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1. Field of the Invention
The present inventive subject matter relates to solid state lighting devices.
2. Background of the Invention
Solid state light emitters including organic, inorganic, and polymer light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be utilized as an energy-efficient alternative to more traditional lighting systems. About ninety percent of the electricity consumed by an incandescent bulb is released as heat rather than light. In contrast to a typical 60-watt incandescent bulb that has an efficacy of about 13.3 to 14.2 lumens per watt, an LED light source can provide up to 200 lumens per watt.
Many modern lighting applications utilize high power solid state emitters to provide a desired level of brightness. High power solid state emitters generate heat that must be dissipated to prolong the life of the emitters. Generally, the lifetime of an LED is inversely related to the operating junction temperature thereof. Therefore, thermal management of the junction temperature is an important design consideration of a lighting device (or fixture) incorporating one or more LED's. For example, limiting the junction temperature of a particular LED manufactured by the assignee of the present application below 85° C. can result in an LED lifetime of approximately 50,000 hours. Operation of a such a solid state light source at a junction temperature of higher temperatures of 95° C., 105° C., 115° C., and 125° C. may result in life durations of 25,000 hours, 12,000 hours, 6,000 hours, and 3,000 hours, respectively. Many solid state lighting systems utilize a heat exchanger that dissipates heat into the ambient environment. Heat exchangers may be sized and shaped to maintain a specific solid state emitter junction temperature so as to obtain a desired life of the solid state emitters.
LEDs operate more efficiently when powered by a direct current (DC) voltage rather than an alternating current (AC) voltage. Solid state light emitting devices may typically be operated by control circuitry including an AC to DC converter because power is supplied to the device as AC voltage. The conversion circuitry (which may utilize a bulky transformer and one or more solid state electrical elements, such as diodes and one or more transistors) may be incorporated within the device thereby increasing fixture costs and space requirements. A more ready acceptance of LED lighting fixtures could be realized if size and costs could be reduced.
Heat exchangers are made of thermally conductive materials such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The heat flux that a heat exchanger can conduct depends on a variety of factors, such as the type and density of material, the surface area, the heat exchanger geometry, the thicknesses of the various surfaces, the convection coefficient of the ambient air flow, etc.
Further, a lighting device typically includes a reflector and a diffuser to direct light emitted from the solid state emitters. The reflector is made of a reflective material, such as aluminum or silvered plastic. The shape of the reflector in combination with the diffuser and LED array size, array configuration, and relative location of the array to other optical components produces a specific beam spread. The beam spread is the volume of space defined by the generally frusto-conical locus of points at which the intensity of the light is equal to 50% of the maximum lumen output. The beam spread determines the coverage of a single lighting unit as well as the spacing and quantity required when a plurality of such units are used for uniform illumination of a surface.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a lighting device comprises a light emitting diode (LED), a heat exchanger in which the LED is disposed in heat transfer relationship, a reflector having a proximal end disposed about the LED, and a diffuser disposed on a distal end of the reflector. The lighting device has a weight to lumen ratio of no greater than about 2.5 g. per lumen (0.09 oz. per lumen).
According to another aspect of the present invention, a lighting device comprises a substrate including a first surface on which is disposed an LED, a heat exchanger mounted directly to a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, a reflector having a proximal end disposed about the LED array, and a diffuser disposed on a distal end of the reflector. A profile to lumen ratio of the device is no greater than about 1.2 cm2 per lumen (0.2 in2 per lumen).
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a lighting device comprises a substrate, an LED array mounted on a first surface of the substrate, circuit components mounted on the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the LED array, a heat exchanger mounted on a second surface of the substrate, a reflector disposed about the LED array, and a diffuser. The circuit components are adapted to control electrical power applied to the LED array. The reflector has a reflection surface that is convex on a first side of an inflection locus and concave on a second side of the inflection locus, and the first side of the inflection locus is proximate the LED array. The diffuser is adjacent to the second side of the inflection locus of the reflector.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a lighting device comprises a substrate having a surface, an LED array mounted on the surface of the substrate, and circuit components mounted on the surface of the substrate, coupled to the LED array, and adapted to receive power from a power source. The lighting device has a weight to lumen ratio of no greater than about 2.5 g. per lumen (0.09 oz. per lumen).
