ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATINGS FOR LIGHT BULBS

• US 20110193465A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Switch Bulb Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/110
• 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 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/58 characterised by the coolants
• 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 3/12 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/35 provided with coatings on the walls thereof; Selection of materials for the coatings using coloured coatings H01J61/40; using luminescent coatings H01J61/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01K 1/325 Reflecting coating

Abstract

A light bulb having anti-reflective coatings on an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the shell of the light bulb. The anti-reflective coatings reduce light loss due to reflections at the interfaces between the interior of the bulb and the shell and between the shell and the exterior of the bulb. The light source may be either incandescent, fluorescent or LED.

Claims

1. An incandescent bulb comprising:

an incandescent filament;

a shell surrounding said filament; and

an anti-reflective coating on an inner surface of the shell.

2. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell is glass.

3. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell is partially evacuated.

4. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the anti-reflective coating matches an index of refraction of the inner portion of the bulb with an index of refraction of the shell material.

5. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shell is a bulb-shaped shell.

6. An incandescent bulb comprising:

an incandescent filament;

a shell surrounding said filament; and

an anti-reflective coating on an outer surface of the shell.

7. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 6, wherein the shell is glass.

8. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 6, wherein the shell is partially evacuated.

9. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 6, wherein the anti-reflective coating matches an index of refraction of the external atmosphere with an index of refraction of the shell material.

10. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 6, wherein the shell is a bulb-shaped shell.

11. An incandescent bulb comprising:

an incandescent filament;

a shell surrounding said filament; and

an anti-reflective coating on an inner surface and an outer surface of the shell.

12. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the shell is glass.

13. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the shell is partially evacuated.

14. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the anti-reflective coating on the outer surface matches an index of refraction of an external atmosphere with an index of refraction of the shell material, and wherein the anti-reflective coaling on the inner surface matches an index of refraction of the inner portion of the bulb with the index of refraction of the shell material.

15. The incandescent bulb as set forth in claim 11, wherein the shell is a bulb-shaped shell.

16-46. -46. (canceled)