Lighting device

• US 7,722,220 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cree Lighting Company (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van De Ven, Antony Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L
• Assistant Examiner(s): APENTENG, JESSICA MCMILLAN
• Application Number:
  US11/743,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 362/362, 362/294, 362/800, 362/373, 362/555, 362/296, 362/297
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/26 the material comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/101 of tunnels or the like, e.g. under bridges
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

First, second and third lighting devices each comprise a thermal conduction element, solid state light emitters and a reflective element. In the second device, the conduction element defines an opening; and the emitters and reflective element are mounted on a first side of the conduction element. In the third device, the conduction element defines an opening; a first portion of a first side of the conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface; and the emitters and reflective element are mounted on the first side. A fourth device comprises a conduction element and emitters; a first portion of a first side of the conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface; the emitters are mounted on a second portion of the first side of the conduction element; and a second side of the conduction element is exposed to ambient air.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element;

a plurality of solid state light emitters; and

at least a first reflective element,

wherein said solid state light emitters are mounted on at least a first portion of said thermal conduction element and said first reflective element is positioned such that at least a portion of light emitted from at least one of said solid state light emitters is reflected by said first reflective element, and

wherein a second portion of said thermal conduction element is exposed to ambient air.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a first of said solid state light emitters is a light emitting diode.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermal conduction element defines at least one conduction element opening.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 3, wherein said conduction element opening is covered by a light transmitting plate, so that light which is emitted by any of said solid state light emitters and which passes through said conduction element opening must pass through said light transmitting plate.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 3, wherein said thermal conduction element surrounds said conduction element opening.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said reflective element is mounted on a second portion of said thermal conduction element.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein a second reflective element is positioned on said thermal conduction element.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1,

wherein a fourth portion of said thermal conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface, said construction surface having at least one construction surface opening, said contact region surrounding said construction surface opening.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one battery and circuitry selectively connecting said battery electrically to at least one of said solid state light emitters.

10. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element, said thermal conduction element having a first side and a second side, said first side of said thermal conduction element comprising at least a first surface, said thermal conduction element defining at least one conduction element opening;

a plurality of solid state light emitters mounted on said first side of said thermal conduction element;

at least one reflective element, said reflective element also being mounted on said first side of said thermal conduction element; and

at least one shield member, said shield member extending from said first side of said thermal conduction element away from said second side of said thermal conduction element.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal conduction element is substantially toroidal.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 11, wherein said thermal conduction element is annular.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said conduction element opening is covered by a light transmitting plate, so that light which is emitted by any of said solid state light emitters and which passes through said conduction element opening must pass through said light transmitting plate.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of said solid state light emitters is an LED.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal conduction element surrounds said conduction element opening.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said first side is a first surface and said second side comprises a second surface, and said first surface and said second surface are substantially parallel to each other and are spaced from each other by a distance which is not greater than 10% of the maximum distance between any two points on said second surface.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 16, wherein said thermal conduction element is substantially toroidal.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein said thermal conduction element is annular.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said first surface comprises only a portion of said first side.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said second surface comprises only a portion of said second side.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 19, wherein said second surface comprises an entirety of said second side.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said second surface comprises only a portion of said second side.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said first surface comprises an entirety of said first side.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 23, wherein said second surface comprises only a portion of said second side.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 23, wherein said second surface comprises an entirety of said second side.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 10, wherein said second surface comprises an entirety of said second side.

27. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element, said thermal conduction element having a first side and a second side, said first side of said thermal conduction element comprising at least a first surface, a first portion of said first side being in contact with a contact region of a construction surface, said construction surface having at least one construction surface opening, said contact region surrounding said construction surface opening, said thermal conduction element defining at least one conduction element opening, said second side comprising a second surface, said first surface and said second surface being substantially parallel to each other and being spaced from each other by a distance which is not greater than 10% of the maximum distance between any two points on said second surface;

a plurality of solid state light emitters mounted on a second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element; and

at least one reflective element, said reflective element being mounted on a third portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element, said reflective element extending into said construction surface opening.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said thermal conduction element is substantially toroidal.

29. A lighting device as recited in claim 28, wherein said thermal conduction element is annular, said first portion of said first side and said second portion of said first side are substantially concentric, and said first portion of said first side is radially outside said second portion of said first side.

30. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said conduction element opening is covered by a light transmitting plate, so that light which is emitted by any of said solid state light emitters and which passes through said conduction element opening must pass through said light transmitting plate.

31. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein at least one of said solid state light emitters is an LED.

32. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said first portion of said first side is in contact with said construction surface at least at locations adjacent to said construction surface opening.

33. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said construction surface is a ceiling, a wall or a floor.

34. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, wherein said second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element surrounds said conduction element opening.

35. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, further comprising at least one shield member, said shield member extending from said first side of said thermal conduction element away from said second side of said thermal conduction element.

36. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, further comprising at least one photovoltaic energy collection device and circuitry connecting said photovoltaic energy collection device to at least one of said solid state light emitters.

37. A lighting device as recited in claim 36, wherein said circuitry connecting said photovoltaic energy collection device to said at least one of said solid state light emitters selectively electrically connects said photovoltaic energy collection device to said at least one of said solid state light emitters.

38. A lighting device as recited in claim 36, wherein said circuitry connecting said photovoltaic energy collection device to said at least one of said solid state light emitters directly electrically connects said photovoltaic energy collection device to said at least one of said solid state light emitters.

39. A lighting device as recited in claim 27, further comprising at least one battery and circuitry selectively connecting said battery electrically to at least one of said solid state light emitters.

40. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said circuitry selectively connects said battery electrically to at least about 5% of said solid state light emitters.

41. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said circuitry selectively connects said battery electrically to at least about 20% of said solid state light emitters.

42. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said circuitry selectively connects said battery electrically to all of said solid state light emitters.

43. A lighting device as recited in claim 39, wherein said circuitry automatically connects said battery electrically to at least one of said solid state light emitters during a power outage.

44. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element, said thermal conduction element having a first side and a second side, said first side of said thermal conduction element comprising at least a first surface, a first portion of said first side being in contact with a contact region of a construction surface, said second side comprising a second surface, said first surface and said second surface are substantially parallel to each other and being spaced from each other by a distance which is not greater than 10% of the maximum distance between any two points on said second surface; and

a plurality of solid state light emitters, said solid state light emitters being mounted on a second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element, said second side of said thermal conduction element being exposed to ambient air.

45. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein said construction surface has at least one construction surface opening and said contact region surrounds said construction surface opening.

46. A lighting device as recited in claim 45, wherein said first portion of said first side is in contact with said construction surface at least at locations adjacent to said construction surface opening.

47. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein said thermal conduction element defines at least one conduction element opening.

48. A lighting device as recited in claim 47, further comprising at least one reflective element, said reflective element being mounted on a third portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element, said reflective element extending into said construction surface opening.

49. A lighting device as recited in claim 48, wherein said conduction element opening is covered by a light transmitting plate, so that light which is emitted by any of said solid state light emitters and which passes through said conduction element opening must pass through said light transmitting plate.

50. A lighting device as recited in claim 47, wherein said second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element surrounds said conduction element opening.

51. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein said thermal conduction element is substantially toroidal.

52. A lighting device as recited in claim 51, wherein said thermal conduction element is annular, said first portion of said first side and said second portion of said first side are substantially concentric, and said first portion of said first side is radially outside said second portion of said first side.

53. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein at least one of said solid state light emitters is an LED.

54. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, wherein said construction surface is a ceiling, a wall or a floor.

55. A lighting device as recited in claim 44, further comprising at least one shield member, said shield member extending from said first side of said thermal conduction element away from said second side of said thermal conduction element.

56. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element;

a plurality of solid state light emitters;

at least first and second reflective elements, wherein;

said solid state light emitters are mounted on at least a first portion of said thermal conduction element and said first reflective element is positioned such that at least a portion of light emitted from at least one of said solid state light emitters is reflected by said first reflective element, and

said second reflective element is positioned on said thermal conduction element.

57. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element;

a plurality of solid state light emitters; and

at least a first reflective element,

wherein;

said solid state light emitters are mounted on at least a first portion of said thermal conduction element and said first reflective element is positioned such that at least a portion of light emitted from at least one of said solid state light emitters is reflected by said first reflective element, and

a second portion of said thermal conduction element is in contact with a contact region of a construction surface, said construction surface having at least one construction surface opening, said contact region surrounding said construction surface opening.

58. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element, said thermal conduction element having a first side and a second side, said first side of said thermal conduction element comprising at least a first surface, a first portion of said first side being in contact with a contact region of a construction surface, said construction surface having at least one construction surface opening, said contact region surrounding said construction surface opening, said thermal conduction element defining at least one conduction element opening;

a plurality of solid state light emitters mounted on a second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element

at least one reflective element, said reflective element being mounted on a third portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element, said reflective element extending into said construction surface opening; and

at least one shield member, said shield member extending from said first side of said thermal conduction element away from said second side of said thermal conduction element.

59. A lighting device, comprising:

at least one thermal conduction element, said thermal conduction element having a first side and a second side, said first side of said thermal conduction element comprising at least one surface, a first portion of said first side being in contact with a contact region of a construction surface;

a plurality of solid state light emitters, said solid state light emitters being mounted on a second portion of said first side of said thermal conduction element, said second side of said thermal conduction element being exposed to ambient air; and

at least one shield member, said shield member extending from said first side of said thermal conduction element away from said second side of said thermal conduction element.