US 2012/0268915 A1 · SIDE-EMITTING SOLID STATE LIGHT SOURCE MODULES WITH FUNNEL-SHAPED PHOSPHOR SURFACE

Abstract

A lighting module has a base, a top, a longitudinal axis from the base's center to the top's center, and a lateral edge surrounding the axis. Solid state light sources at the base emit excitation light, having an excitation wavelength and an angular distribution centered about the axis, toward the top. A lens defines a lateral edge of the module, which extends from the base to the top and reflects the excitation light. A phosphor surface of the module, shaped as a funnel having a wide end proximate the top and a narrow end proximate the base, receives and absorbs the excitation light, producing phosphor light that exits the module through the lateral edge. The phosphor light's wavelength is greater than the excitation wavelength, and has an angular distribution at each point on the phosphor surface centered about a local surface normal with respect to the phosphor surface.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A light-producing module having a base, a top, a longitudinal axis extending from a center of the base to a center of the top, and a lateral edge surrounding the longitudinal axis, comprising:

a plurality of solid state light sources disposed at the base of the module emitting excitation light toward the top of the module, the excitation light having at least one excitation wavelength and having an angular distribution centered about the longitudinal axis of the module;
a lens defining the lateral edge of the module and extending from the base of the module to the top of the module, the lens reflecting the excitation light;
and
a phosphor surface receiving and absorbing the excitation light and producing phosphor light, the phosphor surface being shaped as a funnel having a wide end proximate the top of the module and a narrow end proximate the base of the module, the phosphor light having a wavelength greater than the at least one excitation wavelength and having an angular distribution at each point on the phosphor surface centered about a local surface normal with respect to the phosphor surface, the phosphor light exiting the module through the lateral edge defined by the lens.

1 more element

A light-producing module, comprising:

a plurality of solid state light sources arranged in a generally horizontal plane, the plurality of solid state light sources emitting blue light generally upwards with an angular distribution centered around a vertical longitudinal axis of the module;
a funnel-shaped phosphor surface having a phosphor for absorbing the blue light and emitting phosphor light having a longer wavelength than the emitted blue light, the funnel-shaped phosphor surface having a generally cylindrical portion centered on the longitudinal axis of the module and extending upward from a central portion of the plurality of solid state light sources, the funnel-shaped phosphor surface flaring radially outward from the longitudinal axis above the generally cylindrical portion;
and
a generally conical element laterally surrounding the plurality of solid state light sources and extending from the generally horizontal plane of the plurality of solid state light sources to a peripheral edge of the funnel-shaped phosphor surface, the conical element reflecting the blue light upwards from the plurality of solid state light sources to the funnel-shaped phosphor surface, the conical element transmitting the phosphor light from the funnel-shaped phosphor surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Side-emitting solid state light source modules with funnel-shaped phosphor surface

Life of this patent

Side-emitting solid state light source modules with funnel-shaped phosphor surface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20