Light source comprising edge emitting elements
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsIngo Speier, Damien Loveland
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Abstract
The present invention provides a light source generally comprising one or more edge emitting elements, each having a substantially same or similar emission spectrum, or respective emission spectra/colours, and a number of heat extractors thermally coupled thereto. Driving means are also provided to drive the edge emitting elements. Output optical means, such as reflectors, lenses, diffusers, collimators, filters and the like may also be included to collect, mix and/or redirect light emitted by the edge emitting elements to produce a desired optical effect. The light source may also comprise an optional control feedback system adapted to monitor an output of the light source and adjust the driving means and/or output optical means to maintain a desired or optimal output.
Claims21
A light source for providing illumination, comprising:
- two edge emitting elements each respectively comprising one or more light-emitting edges adjoining two substantially opposed non-emitting surfaces, an area of said substantially opposed surfaces being greater than that of said one or more light-emitting edges;
- one or more heat extractors, one or more of said substantially opposed surfaces of each of said one or more edge emitting elements being thermally coupled to a respective one of said heat extractors configured to extract heat therefrom;
- and
- driving means for driving said one or more edge emitting elements to emit light via said two light-emitting edges thereof to provide the illumination.
A light-emitting structure for use in an illumination light source comprising driving means for driving the light-emitting structure, the light-emitting structure comprising:
- two or more light-emitting layers respectively intercalated between successive heat extractor layers, each of said light-emitting layers comprising one or more edge emitting elements, each edge emitting element comprising two light emitting edges adjoining two substantially opposed non-emitting surfaces configured to thermally couple said edge emitting elements to said successive heat extractor layers, an area of said substantially opposed surfaces being greater than that of said one or more light-emitting edges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.