WO2007123940A2 - Lighting device and lighting method - Google Patents
Lighting device and lighting method Download PDFInfo
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- WO2007123940A2 WO2007123940A2 PCT/US2007/009462 US2007009462W WO2007123940A2 WO 2007123940 A2 WO2007123940 A2 WO 2007123940A2 US 2007009462 W US2007009462 W US 2007009462W WO 2007123940 A2 WO2007123940 A2 WO 2007123940A2
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- solid state
- state light
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- light emitters
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21K9/00—Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
- F21K9/60—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
- F21K9/62—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
- F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a lighting device, in particular, a device which includes one or more solid state light emitters and one or more luminescent materials (e.g., one or more phosphors).
- the present invention is also directed to lighting methods.
- incandescent light bulbs are very energy-inefficient light sources — about ninety percent of the electricity they consume is released as heat rather than light. Fluorescent light bulbs are more efficient than incandescent light bulbs (by a factor of about 10) but are still less efficient as compared to solid state light emitters, such as light emitting diodes.
- incandescent light bulbs have relatively short lifetimes, i.e., typically about 750-1000 hours.
- light emitting diodes typically have lifetimes between 50,000 and 70,000 hours.
- Fluorescent bulbs have longer lifetimes ⁇ e.g., 10,000 - 20,000 hours) than incandescent lights, but provide less favorable color reproduction.
- CRI Ra Color reproduction is typically measured using the Color Rendering Index (CRT).
- CRI Ra is a relative measurement of how the color rendition of an illumination system compares to that of a reference illuminator (light source). For color temperatures below 5,000 K, a blackbody radiator is used, and for color temperatures above 5,000 K, a series of spectra defined by the CIE (Commission International de I'Eclairage) are used.
- CRI Ra is the average of the differences in the shift in surface color of an object when lit by a particular lamp, relative to the surface color of the object when illuminated by the reference light source.
- the CRI Ra equals 100 if the color coordinates of a set of test colors being illuminated by the illumination system are the same as the coordinates of the same test colors being irradiated by the reference radiator.
- Daylight has a high CRI (Ra being approximately 100), with incandescent bulbs also being relatively close (Ra greater than 95), and fluorescent lighting being less, accurate (typical Ra of 70-80).
- Certain types of specialized lighting have very low CRI (e.g., mercury vapor or sodium lamps have Ra as low as about 40 or even lower).
- Sodium lights are used, e.g., to light highways — driver response time, however, significantly decreases with lower CRI values (for any given brightness, legibility decreases with lower CRI).
- Light emitting diodes are well-known semiconductor devices that convert electrical current into light. A wide variety of light emitting diodes are used in increasingly diverse fields for an ever-expanding range of purposes.
- light emitting diodes are semiconducting devices that emit light (ultraviolet, visible, or infrared) when a potential difference is applied across a p-n junction structure.
- light emitting diodes and many associated structures, and the present invention can employ any such devices.
- Chapters 12-14 of Sze, Physics of Semiconductor Devices, (2d Ed. 1981) and Chapter 7 of Sze, Modern Semiconductor Device Physics (1998) describe a variety of photonic devices, including light emitting diodes.
- LED light emitting diode
- packaged devices typically include a semiconductor based light emitting diode such as (but not limited to) those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,918,487; 5,631,190; and 5,912,477; various wire connections, and a package that encapsulates the light emitting diode.
- a light emitting diode produces light by exciting electrons across the band gap between a conduction band and a valence band of a semiconductor active (light-emitting) layer.
- the electron transition generates light at a wavelength that depends on the band gap.
- the color of the light (wavelength) emitted by a light emitting diode depends on the semiconductor materials of the active layers of the light emitting diode.
- the emission spectrum of any particular light emitting diode is typically concentrated around a single wavelength (as dictated by the light emitting diode's composition and structure), which is desirable for some applications, but not desirable for others, (e.g., for providing lighting, such an emission spectrum provides a very low CRI).
- White light emitting lamps have been produced which have a light emitting diode pixel formed of respective red, green and blue light emitting diodes.
- Other "white” light emitting diodes have been produced which include (1) a light emitting diode which generates blue light and (2) a luminescent material (e.g., a phosphor) that emits yellow light in response to excitation by light emitted by the light emitting diode, whereby the blue light and the yellow light, when mixed, produce light that is perceived as white light.
- a luminescent material e.g., a phosphor
- the blending of primary colors to produce combinations of non-primary colors is generally well understood in this and other arts.
- the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram an international standard for primary colors established in 1931
- the 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram similar to the 1931 Diagram but modified such that similar distances on the Diagram represent similar perceived differences in color
- Light emitting diodes can thus be used individually or in any combinations, optionally together with one or more luminescent material (e.g., phosphors or scintillators) and/or filters, to generate light of any desired perceived color (including white). Accordingly, the areas in which efforts are being made to replace existing light sources with light emitting diode light sources, e.g., to improve energy efficiency, color rendering index (CRI), efficacy (lm/W), and/or duration of service, are not limited to any particular color or color blends of light.
