Lighting devices, methods of lighting, light filters and methods of filtering light

• US 8,506,114 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van De Ven, Antony Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): CARTER, WILLIAM JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US12/035,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,999 Days
• Field of Search: 362/227, 362/228, 362/230, 362/231, 362/235, 362/249.01, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• 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 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 2924/00012 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 2924/13091 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor [MOSFET]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/44 characterised by the coatings, e.g. passivation layer or anti-reflective coating
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A lighting device comprising a white light source, a filter which filters blue light from the white light, and a second light source which emits red light and/or reddish-orange light. In some embodiments, the white light source comprises a solid state light emitter. A method of lighting, comprising illuminating a white light source, illuminating a red and/or reddish-orange light source, the light sources being positioned and oriented such that the light mixes, and filtering blue light from the mixed light. A method of lighting, comprising illuminating a white light source, filtering blue light from the white light, and illuminating a red and/or reddish-orange light source. A light filter, comprising a first filter component which has a wall region and a window region, and a second filter component comprising two or more reflection regions. Also, methods of filtering.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

a first light source which, if illuminated, emits white light at a first color point;

a first filter which, if said white light emitted from said first light source is directed toward said first filter, would filter at least some blue light from said white light to form modified light at a second color point which is different from the first color point; and

a second light source which, if illuminated, emits light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of red light and reddish-orange light,

wherein a mixture of said modified light and light emitted from said second light source would produce mixed light which is white light 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 a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram blackbody locus.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device further comprises a third light source which, if illuminated, emits white light.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said modified light, in the absence of any additional light, has 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 a fifth point, and 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.

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

said lighting device further comprises a power line,

said first light source and said second light source are electrically connected to said power line, and

if current is supplied to said power line, a combination of (1) light exiting said lighting device which was emitted by said first light source and (2) light exiting said lighting device which was emitted by said second light source would, in an absence of any additional light, produce mixed light, said mixed light being white light.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first light source comprises:

at least one first group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters comprising at least one first group solid state light emitter, each of said first group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a first color; and

at least one second group light emitter, each of said second group light emitters comprising at least one second group solid state light emitter and at least one second group lumiphor, each of said second group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color.

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

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one solid state light emitter which, if illuminated, emits UV light;

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor; and

said first light source further comprises at least one third group light emitter, each of said third group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a third color, said third color different from said first color and said second color, each of said third group light emitters comprising at least one third group lumiphor.

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

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color,

said first group of light emitters comprises at least one solid state light emitter which, if illuminated, emits light having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm; and

said second group of light emitters comprises at least one lumiphor which, if illuminated, emits light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.

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

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color,

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one first group lumiphor; and

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor.

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

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color,

said first light source further comprises at least one third group light emitter, each of said third group light emitters, if activated, emitting light of a third color, said third color different from said first color and said second color,

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one first group lumiphor and at least one first group solid state light emitter;

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor and at least one second group solid state light emitter; and

each of said third group light emitters comprises at least one third group lumiphor and at least one third group solid state light emitter.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 9, wherein

each of said first group lumiphors, if excited, emits blue light;

each of said second group lumiphors, if excited, emits green light;

each of said third group lumiphors, if excited, emits red light;

each of said first group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits blue light;

each of said second group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits green light; and

each of said third group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits red light.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 9, wherein

each of said first group lumiphors, if excited, emits blue light;

each of said second group lumiphors, if excited, emits light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of yellowish-green light, yellow-green light, greenish-yellow light and yellow light;

each of said third group lumiphors, if excited, emits red light;

each of said first group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits blue light;

each of said second group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of yellowish-green light, yellow-green light, greenish-yellow light and yellow light; and

each of said third group solid state light emitters, if excited, emits red light.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter, if said white light emitted from said first light source is directed toward said first filter, would filter at least some blue light and at least some yellow light from said white light to form said modified light.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter is a pass-through filter.

14. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter is a reflection filter.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter comprises at least a first filter component and a second filter component,

said first filter component comprising at least a first wall region, said first wall region comprising at least one window region,

said second filter component comprising at least a first reflection region and a second reflection region,

wherein said first reflection region, if a first mixture of light which is white is directed toward said first reflection region, would reflect a first reflected light which differs in color from a second reflection light which would be reflected by said second reflection region if said first mixture of light were directed toward said second reflection region,

at least one of said first filter component and said second filter component movable such that differing portions of said first reflection region can be exposed through said window region, such that if said first mixture of light enters said filter, a color of light exiting said filter can be adjusted by adjusting a positional relationship between said first filter component and said second filter component.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said white light has a color temperature of at least 4,000K.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter, if said white light emitted from said first light source is directed toward said first filter, would filter at least 25%, on a mW basis, of said blue light from said white light to form said modified light.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said first filter, if said white light emitted from said first light source is directed toward said first filter, would filter at least 25%, on a mW basis, of said blue light and at least 25%, on a mW basis, of green light from said white light to form said modified light.

19. A method of lighting, comprising:

illuminating a first light source, whereby said first light source emits a first light mixture, said first light mixture comprising blue light and other light, said first light mixture appearing white at a first color point;

illuminating a second light source, whereby said second light source emits second light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of red light and reddish-orange light, and

filtering at least a portion of said blue light from said first light mixture so that the first light mixture minus said portion of blue light would be at a second color point which different from the first color point,

a mixture of said first light mixture and said second light minus said portion of blue light providing filtered mixed light, said filtered mixed light being white light at a color point which is within ten MacAdam ellipses of at least one point on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram blackbody locus.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said method further comprises illuminating a third light source which emits white light.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein if said first light mixture emitted by said first light source were passed through said first filter in the absence of any additional light to form first light filtered light, said first light filtered light would 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 a fifth point, and 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.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first light source comprises:

at least one first group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters comprising at least one first group solid state light emitter, each of said first group light emitters emitting light of a first color; and

at least one second group light emitter, each of said second group light emitters comprising at least one second group solid state light emitter and at least one second group lumiphor, each of said second group light emitters emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color;

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor;

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one solid state light emitter which emits UV light; and

said first light source further comprises at least one third group light emitter, each of said third group light emitters emitting light of a third color, said third color different from said first color and said second color, each of said third group light emitters comprising at least one third group lumiphor.

24. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color;

said first group of light emitters comprises at least one solid state light emitter which emits light having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm; and

said second group of light emitters comprises at least one lumiphor which emits light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.

25. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color;

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one first group lumiphor; and

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor.

26. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said first light source comprises at least one first group light emitter and at least one second group light emitter, each of said first group light emitters emitting light of a first color, each of said second group light emitters emitting light of a second color, said second color different from said first color;

said first light source further comprises at least one third group light emitter, each of said third group light emitters emitting light of a third color, said third color different from said first color and said second color;

each of said first group light emitters comprises at least one first group lumiphor and at least one first group solid state light emitter;

each of said second group light emitters comprises at least one second group lumiphor and at least one second group solid state light emitter; and

each of said third group light emitters comprises at least one third group lumiphor and at least one third group solid state light emitter.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein

each of said first group lumiphors emits blue light;

each of said second group lumiphors emits green light;

each of said third group lumiphors emits red light;

each of said first group solid state light emitters emits blue light;

each of said second group solid state light emitters emits green light; and

each of said third group solid state light emitters emits red light.

28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein

each of said first group lumiphors emits blue light;

each of said second group lumiphors emits light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of yellowish-green light, yellow-green light, greenish-yellow light and yellow light;

each of said third group lumiphors emits red light;

each of said first group solid state light emitters emits blue light;

each of said second group solid state light emitters emits light of at least one color selected from among the group consisting of yellowish-green light, yellow-green light, greenish-yellow light and yellow light; and

each of said third group solid state light emitters emits red light.

29. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter filters at least some blue light and at least some yellow light from said first mixed light.

30. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter is a pass-through filter.

31. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter is a reflection filter.

32. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter comprises at least a first filter component and a second filter component,

said first filter component comprising at least a first wall region, said first wall region comprising at least one window region,

said second filter component comprising at least a first reflection region and a second reflection region,

wherein said first reflection region, if a first mixture of light which is white is directed toward said first reflection region, would reflect a first reflected light which differs in color from a second reflection light which would be reflected by said second reflection region if said first mixture of light is directed toward said second reflection region,

at least one of said first filter component and said second filter component movable such that differing portions of said first reflection region can be exposed through said window region, such that if said first mixture of light enters said filter, a color of light exiting said filter can be adjusted by adjusting a positional relationship between said first filter component and said second filter component.

33. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said white light has a color temperature of at least 4,000K.

34. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said filtered mixed light has a color temperature which is lower than a color temperature of said first light mixture.

35. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter filters from said first light mixture at least 25%, on a mW basis.

36. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said first filter filters from said first light mixture at least 25%, on a mW basis, of said blue light and at least 25%, on a mW basis, of green light.

37. A method of lighting as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said filtering at least some blue light comprises directing said first light mixture toward a first filter which filters from said first light mixture at least some blue light to form modified light; and

said first filter and said second light source are positioned and oriented relative to each other such that at least said modified light and said second light mix to form said filtered mixed light.

38. A method of lighting as recited in claim 19, wherein:

said, first light source and said second light source are positioned and oriented relative to each other such that at least said white light and said second light mix to form first mixed light; and

said filtering at least some blue light comprises directing said first mixed light toward a first filter which filters from said first mixed light at least some blue light to form said filtered mixed light.