Optical system using LED coupled with phosphor-doped reflective materials

A lighting system, for emitting visible light so as to be humanly perceptible, the lighting system comprising:

• an energy source package, for emitting radiant energy of a first wavelength;
• a reflector outside the energy source package, having a reflective surface arranged to receive radiant energy from the energy source package;
• and
• at least one phosphor doped within the reflector, such that radiant energy of the first wavelength from the energy source package excites the at least one phosphor to emit visible light, comprising visible light energy of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength, wherein:
• at least some of visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor is reflected by the reflective surface of the reflector, and the lighting system directs at least the visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor so that it can be perceived by a person;
• the reflective surface exhibits a diffuse reflectivity;
• the reflective surface forms a diffusely reflective cavity having an aperture;
• and
• the lighting system further comprises a mask outside the cavity, having a reflective surface facing toward the aperture of the cavity and arranged to occlude a substantial portion of the aperture.

A lighting system for emitting visible light so as to be humanly perceptible, the lighting system comprising:

• an energy source package, for emitting radiant energy of a first wavelength;
• a reflector outside the energy source package, having a reflective surface arranged to receive radiant energy from the energy source package;
• at least one phosphor doped within the reflector, such that radiant energy of the first wavelength from the energy source package excites the at least one phosphor to emit visible light, comprising visible light energy of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength,
• wherein at least some of visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor is reflected by the reflective surface of the reflector, and the lighting system directs at least the visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor so that it can be perceived by a person;
• and
• a second reflector positioned between the energy source package and a region to be illuminated by the visible light from the system so as to mask view of the energy source package by the person.

A lighting system, for emitting visible light so as to be humanly perceptible, the lighting system comprising:

• an energy source package, for emitting radiant energy of a first wavelength;
• a reflector outside the energy source package, having a reflective surface arranged to receive radiant energy from the energy source package;
• and
• at least one phosphor doped within the reflector, such that radiant energy of the first wavelength from the energy source package excites the at least one phosphor to emit visible light, comprising visible light energy of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength,
• wherein at least some of visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor is reflected by the reflective surface of the reflector, and the lighting system directs at least the visible light emitted by the at least one phosphor so that it can be perceived by a person, and
• wherein the at least one phosphor doped within the reflector comprises:
• a first phosphor of a type which is excited by radiant energy of the first wavelength to emit visible light comprising light energy of the second wavelength;
• and
• a second phosphor of a type different from the first type, which is excited to emit visible light comprising light energy of a third wavelength different from the first and second wavelengths.

A lighting system, for emitting visible light, the lighting system comprising:

• a structure forming an optical integrating cavity comprising a material forming a diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity and at least one passage for emission of radiant energy integrated by diffuse reflection within the cavity;
• a light emitting semiconductor device, coupled for emission of radiant energy comprising a first wavelength into the cavity;
• and
• at least one phosphor doped into the material forming the diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity, the at least one phosphor being of a type excited by radiant energy of the first wavelength for emission of visible light of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength for reflection and integration within the cavity so as to be included in light emitted through the at least one passage, wherein:
• the light emitting semiconductor device comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);
• a first one of the LEDs emits radiant energy of a first character;
• and
• a second one of the LEDs emits radiant energy of a second character, different from the first character.

A lighting system, for emitting visible light, the lighting system comprising:

• a structure forming an optical integrating cavity comprising a material forming a diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity and at least one passage for emission of radiant energy integrated by diffuse reflection within the cavity;
• a light emitting semiconductor device, coupled for emission of radiant energy of a first wavelength into the cavity;
• and
• at least one phosphor doped into the material forming the diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity, the at least one phosphor being of a type excited by radiant energy of the first wavelength for emission of visible light of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength for reflection and integration within the cavity so as to be included in light emitted through the at least one passage,
• wherein the structure forming the optical integrating cavity comprises a base with a diffusely reflective surface and a mask with a reflective surface facing toward the diffusely reflective surface of the base, wherein at least portions of the reflective surfaces of the base and the mask form the reflective inner surface of the optical integrating cavity.

A lighting system, for emitting visible light, the lighting system comprising:

• a structure forming an optical integrating cavity comprising a material forming a diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity and at least one passage for emission of radiant energy integrated by diffuse reflection within the cavity;
• a light emitting semiconductor device, coupled for emission of radiant energy of a first wavelength into the cavity;
• and
• at least one phosphor doped into the material forming the diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity, the at least one phosphor being of a type excited by radiant energy of the first wavelength for emission of visible light of at least one second wavelength different from the first wavelength for reflection and integration within the cavity so as to be included in light emitted through the at least one passage,
• wherein the at least one phosphor doped into the material forming the diffusely reflective inner surface of the cavity comprises:
• a first phosphor of a type which is excited by radiant energy of the first wavelength to emit visible light comprising the second wavelength;
• and
• a second phosphor of a type different from the first type, which is excited to emit visible light of a third wavelength different from the first and second wavelengths.

A method of producing substantially white light for an application visible by a person, the method comprising:

• generating light of a first wavelength;
• impinging at least a portion of the light of the first wavelength on a diffusely reflective surface of a doped material;
• exciting a first phosphor within the doped material with a first portion of the light of the first wavelength impinging on the diffusely reflective surface, so that the first phosphor emits visible light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength;
• exciting a second phosphor within the doped material with radiant energy, so that the second phosphor emits visible light of a third wavelength different from the first and second wavelengths;
• diffusely reflecting at least some of the light of the first wavelength from the diffusely reflective surface, so as to combine light of the first wavelength with the light of the and second and third wavelengths to form the substantially white light;
• and
• emitting the substantially white light toward a region intended to be illuminated for the application visible by the person.