Lighting device with light-emitting filaments
11692696 · 2023-07-04
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F21Y2103/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V19/005
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/006
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V23/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21S8/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V19/0035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F21V23/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F21V19/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
There is presented a lighting device comprising: several light-emitting filaments (15, 15′) with solid-state light sources and a circuit board (10) with first and second electrically conductive tracks (13, 14) following first and second paths, respectively. Each light-emitting filament (15, 15′) comprises a first electrical contact (19, 19′) electrically connected to the first track (13) at a first point on the first path, and a second electrical contact (20, 20′) electrically connected to the second track (14) at a second point on the second path. The first and second points associated with each light-emitting filament (15, 15′) are arranged on an axis (A) which is non-perpendicular to a tangent (T.sub.1) to the first path at the first point and to a tangent (T.sub.2) to the second path at the second point. The lighting device may be adapted to emit light from what appears to be a surface according to an observer.
Claims
1. A lighting device comprising: a plurality of light-emitting filaments, wherein each light-emitting filament comprises a carrier, two electrical contacts attached to the carrier, a plurality of solid-state light sources mounted on the carrier and electrically connected to the first and second electrical contacts, and an encapsulant comprising a translucent material, wherein the encapsulant at least partially encloses the solid-state light sources so as to receive light emitted by the solid-state light sources; and an circuit board comprising a first track, which is electrically conductive and follows a first path, and a second track which is electrically conductive and follows a second path, wherein the light-emitting filaments are arranged consecutively along the first and second tracks and extend therebetween, wherein one of the electrical contacts of each light-emitting filament is electrically connected to the first track at a first point on the first path and the other electrical contact of each light-emitting filament is electrically connected to the second track at a second point on the second path, wherein the first and second points associated with each light-emitting filament are arranged at a distance from each other on an axis, and wherein the axis) of each light-emitting filament is non-perpendicular to a tangent to the first path at the first point and to a tangent to the second path at the second point.
2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tracks are parallel.
3. The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein an angle formed between the axis of each light-emitting filament and the tangents is less than 45 degrees, alternatively less than 35 degrees, less than 25 degrees, less than 15 degrees, or less than 10 degrees.
4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein two adjacent filaments are arranged so as not to overlap and such that a separation distance is less than a length times the cosine of said angle, wherein the separation distance is a distance along a longitudinal extension of the circuit board between the first contact of one of the filaments and the second contact of the other filament, and wherein said length is the length of the filaments.
5. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting filaments are arranged so that the axes are substantially parallel.
6. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is planar.
7. The lighting device according to claim 6, wherein two consecutive light-emitting filaments are arranged so as to overlap when viewed in a direction, which is parallel with the circuit board and perpendicular to the first and second tracks and so as to not overlap when viewed in a direction which is perpendicular to the circuit board.
8. The lighting device according to claim 7, wherein the two consecutive light-emitting filaments have equal length and overlap by a distance which is at least 10 percent of the ratio of said length to a perpendicular distance between the tracks, alternatively at least 30 percent, at least 50 percent, or at least 70 percent.
9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier of each light-emitting filament has a first major surface with solid-state light sources mounted thereon and a second major surface without solid-state light sources mounted thereon.
10. The lighting device according to claim 9, wherein each light-emitting filament is arranged such that the first major surface faces away from the circuit board, and the second major surface faces the circuit board.
11. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the tracks of each light-emitting filament have a thickness such that a gap is formed between the circuit board and the encapsulant arranged on the second major surface.
12. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the electrical contacts of each light-emitting filament are configured such that a gap is formed between the circuit board and the encapsulant on the second major surface.
13. The lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the carrier of each light-emitting filament is translucent, and wherein the encapsulant of each light-emitting filament is arranged on both the first and the second major surfaces of the corresponding carrier.
14. The lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising a reflective surface arranged on the circuit board so as to face the light-emitting filaments.
15. The lighting device according to claim 1 further comprising two side reflectors, wherein the light-emitting filaments are arranged between the two side reflectors.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention.
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(10) As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and, thus, are provided to illustrate the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.
