SEMICONDUCTOR LAMP

• US 20110176291A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rains, Jack C. JR., Ramer, David P., Phipps, J. Michael, Sanders, Chad N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• 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 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• 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 23/006 the substrate being distinct from the light source holder
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/506 of globes, bowls or cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/51 using condensation or evaporation of a fluid, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/777 the planes containing the fins or blades having directions perpendicular to the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/061 the material being glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/062 the material being plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/08 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/30 on the outer surface of cylindrical surfaces, e.g. rod-shaped supports having a circular or a polygonal cross section
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/40 on the sides of polyhedrons, e.g. cubes or pyramids
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/508 having a non-uniform spatial arrangement or non-uniform concentration, e.g. patterned wavelength conversion layer, wavelength conversion layer with a concentration gradient of the wavelength conversion material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/357 specially adapted for retrofit LED light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3574 : Emulating the electrical or functional characteristics of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A lamp for general lighting applications utilizes solid state light emitters and provides light output that may approximate light emissions from of an incandescent lamp. An exemplary lamp includes a bulb and a pedestal extending into the bulb that supports the light emitters in orientations such that emissions from the emitters through the bulb approximate emissions from a filament of an incandescent lamp. An inner member around the emitters and the pedestal provides further light processing, e.g. diffusing and/or phosphor luminescence. The lamp conforms to form factors and/or uses lamp base connectors of common incandescent lamps and/or compact fluorescent lamps. For efficient substitution of components during manufacture of lamps to different specifications, at least some examples use modular couplings for the parts of the lamp to the heat sink or other housing, such as for couplings of the lamp base, the bulb and the inner light processing member (if provided).

Claims

1. A lamp, comprising:

solid state light emitters for emitting light;

a bulb;

a pedestal extending into an interior of the bulb supporting the solid state light emitters in orientations such that emissions from the solid state light emitters through the bulb approximate light source emissions from a filament of an incandescent lamp; and

an inner member, of a material that is at least partially light transmissive, radially and longitudinally around the solid state light emitters supported on the pedestal between an inner surface of the bulb and the solid state light emitters.

2. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a phosphor, remotely deployed in the lamp with respect to the solid state light emitters,

the phosphor being of a type for converting at least some portion of light from the solid state light emitters from a first spectral characteristic to a second spectral characteristic, to produce a white light output of the lamp from the bulb.

3. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the inner member remotely deploys the phosphor with respect to the solid state light emitters.

4. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the phosphor comprises at least one semiconductor nanophosphor.

5. The lamp of claim 4, wherein the light output from the lamp via the bulb, produced by a combination of some light from the source and excitation of the semiconductor nanophosphors, has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher.

6. The lamp of claim 5, wherein the light output from the lamp via the bulb, produced by a combination of some light from the source and excitation of the semiconductor nanophosphors, has a color temperature in one of the following ranges:

2,725±

145°

Kelvin;

3,045±

175°

Kelvin;

3,465±

245°

Kelvin; and

3,985±

275°

Kelvin.

7. The lamp of claim 6, wherein the solid state light emitters are emitters for emitting light that is at least substantially white at a color temperature greater than 4,260°

Kelvin.

8. The lamp of claim 5, wherein:

each of the solid state light emitters is rated with a principal wavelength of emission in a range of about 460 nm and below; and

the phosphor further comprises a rare earth phosphor.

9. The lamp of claim 8, wherein the substantially white light output from the lamp has a color temperature in one of the following ranges:

2,725±

145°

Kelvin;

3,045±

175°

Kelvin;

3,465±

245°

Kelvin;

3,985±

275°

Kelvin;

4503±

243°

Kelvin;

5028±

283°

Kelvin;

5665±

355°

Kelvin; and

6530±

510°

Kelvin.

10. The lamp of claim 2, wherein the phosphor comprises at least one doped semiconductor nanophosphor.

12. The lamp of claim 2, wherein:

the phosphor comprises a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors;

the plurality of solid state light emitters are emitters having an wavelength output in the near UV range of 380-460 nm; and

each doped semiconductor nanophosphor is of a type for converting at least some portion of the near UV wavelength range from the solid state emitter.

13. The lamp of claim 12, wherein:

(a) visible light output from the lamp produced upon excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors by light from the solid state emitters is at least substantially white;

(b) the substantially white light output from the lamp has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher; and

(c) the substantially white light output from the lamp has a color temperature in one of the following ranges;

2,725±

145°

Kelvin;

3,045±

175°

Kelvin;

3,465±

245°

Kelvin;

3,985±

275°

Kelvin;

4503±

243°

Kelvin;

5028±

283°

Kelvin;

5665±

355°

Kelvin; and

6530±

510°

Kelvin.

14. The lamp of claim 13, wherein the substantially white light corresponds to a point on a black body radiation spectrum.

15. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a lighting industry standard lamp base for providing electricity from a lamp socket; and

circuitry connected to receive electricity from the lamp base, for driving the solid state emitters of the source to emit the light and to excite the remotely deployed semiconductor nanophosphors.

16. The lamp of claim 1, wherein the pedestal includes a multi-surfaced three-dimensional thermal core providing the support for the solid state light emitters in interior of the bulb.

17. The lamp of claim 16, wherein the multi-surfaced three-dimensional thermal core has:

at least three lateral surfaces supporting solid state light emitters; and

an end face supporting at least one solid state light emitter.

11. (canceled)

18. A light engine for a lamp, comprising:

a heat sink having;

(a) a first modular-coupling for attachment of one of a plurality of different lighting industry standard lamp bases, and

(b) a second modular-coupling for attachment of one of a plurality of different types of bulbs;

a pedestal extending from the heat sink along a longitudinal axis of the light engine into a region to be surrounded by a bulb when attached to the heat sink, the pedestal providing heat conductivity to and being supported by the heat sink; and

a plurality of solid state light emitters supported on the pedestal in orientations to emit light outward from the pedestal such that emissions from the solid state light emitters through the bulb when attached to the heat sink approximate light source emissions from a filament of an incandescent lamp.

19. The light engine of claim 18, further comprising circuitry at least partially enclosed by the heat sink connected to drive the solid state emitters in response to electricity received from a lamp base when attached to the heat sink at the first modular-coupling.

20. The light engine of claim 18, wherein the heat sink has a third modular-coupling for attachment of one of a plurality of different light transmissive members radially surrounding and spaced from the solid state light emitters supported on the pedestal.

21. The lamp of claim 18, wherein:

the pedestal includes a multi-surfaced three-dimensional thermal core providing the support for the solid state light emitters, and

the multi-surfaced three-dimensional thermal core has at least three lateral surfaces supporting solid state light emitters and an end face supporting at least one solid state light emitter.