Lighting device and lighting method

• US 8,382,318 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• 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): DUNWIDDIE, MEGHAN K
• Application Number:
  US13/218,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/231, 362/260, 362/545, 362/612, 362/800, 257/89, 257/98, 313/483, 313/485, 313/487, 315/185.S, 315/200.A, 315/291, 315/307, 315/312, 315322-324, 345/82, 345/83, 345/102
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls

Abstract

There is provided a lighting device comprising one or more groups of solid state light emitters and one or more groups hof lumiphors, which emits mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates within a region defined by (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.38), (0.41, 0.455), and (0.36, 0.48). Also, such lighting devices which emit light having x, y color coordinates within other specified regions. Also, such lighting devices with respective groups which emit light within two specified regions, and which mix to produce light within such regions. Also, methods of lighting light from such emitters and/or lumiphors.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters; and

at least a first luminescent material;

wherein;

if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and at least a portion of said first luminescent material is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first luminescent material 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, 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.

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

said first group mixed illumination would have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40;

0.36, 0.38;

0.41, 0.455; and

0.36, 0.48.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor.

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

said first 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;

said first luminescent material, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.

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

said first group of solid state light emitters comprises 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; and

said first luminescent material comprises all of the luminescent material 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.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one power line, said first group of solid state light emitters 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 said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 6, wherein said first luminescent material comprises all of the luminescent material 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 first luminescent material is excited if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if every solid state light emitter in said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would emit light 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, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth 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, 0.38, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48.

9. 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 lighting device would emit light 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, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth 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, 0.38, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises a second group of solid state light emitters, said second group of solid state light emitters comprising at least one second group solid state light emitter, wherein each said second group solid state light emitter, if illuminated, would emit saturated light.

44. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, at least some light emitted by said first group of solid state light emitters excites said at least a portion of said first luminescent material.

11. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters; and

at least a first luminescent material;

wherein;

if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and at least a portion of said first luminescent material is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first luminescent material 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, 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.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 11, further comprising at least one power line, said first group of solid state light emitters 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 said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 13, wherein said first luminescent material comprises all of the luminescent material 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 first luminescent material is illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

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

said first group mixed illumination would have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455;

0.36, 0.48;

0.4087, 0.5896; and

0.4788, 0.5202.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 15, further comprising at least one power line, said first group of solid state light emitters 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 said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

45. A lighting device as recited in claim 11, wherein if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, at least some light emitted by said first group of solid state light emitters excites said at least a portion of said first luminescent material.

17. A lighting device comprising:

a first group of solid state light emitters;

at least a first luminescent material;

a second group of solid state light emitters; and

at least a second luminescent material;

wherein;

if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and at least a portion of said first luminescent material is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first luminescent material 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 said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and said second luminescent material is excited, a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second luminescent material 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 said first group of solid state light emitters and said second group of solid state light emitters is illuminated and at least a portion of said first luminescent material and at least a portion of said second luminescent material are 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 luminescent material and said second luminescent material 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.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein:

at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor; and

at least a portion of the second luminescent material is included in a second group of lumiphors comprising at least a second lumiphor.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein:

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;

said first luminescent material and said second luminescent material, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, 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 said first and second groups of solid state light emitters are illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

21. A lighting device as recited in claim 20, wherein said first and second luminescent materials together comprise all of the luminescent material 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 first and second luminescent materials are illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein if every LED in said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would emit light 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, 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.

23. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, 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 lighting device would emit light having x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by 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.

24. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein:

said first group mixed illumination would have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455;

0.36, 0.48;

0.4087, 0.5896; and

0.4788, 0.5202;

said first group-second group mixed illumination would have x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40;

0.36, 0.38;

0.41, 0.455; and

0.36, 0.48.

25. A lighting device as recited in claim 24, wherein:

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;

said first luminescent material and said second luminescent material, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.

26. A lighting device as recited in claim 24, 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 said first and second groups of solid state light emitters is illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

27. A lighting device as recited in claim 26, wherein said first and second luminescent materials together comprise all of the luminescent material 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 first and second luminescent materials are illuminated if power is supplied to said at least one power line.

28. A lighting device as recited in claim 24, wherein if every LED in said lighting device is illuminated, said lighting device would emit light 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, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth 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, 0.38, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48.

29. A lighting device as recited in claim 24, 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 lighting device would emit light 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, said fourth line segment connecting said fourth 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, 0.38, said third point having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455, and said fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48.

46. A lighting device as recited in claim 17, wherein if said first group of solid state light emitters is illuminated, at least some light emitted by said first group of solid state light emitters excites said at least a portion of said first luminescent material.

30. A method of lighting, comprising:

mixing light from a first group of at least one solid state light emitter and light from a first luminescent material to form first group mixed illumination;

said 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, 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.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein:

said first group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40;

0.36, 0.38;

0.41, 0.455; and

0.36, 0.48.

32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor.

33. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein:

said light from said first group of at least one solid state light emitter has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from said first luminescent material has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

34. A method of lighting, comprising:

mixing light from a first group of at least one solid state light emitter and light from a first luminescent material to form first group mixed illumination;

said 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, 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.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor.

36. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein:

said light from said first group of at least one solid state light emitter has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from said first luminescent material has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

37. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein:

said first group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455;

0.36, 0.48;

0.4087, 0.5896; and

0.4788, 0.5202.

38. A method as recited in claim 37, wherein:

said light from said first group of at least one solid state light emitter has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from said first luminescent material has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

39. 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 first luminescent material and light from a second luminescent material to form first group-second group mixed illumination;

said 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,

wherein;

a mixture of light emitted from said first group of solid state light emitters and said first luminescent material 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, and

a mixture of light emitted from said second group of solid state light emitters and said second luminescent material 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.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein:

at least a portion of the first luminescent material is included in a first group of lumiphors comprising at least a first lumiphor; and

at least a portion of the second luminescent material is included in a second group of lumiphors comprising at least a second lumiphor.

41. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein:

said light from said first group of at least one solid state light emitter and said second group of at least one solid state light emitter has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from said first luminescent material and said second luminescent material has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.

42. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein:

said first group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.41, 0.455;

0.36, 0.48;

0.4087, 0.5896; and

0.4788, 0.5202;

said first group-second group mixed illumination has x, y color coordinates which define a point which is within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40;

0.36, 0.38;

0.41, 0.455; and

0.36, 0.48.

43. A method as recited in claim 42, wherein:

said light from said first group of at least one solid state light emitter and said second group of at least one solid state light emitter has a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and

said light from said first luminescent material and said second luminescent material has a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm.