LASER-DRIVEN WHITE LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR HIGH-BRIGHTNESS APPLICATIONS

Abstract

A high-power, high-brightness lighting system for large venue lighting, which includes a laser diode as the excitation source and one or more phosphor materials placed at a remote distance from the laser source. The invention offers a lighting system with the advantages of high brightness, high efficiency, high luminous efficacy, long lifetimes, quick turn-on times, suitable color properties, environmental sustainability, and easy maintenance, which may allow for smart and flexible control over large area lighting systems with resulting savings in operating and maintenance costs.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating a venue with a white light source, comprising: using one or more laser diode sources that emit light in a first wavelength range to excite one or more phosphor materials that emit light in a second wavelength range; wherein the second wavelength range is longer than the first wavelength range and produces white light; wherein a structure, having an optically transparent window, is provided for housing the phosphor material; wherein the structure completely encloses the phosphor material to protect it from harsh conditions; wherein the structure comprises a substrate upon which the phosphor material is deposited, and the substrate is made of a thermally conductive material to transport heat generated away from the phosphor material; wherein the light emitted from the laser diode sources enters the structure to interact with the phosphor material and light emitted from the phosphor material exits the structure through the optically transparent window; wherein the phosphor materials are placed at a point of illumination with the light emitted from the phosphor material being directed towards an area to be lighted; and wherein the laser diode sources are not placed at the point of illumination but are placed at a location that allows for maintenance of the laser diode sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emitted by the laser diode sources are transferred to the point of illumination via direct emission or a waveguiding material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure has a square, rectangular, circular or oval shape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the structure is connected to a post with or without a hinge that allows for tilting.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the structure has an outer covering that directs the light emitted from the phosphor material in a specific direction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent window further comprises a long-pass filter that filters out laser light.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a reflective surface to reflect the light emitted from the phosphor material onto the area to be lighted.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor material is deposited on the substrate using an optically transparent matrix.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the phosphor material is a combination of one or more phosphors of different compositions that emit light at different wavelengths.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a layer containing the phosphor material is deposited on a surface of the substrate and a surface of the layer is textured to promote light extraction and to mix light components to create a homogeneous white light.

11. A device for illuminating a venue, the device comprising: a laser diode for emitting a first light; one or more phosphor materials, optically coupled to the laser diode, for emitting a second light when excited by the first light; and a structure, having an optically transparent window, for housing the phosphor materials, wherein: the structure completely encloses the phosphor materials to protect them from harsh conditions; the structure comprises a substrate upon which the phosphor materials are deposited, and the substrate is made of a thermally conductive material to transport heat generated away from the phosphor materials; wherein the first light emitted from the laser diode enters the structure to interact with the phosphor materials and the second light emitted from the phosphor materials exits the structure through the optically transparent window; and the structure is placed at a remote distance from the laser diode at a point of illumination with the second light emitted from the phosphor materials being directed towards an area to be lighted.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first light emitted by the laser diode is transferred to the point of illumination via direct emission or a waveguiding material.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the structure has a square, rectangular, circular or oval shape.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the structure is connected to a post with or without a hinge that allows for tilting.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the structure has an outer covering that directs the second light emitted from the phosphor materials in a specific direction.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the optically transparent window further comprises a long-pass filter that filters out laser light.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the substrate has a reflective surface to reflect the second light emitted from the phosphor materials onto the area to be lighted.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the phosphor materials are deposited on the substrate using an optically transparent matrix.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the phosphor materials are a combination of one or more phosphors of different compositions that emit light at different wavelengths.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein a layer containing the phosphor materials is deposited on a surface of the substrate and a surface of the layer is textured to promote light extraction and to mix light components to create a homogeneous white light.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

[0027] FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) are schematics representing the laser diode.

[0028] FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) are schematics representing the outer structure for housing the phosphor material.

[0029] FIGS. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) are schematics representing the substrate inside of the structure for housing the phosphor material.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic representing the lighting system in the context of a large venue, using a stadium as an example.

