Abstract:
Zoom lens systems for LED-based spotlights include a base lens and a disk lens. The base lens can be a TIR lens with convex microlenses on a front surface. The disk lens can be generally planar. A rear surface of the disk lens can have concave microlenses complementary to the microlenses on the front surface of the base lens. A front surface of the disk lens can have convex microlenses with a different geometry from the microlenses on the front surface of the base lens. The disk lens can be movable relative to the base lens from a narrow-angle position in which a rear surface of the disk lens is in contact with a front surface of the base lens to a wide-angle position in which the rear surface of the disk lens is separated from the front surface of the base lens.
Abstract:
A light-emitting diode (LED) emitter module includes a substrate having a plurality of base layers of an electrically insulating material, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a top one of the base layer, and a plurality of electrical paths coupled to the electrical contacts, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrical paths is disposed between the base layers. The emitter module also includes two or more groups of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), each group having one or more LEDs, and each of the LEDs is coupled to an electrical contact. The electrical paths are configured for feeding separate electrical currents to the groups of LEDs. The emitter module also includes a memory device containing information associating a plurality of output light colors with a corresponding plurality of combinations of electrical currents, each combination specifying an electric current for each of the two or more groups of LEDs.
Abstract:
A method for making a light-emitting diode (LED) emitter module includes providing a substrate and providing two or more groups of LED dies disposed on the substrate. Each group has one or more LED dies, and each of the LED dies is coupled to an electrical contact and electrical paths are configured for feeding separate electrical currents to the groups of LED dies. The method also includes determining information associating a plurality output light colors with a corresponding plurality of combinations of electrical currents, each combination specifying a plurality of electrical current values, each electrical current value being associated with an LED die from one of the two or more groups of LED dies. The method also includes storing the information in the memory device, and providing a circuit for accessing the information in a memory device.
Abstract:
An emitter for an LED-based lighting device can incorporate “flip-chip” LEDs, in which all electrical contacts are disposed on the bottom surface of the chip. The emitter base can be a multilayer high-temperature cofired ceramic (HTCC) substrate, with metal traces formed between the layers and vias through the layers to join traces in different layers, thereby providing electrical connectivity to each LED. The paths can be arranged such that current can be supplied independently to different subsets of the LEDs. The top layer of the emitter base is fabricated with exposed vias at the top surface. Metal pads are then printed onto the exposed vias on the top surface, and flip-chip LEDs are bonded to the metal pads, e.g., using solder.
Abstract:
LED-based light source modules can incorporate color tunability and brightness control, allowing a user to select a desired color temperature and/or brightness and to change either or both dynamically. An emitter can include multiple independently addressable groups of LEDs, each emitting light of a different color. By controlling the relative operating current provided to each group, a desired color temperature can be achieved, and by controlling the absolute operating currents, the brightness of the output light can be controlled. Pulse width modulation (PWM) can be used to control the relative and absolute operating currents. Smooth, gradual transitions between brightness and/or color temperature settings in response to changes can be provided.
Abstract:
A color-tunable LED emitter with high CRI can be made by mounting multiple LED chips onto a ceramic substrate that has been patterned with metal contacts and paths so as to connect the LED chips into multiple independently addressable LED groups. Each LED group can produce light of a different color, allowing the color of the emitter to be tuned by adjusting the relative amount of operating current supplied to each LED group. At least some of the LED groups include LEDs coated with a broad spectrum phosphor that can reduce the sharpness of spectral peaks, thereby improving CRI and particular components of CRI, such as R9.
Abstract:
A total internal reflection (TIR) lens can have a back surface tapered to provide total internal reflection of light toward the front surface. The front surface can have a stepped shape defining a cavity that extends into the lens body, with a width of the cavity increasing toward a front side of the lens. The front surface can further have a convex central surface segment that extends from the front surface within a central portion of the cavity. A peripheral cover member can be formed integrally with the lens body, with a front surface extending laterally outward from an outer edge of the front surface of the lens body and a back surface extending laterally outward from an outer edge of the back surface of the lens body.
Abstract:
A method for making a light-emitting diode (LED) emitter module includes providing a substrate and providing two or more groups of LED dies disposed on the substrate. Each group has one or more LED dies, and each of the LED dies is coupled to an electrical contact and electrical paths are configured for feeding separate electrical currents to the groups of LED dies. The method also includes determining information associating a plurality output light colors with a corresponding plurality of combinations of electrical currents, each combination specifying a plurality of electrical current values, each electrical current value being associated with an LED die from one of the two or more groups of LED dies. The method also includes storing the information in the memory device, and providing a circuit for accessing the information in the memory device.
Abstract:
A lens system includes a TIR (Total Internal Reflection) lens and a diffuser. The lens has an optical body member including an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and an outer surface. The outer surface is shaped to provide total internal reflection for light from a light source. An upper surface extends in a series of steps from the upper end to a first interior portion of the optical body member. A substantially cylindrical cavity extends from the lower end to a second interior portion of the optical body member. A middle portion separates the first and second interior portions and has a flat upper surface and a curved lower surface. The diffuser has a curved shell configured for disposing over a light source and configured to fit inside the cylindrical cavity of the optical body member, the diffuser having a circular rim fused to the lower end of the optical body member.
Abstract:
A method is provided for forming multiple-LED (light-emitting-diode) light emitters from a plurality of LEDs, wherein the number of LEDs in each emitter is an integer M. The method includes providing a plurality of LEDs, each of the LEDs characterized by a first parameter and a second parameter, which are related to color coordinates CIEx and CIEy in a chromaticity diagram. The method also includes determining first and second parameter X0 and Y0 for a target color. The method further includes, for all possible combinations of M LEDs out of the plurality of LEDs, determining a first group parameter and a second group parameter based on the first and second parameters for all of the M LEDs, and selecting a group of M LEDs whose first group parameter and second group parameter are closest to X0 and Y0 as a candidate for forming a light emitter of M LEDs.