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(14) The lighting device 5 further comprises a circuit board 10. In this case, the circuit board 10 is a printed circuit board. The circuit board 10 is elongated. Specifically, the circuit board 10 is in this case straight and planar. The longitudinal extension of the circuit board 10 is here parallel to the length of the housing 6. The circuit board 10 is in this case almost as long as the housing 6, i.e. approximately 1 meter. In many applications, the length of the circuit board 10 is in the range from 0.1 m to 2 m, such as from 0.2 m to 1.5 m, or 0.3 m to 1.2 m. The width w.sub.1 of the circuit board 10 is here slightly less than the diameter d.sub.1 of the housing 6. In many applications, the width w.sub.1 of the circuit board 10 may be in the range from 0.5 cm to 10 cm, such as from 1 cm to 5 cm, 1.5 cm to 4 cm, or 2 cm to 3 cm. The ratio of the length of the circuit board 10 divided by the width w.sub.1 of the circuit board 10 may for example be at least 5, such as at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, or at least 30.
(15) The circuit board 10 is in this case of a conventional type known in the art and comprises a base layer 11 and an electrically insulating layer 12 arranged on the base layer 11. Further, the circuit board 10 comprises a first electrically conductive track 13 and a second electrically conductive track 14, henceforth referred to as the first track 13 and the second track 14, or simply the tracks, for brevity. The tracks 13, 14 are here arranged on the electrically insulating layer 12. The first and second tracks 13, 14 follow a first and second path, respectively. The tracks 13, 14 are in this case straight and parallel, but may for example be curved and parallel in a different example. Thus, the first and second paths are in this case straight and parallel. The tracks 13, 14 are arranged at a perpendicular distance d.sub.2 from each other. The tracks 13, 14 are typically made of a metal, such as copper. Each track 13, 14 has a width w.sub.2 which is smaller than half the width w.sub.1 of the circuit board 10. Each track 13, 14 has in this case a thickness t which may for example be in the range from 5 microns to 15 microns, although tracks 13, 14 that are thicker than 15 microns are conceivable. The tracks 13, 14 are connected to receive electrical power, in this case via the connection 4.
(16) The lighting device 5 further comprises several light-emitting filaments 15, 15′ arranged on the circuit board 10. The light-emitting filaments 15, 15′ will henceforth be referred to as the filaments for brevity. The filaments 15, 15′ are arranged consecutively along the tracks 13, 14, and each filament 15, 15′ extend between the tracks 13, 14. The filaments 15, 15′ are in this case parallel, so their associated axes A (further discussed below) are also parallel. All of the filaments 15, 15′ of the lighting device 5 are in this case of the same type, but this is not necessarily the case in a different example. The number of filaments 15, 15′ depends on application-specific requirements but is in many applications at least five. The filament 15, 15′ are elongated and, in this case, straight. The length l of the filaments varies depending on the application, but is typically is in the range from 2 cm to 12 cm, such as 3 cm to 10 cm, or 4 cm to 8 cm.
(17) One of the filaments 15, 15′ of the lighting device 5 will now be described in greater detail with reference to the filament denoted by the reference numeral 15 and
(18) As can be seen in
(19) The filament 15 further comprises several solid-state light sources 17 mounted on the carrier 16. The solid-state light sources 17 will henceforth referred to as the “light sources” for brevity. In this case, the light sources 17 form a single, straight row along the carrier 16, although the light sources may be arranged in some other manner in a different example, such as in a zigzag pattern. The light sources 17 are in this case arranged on the first major surface 16a of the carrier 16 but not on the second major surface 16b of the carrier 16. The light sources 17 may be arranged on both the first and second major surfaces 16a, 16b of the carrier 16 in a different example. The light sources 17 are oriented so as to emit light in a main direction of illumination which is directed perpendicularly away from the circuit board 10. The number of light sources 17 may for example be at least ten, such as at least fifteen, at least twenty, at least thirty, or at least thirty-five. For purposes of greater clarity, however, only five light sources 17 are illustrated in
(20) The filament 15 further comprises an encapsulant 18. The encapsulant 18 helps, for example, to improve light outcoupling. The encapsulant 18 at least partly encloses the light sources 17 so that light emitted by the light sources 17 passes through the encapsulant 18. It is noted that, in a different example, the encapsulant 18 may enclose only some of the light sources 17. In this case, the encapsulant 18 also covers a part of the carrier 16, more specifically the first major surface 16a. There is in this case no encapsulant 18 arranged on the second major surface 16b where there are no light sources 18. However, in a different example, the encapsulant 18 may be arranged on both the first and second major surfaces 16a, 16b of the carrier 16.