- one or more luminescent material e.g., phosphors or scintillators
- filters e.g., phosphors or scintillators
- any desired perceived color including white
- the areas in which efforts are being made to replace existing light sources with light emitting diode light sources e.g., to improve energy efficiency, color rendering index (CRI), efficacy (lm/W), and/or duration of service, are not limited to any particular color or color
- luminescent materials also known as lumiphors or luminophoric media, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 6,600,175, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference
- a phosphor is a luminescent material that emits a responsive radiation (e.g., visible light) when excited by a source of exciting radiation, hi many instances, the responsive radiation has a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the exciting radiation.
- a phosphor is a luminescent material that emits a responsive radiation (e.g., visible light) when excited by a source of exciting radiation, hi many instances, the responsive radiation has a wavelength which is different from the wavelength of the exciting radiation.
- a responsive radiation e.g., visible light
- Other examples of luminescent materials include scintillators, day glow tapes and inks which glow in the visible spectrum upon illumination with ultraviolet light.
- Luminescent materials can be categorized as being down-converting, i.e., a material which converts photons to a lower energy level (longer wavelength) or up-converting, i.e., a material which converts photons to a higher energy level (shorter wavelength).
- luminescent materials in LED devices has been accomplished by adding the luminescent materials to a clear or translucent encapsulant material (e.g., epoxy-based, silicone-based or glass-based material) as discussed above, for example by a blending or coating process.
- a clear or translucent encapsulant material e.g., epoxy-based, silicone-based or glass-based material
- U.S. Patent No. 6,963,166 discloses that a conventional light emitting diode lamp includes a light emitting diode chip, a bullet-shaped transparent housing to cover the light emitting diode chip, leads to supply current to the light emitting diode chip, and a cup reflector for reflecting the emission of the light emitting diode chip in a uniform direction, in which the light emitting diode chip is encapsulated with a first resin portion, which is further encapsulated with a second resin portion.
- the first resin portion is obtained by filling the cup reflector with a resin material and curing it after the light emitting diode chip has been mounted onto the bottom of the cup reflector and then has had its cathode and anode electrodes electrically connected to the leads by way of wires.
- a phosphor is dispersed in the first resin portion so as to be excited with the light A that has been emitted from the light emitting diode chip, the excited phosphor produces fluorescence ("light B") that has a longer wavelength than the light A, a portion of the light A is transmitted through the first resin portion including the phosphor, and as a result, light C, as a mixture of the light A and light B, is used as illumination.
- white LED lights i.e., lights which are perceived as being white or near-white
- a representative example of a white LED lamp includes a package of a blue light emitting diode chip, made of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) or gallium nitride (GaN), coated with a phosphor such as YAG.
- the blue light emitting diode chip produces an emission with a wavelength of about 450 nm
- the phosphor produces yellow fluorescence with a peak wavelength of about 550 nm on receiving that emission.
- white light emitting diodes are fabricated by forming a ceramic phosphor layer on the output surface of a blue light-emitting semiconductor light emitting diode. Part of the blue ray emitted from the light emitting diode chip passes through the phosphor, while part of the blue ray emitted from the light emitting diode chip is absorbed by the phosphor, which becomes excited and emits a yellow ray. The part of the blue light emitted by the light emitting diode which is transmitted through the phosphor is mixed with the yellow light emitted by the phosphor. The viewer perceives the mixture of blue and yellow light as white light.
- a light emitting diode chip that emits an ultraviolet ray is combined with phosphor materials that produce red (R), green (G) and blue (B) light rays.
- R red
- G green
- B blue
- the ultraviolet ray that has been radiated from the light emitting diode chip excites the phosphor, causing the phosphor to emit red, green and blue light rays which, when mixed, are perceived by the human eye as white light. Consequently, white light can also be obtained as a mixture of these light rays.
- LEDs In substituting light emitting diodes for other light sources, e.g., incandescent light bulbs, packaged LEDs have been used with conventional light fixtures, for example, fixtures which include a hollow lens and a base plate attached to the lens, the base plate having a conventional socket housing with one or more contacts which are electrically coupled to a power source.
- LED light bulbs have been constructed which comprise an electrical circuit board, a plurality of packaged LEDs mounted to the circuit board, and a connection post attached to the circuit board and adapted to be connected to the socket housing of the light fixture, whereby the plurality of LEDs can be illuminated by the power source. .
- RGB LED lamps sometimes do not appear in their true colors. For example, an object that reflects only yellow light, and thus that appears to be yellow when illuminated with white light, may appear de-saturated and grayish when illuminated with light having an apparent yellow color, produced by the red and green LEDs of an RGB LED fixture. Such lamps, therefore, are considered not to provide excellent color rendition, particularly when illuminating various settings such as in general illumination and particularly with regard to natural scenes. In addition, currently available green LEDs are relatively inefficient, and thus limit the efficiency of such lamps.
- CRI can be obtained by combining (1) light emitted from one or more light emitting diodes which emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm, (2) light emitted from one more lumiphors which emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 to 585 and (3) light emitted from one or more light emitting diodes which emit light having a having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm.