[0031] FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) are schematics representing the methods for transferring the laser diode excitation to the phosphor material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In the following description of the preferred embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Technical Description

[0033] FIGS. 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) are schematic diagrams representing the laser diode excitation source. The laser diode housed in casing 1 may emit light 2 in the wavelength range from UV to blue. The laser diode emission 2 will exit the laser diode casing 1. After the light 2 exits the casing 1, the light 2 may be transported to the phosphor material directly through the atmosphere, as illustrated by FIG. 1(a), or by a waveguiding material 3, as illustrated in FIG. 1(b). The laser beam 2 may also be transported to the phosphor material in the form of a single beam of light 2, as shown in FIG. 1(a), or first passing through a diffuser 4 to split the single laser beam into multiple beams of light 2, as shown in FIG. 1(c). Several laser diodes may be used as multiple excitation sources in order to allow for flexible control the lighting system, including the option to turn off certain sections while leaving other sections illuminated. The laser diode casings 1 may also be able to pivot mechanically in order to change the direction of the emitted light 2 to illuminate different section.

[0034] FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) are schematic diagrams representing the outer structure 5 for housing the phosphor material to be excited. The structure 5 may be constructed in any number of different shapes, for example, a square or rectangle, as illustrated in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(c), or a circle or oval, as illustrated in FIG. 2(b) and FIG. 2(d). The structure 5 may have an outer covering 6 to direct the emitted white light in a specific direction, as illustrated in FIG. 2(a) and FIG. 2(b), or may not, as illustrated in FIG. 2(c) and FIG. 2(d). The structure 5 may or may not have a hinge 7 connecting the structure 5 to a post, which may move mechanically to adjust the angle. The structure 5 may completely enclose the phosphor material to protect it from environmental conditions and may have an optically transparent window 8 from which the emitted white light exits the structure 5. Inside the structure 5 may be a substrate 9 upon which the phosphor material is deposited.

[0035] FIG. 3(a) is a schematic diagram representing the substrate 9 upon which the phosphor material is deposited. The substrate 9 may be made of a thermally conductive material to transport heat generated away from the phosphor material to maintain high operating efficiencies. The surface 10 of the substrate 9 may be reflective in nature, comprised of, for example, polished aluminum or a layer of silver, to reflect the emitted white light down onto the area to be lighted. As illustrated in FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 3(c), the surface 10 of the substrate 9 may have a deposited layer 11, which contains a mixture of the phosphor material 12, which may be in powder form, encapsulated in an optically transparent matrix 13. The surface of the deposited layer 11 may be textured in a manner that promotes light extraction and effectively mixes the light components to create a homogeneous white light. The phosphor material 12 may be a combination of one or more phosphors of different compositions that emit light at different wavelengths in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic representing the lighting system in the context of a large venue, for example, a stadium 14. The area to be lighted is described by 15 and the area where spectators reside is described by 16. The laser diode emission must not travel through the area where spectators reside 16 due to eye safety concerns. The structures for housing the phosphor material 5 may be placed above the stadium 14, with the angle of reflected light being down towards the area to be lighted 15. The laser diodes 1 may be placed at a height above the area where spectators reside 17 or at ground level 18. Both locations 17 and 18 would still be located in an area that is easily accessible for laser diode 1 maintenance. If the laser diode 1 is placed at ground level 18, waveguiding material (not shown) must be used to carry the laser diode excitation to a location above the area where the spectators would reside 17.

[0037] FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c) and 5(d) are schematic representations illustrating the methods for transferring the laser beam 2 from the laser diode casing 1 to the structure 5 housing the phosphor material. FIG. 5(a) shows the laser diode casing 1 placed at a height above the area where spectators reside 17 with the laser beam 2 directed into the structure 5 housing the phosphor material, while FIG. 5(b) shows the same configuration, but with the laser beam 2 passing through a diffuser 4 before reaching the structure 5. FIG. 5(c) and FIG. 5(d) show the laser diode casing 1, which may be placed either at a height above the area where spectators would reside 17 or at ground level 18, with the laser beam 2 carried through a waveguiding material 3 and then directed into the structure 5 housing the phosphor material. The waveguiding material 3 may transport the laser beam 2 either to a height above the area where spectators reside 17, as shown in FIG. 5(c), or to the structure 5, as shown in FIG. 5(d).

Conclusion

[0038] This concludes the description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The foregoing description of one or more embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.