The present invention relates to a high quantum efficiency lighting device comprising a solid state light source and at least one light influencing element, being adapted to influence light emitted from solid state light source.
A high quantum efficiency lighting device is herein defined as a device with the ability to control the direction, shape, color or collimation of a beam of light emitted by such a high quantum efficiency lighting device, which is desirable in many applications ranging from general lighting to special lighting applications with less than 70% reduction in the intensity of the light generated by the light source. Since solid state light sources (inorganic light emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and lasers) are considered to become the next generation of lighting sources it is of great interest to influence beams of light from a solid state light source, e.g. by converting light emitted from the solid state light source.
One way to influence light is to convert it to another color, which generally has been performed through placing phosphors over at least some of the solid state light sources in a solid state light source device, converting light emitted by the solid state light sources to one or more different colors. Hence, the light is influenced in a certain manner, and there is no way to actively control how and when to influence the light.
In view of the above mentioned needs, a general object of the present invention is to provide a high quantum efficiency lighting device for controlling the direction, shape, color or collimation of a solid state light source by means of a light influencing element.
According to the present invention, these and other objects are achieved through a high quantum efficiency lighting device which comprises a solid state light source, and at least one light influencing element that is arranged in an optical path of the light emitted from the solid state light source. The light influencing element further comprises a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The second electrode layer is biased to remain in a rolled-up state, and adapted to be unrolled into an unrolled state in response to an electric potential applied between the first and second electrode layers. When the second electrode layer is in its unrolled state, it extends across the optical light path, and is adapted to influence light emitted from the solid state light source.
The influence of the light influencing element may be for example conversion to another color or beam shaping.
The quantum efficiency of a lighting device is here defined as the quantum output (number of photons) from the device in relation to the quantum output of the light source. In other words, it is an indication of the efficiency of the light influence of the light influencing element. It should be noted that the energy of each photon may be reduced by the influencing, leading to a significantly lower energy efficiency (energy losses).
By a high quantum efficiency lighting device is thus intended a device wherein a large portion of the photons generated by the light source are emitted by the device. This is important for any lighting device intended to be used for illumination of surrounding objects. Generally, such a device is capable of providing indirect lighting, i.e. a user does not look straight into the lighting device, but looks at objects illuminated by the device.
Preferably, the quantum efficiency of the light influencing element is at least 40%, preferably more than 60%, and most preferably 80%. It should be noted that this quantum efficiency includes an intrinsic quantum efficiency, e.g. related to the phosphor material of a color converting light influencing element, as well as a system quantum efficiency, caused e.g. by reflection and isotropic light distribution in general.
As an example, for a phosphor based color converting element, the quantum efficiency of this conversion process is preferably at least 40%, meaning that at least 40% of the photons generated by the solid state light source leaves the lighting device after the color is altered. This can be compared with the quantum efficiency of a color display device such a liquid crystal display (LCD), which has a low efficiency typically less than 5% of the light generated by the light source leaves the display.
A roll shaped electrode is known per se, and is described in for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,565. However, such roll shaped electrodes have been used as blinds, light absorbing filters, and light modulators in e.g. displays. In display applications they work as shutters whereby light is either absorbed or reflected away from the viewing field of the observer. In other words, light is lost when the device is activated. In color displays the colors are produced by absorbing parts of white light by absorbing filters, and since displays cause loss of light in the activated state they are not suitable for use in lighting applications.
Furthermore, conventional light sources such as an incandescent lamp, e.g. a light bulb, may heat its filament to a few thousands of Celsius. A roll-shaped electrode as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,565 would not bear to be subjected to these temperatures even when places further away from the light source where the temperature is very high.
The present invention is based on the realization that a solid state light source has a relatively low heat generation. For example, a surface of an inorganic LED may reach 50-200 Celsius at its emitting side, depending on the application. As such being the case, the inorganic LED does not produce more heat than what the light influencing element can bear. Additionally, an inorganic LED is typically provided with means for leading the heat from the light emitting side of the inorganic LED, e.g. a heat sink that dissipates the heat through dissipating fins, so that the heat does not accumulate around the entire inorganic LED device. Concerning OLEDs, the surface temperature is even lower.
The second electrode layer may comprise a dielectric layer, which may contribute to the second electrode layer's elastic characteristics. Such characteristics may be created through shrinkage of the dielectric layer during manufacturing. The dielectric layer may also be a substrate acting as a support for the second electrode layer, which may be for example an aluminium foil or an ITO.
The dielectric layer can further be phosphor adapted to influence light emitted from the solid state light source. For example, the light influencing element may produce white light by using one or more various luminescent phosphor materials comprised in e.g. the second electrode layer to, in its unrolled state, convert the emitted blue light from the solid state light source into light of a longer wavelength.