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the attached drawings.
Referring specifically to
The LED array 112 and driver circuit 114 are disposed on a second side 126 of the substrate 110. The lighting device 100 of the present invention utilizes blue-white LED dies with yellow phosphor coated on the die encapsulants. The LED array 112 includes a number, for example, three LED strings, and each LED string has one or more individual LED's. The driver circuit 114 directly receives AC power from a household or commercial power source and converts AC power at 110 volts, 60 Hz. into AC power suitable to drive the LED array 112. In the preferred embodiment, the driver circuit 114 provides line voltage to power the LED array 112. In this arrangement, the LED array 112 is divided into segments, and as the line voltage rises, the LED segments turn on in series. As the line voltage falls, the LED segments are turned off. The conversion into suitable AC power by the driver circuit requires fewer electrical components and space than the typical conversion of AC voltage to DC voltage, thereby reducing the cost of the circuit components and allowing the driver circuit 114 to be mounted directly onto the substrate and to fit into a much smaller space than a driver circuit that includes an AC to DC converter. One example of a driver circuit 114 suitable for the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/360,145, filed Jan. 27, 2012, entitled “Solid State Lighting Apparatus and Methods of Forming” (assignee reference P1556US1), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. The driver circuit of such patent application is disclosed as being mounted on a rectangular substrate, whereas the driver circuit of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a circular substrate as shown in U.S. Design application 29/418,797, filed Apr. 20, 2012, entitled “Solid State Lighting Apparatus” (assignee reference P1557US1), the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated by reference herein. Applicants further incorporate by reference herein the disclosures of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/581,923, filed Dec. 30, 2011, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/192,755, filed Jul. 28, 2011, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/235,103, filed Sep. 16, 2011, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/235,103, filed Sep. 16, 2011, and U.S. application Ser. No. 13/235,127, filed Sep. 16, 2011. In some embodiments, the driver circuit 114 or power supply for the LED array 112 is directly on the second side 126 of the substrate 110. In other embodiments, the power supply directly connects to the substrate 110.
The number of LEDs (otherwise referred to as dies) may vary between strings. In the preferred embodiment, the LED array 112 comprises three strings of two LEDs each connected together in series and therefore the LED array 112 of the preferred embodiment has six LEDs. Varying the number of LEDs and the power level supplied thereto varies the lumen output. For example, a low-power lighting device 100 that utilizes high voltage LEDs may require about 14 watts to produce about 770 lumens. A medium-power lighting device that utilizes high voltage LEDs may require about 21 watts to produce about 1,360 lumens. Still further, a high-power lighting device that utilizes high voltage LEDs may require about 27 watts to produce about 1,800 lumens. According to the present invention, each of the low-, medium-, and high-power lighting devices 100 has a minimum efficacy of about 50 lumens per watt. Therefore only approximately 9.0%, 22.7%, and 25.0% of the electricity consumed by the low-, medium-, and high-power lighting devices 100, respectively, is released as heat rather than light. Examples of suitable LEDs include, but are not limited to, XLamp XM-L LEDs (high voltage LEDs) or XLamp XT-E White LEDs (high voltage LEDs) manufactured and sold by Cree, Inc. of Durham, N.C. As the substrate 110 is in thermal connection with the heat exchanger 102, heat generated by the LED array 112 is directed into the substrate 110 and then dissipated into the ambient air by the heat exchanger 102.
Referring to
Referring to
In each of the embodiments disclosed herein, the heat exchanger (i.e., the base plate, fins, longitudinally-split tube, and splice box cover and associated screws alone) preferably has a weight of approximately 113 (4 oz.), preferably no greater than about 198 g. (7 oz.), preferably between about 85 g. (3 oz.) and about 170 g. (6 oz.), and more preferably between about 99 g. (3.5 oz.) and about 142 g. (5 oz.).
