LED lighting unit

Abstract

The invention describes an LED lighting unit comprising a container with a number of partially reflective side walls; a light exit opening defined by the side walls; and a number of light-emitting diodes arranged in the container to emit light of a first color through the light exit opening during an on-state of the lighting unit; characterized in that the material properties of the partially reflective container side walls are chosen to impart a second non-white color to the container side walls, and to absorb light in at least one specific region of the visible spectrum such that light of the non-white second color exits the lighting unit through the light exit opening during an off-state of the lighting unit. The invention further describes a method of manufacturing such an LED lighting unit.

Claims

1. An LED lighting unit comprising: a container with a number of partially reflective side walls; a light exit opening defined by the side walls; and a number of light-emitting diodes arranged in the container to emit light of a first color through the light exit opening during an on-state of the lighting unit; wherein the material properties of the partially reflective container side walls are chosen to impart a second non-white color to the container side walls, and to absorb light in at least one specific region of the visible spectrum such that light of the non-white second color exits the lighting unit through the light exit opening during an off-state of the lighting unit; wherein the number of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of red light-emitting diodes; and wherein the material properties of the partially reflective container side walls are chosen to impart one of: a green color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a first specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 380-480 nm; and to absorb light of a second specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 540-630 nm; a yellow color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 400-520 nm; or a blue color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 550 nm-640 nm.

2. The LED lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the partially reflective container side walls comprise a Distributed Bragg Reflector coating applied to an underlying black material.

3. The LED lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the partially reflective container side walls comprise multiple layers of SiO2 and ZrO2 material.

4. The LED lighting unit according to claim 1, partially reflective container side walls comprise a potassium permanganate pigment.

5. The LED lighting unit according to claim 1, comprising a flexible filler arranged to cover the LEDs.

6. The LED lighting unit according to, claim 1, wherein the material of at least the container is sufficiently flexible to impart flexibility to the LED lighting unit.

7. A method of manufacturing an LED lighting unit, which method comprises the steps of: constructing a container with a number of partially reflective side walls arranged to define a light exit opening; and arranging a number of light-emitting diodes in the container to emit light of a first color through the light exit opening during an on-state of the lighting unit; wherein the material properties of the container side walls are chosen to impart a second non-white color to the container side walls, and absorb light in at least one specific region of the visible spectrum such that light of the non-white second color exits the lighting unit through the light exit opening during an off-state of the lighting unit, wherein the number of light-emitting diodes comprises a plurality of red light-emitting diodes; and wherein the material properties of the partially reflective container side walls are chosen to impart one of: a green color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a first specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 380-480 nm; and to absorb light of a second specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 540-630 nm; a yellow color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 400-520 nm; or a blue color to the container side walls and to absorb light of a specific region of the visible spectrum in a wavelength range of 550 nm-640 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit in a lit state;

(2) FIG. 1B shows a cross-section of an embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit in an unlit state;

(3) FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(4) FIG. 2A shows a cross-section of a prior art LED lighting unit in a lit state;

(5) FIG. 2B shows a cross-section of a prior art LED lighting unit in an unlit state;

(6) FIG. 3 shows a CIE xy chromaticity diagram;

(7) FIG. 4A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a first embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(8) FIG. 4B shows reflectivity of a mixing box of a first embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(9) FIG. 5A shows an embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit in its unlit state;

(10) FIG. 5B shows the LED lighting unit of FIG. 5A in its lit state;

(11) FIG. 6A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a second embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(12) FIG. 6B shows reflectivity of a mixing box of a second embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(13) FIG. 7A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a third embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit;

(14) FIG. 7B shows reflectivity of a mixing box of a third embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit.

