Lighting unit comprising a waveguide

• US 9,733,416 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Hikmet, Rifat Ata Mustafa, Van Bommel, Ties
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sufleta, II, Gerald J
• Application Number:
  US14/356,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20140307466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 362600-634
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0058 varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0063 for extracting light out both the major surfaces of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects

Abstract

The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a waveguide for providing first light (111) having a first spectral distribution and second light (121) having a second spectral distribution emanating from a waveguide (100) in different directions, wherein the first spectral distribution and second spectral distribution differ. For instance, the first light (111) and the second light (121) have different color temperatures.

Claims

1. A lighting unit comprising (a) a waveguide, the waveguide comprising a first light exit surface, a second light exit surface configured opposite of the first light exit surface, and an edge, the lighting unit further comprising (b) a light source, configured for lighting the waveguide (100) with light source light, thereby providing incoupled light source light within the waveguide, wherein the lighting unit is further configured to allow part of the incoupled light source light to escape from the waveguide at one or more of the first light exit surface and the second light exit surface as outcoupled light source light, wherein the lighting unit further comprises (c) one or more of a first luminescent material adjacent to the first light exit surface and configured to provide first luminescent material light, and a second luminescent material adjacent to the second light exit surface and configured to provide second luminescent material light, wherein the first luminescent material and the second luminescent material are excitable by the outcoupled light source light, wherein the lighting unit is configured to provide during operation first light emanating from the lighting unit in a direction away from the first light exit surface and second light emanating from the lighting unit in a direction away from the second light exit surface, the first light comprising contributions of one or more of (i) the outcoupled light source light and (ii) one or more of the first luminescent material light and the second luminescent material light, the second light comprising contributions of one or more of (iii) the outcoupled light source light and (iv) one or more of the first luminescent material light and the second luminescent material light, the first light having a first spectral distribution, the second light having a second spectral distribution, wherein the first spectral distribution and second spectral distribution differ, wherein the lighting unit further comprises one or more of a plurality of first reflectors and a plurality of second reflectors,

wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first reflectors, which cover part of the first light exit surface, wherein the lighting unit further comprises a first luminescent material layer comprising the first luminescent material configured downstream of the first light exit surface, wherein the first luminescent material layer is configured to generate first luminescent material light, and wherein the plurality of first reflectors are configured between the first light exit surface and the first luminescent material layer, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second reflectors, which cover part of the second light exit surface, wherein the first reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the incoupled light source light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, and wherein the second reflectors are configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the first luminescent material layer and to provide outcoupled light source light at the first light exit surface, and wherein the first luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the outcoupled light source light,

wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material and a plurality of first reflectors, wherein the first luminescent material domains and the plurality of first reflectors cover part of the first light exit surface, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second luminescent material domains comprising the second luminescent material and a plurality of second reflectors, wherein the second luminescent material domains and the plurality of second reflectors cover part of the second light exit surface, wherein the lighting unit comprises first couples of first reflectors and second luminescent material domains, with for each first couple the first reflector and second luminescent material domain configured opposite of each other with the waveguide in between, and wherein the lighting unit comprises second couples of second reflectors and first luminescent material domains, with for each second couple the second reflector and first luminescent material domain configured opposite of each other with the waveguide in between,

wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material, which cover part of the first light exit surface, with downstream of each first luminescent material domain a first reflector, wherein the first luminescent material domains are configured to generate first luminescent material light, wherein the second light exit surface comprises switchable luminescent layer system comprising a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material, which covers the second light exit surface, with downstream of the switchable luminescent layer system a plurality of second reflectors, which cover part of the switchable luminescent layer system, wherein the second luminescent material layer is configured to generate second luminescent material light, wherein the first luminescent material domains and the first reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the first luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, wherein the switchable luminescent layer system is transmissive for at least part of the first luminescent material light, and wherein the switchable luminescent layer system is switchable between a first state with a low intensity of the luminescent material light and a second state with a high intensity of the luminescent material light.

2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light and the second light have different color temperatures.

3. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein one or more of (a) the first light exit surface comprises a first luminescent material layer comprising the first luminescent material, and (b) the second light exit surface comprises a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material, and wherein one or more of the following conditions apply:

(1) the first luminescent material layer and the second luminescent material layer differ in luminescent material, (2) the first luminescent material layer and the second luminescent material layer differ in luminescent material distribution, (3) the first luminescent material layer and the second luminescent material layer differ in luminescent material content, and (4) the first luminescent material layer and the second luminescent material layer differ in layer thickness (d).

4. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material, which cover part of the first light exit surface, with downstream of each first luminescent material domain a first reflector, wherein the first luminescent material domains are configured to generate first luminescent material light, and wherein the first plurality of reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the first luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second reflectors, which cover part of the second light exit surface, and which are configured to couple at least part of the incoupled light source light out of the waveguide as outcoupled light source light in a direction away from the first light exit surface.

5. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material, which cover part of the first light exit surface, with downstream of each first luminescent material domain a plurality of first reflectors, wherein the first luminescent material domains are configured to generate first luminescent material light), and wherein the plurality of first reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the first luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second luminescent material domains comprising the second luminescent material, which cover part of the second light exit surface, with downstream of each second luminescent material domain a plurality of second reflectors, wherein the second luminescent material domains are configured to generate second luminescent material, wherein the plurality of second reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the second luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the first light exit surface, and wherein the first light exit surface and second light exit surface differ in coverage with the first luminescent material domains and second luminescent material domains, respectively.

6. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material, which cover part of the first light exit surface, with downstream of each first luminescent material domain a first reflector, wherein the first luminescent material domains are configured to generate first luminescent material light, and wherein the plurality of first reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the first luminescent material light (141) out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second luminescent material domains comprising the second luminescent material, which cover part of the second light exit surface, with downstream of each second luminescent material domain a plurality of second reflectors, wherein the second luminescent material domains are configured to generate second luminescent material, wherein the plurality of second reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the second luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the first light exit surface, and wherein the first luminescent material domains and the second luminescent material domains differ in luminescent material.

7. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first reflectors, which cover part of the first light exit surface, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material, which covers the second light exit surface, wherein the second luminescent material layer is configured to generate second luminescent material light, wherein the first reflectors are configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the second luminescent material layer and to provide outcoupled light source light at the second light exit surface, and wherein the second luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the outcoupled light source light.

8. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first luminescent material domains comprising the first luminescent material, which cover part of the first light exit surface, with downstream of each first luminescent material domain a first reflector, wherein the first luminescent material domains are configured to generate first luminescent material light, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material, which covers the second light exit surface, wherein the second luminescent material layer is configured to generate second luminescent material light, wherein the first luminescent material domains and the first reflectors are configured to couple at least part of the first luminescent material light out of the waveguide in a direction away from the second light exit surface, and wherein the second luminescent material layer is transmissive for at least part of the first luminescent material light.

9. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a plurality of first reflectors, which cover part of the first light exit surface, wherein the lighting unit further comprises a first luminescent material layer comprising the first luminescent material configured downstream of the first light exit surface, wherein the first luminescent material layer is configured to generate first luminescent material light, and wherein the plurality of first reflectors are configured between the first light exit surface and the first luminescent material layer, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second reflectors, which cover part of the second light exit surface, wherein the lighting unit further comprises a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material configured downstream of the second light exit surface, wherein the second luminescent material layer is configured to generate second luminescent material light, and wherein the plurality of second reflectors are configured between the second light exit surface and the second luminescent material layer, wherein the first reflectors are configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the second luminescent material layer and to provide outcoupled light source light at the second light exit surface, and wherein the second luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the outcoupled light source light, and wherein the second reflectors are configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the first luminescent material layer and to provide outcoupled light source light at the first light exit surface, and wherein the first luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the outcoupled light source light.

10. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light exit surface comprises a first luminescent material layer (140) comprising the first luminescent material, which covers the first light exit surface, wherein the first luminescent material layer is configured to generate first luminescent material light, wherein the second light exit surface comprises a plurality of second reflectors, which cover part of the second light exit surface, wherein the lighting unit further comprises a second luminescent material layer comprising the second luminescent material configured downstream of the second light exit surface, wherein the second luminescent material layer is configured to generate second luminescent material light, and wherein the plurality of second reflectors are configured between the second light exit surface and the second luminescent material layer, wherein the second reflectors are configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the first luminescent material layer and to provide outcoupled light source light at the first light exit surface, and wherein the first luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the outcoupled light source light, and wherein the first luminescent material layer is configured to direct at least part of the incoupled light source light to the second luminescent material layer, and wherein the second luminescent material layer is transmissive for part of the incoupled light source light.

11. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting device and wherein the light source light comprises blue light.

12. A method of providing first light having a first spectral distribution and second light having a second spectral distribution emanating from a waveguide in different directions, wherein the first spectral distribution and second spectral distribution differ, comprising providing a lighting unit according to any one of the preceding claims and introducing light source light in the waveguide.