Bulb for light-emitting diode with color-converting insert

• US 7,686,478 B1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Original Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Inventors: Walther, Matthias, Hulse, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US12/120,418
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/231, 362/255, 362/256, 362/293, 362/800, 257/98, 257/99, 257/100, 313/110, 313/111, 313/112
• US Class Current: 362/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/041 Ball lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/027 the lens being in the form of a sphere or ball
• 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 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/02 Details

Abstract

A bulb is adapted to fit over a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and defines an inner cavity. The bulb includes a color-converting insert that is positioned in the inner cavity. The color-converting insert is also composed of a light-transmitting material and includes a light color-converting material. The light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into the color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then emitted into the bulb and ultimately observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

Claims

1. A bulb adapted to fit over at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern, the bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material, the bulb having a generally spherical shape with a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry, the bulb defining an inner cavity with a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode, and the bulb including a color-converting insert that is positioned in said inner cavity, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

2. The bulb as recited in claim 1, wherein said light color-converting material is one or more fluorescent dyes.

3. The bulb as recited in claim 1, wherein said light color-converting material is one or more phosphorescent dyes.

4. The bulb as recited in claim 1, wherein said light color-converting material is a combination of fluorescent dyes and/or phosphorescent dyes.

5. The bulb as recited in claim 1, wherein said light-transmitting material is an acrylic resin.

6. The bulb as recited in claim 5, wherein said light color-converting material is one or more fluorescent dyes mixed into said acrylic resin.

7. The bulb as recited in claim 1, wherein said color-converting insert has a shape corresponding to that of said inner cavity.

8. A lighting assembly, comprising:

at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern;

a bulb fitting over the light-emitting diode, the bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material, the bulb having a generally spherical shape with a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry and defining an inner cavity with a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode, and the bulb defining a light-emitting surface; and

a color-converting insert that is positioned in the inner cavity defined by said bulb, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over the light-emitting surface of the bulb.

9. A bulb adapted to fit over at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a generally Lambertian radiation pattern, said bulb having a generally spherical shape and a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry, said bulb defining an inner cavity with a substantially circular cross-sectional geometry for housing the light-emitting diode, said bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material and a first light color-converting material, and said bulb further including a color-converting insert that is positioned in said inner cavity, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a second light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a second hue, which is then emitted into the bulb, which converts the light of the second hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

10. A lighting assembly, comprising:

at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a generally Lambertian radiation pattern;

a bulb fitting over the light-emitting diode, said bulb having a generally spherical shape and a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry, said bulb defining an inner cavity with a substantially circular cross-sectional geometry for housing the light-emitting diode, said bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material and a first light color-converting material; and

a color-converting insert that is positioned in said inner cavity, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a second light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a second hue, which is then emitted into the bulb, which converts the light of the second hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

11. A bulb adapted to fit over and around at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern, said bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a light color-converting material, said bulb defining an inner cavity having a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode, said bulb including a color-converting insert that is positioned in said inner cavity, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a second light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a second hue, which is then emitted into the bulb, which converts the light of the second hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

12. The bulb as recited in claim 11, wherein the bulb has a generally spherical shape.

13. A bulb adapted to fit over and around at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a generally Lambertian radiation pattern, said bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a light color-converting material, said bulb defining an inner cavity having a cross-sectional geometry based on the generally Lambertian radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode, said bulb including a color-converting insert that is positioned in said inner cavity, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a second light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a second hue, which is then emitted into the bulb, which converts the light of the second hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

14. The bulb as recited in claim 13, wherein the bulb has a generally spherical shape.

15. A lighting assembly, comprising:

at least one light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern; and

a bulb fitting over and around the light-emitting diode, said bulb being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a first light color-converting material, said bulb defining an inner cavity having a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode; and

a color-converting insert that is positioned in the inner cavity defined by said bulb, said color-converting insert also being composed of a light-transmitting material and including a second light color-converting material, such that said light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into said color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a second hue, which is then emitted into the bulb, which converts the light of the second hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.