(15) In the drawings, like numbers refer to like objects throughout. Objects in the diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(16) FIGS. 1A and 1B show a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of the LED lighting unit 1 according to the invention. The diagrams indicate one of a series of LEDs 10 mounted on a flexible lead frame 13 at the base of a container 12 or mixing box 12. A translucent filler 14 covers the LEDs 10 and lead frame 13, and acts to scatter light in order to achieve a homogenous appearance at the light exit opening 11. Light is reflected from the inside surfaces 120 of the container 12. During the lit state of the lighting unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1A, the LED 10 emits light L.sub.10 of a certain colour (e.g. red, blue, green). This light exits through the light exit opening of the lighting unit 1 directly, or after reflection at the side walls and/or scattering in the filler 14. The light L.sub.10 leaving the lighting unit will have the colour of the light emitted by the LED 10. During the unlit state of the lighting unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1B, daylight L.sub.W enters the light exit opening 11 and undergoes reflection at the side walls 120 before exiting the lighting unit 1 again at the light exit opening. To achieve a specific colour L.sub.120 at the light exit opening in the unlit state of the LED lighting unit 1, the side walls 120 absorb certain wavelengths of the visible light spectrum and reflect the remaining wavelengths, so that the light L.sub.120 leaving the lighting unit 1 will have the colour of the side walls 120 of the container 12. FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of such a LED lighting unit 1, indicating the flexible construction and the possibility of shaping the lighting unit to follow a curved form.

(17) FIG. 2A shows a cross-section of a prior art LED lighting unit 2 in the lit state. Here also, a flexible lead frame 23 or carrier supports a series of LEDs 20, and a flexible container 22 or mixing box 22 allows the lighting unit 2 to be incorporated in a curved object so that the light exit opening 21 lies flush with the curved outer surface of the object. A flexible filler 24 such as silicone covers the LEDs 20 and may contain a suspension of scattering particles to achieve a homogenous appearance in the lit state. During the lit state of the lighting unit 2, the LEDs 20 emit light L.sub.20 of a certain colour. This light exits through the light exit opening 21 of the lighting unit 2 directly, or after reflection at the side walls 220 and/or scattering in the filler 24.

(18) In the unlit state, the highly reflective side walls 220 of the container 22 reflect essentially all daylight L.sub.W entering the lighting unit 2, and these side walls therefore impart an overall white or silvery appearance to the lighting unit 2, which can therefore be very noticeable if the object has a colour other than white or silver.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a CIE xy chromaticity diagram, with wavelengths [nm] of the visible light spectrum along the curved boundary or spectral locus, from 380 (violet) nm to 700 nm (red). The daylight white point W is indicated towards the centre of the diagram, and represents the white colour arising when all wavelengths of the visible spectrum are equally present, which is usually the case in daylight and for light reflected from a white surface.

(20) The light emitted by a coloured LED can be specified by the corresponding wavelength region along the spectral locus. The diagram indicates an exemplary region C.sub.LED of the spectral locus that corresponds to the wavelength of light emitted by red LEDs. Such red LEDs may be used in a lighting unit of the type described in the introduction, i.e. arranged along the bottom of a container or mixing box with highly reflective side walls, and with a light exit opening. In its lit state, the lighting unit will appear red over the light exit opening. In its unlit state, the highly reflective side walls of the lighting unit 1 impart an overall white appearance to the lighting unit. However, the colour of the object in which the LED lighting unit is incorporated or installed is not necessarily white. For example, the LED lighting unit may be installed as a rear light in a blue automobile, and the white appearance of the lighting unit in its unlit state can therefore detract from the aesthetics of the blue surface in which it is incorporated.

(21) FIG. 4A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a first embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit. In keeping with the preceding drawings, it is assumed that red-emitting LEDs are incorporated in the lighting unit, so that the lighting unit should have an overall red appearance in its lit or on state. It may be assumed that the light emitted by the red-emitting LEDs has wavelengths in the region beyond 610 nm.

