Lighting Module With Compact Colour Mixing and Collimating Optics

• US 20080266893A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: TIR Systems Limited (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Speier, Ingo
• Application Number:
  US10/597,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/005 of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• 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: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a compact format lighting module that can provide a desired level of mixing and collimating of light generated by multiple light-emitting elements within the lighting module. The lighting module comprises two or more light-emitting elements for generating light having one or more colours, wherein the light-emitting elements can be configured into a closely packed array. The module further comprises a primary optical system enabling light extraction from the light-emitting elements to which it is optically coupled. A secondary optical system that is optically coupled to the primary optical system and is configured to be compatible with the primary optical system and provides a means for mixing and collimating the light extracted from the two or more light-emitting elements.

Claims

1. A lighting module comprising:

a) two or more light-emitting elements for generating light having one or more colours, said two or more light-emitting elements positioned into a closely packed array;

b) a primary optical system optically connected with the two or more light-emitting elements, said primary optical system providing a means for light extraction from the two or more light-emitting elements; and

c) a secondary optical system optically connected with the primary optical system, said secondary optical system for mixing and collimating the light extracted from the two or more light-emitting elements.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the each of the two or more light-emitting elements emit light having a colour selected from the group comprising red, blue, green, amber and white.

3. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the two or more light-emitting elements have a longest dimension, and spacing between the two or more light-emitting elements is less than twice the longest dimension.

4. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the two or more light-emitting elements have a longest dimension, and spacing between the two or more light-emitting elements is less than the longest dimension.

5. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the two or more light-emitting elements have a longest dimension, and spacing between the two or more light-emitting elements is less than half of the longest dimension.

6. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical system includes an optical element, wherein said optical element is configured as a refractive element, reflective element, holographic element or diffractive element.

7. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical system is formed from an encapsulation material.

8. The lighting module according to claim 7, wherein the encapsulation material is patterned or textured.

9. The lighting module according to claim 6, wherein the primary optical system further comprises an encapsulation material positioned between the two more light-emitting elements and the optical element.

10. The lighting module according to claim 6, wherein the primary optical system comprises a dome lens enclosing the two or more light-emitting elements.

11. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the secondary optical system includes an optical element, wherein said optical element is configured as a refractive element, reflective element, holographic element, diffractive element or a diffusive element.

12. The lighting module according to claim 11, wherein the secondary optical system includes a light pipe or a light guide.

13. The lighting module according to claim 11, wherein the secondary optical system comprises a reflective element having reflective wall surfaces and a perpendicular cross section and an axial cross section.

14. The lighting module according to claim 13, wherein the perpendicular cross section is selected from the group comprising circular, square, hexagonal and octagonal.

15. The lighting module according to claim 13, wherein the reflective element has a symmetric axial cross sectional shape.

16. The lighting module according to claim 13, wherein the axial cross sectional shape flares or tapers at an exit aperture of the reflective element.

17. The lighting module according to claim 13, wherein the axial cross sectional shape is parabolic, elliptical, hyperbolic, straight, curved or segmented.

18. The lighting module according to claim 13, wherein the reflective element has a length and the secondary optical system further comprises a diffusive optical element positioned along the length.

19. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the primary optical system and the secondary optical system are integrally formed.

20. The lighting module according to claim 1, further comprising a tertiary optical system optically coupled to the secondary optical system, the tertiary optical system for shaping a beam of the mixed and collimated light extracted from the two or more light-emitting elements.

21. The lighting module according to claim 20, wherein the tertiary optical system comprises an optical element configured as a refractive element, diffractive element, diffusive element or holographic element.

22. The lighting module according to claim 20, wherein the tertiary optical system and the secondary optical system are configured for mating interconnection.