- the light emitting diodes and the lumiphors are selected such that if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated and each of the first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the second point to a third point, the third line segment connecting the third point to a fourth point, the fourth line segment connecting the fourth point to a fifth point, and the fifth line segment connecting the fifth point to the first point, the first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, the second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, the third point having
- the light emitting diodes and the lumiphors are selected such that a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes, from the first group of lumiphors and from the second group of light emitting diodes would produce a first group-second group mixed illumination having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is within 10 MacAdam ellipses (or within 20 MacAdam ellipses, or within 40 MacAdam ellipses) of at least one point within the range of from about 2200K to about 4500K on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first 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 the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm.
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes (i.e., light emitting diodes which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from about 430 nm to about 480 nm) which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors (i.e., lumiphors which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm) which are not within the first group of lumiphors, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes (i.e., light emitting diodes which, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 600 nm to about 630 nm) which are not within the second
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 ran to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated (e.g., by inserting into a standard 120 AC receptacle a power plug which is electrically connected to a power line which is directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device) and each of .
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the second group of light emitting diodes, including wherein if any of such additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes and/or 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors were illuminated or excited in addition to all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and all of the lumiphors in the first group of lumiphors, there would be produced combined light having x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinate
- the lighting device can include additional 555 run to 585 nm lumiphors which would not be excited by light emitted from any of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes, even when all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes are emitting light.
- the lighting device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors (1) which would not be excited by light emitted from any of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and (2) which, if such additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors were excited and all of the 430 to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes were illuminated, the combined light would have x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CEE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to at least one of the at least one power line (e.g., by inserting into a standard 120 AC receptacle a power plug which is electrically connected to the power line and, if
- first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the second point to a third point, the third line segment connecting the third point to a fourth point, the fourth line segment connecting the fourth point to a fifth point, and the fifth line segment connecting the fifth point to the first point, the first point having x, y coordinates of
- the lighting device can include one or more additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line (but which might be connected to some other power line), and in which, if such additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diode(s) were illuminated in addition to all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light emitted from all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device and the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to each of the one or more power lines (e.g., by inserting into a standard 120 AC receptacle one or more power plugs which are electrically connected to one or more respective power lines),
- the lighting device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to any of the power lines (or are not connected to the power line) in the device, and in which, if such additional light emitting diodes were illuminated in addition to all of the light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and wherein: if (1) each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated, (2) each of the first group of lumiphors is excited, and (3) each of the second group of light emitting diodes is illuminated, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting di
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the second group of light emitting diodes, wherein if any combination of such additional light emtting diodes were illuminated in addition to all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes, all of the lumiphors in the first group of lumiphors and all of the light emitting diodes in the second group of light emitting diodes, would produce combined light having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is not within 10 MacAdam ellipses (or within 20 MacAdam ellipses
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and and wherein: if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated and each of the second group of light emitting diodes is illuminated, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes, light emitted from the first group of lumiphors
- At least some of the lumiphors in the first group of lumiphors are excited by light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes.
- the lighting device might include additional lumiphors which would not be excited by light emitted from any of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes, even when all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes are emitting light.
- the lighting device can include additional lumiphors (1) which would not be excited by light emitted from any of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and (2) which, if such additional lumiphors were excited in addition to all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and all of the light emitting diodes in the second group of light emitting diodes, would produce combined light having x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is not within 10 MacAdam ellipses (or within 20 MacAdam ellipses, or within 40 MacAdam ellipses) of any point within the range of from about 2200K to about 4500K on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to at least one of the at least one power line, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes, from the first group of lumiphors and from the second group of light emitting
- the lighting device can include one or more additional 430 tun to 480 nm light emitting diodes, and/or one or more additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes, which are not connected to the at least one power line (but which might be connected to some other power line), and in which, if such additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diode(s) and/or such additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diode(s) were illuminated in addition to all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes and all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light emitted, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is not within 10 MacAdam ellipses (or within 20 MacAdam ellip
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; a second group of light emitting diodes; and at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 run to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to each of the at least one power line, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes, from the first group of lumiphors and from the second group of light emitting diodes
- the lighting device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes and/or additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to any of the power lines (or are not connected to the power line) in the device, and in which, if any of such additional light emitting diodes were illuminated in addition to all of the light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y coordinates on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram which define a point which is not within 10 MacAdam ellipses (or within 20 MacAdam ellipses, or within 40 MacAdam ellipses) of any point within the range of from about 2200K to about 4500K on the blackbody locus on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and wherein: if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated and each of the first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors, in the absence of any other light
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the second group of light emitting diodes.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 run lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and and wherein: if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated and each of the first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors, in the absence of any other light,
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the second group of light emitting diodes.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and a second group of light emitting diodes; at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; .
