally distributed along the length of the top side of the support structure such that the first LEDs and the second LEDs, whichever are on, evenly emit light along the length of the top side of the support structure, which light is broad-spectrum white light suitable for the commercial image recording both when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the first temperature range of daylight and when the emitted light from the LED light system is in the second temperature range of tungsten.

17. The LED light system of claim 16, wherein the color rendering index of each of the first LEDs and each of the second LEDs is greater than 90.

18. The LED light system of claim 16, wherein the light emitted from the first LEDs and the light emitted from the second LEDs are each white light containing a color deviation of no more than five points of green.

19. The LED light system of claim 17, wherein the light emitted from the first LEDs and the light emitted from the second LEDs are each white light containing a color deviation of no more than five points of green.