LED-based light bulb

• US 9,944,519 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consumer Lighting, LLC (d/b/a GE Lighting) (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Bohler, Christopher L., Kolodin, Boris, Radkov, Emil, Aanegola, Srinath K., Weaver, Jr., Stanton E., Petroski, James T., Brown, Zena
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, William
• Application Number:
  US13/424,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 362 27, 362 84, 362228, 362230, 362231, 362234, 362235, 362240, 36224901, 36224902, 36224906, 362363, 362800, 362373, 313 11- 13, 313 45, 313 46, 359642
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• 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 9/61 using light guides
• 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 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/63 using electrically-powered vibrating means; using ionic wind
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/18 annular; polygonal other than square or rectangular, e.g. for spotlights or for generating an axially symmetrical light beam
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light source (10) comprises a light engine (16), a base (24), a power conversion circuit (30) and an enclosure (22). The light engine (16) comprises at least one LED (12) disposed on a platform (14). The platform (14) is adapted to directly mate with the base (24) which a standard incandescent bulb light base. Phosphor (44) receives the light generated by the at least one LED (12) and converts it to visible light. The enclosure (22) has a shape of a standard incandescent lamp.

Claims

1. A light source comprising:

a light engine comprising a printed circuit board and including at least one LED;

a light transparent or translucent enclosure fitted over at least a portion of the light engine;

an index matching and thermal spreading material in the enclosure and in direct physical contact with the at least one LED, said material consisting of a liquid;

a base for supporting the light engine, enclosure and a heat sink in operative arrangement; and

a conversion circuit housed in at least a portion of the base for supplying electric power to the light engine.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein the liquid material comprises a lens.

3. The light source of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is one of a bulb, spherical, elliptical, cylindrical, domed, squared, and n-sided shaped.

4. The light source of claim 1, wherein the base is one of a screw base and wedge base.

5. The light source of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is in thermal communication with the light engine and comprises i) a slug portion and ii) a plurality of radially extending fins disposed about the outer periphery of the slug portion and external to the light source to transfer heat from the light engine into ambient air external to the light source.

6. The light source of claim 1, wherein the base comprises an active cooling unit for dissipating thermal energy away from the at least one LED.

7. The light source of claim 6, wherein the active cooling unit includes at least one of thermoelectric cooling, piezo synthetic jets, piezo fans and electric fans.

8. The light source of claim 1 wherein said light engine comprises a plurality of LEDs and all LEDs of the light engine reside in a common plane.

9. The light source of claim 1 wherein said conversion circuit is in electrical communication with a voltage source.