- each of the first group of lumiphors if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to at least one of the at least one power line, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors, in the absence of any other light, would have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the second point to a third point, the third line segment connecting the third point to a fourth point, the fourth line segment connecting the fourth point to a fifth point, and the fifth line segment connecting the fifth point to the first point
- the device can include additional 430 ran to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line, and/or the device can include additional 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; a second group of light emitting diodes; and at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 run to 480 nra; each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm; each of the second group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; and if power is supplied to each of the at least one power line, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors, in the absence of any other light, would have
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line, and/or the device can include additional 600 run to 630 run light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; and a first group of lumiphors; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first 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 if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated and each of the first group of lumiphors is excited, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, including wherein if any of such additional light emitting 430 nm to 480 nm diodes and/or 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors were illuminated or excited in addition to all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and all of the lumiphors in the first group of lumiphors, there would be produced combined light having x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device
- the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 run lumiphors in the device
- the second group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; and a first group of lumiphors; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first 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 if each of the first group of light emitting diodes is illuminated, a mixture of light emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors, including wherein if any of such additional light emitting diodes and/or lumiphors were illuminated or excited in addition to all of the light emitting diodes in the first group of light emitting diodes and all of the lumiphors in the first group of lumiphors, there would be produced combined light having x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CEE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; and a first group of lumiphors; wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and each of the first group of lumiphors, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm.
- the device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not within the first group of light emitting diodes, and/or the device can include additional 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors which are not within the first group of lumiphors.
- the first group of light emitting diodes consists of all of the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes in the device and the first group of lumiphors consists of all of the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first 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 if power is supplied to at least one of the at least one power line, a mixture of light would be emitted from the first group of light emitting diodes and the first group of lumiphors which would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments,
- the lighting device can include one or more additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to the at least one power line (but which might be connected to some other power line), and in which, if such additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diode(s) were illuminated in addition to all of the 430 nm to 480 run light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light emitted from all of the 430 nm to 480 ran light emitting diodes in the device and the 555 nm to 585 nm lumiphors in the device, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a lighting device comprising: a first group of light emitting diodes; a first group of lumiphors; and at least one power line directly or switchably electrically connected to the lighting device, wherein: each of the first group of light emitting diodes, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; each of the first 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 if power is supplied to each of the at least one power line, light would be emitted from the lighting device having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CEE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the second point to a third point, the third line segment connecting the third point to a
- the lighting device can include additional 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes which are not connected to any of the power lines (or are not connected to the power line) in the device, and in which, if such additional light emitting diodes were illuminated in addition to all of the light emitting diodes connected to the at least one power line, the combined light, in the absence of any additional light, would have x, y color coordinates which are not within the area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments defined above.
- a method of lighting comprising: mixing light from a first group of at least one light emitting diode, light from a first group of at least one lumiphor and light from a second group of at least one light emitting diode to form mixed light; the light from each of the first group of at least one light emitting diode having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; the light from each of the first group of at least one lumiphor having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm; the light from each of the second group of at least one light emitting diode having a dominant wavelength in the range of from 600 nm to 630 nm; According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of lighting, comprising: mixing light from at least one light emitting diode and at least one lumiphor to form mixed light, the light from each of the at least one light emitting diode having a peak
- an LED package comprising: an encapsulant element; a light emitting diode which, if illuminated, would emit light having a peak wavelength in the range of from 430 nm to 480 nm; and a lumiphor which, if excited, would emit light having a dominant wavelength in the range of from about 555 nm to about 585 nm, wherein: the light emitting diode and the lumiphor are embedded within the encapsulant element; and if the light emitting diode is illuminated, the lumiphor will be excited by the light emitting diode.
- a mixture of light would be emitted from the light emitting diode and the lumiphor which would, in the absence of any additional light, have a first group mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates which are within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram enclosed by first, second, third, fourth and fifth line segments, the first line segment connecting a first point to a second point, the second line segment connecting the second point to a third point, the third line segment connecting the third point to a fourth point, the fourth line segment connecting the fourth point to a fifth point, and the fifth line segment connecting the fifth point to the first point, the first point having x, y coordinates of 0.32, 0.40, the second point having x, y coordinates of 0.36, 0.48, the third point having x, y coordinates of 0.43, 0.45, the fourth point having x, y coordinates of 0.42, 0.42, and the fifth point having x
- the light emitting diodes can be saturated or non-saturated.
- saturated means having a purity of at least 85%, the term “purity” having a well-known meaning to persons skilled in the art, and procedures for calculating purity being well-known to those of skill in the art.
- FIG. 1 shows the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram.
- Fig. 2 shows the 1976 Chromaticity Diagram.
- Fig. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the 1976 Chromaticity Diagram, in order to show the blackbody locus in more detail. Persons of skill in the art are familiar with these diagrams, and these diagrams are readily available (e.g., by searching "CIE Chromaticity Diagram" on the internet).
- the CIE Chromaticity Diagrams map out the human color perception in terms of two CIE parameters x and y (in the case of the 1931 diagram) or u' and v' (in the case of the 1976 diagram).
- CIE chromaticity diagrams see, for example, "Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology", vol. 7, 230-231 (Robert A Meyers ed.,
- the 1976 CIE Chromaticity Diagram is similar to the 1931 Diagram, except that the 1976 Diagram has been modified such that similar distances on the Diagram represent similar perceived differences in color.
- deviation from a point on the Diagram can be expressed either in terms of the coordinates or, alternatively, in order to give an indication as to the extent of the perceived difference in color, in terms of Mac Adam ellipses.
