Systems and methods for converting illumination

• US 20050041424A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify North America Corporation (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Color Kinetics Incorporated (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Ducharme, Alfred D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,132,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials
• 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 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An illumination system according to the principles of the invention may include a first LED and a carrier material. The carrier material may be comprised of plastic, synthetic material, polymer, latex, rubber or other material. The carrier material may also contain a phosphor, fluorescent material, organic fluorescent material, inorganic fluorescent material, impregnated phosphor, phosphor particles, phosphor material, YAG:Ce phosphor, or other material for converting electromagnetic radiation into illumination or visible light.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

at least one conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such that only one of the first radiation and the second radiation, when generated, impinges upon the at least one conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to down-convert the at least one frequency component of the at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion material is arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such that at least some of the first radiation or the second radiation passes through the at least one conversion material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially enclose the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED, wherein the housing and the at least one conversion material are cooperatively arranged such that the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon a first side of the at least one conversion material and the at least one converted spectrum is provided on a second side of the at least one conversion material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate variable color visible light from the apparatus based at least in part on the at least one converted spectrum.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of a polymeric material, a phosphorescent material, and a fluorescent material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of latex and rubber.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of an impregnated phosphor and phosphor particles.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one conversion material includes a YAG:

Ce phosphor.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of an inorganic fluorescent material and an organic fluorescent material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one first LED includes at least one blue LED; and

the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only the first spectrum.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one second LED includes at least one amber LED.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate from the apparatus substantially white light having a variable color temperature.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least first and second different conversion materials.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second different conversion materials are arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, when generated, impinges upon at least one of the first and second different conversion materials.

17. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

at least one conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such that both of the first radiation and the second radiation, when generated, impinge upon the at least one conversion material, and the at least one conversion material being configured to alter only one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

18. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

at least one conversion material comprising at least first and second different conversion materials, the at least one conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such the first radiation, when generated, impinges only upon the first conversion material and such that the second radiation, when generated, impinges only upon the second conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation so as to provide at least one converted spectrum.

19. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

at least one conversion material comprising at least first and second different conversion materials, the at least one conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED such that only one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon both of the first and second different conversion materials, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation so as to provide at least one converted spectrum.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the first conversion material is configured to change at least a first frequency component of one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum to provide a first converted spectrum; and

the second conversion material is configured to change at least a second frequency component of the same one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum to provide a second converted spectrum different from the first converted spectrum.

21. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a spectrum different from the first spectrum;

a first conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED such that the first radiation, when generated, impinges upon the first conversion material, the first conversion material configured to change at least one first frequency component of the first spectrum so as to provide a second spectrum; and

a second conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED such that the first radiation, when generated, impinges upon the second conversion material, the second conversion material configured to change at least one second frequency component of the first spectrum so as to provide a third spectrum different from the second spectrum,

wherein the first and second conversion materials are arranged with respect to the at least one first LED and at least one second LED such that essentially none of the second radiation impinges upon either of the first and second conversion materials.

22. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

a first conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED such that the first radiation, when generated, impinges upon the first conversion material, the first conversion material configured to change at least one first frequency component of the first spectrum so as to provide a second spectrum; and

a second conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED such that the first radiation, when generated, impinges upon the second conversion material, the second conversion material configured to change at least one second frequency component of the first spectrum so as to provide a third spectrum different from the second spectrum,

wherein the at least one first LED includes at least one blue LED,

wherein the first conversion material is configured such that the second spectrum includes substantially white light having a relatively high color temperature; and

wherein the second conversion material is configured such that the third spectrum includes substantially white light having a relatively low color temperature.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one blue LED includes at least one first blue LED and at least one second blue LED, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of radiation generated by the at least one first blue LED and a second intensity of radiation generated by the at least one second blue LED.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the first conversion material is arranged with respect to the at least one first blue LED such that the radiation from the at least one first blue LED, when generated, impinges upon the first conversion material; and

the second conversion material is arranged with respect to the at least one second blue LED such that the radiation from the at least one second blue LED, when generated, impinges upon the second conversion material.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the first conversion material is configured such that the second spectrum includes substantially white light having a relatively high color temperature; and

the second conversion material is configured such that the third spectrum includes substantially white light having a relatively low color temperature.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control the first intensity of the radiation generated by the at least one first blue LED and the second intensity of the radiation generated by the at least one second blue LED so as to provide from the apparatus substantially white light having a variable color temperature based at least in part on the second spectrum and the third spectrum.

27. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum;

a first conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one first LED such that the first radiation, when generated, only impinges upon the first conversion material, the first conversion material configured to change at least one first frequency component of the first spectrum to create a third spectrum; and

a second conversion material arranged with respect to the at least one second LED such that the second radiation, when generated, only impinges upon the second conversion material, the second conversion material configured to change at least one second frequency component of the second spectrum to create a fourth spectrum.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate variable color visible light from the apparatus based at least in part on the third spectrum and the fourth spectrum.

29. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

at least one first light emitting diode (LED) adapted to generate first radiation having a first spectrum;

at least one second LED adapted to generate second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum;

at least one conversion material configured to down-convert at least one frequency component of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum;

a housing configured to at least partially enclose the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED, wherein the housing and the at least one conversion material are cooperatively arranged such that the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon a first side of the at least one conversion material and the at least one converted spectrum is provided on a second side of the at least one conversion material; and

at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate variable light from the apparatus based at least in part on the at least one converted spectrum,

wherein the at least one second LED includes at least one amber LED.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the at least one conversion material includes rubber and a phosphorescent material.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:

the at least one first LED includes at least one blue LED, and

wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only the first spectrum.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one controller is configured to independently control the first intensity of the first radiation and the second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate from the apparatus substantially white light having a variable color temperature.

33. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

C) irradiating at least one conversion material with at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, the at least one conversion material being arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon the at least one conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to alter only one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to down-convert the at least one frequency component of the at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein:

the act A) includes an act of generating the first radiation from at least one first LED; and

the act B) includes an act of generating the second radiation from at least one second LED.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material is arranged such that at least some of the first radiation or the second radiation passes through the at least one conversion material.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising and act of:

D) independently controlling a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate variable color visible light based at least in part on the at least one converted spectrum.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of a polymeric material, a phosphorescent material, and a fluorescent material.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of latex and rubber.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of an impregnated phosphor and phosphor particles.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one conversion material includes a YAG:

Ce phosphor.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of an inorganic fluorescent material and an organic fluorescent material.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material is arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that only one of the first radiation and the second radiation irradiates the at least one conversion material so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein:

the first radiation includes radiation generated by at least one blue LED; and

the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only the first spectrum.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the second radiation includes radiation generated by at least one amber LED.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising an act of:

independently controlling a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate substantially white light having a variable color temperature.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material is arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that both of the first radiation and the second radiation irradiate the at least one conversion material.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to change at least one first frequency component of the first spectrum and at least one second frequency component of the second spectrum so as to respectively provide at least a first converted spectrum and a second converted spectrum.

51. The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least first and second different conversion materials.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the first and second different conversion materials are arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such the at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation irradiates at least one of the first and second different conversion materials.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the first and second different conversion materials are arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation irradiates both of the first and second different conversion materials.

50. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

C) irradiating at least one conversion material with at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, the at least one conversion material being arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon the at least one conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum,

wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least first and second different conversion materials arranged such that the first radiation irradiates only the first conversion material and such that the second radiation irradiates only the second conversion material.

54. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

C) irradiating at least one conversion material with at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, the at least one conversion material being arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon the at least one conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum

wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least first and second different conversion materials,

wherein the act C) includes acts of;

irradiating the first conversion material only with the first radiation; and

irradiating the second conversion material only with the second radiation.

55. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

C) irradiating an at least one conversion material comprising at least first and second different conversion materials with at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, the at least one conversion material being arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that only one of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon both of the first and second different conversion materials, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein:

the first conversion material is configured to change at least a first frequency component of one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum to provide a first converted spectrum; and

the second conversion material is configured to change at least a second frequency component of the same one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum to provide a second converted spectrum different from the first converted spectrum.

57. An illumination method, comprising acts of:

A) generating first radiation having a first spectrum;

B) generating second radiation having a second spectrum different from the first spectrum; and

C) irradiating at least one conversion material with at least one of the first radiation and the second radiation, the at least one conversion material being arranged with respect to the first radiation and the second radiation such that only one of the first radiation and the second radiation irradiates the at least one conversion material, the at least one conversion material configured to change at least one frequency component of at least one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide at least one converted spectrum.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only one of the first spectrum and the second spectrum so as to provide the at least one converted spectrum.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein:

the first radiation includes radiation generated by at least one blue LED; and

the at least one conversion material is configured to alter only the first spectrum.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the second radiation includes radiation generated by at least one amber LED.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising an act of:

independently controlling a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to generate substantially white light having a variable color temperature.

62. A linear lighting apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in a substantially linear arrangement and configured to emit, when energized, at least first radiation having a first spectrum; and

at least one conversion material having a substantially linear form and arranged with respect to the plurality of light emitting diodes such that at least some of the first radiation impinges upon the at least one conversion material,

wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to convert at least one frequency component of the first spectrum so as to provide to an observer of the linear lighting apparatus visible light having a converted spectrum different than the first spectrum.

63. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 62, wherein the apparatus is configured to resemble a conventional neon lighting apparatus.

64. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 62, wherein:

at least some of the plurality of LEDs are disposed in a curved substantially linear arrangement; and

at least a portion of the at least one conversion material has a curved surbstantially linear form correponding to the curved substantially linear arrangement.

65. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 64, wherein the apparatus is configured to resemble a conventional neon lighting apparatus.

66. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 62, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of a polymeric material, a phosphorescent material, and a fluorescent material.

67. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 66, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one of latex and rubber.

68. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 66, wherein the at least one conversion material includes at least one phosphor-doped material.

69. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 68, wherein the phosphor-doped material includes a translucent material.

70. The linear lighting apparartus of claim 66, wherein the at least one conversion material includes a YAG:

Ce phosphor.

71. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 66, wherein the plurality of LEDs are configured to emit, when energized, at least the first radiation having the first spectrum and second radiation having a second spectrum different than the first spectrum.

72. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 71, further commprising at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary the converted spectrum of the visible light provided by the linear lighting apparatus.

73. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 71, wherein the at least one conversion material is arranged with respect to the plurality of light emitting diodes such that at least some of the first radiation and the second radiation impinges upon the at least one conversion material.

74. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 73, wherein the at least one conversion material is configured to convert the at least one frequency component of the first spectrum and at least one frequency component of the second spectrum so as to provide to the observer of the linear lighting apparatus the visible light having the converted spectrum.

75. The linear lighting apparatus of claim 74, further comprising at least one controller configured to independently control a first intensity of the first radiation and a second intensity of the second radiation so as to vary the converted spectrum of the visible light provided by the linear lighting apparatus.