Wires 144 enter the splice box 170 through a grommet 182 as shown in
Two fasteners 188 in the form of screws extend through notches 128a, 128b in the substrate 110 and through holes 180a, 180b between the fins 152, 154 on the base plate 148. Two diametrically opposed anchor arms 190 of the centering ring 116 extend outwardly from a central ring portion 192 and are engaged by the two fasteners 188 that extend through the notches 128a, 128b of the substrate 110 to position the centering ring 116.
As seen in
The reflector 118 has a distal end 202 opposite the proximal end 200 that includes an aperture 204 as seen in
The convex and concave inner reflective surfaces 208, 210 of the reflector 118 direct the rays of light emitted from the LEDs in a crossfire manner throughout the reflector 118 and through the diffuser 120 as shown in
It should be noted that the diffuser 120 material and dimensions are selected to scatter light such that the individual LEDs of the LED array 112 appear as a single light source. An example of a suitable material for the diffuser 120 is Solite™, manufactured and sold by AGC Solar of Tokyo, Japan.
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment, the LED array 112 and the driver circuit 114 mounted on the second side 126 of the substrate 110 are disposed within the flange 218 of the mounting collar 104. The LED array 112 is disposed on the second surface 126 of the substrate 110 within the proximal end 200 of the reflector 118, while the driver circuit 114 is disposed on the second surface 126 of the substrate 110 outside of the proximal end 200 of the reflector 118. In some embodiments, the wires 132 providing AC power to the driver circuit 114 may extend through the holes 180c, 128c of the base plate 148 and the substrate 110, respectively, into the cavity 211. In other embodiments, the substrate 110 alone or in combination with the mounting collar 104 is directly mounted onto the heat exchanger 102.
Alternatively, in an embodiment shown in
Further, in an embodiment shown in
Referring again to
In one embodiment, the lighting device 100 is equipped with two torsion spring brackets 232, 234 and two torsion springs 236, 238 as shown in
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 102 including the base plate and fins has a size S1 calculated as follows:
S1=length of base plate*width of base plate*overall height of the heat exchanger
wherein the overall height of the heat exchanger includes the thickness of the base plate plus the height of the fins. Preferably, S1 is approximately 172 cm3 (11 in3), preferably no greater than about 525 cm3 (32 in3), preferably between about 84 cm3 (5 in3) and about 449 cm3 (27 in3), and more preferably between about 110 cm3 (7 in3) and about 402 cm3 (25 in3). The heat exchanger 102 preferably has a size to lumen ratio of approximately 0.141 cm3 per lumen (0.000840 in3 per lumen), preferably no greater than about 1 cm3 per lumen (0.06 in3 per lumen), preferably between about 0.042 cm3 per lumen (0.003 in3 per lumen) and about 0.9 cm3 per lumen (0.05 in3 per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.06 cm3 per lumen (0.004 in3 per lumen) and 0.5 cm3 per lumen (0.03 in3 per lumen). Additionally, the heat exchanger 102 preferably has a weight of approximately 113 g. (4 oz.), preferably no greater than about 198 g. (7 oz.), preferably between about 85 g. (3 oz.) and about 170 g. (6 oz.), and more preferably between about 99 g. (3.5 oz.) and about 142 g. (5 oz.). The heat exchanger 102 preferably has a weight to lumen ratio of approximately 0.09 g. per lumen (0.003 oz. per lumen), preferably no greater than about 0.4 g. per lumen (0.014 oz. per lumen), preferably between about 0.04 g. per lumen (0.001 oz. per lumen) and about 0.3 g. per lumen (0.01 oz. per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.06 g. per lumen (0.002 oz. per lumen) and about 0.2 g. per lumen (0.007 oz. per lumen).