- a locus of points defined as being ten MacAdam ellipses from a specified hue defined by a particular set of coordinates on the 1931 Diagram consists of hues which would each be perceived as differing from the specified hue to a common extent (and likewise for loci of points defined as being spaced from a particular hue by other quantities of MacAdam ellipses).
- chromaticity coordinates and the CIE chromaticity diagrams illustrated in Figs. 1- 3 are explained in detail in a number of books and other publications, such as pages 98-107 of K. H. Butler, "Fluorescent Lamp Phosphors” (The Pennsylvania State University Press 1980) and pages 109-110 of G. Blasse et al., "Luminescent Materials” (Springer- Verlag 1994), both incorporated herein by reference.
- the 1976 CIE Diagram includes temperature listings along the blackbody locus. These temperature listings show the color path of a blackbody radiator that is caused to increase to such temperatures. As a heated object becomes incandescent, it first glows reddish, then yellowish, then white, and finally blueish. This occurs because the wavelength associated with the peak radiation of the blackbody radiator becomes progressively shorter with increased temperature, consistent with the Wien Displacement Law. Hluminants which produce light which is on or near the blackbody locus can thus be described in terms of then- color temperature.
- A, B, C, D and E which refer to light produced by several standard illuminants correspondingly identified as illuminants A, B, C, D and E, respectively.
- CRI Ra is a modified average of the relative measurements of how the color rendition of an illumination system compares to that of a reference radiator when illuminating eight reference colors.
- the CRI Ra equals 100 if the color coordinates of a set of test colors being illuminated by the illumination system are the same as the coordinates of the same test colors being irradiated by the blackbody radiator.
- Fig. 1 shows the 1931 CEE Chromaticity Diagram.
- Fig. 2 shows the 1976 Chromaticity Diagram.
- Fig. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the 1976 Chromaticity Diagram, in order to show the blackbody locus in detail.
- Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a representative example of a lighting device in accordance with the present invention.
- Fig. 5 depicts a representative example of a packaged LED which can be used in the devices according to the present invention.
- correlated color temperature is used according to its well-known meaning to refer to the temperature of a blackbody that is, in a well-defined sense (i.e., can be readily and precisely determined by those skilled in the art), nearest in color.
- two components in a device are "directly electrically connected,” means that there are no components electrically between the components, the insertion of which materially affect the function or functions provided by the device.
- two components can be referred to as being electrically connected, even though they may have a small resistor between them which does not materially affect the function or functions provided by the device (indeed, a wire connecting two components can be thought of as a small resistor); likewise, two components can be referred to as being electrically connected, even though they may have an additional electrical component between them which allows the device to perform an additional function, while not materially affecting the function or functions provided by a device which is identical except for not including the additional component; similarly, two components which are directly connected to each other, or which are directly connected to opposite ends of a wire or a trace on a circuit board, are electrically connected.
- two components in a device are "switchably electrically . connected" means that there is a switch located between the two components, the switch being selectively closed or opened, wherein if the switch is closed, the two components are directly electrically connected, and if the switch is open (i.e., during any time period that the switch is open), the two components are not electrically connected.
- luminated means that at least some current is being supplied to the light emitting diode to cause the light emitting diode to emit at least some light.
- the expression “illuminated” encompasses situations where the light emitting diode emits light continuously or intermittently at a rate such that a human eye would perceive it as emitting light continuously, or where a plurality of light emitting diodes of the same color or different colors are emitting light intermittently and/or altematingly (with or without overlap in "on” times) in such a way that a human eye would perceive them as emitting light continuously (and, in cases where different colors are emitted, as a mixture of those colors).
- the expression “excited”, as used herein when referring to a lumiphor, means that at least some electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light, UV light or infrared light) is contacting the lumiphor, causing the lumiphor to emit at least some light.
- the expression “excited” encompasses situations where the lumiphor emits light continuously or intermittently at a rate such that a human eye would perceive it as emitting light continuously, or where a plurality of lumiphors of the same color or different colors are emitting light intermittently and/or altematingly (with or without overlap in "on” times) in such a way that a human eye would perceive them as emitting light continuously (and, in cases where different colors are emitted, as a mixture of those colors).
- the light emitting diode (or light emitting diodes) used in the devices according to the present invention, and the lumiphor (or lumiphors) used in the devices according to the present invention can be selected from among any light emitting diodes and lumiphors known to persons of skill in the art. Wide varieties of such light emitting diodes and lumiphors are readily obtainable and well known to those of skilled in the art, and any of them can be employed (e.g., AlInGaP for the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes).
- the one or more luminescent materials can be any desired luminescent material.
- the one or more luminescent materials can be down-converting or up-converting, or can include a combination of both types.
- the one or more luminescent materials can be selected from among phosphors, scintillators, day glow tapes, inks which glow in the visible spectrum upon illumination with ultraviolet light, etc.
- the one or more luminescent materials can be provided in any desired form.
- the luminescent element can be embedded in a resin (i.e., a polymeric matrix), such as a silicone material or an epoxy.
- the luminescent material may be embedded in a substantially transparent glass or metal oxide material.
- the one or more lumiphors can individually be any lumiphor, a wide variety of which, as noted above, are known to those skilled in the art.