(22) In this case, the desired colour point CP.sub.G lies within the green region of the chromaticity diagram, i.e. the LED lighting unit should appear to have that green colour in its unlit or off state. This is achieved by the inventive lighting unit by the spectral properties of the material used to construct the container or mixing box. The reflectivity 40 of the mixing box side walls is indicated in FIG. 4B, which shows reflectivity along the y-axis from 0 (complete absorption) to 1 (complete reflection) for the wavelength range 380 nm-700 nm corresponding to the visible spectrum along the x-axis. The graph 40 shows that the mixing box side walls will strongly reflect light with wavelengths in a first region corresponding to 480-530 nm (essentially the entire green wavelength region) and also in a second region corresponding to 630-680 nm (the relevant portion of the red wavelength region). Light with wavelengths corresponding to the blue and yellow regions of the spectrum are strongly absorbed, as indicated by absorption regions S.sub.40, S.sub.41. Since ambient light or daylight generally includes all wavelengths in the visible spectrum, the lighting unit will appear green in daylight when in its unlit state. When the lighting unit is turned on, the purely red light emitted by the LEDs is entirely reflected by the side walls and exits the lighting unit at the light exit opening.

(23) This green LED lighting unit 1 may be incorporated in an object B with a green colour indicated by the stippling in FIG. 5A. Since the green colour of the lighting unit 1 in the off state (indicated by the stippling) is close to the green colour of the object B in which it is incorporated, the lighting unit 1 is favourably unobtrusive, as indicated by the dotted outline of the lighting unit 1. FIG. 5B shows the LED lighting unit 1 of FIG. 5A in its lit state. Here, the dense fill pattern is used to indicate the intense red light emitted by the LEDs 10 of the lighting unit 1.

(24) FIG. 6A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a second embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit. Here also, it is assumed that red-emitting LEDs are incorporated in the lighting unit. For this embodiment, the desired colour point CP.sub.Y lies within the yellow/orange region of the chromaticity diagram, i.e. the LED lighting unit should appear to have a yellow colour in its unlit or off state, and the reflectivity 60 of the mixing box side walls is indicated in FIG. 6B. In this case, the mixing box side walls will strongly reflect visible light with wavelengths exceeding 530 nm. Light with wavelengths corresponding to the blue region of the spectrum is strongly absorbed, as indicated by absorption region S.sub.60. Since ambient light or daylight generally includes all wavelengths in the visible spectrum, the lighting unit will appear yellow/orange in daylight when in its unlit state. When the lighting unit is turned on, the purely red light emitted by the LEDs is entirely reflected by the side walls and exits the lighting unit at the light exit opening. An embodiment of such a yellow LED lighting unit may be incorporated in an object with a yellow colour, in the same manner as explained in FIGS. 5A and 5B above.

(25) FIG. 7A shows a CIE chromaticity diagram for a third embodiment of the inventive LED lighting unit. Here also, it is assumed that red-emitting LEDs are incorporated in the lighting unit. For this embodiment, the desired colour point CP.sub.B lies within the blue region of the chromaticity diagram, i.e. the LED lighting unit should appear to have a blue colour in its unlit or off state, and the reflectivity 70 of the mixing box side walls is indicated in FIG. 7B. In this case, the mixing box side walls will strongly reflect the blue/green components of visible light with wavelengths up to 550 nm, and also in a second region corresponding to 630-650 nm (a portion of the red wavelength region). Light with wavelengths corresponding to the yellow region of the spectrum is strongly absorbed, as indicated by absorption region S.sub.70. Since ambient light or daylight generally includes all wavelengths in the visible spectrum, the lighting unit will appear blue/green in daylight when in its unlit state. When the lighting unit is turned on, the purely red light emitted by the LEDs is entirely reflected by the side walls and exits the lighting unit at the light exit opening. An embodiment of such a blue LED lighting unit may be incorporated in an object with a blue colour, in the same manner as explained in FIGS. 5A and 5B above.

(26) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.

REFERENCE SIGNS

(27) LED lighting unit 1

(28) prior art LED lighting unit 2

(29) light-emitting diode 10, 20

(30) light exit opening 11, 21

(31) container 12, 22

(32) lead frame 13, 23

(33) side wall 120, 220

(34) filler 14, 24

(35) LED light colour L.sub.10, L.sub.20

(36) daylight colour L.sub.W

(37) side wall colour L.sub.120

(38) daylight white point W

(39) red LED wavelength region C.sub.LED

(40) colour point CP.sub.G, CP.sub.Y, CP.sub.B

(41) absorption region S.sub.40, S.sub.41, S.sub.42, S.sub.43

(42) reflectivity graph 40, 60, 70

(43) vehicle bumper B