Further, the light engine 101, the heat exchanger 102, and the mounting collar 104 have a combined size S2 calculated as follows:
S2=S1+(π*(radius of mounting collar)*height of mounting collar)
Preferably, S2 is approximately 255 cm3 (16 in3), preferably no greater than about 756 cm3 (46 in3), preferably between about 123 cm3 (8 in3) and about 637 cm3 (39 in3), and more preferably between about 170 cm3 (10 in3) and about 557 cm3 (34 in3). The light engine 101, the heat exchanger 102, and the mounting collar 104 preferably have a size to lumen ratio of approximately 0.2 cm3 per lumen (0.01 in3 per lumen), preferably no greater than about 1.5 cm3 per lumen (0.09 in3 per lumen), preferably between about 0.06 cm3 per lumen (0.004 in3 per lumen) and about 1 cm3 per lumen (0.06 in3 per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.09 cm3 per lumen (0.005 in3 per lumen) and about 0.7 cm3 per lumen (0.04 in3 per lumen).
The lighting device 100 excluding the wiring 144, the trim ring 106, torsion spring brackets 232, 234, and two torsion springs 236, 238 has an overall size S3 calculated as follows:
S3=S2+(π*height of cone housing portion)/3*((smaller radius of cone housing portion)2+(smaller radius of cone housing portion)(larger radius of cone housing portion)+(larger radius of cone housing portion)2)
Preferably, S3 is approximately 524 cm3 (32 in3), preferably no greater than about 2,004 cm3 (122 in3), preferably between about 148 cm3 (9 in3) and about 1,530 cm3 (93 in3), and more preferably about 352 cm3 (21 in3) to about 1,157 cm3 (71 in3). The lighting device 100 preferably has a size to lumen ratio of approximately 0.4 cm3 per lumen (0.02 in3 per lumen), preferably no greater than about 4 cm3 per lumen (0.2 in3 per lumen), preferably between about 0.07 cm3 per lumen (0.004 in3 per lumen) and about 3 cm3 per lumen (0.2 in3 per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.2 cm3 per lumen (0.01 in3 per lumen) and about 1.5 cm3 per lumen (0.09 in3 per lumen).
A profile P1 of the lighting device 100 is defined as the diameter C (
In an embodiment shown in
An exposed surface 304 of the lens 302 includes a plurality of concentric, annular ribs 306. The lens 302 rests atop an inner annular ledge 308 of a trim ring 310. The trim ring 310 further includes a cylindrical portion 312 from which two diametrically opposed tabs 314, 316 extend. The tabs 314, 316 are disposed between the windings of two torsion springs 318, 320. The torsion springs 318, 320 are secured to the tabs by any suitable means, such as fasteners (not shown).
The second embodiment of the lighting device 300 excluding the wiring and the lens 302 has a weight of approximately 368 g. (13 oz.), preferably no greater than about 482 g. (17 oz.), preferably between about 283 g. (10 oz.) and about 455 g. (16 oz.), and more preferably between about 312 g. (11 oz.) and about 425 g. (15 oz.). The lighting device 100 preferably has a weight (as defined above) to lumen ratio of approximately 0.3 g. per lumen (0.01 oz. per lumen), preferably no greater than about 1 g. per lumen (0.035 oz. per lumen), preferably between about 0.14 g. per lumen (0.005 oz. per lumen) and about 0.9 g. per lumen (0.03 oz. per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.2 g. per lumen (0.007 oz. per lumen) and about 0.6 g. per lumen (0.02 oz. per lumen).
The housing 402 includes a housing ring 408, an outer housing 410, and an inner housing 412. The housing ring 408 is cylindrical with a housing ring ledge 414 extending annularly from the bottom thereof that rests atop and is rotatable with respect to a trim ring 416. The trim ring includes a cylindrical portion 418 from which two diametrically opposed tabs 420, 422 extend. The tabs 420, 422 are inserted between the windings of two torsion springs 424, 426. The torsion springs 424, 426 are secured to the tabs 420, 422 by any suitable means, such as fasteners (not shown).
The outer housing 410 has a frusto-spherical shape having a proximal end 428 adjacent an LED array 430 and a distal end 432. The outer housing 414 is rotatable about two diametrically opposed fasteners 434 that are inserted through holes in the housing ring 408 and the outer housing 410. The inner housing 412 includes a cylindrical portion 436 adjacent a proximal end 438 and a corrugated frusto-conical cone-shaped portion 440 adjacent a distal end 442. The cylindrical portion 436 is dimensioned to fit securely about a mounting collar 444.