Moreover, the second electrode layer may be adapted to act as a reflector in its unrolled state, and hence collimate light emitted from the solid state light source. The direction of light may hence be altered, having one direction when the second electrode layer is rolled-up and another when the second electrode layer is unrolled.
The second electrode layer may comprise at least two separately rollable portions arranged to extend across the same part of the path of light emitted from the solid state light source. In this way several different effects can be generated on this part of the path of light. The portions of the second electrode layers may be alternately controlled by applying a voltage difference between the first electrode and one of the portions of the second electrodes at a time, hence alternately covering the same part of the path of light emitted from the solid state light source.
Alternatively, or in combination, the second electrode layer may comprise at least two separately rollable portions arranged to extend across different parts of the path of light emitted from the solid state light source.
In this way a number of rollable portions can produce the same number of different effects on different parts of the light emitted from the solid state light source. The portions of the second electrode layers may be simultaneously or alternately controlled by applying a voltage difference to the portions to be unrolled. For example, two portions of the second electrode layer may be controlled to unroll at the same time covering different halves of the path of light. One half of the light may hence be influenced in one way while the other half may be influenced in another way, e.g. by being converted to different colors.
The high quantum efficiency lighting device may comprise at least two light influencing elements in a stacked structure. The second electrode layer of each light influencing element may be simultaneously or alternately controlled. Several of the second electrode layers are unrolled by applying a voltage between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layers that are to roll out. For example a number of light influencing elements may be unrolled at the same time to produce a combined effect on the same part of the light emitted from the solid state light source.
The light influencing element may be arranged in optical contact with the solid state light source, e.g. by means of an optical contact layer.
The light influencing element may further comprise reflector means to collimate the light emitted from the solid state light source.
If there are no reflector means surrounding the device the light influencing element may act as a side-top emitter, the second electrode layer being the side emitter, which directs the majority of the light from the solid state light source out the side.
In another embodiment of the present invention the high quantum efficiency lighting device may comprise a first collimator arranged between the solid state light source and the light influencing element. The solid state light source may be arranged in the bottom of the first collimator, and the light influencing element may be arranged to cover an exit opening of the first collimator. The light influencing element adjusts shape, direction and collimation of a beam of light emitted from the solid state light source, when the second electrode is in its unrolled state.
In addition the high quantum efficiency lighting device may comprise a second collimator, arranged to collimate light that have passed through the second electrode layer being in its unrolled state. When the second electrode layer of the light influencing element is in its rolled-up state the light will be influenced by the first collimator. However, when the second electrode layer is in its unrolled state it may influence the light and direct it to the second collimator for shaping the beam. The light will in other words be influenced by both collimators when the second electrode layer is in its unrolled state.
Furthermore, the high quantum efficiency lighting device may comprise a plurality of tapered light influencing elements arranged to form an inner funnel-shaped reflector when the second electrode layers are in the unrolled state. The funnel-shaped reflector is arranged with the narrow opening of the funnel on the emitting side of the solid state light source. In this manner the light influencing elements are together acting as a regular reflector, although with the ability to be inactivated, which is the case when the second electrode layers are in the rolled-up state.
In addition the high quantum efficiency lighting device may comprise an outer reflector, adapted to reflect the light when the plurality of second electrode layers of the light influencing elements are in their rolled-up state. When the second electrode layers of the light influencing elements are rolled-up the light is reflected by the outer static collimator and when the second electrode layers of the light influencing elements are unrolled the light is reflected by the inner collimator which they form.
In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying, exemplifying drawings on which:
a-b are perspective views of a light influencing element.
a-c show various exemplary light influencing element configurations.
a-b show various exemplary light influencing element configurations.
a-c show various exemplary stacked light influencing element configurations.
a-b is a cross-section view of a high quantum efficiency lighting device, where the light influencing element, mounted on a collimator, is arranged for beam shaping.
a-b is a cross-section view of a high quantum efficiency lighting device, where a second collimator is arranged to collimate light that has passed through and been converted by the light influencing element.
The invention will be described with reference to the light influencing element 10 in
In
It may be assumed that three (or four) forces determine the behavior of the rollable second electrode layer 13, which forces are the elastic force, and the electrostatic force, but also the “van der Waals” force and to a minor extend the gravitational force. The elastic force may be a result of e.g. shrinkage during manufacturing. By applying a voltage between the first 11 and second electrode 13, an electrostatic force directed to unroll the second electrode layer 13 and keep it in the unrolled state, is obtained. The elastic force acts on the second electrode layer 13 even when there is no electric field present, and is directed at rolling it up. The electrostatic force is the attractive force between the first and second electrode layer 11, 13 by applying a voltage. The “van der Waals” force is the force between the dielectric material 14 and the dielectric material 12. This force depends on the distance between the two media, the roughness of the media and the material properties; the smaller distance the larger “van der Waals” force. The gravitational force acts upon the second electrode layer 13 which also depends on the orientation of it. It is very thin and has therefore a very low mass, and accordingly the gravitational force is probably negligible.