- the or each lumiphor can comprise (or can consist essentially of, or can consist of) one or more phosphor.
- the or each of the one or more lumiphors can, if desired, further comprise (or consist essentially of, or consist of) one or more highly transmissive (e.g., transparent or substantially transparent, or somewhat diffuse) binder, e.g., made of epoxy, silicone, glass or any other suitable material (for example, in any given lumiphor comprising one or more binder, one or more phosphor can be dispersed within the one or more binder).
- the thicker the lumiphor in general, the lower the weight percentage of the phosphor can be.
- Representative examples of the weight percentage of phosphor include from about 3.3 weight percent to about 4.7 weight percent, although, as indicated above, depending on the overall thickness of the lumiphor, the weight percentage of the phosphor could be generally any value, e.g., from 0.1 weight percent to 100 weight percent (e.g., a lumiphor formed by subjecting pure phosphor to a hot isostatic pressing procedure). In some situations, a weight percentage of about 20 weight percent is advantageous.
- the or each of the one or more lumiphors can, independently, further comprise any of a number of well-known additives, e.g., diffusers, scatterers, tints, etc.
- different power lines i.e., any structure which can carry electrical energy to a light emitting diode
- the relative quantities of light emitting diodes connected to the respective power lines differ from one power line to the next, e.g., a first power line contains a first percentage of 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes and a second power line contains a second percentage (different from the first percentage) of 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes.
- first and second power lines each contain 100 % 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes
- a third power line contains 50 % 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes and 50 % 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes.
- the x, y coordinates of the mixed light emitted from the lighting device can be appropriately adjusted.
- one or more current adjusters directly or switchably electrically connected to one or more of respective power lines which are electrically connected to light emitting diodes, whereby the current adjuster can be adjusted to adjust the current supplied to the respective light emitting diode(s).
- one or more switches electrically connected to one of respective power lines, whereby the switch selectively switches on and off current to the light emitting diode(s) on the respective power line.
- one or more current adjusters and/or one or more switches automatically interrupt and/or adjust current passing through one or more respective power tines in response to a detected change in the output from the lighting device (e.g., an extent of deviation from the blackbody locus) or in accordance with a desired pattern (e.g., based on the time of day or night, such as altering the correlated color temperature of the combined emitted light).
- a detected change in the output from the lighting device e.g., an extent of deviation from the blackbody locus
- a desired pattern e.g., based on the time of day or night, such as altering the correlated color temperature of the combined emitted light.
- one or more thermistors which detect temperature and, as temperature changes, cause one or more current adjusters and/or one or more switches to automatically interrupt and/or adjust current passing through one or more respective power lines in order to compensate for such temperature change.
- 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes get dimmer as their temperature increases — in such embodiments, fluctuations in intensity caused by such temperature variation can be compensated for.
- Li some lighting devices there are further included one or more circuitry components, e.g., drive electronics for supplying and controlling current passed through at least one of the one or more light emitting diodes in the lighting device.
- circuitry can include at least one contact, at least one leadframe, at least one current regulator, at least one power control, at least one voltage control, at least one boost, at least one capacitor and/or at least one bridge rectifier, persons of skill in the art being familiar with such components and being readily able to design appropriate circuitry to meet whatever current flow characteristics are desired.
- the present invention further relates to an illuminated enclosure, comprising an enclosed space and at least one lighting device according to the present invention, wherein the lighting device illuminates at least a portion of the enclosure.
- the present invention further relates to an illuminated surface, comprising a surface and at least one lighting device according to the present invention, wherein the lighting device illuminates at least a portion of the surface.
- the present invention further relates to an illuminated area, comprising at least one area selected from among the group consisting of a structure, a swimming pool, a room, a warehouse, an indicator, a road, a vehicle, a road sign, a billboard, a ship, a boat, an aircraft, a stadium, a tree, a window, an LCD display, a cave or tunnel, and a lamppost having mounted therein or thereon at least one lighting device according to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 depicts a lighting device which includes a heat spreading element 11 (formed of a material with good heat conducting properties, e.g., aluminum), insulating regions 12 (which can be applied and/or formed in situ, e.g., by anodizing), a highly reflective surface 13 (which can be applied, e.g., MCPET, marketed by
- the device depicted in Fig. 4 can further include an insulating element 28 below the conductive traces 14 to avoid unintended contact (e.g., a person receiving a shock) with the conductive traces.
- the device depicted in Fig. 4 can include any number of packaged LED's (e.g., up to 50 or 100 or more), and so the heat spreading element 11, as well as the insulating regions 12, reflective surface 13 and insulating element 28 can extend any necessary distance to the right or left, in the orientation shown in Fig.
- the sides of the reflective cone 17 can be located any distance to the right or left).
- the diffusing element 18 can be located any desired distance from the LED's 16.
- the diffusing element 18 can be attached to the reflective cone 17, the insulating element 28, the heat spreading element 11, or any other desired structure in any suitable way, persons of skill in the art being familiar with and readily able to provide such attachment in a wide variety of ways.
- the heat spreading element 11 serves to spread out the heat, act as a heat sink, and/or dissipate the heat.