(21) The encapsulant 18 comprises a translucent material. The translucent material may for example be a polymer, such as a silicone material. The ability of silicone to withstand heat and light exposure makes it suitable to be used as encapsulant. In this case, the encapsulant also comprises an optional wavelength-converting material. The wavelength-converting material may be a luminescent material, such as an inorganic phosphor, an organic phosphor, quantum dots and/or quantum rods. The phosphor may be a blue, yellow/green, and/or red phosphor. A blue phosphor may be used to convert UV light into blue light, a green/yellow phosphor may be used to convert UV and/or blue light into green/yellow light, and a red phosphor may be used to convert UV, green/yellow, and/or blue light into red light.
(22) The wavelength-converting material is here configured to at least partly convert light emitted by the light sources 17 to converted light. The converted light has a different wavelength than the light emitted by the light sources 17. The converted light may for example have a longer wavelength than the unconverted light. The unconverted light may for example be blue and/or violet, and the converted light may for example be green, yellow, orange and/or red.
(23) Hence, the light emitted by the filament 15 comprises in this case a mix of light converted by the wavelength-converting material and non-converted light emitted by the light sources 17. Stated differently, the filament 15 is here configured to emit LED filament light which is a mix of LED light and converted LED light. The ratio between the converted light and the non-converted light depends on how much of the light emitted by the light sources 17 that is converted by the wavelength-converting material. In some applications, the wavelength-converting material and the color of the light emitted by the light sources 17 are chosen such that the filament 15 emits white light. The white light may for example be light which is within 16 SDCM from the black body locus. The color temperature of such white light may for example be in the range from 2000 K to 6000 K, alternatively in the range from 2300 K to 5000 K or in the range from 2500 K to 4000 K. The color rendering index CRI of such white light may for example be at least 70, alternatively at least 80 or at least 85, such as 90 or 92.
(24) It is noted that the encapsulant 18 may in a different example comprise a light scattering material in addition to or instead of the wavelength-converting material. Examples of suitable light-scattering materials include: BaSO.sub.4, TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, silicone particles and silicone bubbles.
(25) The filament 15 further comprises a first electrical contact 19 and a second electrical contact 20. The first and second electrical contacts 19, 20 will henceforth referred to as the first and second contacts, or simply the contacts, for brevity. The contacts 19, 20 are attached to the carrier 16. Specifically, in this case, the first contact 19 is attached to one of the two longitudinal ends of the carrier 16, and the second contact 20 is attached to the other longitudinal end of the carrier 16. The contacts 19, 20 are electrically connected to the light sources 17, here via the electrical circuitry on the carrier 16. Further, the contacts 19, 20 are here directly attached to, and hence in touching contact with, the tracks 13, 14. Thus, the contacts 19, 20 are here in direct electrical contact with the tracks 13, 14. Soldering may for example be used to attach the contacts 19, 20 to the tracks 13, 14. As is best seen in
(26) The point where the first contact 19 is attached to and electrically connected to the first track 13 is denoted by P.sub.1 in
(27) The angle which the axis A makes with the tangents T.sub.1, T.sub.2 is denoted by a in
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(29) During operation, the lighting device 5 receives electrical power from the mains via the connection 4. The filaments 15, 15′ emit light which is transmitted through the housing 6 and the light exit window 3 of the cover 2 to illuminate the surroundings of the luminaire 1.
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(32) Further, the lighting device 300 comprises in this case a reflective surface 305 arranged on the side of the circuit board 10 which faces the filaments. The reflective surface 305 is in this case formed by a layer made of a material that reflects light, such as a layer based on aluminum or silver. The reflective surface 305 may be formed by a specular reflective layer. The reflective surface 305 may be formed by a light-diffusing layer, for example a layer including a polymer matrix, such as silicone, with light-scattering particles. The reflectance of the reflective surface 305 may for example be greater than 80 percent, such as greater than 85 percent, greater than 90 percent, or greater than 92 percent. The reflectance of the reflective surface 305 may for example be 92 percent or 94 percent.
(33) When the lighting device 300 in
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(37) It is noted that although the lighting devices illustrated in
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(39) The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, some filaments may be arranged in an overlapping manner and others not. As another example, the circuit board may be replaced by two rigid electrically conducting wires which extend in parallel and across which the filaments are arranged in parallel electrically.
(40) Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.