Lighting device and lighting method

• US 7,918,581 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van De Ven, Antony Paul, Negley, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Nimeshkumar D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raleigh; Donald L
• Application Number:
  US11/951,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45015 being circular
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45139 Silver (Ag) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45147 Copper (Cu) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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 2924/00011 Not relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• 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 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01032 Germanium [Ge]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01049 Indium [In]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/207 Diameter ranges
• 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

Abstract

A lighting device comprising first, second and third groups of solid state light emitters, and first and second groups of lumiphors. A mixture of light emitted from the first group of emitters and the first group of lumiphors has x,y color coordinates within an area defined by coordinates (0.36,0.48), (0.43,0.45), (0.5125,0.4866), and (0.4087,0.5896) (or (0.41,0.455), (0.36,0.48), (0.4087,0.5896), and (0.4788,0.5202)). A mixture of light emitted from the second group of emitters and the second group of lumiphors is within an area defined by (0.32,0.40), (0.36,0.38), (0.30,0.26), and (0.25,0.29). A mixture of light from the first and second groups of emitters and the first and second groups of lumiphors is within an area defined by (0.32,0.40), (0.36,0.48), (0.43,0.45), (0.42,0.42), and (0.36,0.38) (or (0.32,0.40), (0.36,0.38), (0.41,0.455), and (0.36,0.48)). A mixture of light from all of these emitters and lumiphors is within ten MacAdam ellipses of the blackbody locus. Also, methods of lighting.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters, a first group of lumiphors, a second group of solid state light emitters, a second group of lumiphors and a third group of solid state light emitters, wherein;

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third and fourth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, and said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.5125, 0.4866, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.4087, 0.5896;

if each of said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth line segments, said fifth line segment connecting a fifth point to a sixth point, said sixth line segment connecting said sixth point to a seventh point, said seventh line segment connecting said seventh point to an eighth point, and said eighth line segment connecting said eighth point to said fifth point, said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said sixth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said seventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.30, 0.26, and said eighth point having x, y coordinates of 0.25, 0.29;

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters and said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth line segments, said ninth line segment connecting a ninth point to a tenth point, said tenth line segment connecting said tenth point to an eleventh point, said eleventh line segment connecting said eleventh point to a twelfth point, said twelfth line segment connecting said twelfth point to a thirteenth point, and said thirteenth line segment connecting said thirteenth point to said ninth point, said ninth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said tenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said eleventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said twelfth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and said thirteenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38; and

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters and said third group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said third group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group-third group mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

each of said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters and said third group of solid state light emitters is a light emitting diode.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

each of said first group of solid state light emitters and said second group of solid state light emitters, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm;

each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; and

each of said third group of solid state light emitters, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 3, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise all of the solid state light emitters in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm;

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise all of the lumiphors in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; and

said third group of solid state light emitters comprise all of the solid state light emitters in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 600 nm to about 630 nm.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one power line, said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprising all solid state light emitters which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and wherein each of said first and second groups of solid state light emitters are illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise all of the lumiphors in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm, and each of said first and second groups of lumiphors is excited if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, wherein said power line comprises a wire.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, further comprising a power plug directly or switchably electrically connected to said power line.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if all of said solid state light emitters in said first and second groups of solid state light emitters are illuminated, each of said lumiphors in said first and second groups of lumiphors would be excited by light emitted from at least one of said solid state light emitters.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said solid state light emitters in said first and second groups of solid state light emitters is embedded within an encapsulant element in which one of said first and second groups of lumiphors is also embedded.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least five solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least five lumiphors.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least ten solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least ten lumiphors.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least twenty-five solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least twenty-five lumiphors.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if every solid state light emitter in said lighting device is illuminated:

said first group-second group mixed illumination will have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said fifth point, said fifth line segment connecting said fifth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination will have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one power line, and if power is supplied to each of said at least one power line:

said first group-second group mixed illumination will have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said fifth point, said fifth line segment connecting said fifth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination will have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 60 lumens per watt of said electricity.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 16, wherein said output light is of a brightness of at least 300 lumens.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 16, wherein said output light is of a brightness of at least 500 lumens.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 70 lumens per watt of said electricity.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 80 lumens per watt of said electricity.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first group-second group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which are also at least a distance of 0.03 from any point on the blackbody locus.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first group-second group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which are also at least a distance of 0.045 from any point on the blackbody locus.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately, each of said second group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately, and each of said third group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately, each of said second group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately, and each of said third group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a first plurality of said solid state light emitters is contained in a first package.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 25, wherein said first package comprises at least five of said first group of solid state light emitters and at least five of said second group of solid state light emitters.