- the reflective cone 17 functions as a heat sink.
- the reflective cone 17 can include ridges 19 to enhance its reflective properties.
- Fig. 5 depicts a representative example of a packaged LED which can be used in the devices according to the present invention.
- a lighting device 20 comprising a solid state light emitter 21 (in this case, a light emitting diode chip 21), a first electrode 22, a second electrode 23, an encapsulant region 24, a reflective element 26 in which the light emitting diode chip 21 is mounted and a lumiphor 27.
- a packaged LED which does not include any lumiphor e.g., a 600 run to 630 nm light emitting diode
- Persons of skill in the art are familiar with, and have ready access to, a wide variety of other packaged and unpackaged LED structures, any of which can, if desired, be employed according to the present invention.
- one or more of the light emitting diodes can be included in a package together with one or more of the lumiphors, and the one or more lumiphor in the package can be spaced from the one or more light emitting diode in the package to achieve improved light extraction efficiency, as described in U.S.
- two or more lurniphors can be provided, two or more of the lumiphors being spaced from each other, as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/761,310, filed on January 23, 2006, entitled "Shifting Spectral Content in LEDs by Spatially Separating Lumiphor Films" (inventors: Gerald H. Negley and
- one or more power sources e.g., one or more batteries and/or solar cells, and/or one or more standard AC power plugs.
- the lighting devices according to the present invention can comprise any desired number of LED' s and lumiphors.
- a lighting device according to the present invention can include 50 or more light emitting diodes, or can include 100 or more light emitting diodes, etc.
- greater efficiency can be achieved by using a greater number of smaller light emitting diodes (e.g., 100 light emitting diodes each having a surface area of 0.1 mm 2 vs. 25 light emitting diodes each having a surface area of 0.4 mm 2 but otherwise being identical).
- light emitting diodes which operate at lower current densities are generally more efficient.
- Light emitting diodes which draw any particular current can be used according to the present invention.
- light emitting diodes which each draw not more than 50 milliamps are employed.
- Other embodiments may include fewer LEDs, as little as one each of blue and red, and such could be small chip LEDs or high power LEDs; and provided with sufficient heat sinking be operated at high currents. In the case of high power LEDs, operating up to 5 A is possible.
- the sources of visible light in the lighting devices of the present invention can be arranged, mounted and supplied with electricity in any desired manner, and can be mounted on any desired housing or fixture. Skilled artisans are familiar with a wide variety of arrangements, mounting schemes, power supplying apparatuses, housings and fixtures, and any such arrangements, schemes, apparatuses, housings and fixtures can be employed in connection with the present invention.
- the lighting devices of the present invention can be electrically connected (or selectively connected) to any desired power source, persons of skill in the art being familiar with a variety of such power sources.
- the 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diodes and the 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes are arranged in generally laterally arranged rows and spaced from one another substantially evenly, each row being laterally offset from the next adjacent (in a longitudinal direction) row by half the distance between laterally adjacent light emitting diodes, with, in most locations, two 430 nm to 480 nm light emitting diodes being located between each 600 nm to 630 nm light emitting diode and its nearest neighbor in the same row, and with the 600 nm to 630 nm light emit
- some or all of the brighter light emitting diodes are placed closer to a center of the lighting device that the dimmer light emitting diodes.
- the location of the 430 nm to 480 nm (peak wavelength) light emitting diodes be arranged so that they are closer to the outside periphery of the fixture and that the 600 nm to 630 nm (dominant wavelength) light emitting diodes are arranged within the periphery of the fixture.
- the devices according to the present invention can further comprise one or more long- life cooling device (e.g., a fan with an extremely high lifetime).
- Such long-life cooling device(s) can comprise piezoelectric or magnetorestrictive materials (e.g., MR, GMR, and/or HMR materials) that move air as a "Chinese fan".
- MR magnetorestrictive materials
- HMR high-restrictive materials
- any of the features e.g., circuitry, as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/761,879, filed on January 25, 2006, entitled “Lighting Device With Cooling” (inventors: Thomas Coleman, Gerald H. Negley and Antony Van De Ven), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference, can be employed.
- the devices according to the present invention can further comprise secondary optics to further change the projected nature of the emitted light.
- Such secondary optics are well- known to those skilled in the art, and so they do not need to be described in detail herein — any such secondary optics can, if desired, be employed.
- the devices according to the present invention can further comprise sensors or charging devices or cameras, etc.
- sensors or charging devices or cameras etc.
- persons of skill in the art are familiar with, and have ready access to, devices which detect one or more occurrence (e.g., motion detectors, which detect motion of an object or person), and which, in response to such detection, trigger illumination of a light, activation of a security camera, etc.
- a device can include a lighting device according to the present invention and a motion sensor, and can be constructed such that (1) while the light is illuminated, if the motion sensor detects movement, a security camera is activated to record visual data at or around the location of the detected motion, or (2) if the motion sensor detects movement, the light is illuminated to light the region near the location of the detected motion and the security camera is activated to record visual data at or around the location of the detected motion, etc.