The housing 402 is secured to a heat exchanger 446 by two brackets 448, 450. A first portion 452 of the each bracket 448, 450 complements the curvature of the outer housing 410 and a second portion 454 extends perpendicular to a base plate 452. Fasteners 455 such as screws are inserted through the outer housing 410 and the first portion 452 of each bracket 448, 450 and through the second portion 454 and fins 458, 460 that extend from a base plate 447 of a heat exchanger 446.
Referring to
The lighting device 400 excluding the wiring preferably has an overall size S4 excluding the wiring and the trim ring 416 calculated as follows:
S4=S1+(π*height of the outer housing)/3*(2*(radius of the largest diameter in the outer housing)+(radius of outer housing at the proximal and distal ends))
Preferably, S4 is approximately 944 cm3 (58 in3), preferably no greater than about 1,625 cm3 (99 in3), preferably between about 537 cm3 (33 in3) and about 1,372 cm3 (84 in3), and more preferably between about 678 cm3 (41 in3) and about 1,301 cm3 (79 in3). The lighting device 400 excluding the wiring preferably has a size to lumen ratio of approximately 0.8 cm3 per lumen (0.05 in3 per lumen), preferably no greater than about 3.3 cm3 per lumen (0.2 in3 per lumen), preferably between about 0.3 cm3 per lumen (0.02 in3 per lumen) and about 3.0 cm3 per lumen (0.2 in3 per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.4 cm3 per lumen (0.02 in3 per lumen) and about 2 cm3 per lumen (0.1 in3 per lumen).
In this embodiment, the profile P2 is defined as the diameter M (
In a fourth embodiment shown in
Seen in
The trim ring frame 506 to which the mounting system 508 is attached rests atop the trim ring 504. The mounting system 508 may be used to mount the lighting device 500 into a joist space or other cavity. Wires 507 from junction box 510 provide power to an LED array 538 of the lighting device 500. A thermal protection device housed in a splice box of the heat exchanger 514 may disconnect power to a driver circuit and an LED array in the event of an overtemperature condition.
Referring to
The lighting device 500 excluding the wiring 501, the junction box 510 and associated conduit 507 and mounting structure 511, and two C-shaped brackets 508 and mounting bracket system 509 of mounting system 508 preferably has an overall size S5 of approximately 1,639 cm3 (100 in3), preferably no greater than about 2,458 cm3 (150 in3), preferably between about 1,229 cm3 (75 in3) and about 2,294 cm3 (140 in3), and more preferably between about 1,393 cm3 (85 in3) and about 2,130 cm3 (130 in3). The lighting device 500 excluding the wiring 501, the junction box 510 and associated conduit 507 and mounting structure 511, and two C-shaped brackets 508 and mounting bracket system 509 of mounting system 508 preferably has a size to lumen ratio of approximately 1.3 cm3 per lumen (0.08 in3 per lumen), no greater than about 5 cm3 per lumen (0.3 in3 per lumen), preferably between about 0.6 cm3 per lumen (0.04 in3 per lumen) and about 4.6 cm3 per lumen (0.3 in3 per lumen), and more preferably between about 0.7 cm3 per lumen (0.04 in3 per lumen) and about 2.8 cm3 per lumen (0.2 in3 per lumen).
In this embodiment, the profile P3 is defined as the distance Q (
Other embodiments of the disclosure including all of the possible different and various combinations of the individual features of each of the foregoing embodiments and examples are specifically included herein.
The lighting devices described herein advantageously include a reflector having a reflection surface that is convex on a first side of an inflection locus and concave on a second side of the inflection locus that provides a beam spread having a luminaire spacing to mounting height ratio of preferably between about 0.5 and about 1.5. Further, particular embodiments of the lighting devices disclosed herein advantageously utilize a compact heat exchanger in thermal communication with an LED array and, optionally, a driver circuit so that overall device size, weight, and profile are reduced and efficacy is maintained above 50 lumens per watt.
Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purposes of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure and to teach the best mode of carrying out the same.