27. A lighting device as recited in claim 26, wherein each of the solid state light emitters in said first package is separately addressable.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 26, wherein each of the five solid state light emitters of said first group contained in said first package is addressable as a series/parallel array, and each of the five solid state light emitters of said first group contained in said first package is addressable as a series/parallel array.

29. An enclosure, comprising an enclosed space and at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would illuminate at least a portion of said enclosed space.

30. A lighting element, comprising a surface and at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would illuminate at least a portion of said surface.

31. A structure comprising at least one item selected from among the group consisting of motion sensors, mobile phones, signage, flashing lights, doorbell indicators, emergency lighting, auxiliary lighting, outdoor illumination, emergency egress lighting, and backlights, said structure comprising at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1.

32. A light fixture comprising at least one lighting device as recited in claim 1.

33. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters, a first group of lumiphors, a second group of solid state light emitters, a second group of lumiphors and a third group of solid state light emitters, wherein;

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third and fourth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, and said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.4087, 0.5896, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.4788, 0.5202;

if each of said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth line segments, said fifth line segment connecting a fifth point to a sixth point, said sixth line segment connecting said sixth point to a seventh point, said seventh line segment connecting said seventh point to an eighth point, and said eighth line segment connecting said eighth point to said fifth point, said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said sixth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said seventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.30, 0.26, and said eighth point having x, y coordinates of 0.25, 0.29;

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters and said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth line segments, said ninth line segment connecting a ninth point to a tenth point, said tenth line segment connecting said tenth point to an eleventh point, said eleventh line segment connecting said eleventh point to a twelfth point, and said twelfth line segment connecting said twelfth point to said ninth point, said ninth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said tenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said eleventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said twelfth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48; and

if each of said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters and said third group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said third group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group-third group mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

34. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

each of said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters and said third group of solid state light emitters is a light emitting diode.

35. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

each of said first group of solid state light emitters and said second group of solid state light emitters, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm;

each of said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; and

each of said third group of solid state light emitters, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm.

36. A lighting device as recited in claim 35, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise all of the solid state light emitters in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm;

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise all of the lumiphors in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; and

said third group of solid state light emitters comprise all of the solid state light emitters in said lighting device which, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 600 nm to about 630 nm.

37. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, further comprising at least one power line, said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprising all solid state light emitters which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and wherein each of said first and second groups of solid state light emitters are illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

38. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise all of the lumiphors in said lighting device which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm, and each of said first and second groups of lumiphors is excited if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

39. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, wherein said power line comprises a wire.

40. A lighting device as recited in claim 37, further comprising a power plug directly or switchably electrically connected to said power line.

41. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein if all of said solid state light emitters in said first and second groups of solid state light emitters are illuminated, each of said lumiphors in said first and second groups of lumiphors would be excited by light emitted from at least one of said solid state light emitters.

42. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein each of said solid state light emitters in said first and second groups of solid state light emitters is embedded within an encapsulant element in which one of said first and second groups of lumiphors is also embedded.

43. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least five solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least five lumiphors.

44. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least ten solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least ten lumiphors.

45. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein:

said first and second groups of solid state light emitters together comprise at least twenty-five solid state light emitters; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least twenty-five lumiphors.

46. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein if every solid state light emitter in said lighting device is illuminated:

said first group-second group mixed illumination will have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by said ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth line segments; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination will have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

47. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said lighting device further comprises at least one power line, and if power is supplied to each of said at least one power line:

said first group-second group mixed illumination will have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by said ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth line segments; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination will have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

48. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 60 lumens per watt of said electricity.

49. A lighting device as recited in claim 48, wherein said output light is of a brightness of at least 300 lumens.

50. A lighting device as recited in claim 48, wherein said output light is of a brightness of at least 500 lumens.

51. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 70 lumens per watt of said electricity.

52. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said lighting device, when supplied with electricity of a first wattage, emits output light of an efficacy of at least 80 lumens per watt of said electricity.

53. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said first group-second group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which are also at least a distance of 0.03 from any point on the blackbody locus.

54. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein said first group-second group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which are also at least a distance of 0.045 from any point on the blackbody locus.

55. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein each of said first group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately, each of said second group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately, and each of said third group of solid state light emitters is positioned separately.

56. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein each of said first group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately, each of said second group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately, and each of said third group of solid state light emitters is packaged separately.

57. A lighting device as recited in claim 33, wherein at least a first plurality of said solid state light emitters is contained in a first package.

58. A lighting device as recited in claim 57, wherein said first package comprises at least five of said first group of solid state light emitters and at least five of said second group of solid state light emitters.

59. A lighting device as recited in claim 58, wherein each of the solid state light emitters in said first package is separately addressable.

60. A lighting device as recited in claim 58, wherein each of the five solid state light emitters of said first group contained in said first package is addressable as a series/parallel array, and each of the five solid state light emitters of said first group contained in said first package is addressable as a series/parallel array.

61. A method of lighting, comprising:

mixing light from a first group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a second group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a third group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a first group of at least one lumiphor and light from a second group of at least one lumiphor to form first group-second group-third group mixed illumination, wherein;

a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third and fourth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, and said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.5125, 0.4866, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.4087, 0.5896;

a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth line segments, said fifth line segment connecting a fifth point to a sixth point, said sixth line segment connecting said sixth point to a seventh point, said seventh line segment connecting said seventh point to an eighth point, and said eighth line segment connecting said eighth point to said fifth point, said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said sixth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said seventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.30, 0.26, and said eighth point having x, y coordinates of 0.25, 0.29;

a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth line segments, said ninth line segment connecting a ninth point to a tenth point, said tenth line segment connecting said tenth point to an eleventh point, said eleventh line segment connecting said eleventh point to a twelfth point, said twelfth line segment connecting said twelfth point to a thirteenth point, and said thirteenth line segment connecting said thirteenth point to said ninth point, said ninth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said tenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said eleventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, said twelfth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and said thirteenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on said blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

62. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein:

said light from each of said first group of at least one light emitting diode and each of said second group of at least one light emitting diode has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from each of said first group of at least one lumiphor and each of said second group of at least one lumiphor has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

63. A method as recited in claim 62, wherein each of said first and second groups of lumiphors which has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm is combined in a package with at least one light emitting diode having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm.

64. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least five light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least five lumiphors.

65. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least ten light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least ten lumiphors.

66. A method as recited in claim 61, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least twenty-five light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least twenty-five lumiphors.

67. A method of lighting, comprising:

mixing light from a first group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a second group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a third group of at least one solid state light emitter, light from a first group of at least one lumiphor and light from a second group of at least one lumiphor to form first group-second group-third group mixed illumination, wherein;

a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third and fourth line segments, said first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, said second line segment connecting said second point to a third point, said third line segment connecting said third point to a fourth point, and said fourth line segment connecting said fourth point to said first point, said first point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, said second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.4087, 0.5896, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.4788, 0.5202;

a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth line segments, said fifth line segment connecting a fifth point to a sixth point, said sixth line segment connecting said sixth point to a seventh point, said seventh line segment connecting said seventh point to an eighth point, and said eighth line segment connecting said eighth point to said fifth point, said fifth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said sixth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said seventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.30, 0.26, and said eighth point having x, y coordinates of 0.25, 0.29;

a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters, said first group of lumiphors and said second group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group-second group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth line segments, said ninth line segment connecting a ninth point to a tenth point, said tenth line segment connecting said tenth point to an eleventh point, said eleventh line segment connecting said eleventh point to a twelfth point, and said twelfth line segment connecting said twelfth point to said ninth point, said ninth point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, said tenth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.38, said eleventh point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said twelfth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48; and

said first group-second group-third group mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.

68. A method as recited in claim 67, wherein:

said light from each of said first group of at least one light emitting diode and each of said second group of at least one light emitting diode has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from each of said first group of at least one lumiphor and each of said second group of at least one lumiphor has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

69. A method as recited in claim 68, wherein each of said first and second groups of lumiphors which has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm is combined in a package with at least one light emitting diode having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm.

70. A method as recited in claim 67, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least five light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least five lumiphors.

71. A method as recited in claim 67, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least ten light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least ten lumiphors.

72. A method as recited in claim 67, wherein:

said first and second groups of light emitting diodes together comprise at least twenty-five light emitting diodes; and

said first and second groups of lumiphors together comprise at least twenty-five lumiphors.