- a color temperature of 2700 K to 3500 K is normally preferred; for indoor illumination of commercial indoor locations such as office spaces and in general illumination in tropical geographic latitudes, an indoor color temperature of 3500 to 5000 K is often desired; and for outdoor flood lighting of colorful scenes a ' color temperature approximating daylight 5000 K (4500 - 6500 K) is preferred.
- Any two or more structural parts of the lighting devices described herein can be integrated. Any structural part of the lighting devices described herein can be provided in two or more parts (which can be held together, if necessary).
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- Led Device Packages (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
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Abstract
Description
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Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009506560A JP5244090B2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Lighting device and lighting method |
BRPI0710463-4A BRPI0710463A2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | lighting device and method |
CN2007800153382A CN101554088B (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Lighting device and lighting method |
KR1020137002666A KR20130019027A (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Lighting device and lighting method |
EP07755653A EP2008018A4 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Lighting device and lighting method |
Applications Claiming Priority (8)
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US79285906P | 2006-04-18 | 2006-04-18 | |
US60/792,859 | 2006-04-18 | ||
US79352406P | 2006-04-20 | 2006-04-20 | |
US60/793,524 | 2006-04-20 | ||
US86813406P | 2006-12-01 | 2006-12-01 | |
US60/868,134 | 2006-12-01 | ||
US11/566,440 US7213940B1 (en) | 2005-12-21 | 2006-12-04 | Lighting device and lighting method |
US11/566,440 | 2006-12-04 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2007123940A2 true WO2007123940A2 (en) | 2007-11-01 |
WO2007123940A3 WO2007123940A3 (en) | 2008-12-31 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2007/009462 WO2007123940A2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2007-04-18 | Lighting device and lighting method |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2008018A4 (en) |
JP (2) | JP5244090B2 (en) |
KR (2) | KR20130019027A (en) |
CN (2) | CN102305374B (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0710463A2 (en) |
TW (1) | TWI432677B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007123940A2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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US9084328B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2015-07-14 | Cree, Inc. | Lighting device and lighting method |
US9206947B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2015-12-08 | Lumitech Produktion Und Entwicklung Gmbh | LED module, LED illumination means, and LED lamp for the energy-efficient reproduction of white light |
US9417478B2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2016-08-16 | Cree, Inc. | Lighting device and lighting method |
US9441793B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2016-09-13 | Cree, Inc. | High efficiency lighting device including one or more solid state light emitters, and method of lighting |
US10448478B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2019-10-15 | Signify Holding B.V. | LED strip, LED luminaire, and a method of manufacturing thereof |
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-
2007
- 2007-04-18 JP JP2009506560A patent/JP5244090B2/en active Active
- 2007-04-18 CN CN201110136808.9A patent/CN102305374B/en active Active
- 2007-04-18 TW TW096113620A patent/TWI432677B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2007-04-18 KR KR1020137002666A patent/KR20130019027A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2007-04-18 BR BRPI0710463-4A patent/BRPI0710463A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2007-04-18 CN CN2007800153382A patent/CN101554088B/en active Active
- 2007-04-18 KR KR1020087028013A patent/KR20090007451A/en active Search and Examination
- 2007-04-18 WO PCT/US2007/009462 patent/WO2007123940A2/en active Application Filing
- 2007-04-18 EP EP07755653A patent/EP2008018A4/en not_active Ceased
-
2012
- 2012-10-26 JP JP2012236649A patent/JP5622824B2/en active Active
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Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9417478B2 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2016-08-16 | Cree, Inc. | Lighting device and lighting method |
US9084328B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2015-07-14 | Cree, Inc. | Lighting device and lighting method |
US9441793B2 (en) | 2006-12-01 | 2016-09-13 | Cree, Inc. | High efficiency lighting device including one or more solid state light emitters, and method of lighting |
US9206947B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2015-12-08 | Lumitech Produktion Und Entwicklung Gmbh | LED module, LED illumination means, and LED lamp for the energy-efficient reproduction of white light |
US9574723B2 (en) | 2007-09-12 | 2017-02-21 | Lumitech Produktion Und Entwicklung Gmbh | LED module, LED illumination means, and LED lamp for the energy-efficient reproduction of white light |
US10448478B2 (en) | 2014-09-12 | 2019-10-15 | Signify Holding B.V. | LED strip, LED luminaire, and a method of manufacturing thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TWI432677B (en) | 2014-04-01 |
CN101554088B (en) | 2011-08-03 |
JP5244090B2 (en) | 2013-07-24 |
CN102305374A (en) | 2012-01-04 |
JP2013058487A (en) | 2013-03-28 |
JP5622824B2 (en) | 2014-11-12 |
BRPI0710463A2 (en) | 2011-08-16 |
KR20130019027A (en) | 2013-02-25 |
CN101554088A (en) | 2009-10-07 |
EP2008018A2 (en) | 2008-12-31 |
WO2007123940A3 (en) | 2008-12-31 |
TW200806924A (en) | 2008-02-01 |
KR20090007451A (en) | 2009-01-16 |
EP2008018A4 (en) | 2011-06-29 |
CN102305374B (en) | 2015-04-22 |
JP2009534794A (en) | 2009-09-24 |
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