To unroll the second electrode layer 13, and for the second electrode layer 13 to stay in its unrolled state the elastic force always acting on the second electrode layer 13, directed at rolling it up, must be overcome. For this purpose, a sufficient electrostatic force, obtained by applying an adequate voltage between the first 11 and second 13 electrode layers, must be generated. In order to return the electrode layer 13 to its rolled up state the voltage is switched of, resulting in that no electrostatic force acts on the rollable second electrode layer 13. The elastic force causes the second electrode layer to roll up under the condition that this force is greater than the “van der Waals” force.
The electrode layers may be transparent such as indium tin oxide, ITO, electrodes for reducing transmission losses. The second electrode may further comprise linear indentations in order to remove parts of the second electrode layer if it is relatively thick and hence require a higher voltage to be unrolled.
a-c show various configurations of a light influencing element, wherein the second electrode layer comprises several portions, here in form of four differently structured in plane rollable electrodes 21, 22, 23, 24. Here, the electrodes are arranged to form a square along the edges of the light influencing element in their rolled-up state, wherein the four electrodes are arranged on one of the four edges of the light influencing element each. Each rollable electrode unrolls from its edge of the light influencing element, and since each of the four portions of this embodiment forms as big a square as the square formed light influencing element when being unrolled, each electrode covers the light influencing element completely. Further, the different electrodes are unrolled at different times by applying a sufficient voltage difference between the first electrode layer and the desired electrode. In
a-b show two other configurations. In
In
It should be noted that the variations illustrated in
If the reflector 56 is not present the device could act as a side-top emitter, the second electrode layer 13 being the side emitter, which directs the majority of the light sidewards from the LED.
As illustrated in
When the second electrode layer 13 of the light influencing element 10 is unrolled the light beams B will be shaped by it, and directed to the second collimator 74, which shapes the beams of light B, as shown in
It is moreover desirable to add a second optical element 95b above the substrate 95a. The second optical element 95b must be arranged on a distance from the substrate 95a so as to leave a spacing 94 for the second electrode layer in its rolled-up state and to unroll within. The optical element 95b is added in order to compensate for the different light path lengths through the substrate 95a, when the second electrode layer 93 is in the rolled-up state. Accordingly, the optical element 95b in this embodiment has the same triangular shape as the substrate 95a, and is arranged in a mirrored manner with respect to the substrate 95a.
In
In
In the rolled-up state, as shown in
In
In the embodiments described above the direction, shape, or collimation of light can be influenced when non light absorbing elements are used. Therefore the only losses might be due to reflection and high fraction (more than 80%) of the photons generated by the light source leave the device meaning an extremely high quantum efficiency. When the direction, shape, or collimation light is influencing element comprises a metallic reflector higher losses might occur.
In the embodiments described above when color and color temperature changes are induced there are some extra energy losses due to absorption and reemission. For example blue light emitted by a LED can be converted to red or green light when the blue light is completely absorbed and reemitted at red or green by phosphor layers. When it comes to white light, blue light is partially absorbed and converted to yellow light. The mixture of blue and yellow light has the characteristics of white light. In the conversion process of for example highly energetic blue light to red light with a high quantum efficiency (for example 100% quantum efficiency; meaning 100% of the blue photons are converted to red photons) there is still a loss of power, since the energy of red light is lower than blue light. If blue light with a wavelength of 450 nm is converted to red light with a wavelength of 620 nm there is an energy loss of 27.4%. If the intrinsic quantum efficiency of the phosphor material in the color converting element is 80% this loss increases to 100−(100−27.4)*0.8=42%. Adding the system losses, such as reflections, the overall quantum efficiency of the system will be further reduced, to e.g. 40%-60%. The total intensity loss during the conversion of blue light to red light can then be more than 50%. This is still much lower than losses that occur in e.g. a display device, where white light is emitted, and partially absorbed to generate various colors. In that case when for example red light needs be produced from white light 100% of green and 100% of blue light is completely absorbed and therefore lost.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments. For example, a lighting device may include several combinations of influence on the beam of light, e.g. combinations of converting the color and shape of the light simultaneously; or the portions of a second electrode layer may form non-square formations across the path of light emitted from a LED.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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08154737.4 | Apr 2008 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/IB09/51524 | 4/10/2009 | WO | 00 | 10/6/2010 |