Lamp module and lighting device comprising such a lamp module

• US 8,042,967 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Ha, Yiu Wing, Lau, Chi Keung, Hikmet, Rifat Ata Mustafa, Van Bommel, Ties
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Diane
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/160,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20100148688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 362196-208
• US Class Current: 362/208
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/003 by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lamp module (10) comprising at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip (12) for emitting light, means (13, 15, 16, 17) for extracting and shaping the light emitted from the chip(s), and a base (21) for allowing the lamp module to be fitted and connected to a lighting device. The lamp module is characterized by at least one electrically switchable cell (22) adapted to receive light emitted from the LED chip(s), which cell in a first state transmits incoming light without substantially altering the direction of the light and in a second state alters the direction of the light when the light passes the cell(s). This allows for electrically controlled adjustable beam shaping. The present invention also relates to a lighting device (30) comprising such a lamp module.

Claims

1. A lamp module, comprising:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip for emitting light,

means for extracting and shaping light emitted from the chip(s),

wherein at least one electrically switchable cell is adapted to receive light emitted from the chip(s), which cell(s) in a first state transmits incoming light without substantially altering a path of the light and in a second state alters the path of the light when the light passes the cell(s)

means for converting a variable input voltage into a constant direct current supplying the LED chip(s) and into a variable alternating current supplying the cell(s), wherein the alternating current supplying the cell(s) varies in accordance with the input voltage, and

a base for allowing the lamp module to be fitted and connected to a lighting device.

2. A lamp module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the cell(s) is integrated into the means for extracting and shaping light emitted from the chip(s).

3. A lamp module according to claim 1, wherein the path of incoming light is altered by at least one of the cell(s) by means of one of scattering, refraction, reflection, and diffraction.

4. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a LED driver coupled to said LED chip(s).

5. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a DC-AC converter for converting direct current from an external power source, such as a battery, to alternating current for supplying said cell(s).

6. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to separately control said LED chip(s) and choose between the first and the second state of at least one of the cell(s) based on a input signal.

8. A lighting device, comprising a lamp module according to claim 1.

9. A lighting device according to claim 8, further comprising a DC-AC converter for converting direct current from an internal power source, such as a battery, to alternating current for supplying at least one of the cell(s).

10. A lighting device according to claim 8, further comprising a first switch for controlling choose between the first and the second state of at least one of the cell(s), and a second switch for controlling said LED chip(s).

11. A lighting device according to claim 8, further comprising a beam shaper, such as a reflector, and wherein said lamp module is positioned in said beam shaper.

12. A lighting device according to claim 8, wherein said lighting device is a non-mains connected device.

13. A lighting device according to claim 8, wherein said lighting device is a hand held device.

14. A lamp module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the cell(s) is integrated into the means for extracting and shaping light emitted from the chip(s).

15. A lamp module according to claim 1, wherein the path of incoming light is altered by at least one of the cell(s) by means of one of scattering, refraction, reflection, and diffraction.

16. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a LED driver coupled to said LED chip(s).

17. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a DC-AC converter for converting direct current from an external power source, such as a battery, to alternating current for supplying at least one of the cell(s).

18. A lamp module according to claim 1, further comprising a processor configured to separately control said LED chip(s) and choose between the first state and the second state of at least one of the cell(s).based on a input signal.

19. A lighting device, comprising a lamp module according to claim 1.

7. A lighting device, comprising a lamp module, comprising:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip for emitting light,

means for extracting and shaping light emitted from the chip(s),

wherein at least one electrically switchable cell adapted to receive light emitted from the chip(s), which cell(s) in a first state transmits incoming light without substantially altering a path of the light and in a second state alters the path of the light when the light passes the cell(s), wherein the lamp module comprises a processor, and wherein the lighting device further comprises a single switch for providing an input signal to said processor,

means for converting a variable input voltage into a constant direct current supplying the LED chip(s) and into a variable alternating current supplying the cell(s), wherein the alternating current supplying the cell(s) varies in accordance with the input voltage, and

a base for allowing the lamp module to be fitted and connected to a lighting device.

20. A lamp module, comprising:

at least one light emitting diode (LED) chip for emitting light,

means for extracting and shaping light emitted from the chip(s), and

a base for allowing the lamp module to be fitted and connected to a lighting device,

wherein at least one electrically switchable cell(s) is adapted to receive light emitted from the chip(s), which cell(s) in a first state transmits incoming light without substantially altering a path of the light and in a second state alters the path of the light when the light passes the cell(s)

wherein the lamp module comprises plural cells with different properties.