Single Diode Sterilization

Abstract

To disclose a device which inactivates microorganisms.SOLUTION: The device includes a light emitter and at least one light-converting material arranged to convert at least a portion of light from the light emitter. Any light emitted from the light emitter and converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mixes to form a combined light, the combined light having a proportion of spectral energy measured in an approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm range of greater than approximately 20%. In another embodiment, the device includes a light emitter configured to emit light with wavelengths in a range of 380 to 420 nm, and at least one light-converting material including at least one optical brightener and configured to emit a second light. The first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to light emitting devices capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue, and more particularly to light emitting devices capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue while simultaneously causing the inactivation of microorganisms. [Background technology]

[0002] Light emitting devices are a basic necessity in most indoor occupied environments to provide illumination of the area, illumination of tasks being completed within the area, and illumination of occupants and objects in the area. Indoor lighting technologies vary from incandescent and halogen bulbs to fluorescent and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs and devices, among many other technologies. To date, the primary objective of these lighting technologies is to provide what humans may consider to be "white" light that can effectively illuminate a variety of colors, textures, and object features to human satisfaction.

[0003] While many technologies are commercially used for lighting, LED lighting has emerged as a technology that provides efficient, high-quality white light illumination from a cost-effective perspective. Some common LEDs for general lighting use a semiconductor junction that is excited to emit blue light and combined with a phosphor material, such as yttrium aluminum garnet doped with cerium (YAG:Ce), to convert some of that blue light to other wavelengths of light, such as yellow wavelengths. When properly balanced, the combined light emitted from the semiconductor junction and phosphor material is perceived as white or a white hue. Blue light-emitting semiconductors are currently used for a number of reasons, including the relatively high efficiency, relatively low cost, and the relatively desirable color advantage of blue light's contribution to the overall light spectrum (compared to light-emitting semiconductors that emit light of another color).

[0004] Some alternative LED technologies use semiconductor junctions that emit UV, near UV or violet light instead of blue light. A phosphor material is combined to convert some of the blue, violet or UV light to other wavelengths of light, and the two components are properly balanced to provide white or white hues of light. Violet LEDs are less commonly used due to their generally lower efficiency and cost performance, but have been commercially shown to provide sufficient visual quality of light in some characteristics, such as color index (CRI).

[0005] For both of these LED technologies, achieving a relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted output light is balanced with achieving desirable color characteristics of the emitted output light (CRI, correlated color temperature (CCT), color gamut, etc.) In other words, the wavelength of the composite light emitted from the lighting device is selected in relation to the spectral sensitivity of the human eye to achieve high efficacy while minimizing the sacrifice of the desired color characteristics.

[0006] Alternative light sources with additional performance factors have been created in hopes of utilizing the emitted light in different ways. Lighting fixtures and devices for horticulture, health, heating and disinfection are on display. In addition to being tuned for luminous efficacy of the output light, these fixtures and devices are tuned to increase the power of certain output light regions to achieve additional performance factors.

[0007] These fixtures and devices provide dual or multi-function lighting using a variety of alternative functions of light, such as photochemistry, photobiology, and radiant energy. Typically, the radiant energy output is optimized for a specific region that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of the additional functions. For example, horticultural fixtures and devices are optimized to emit light that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of chlorophyll and other plant-based light activation mechanisms. Circadian rhythm support fixtures and devices are optimized to emit light that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of melatonin.

[0008] For those lighting fixtures and devices that emit light for multiple functions, the emission can be balanced to achieve an acceptable level for each function. One such function may be general illumination (e.g., when multi-function lighting fixtures and devices are used in spaces occupied by humans), where achieving a relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted light is balanced not only with achieving desirable color characteristics of the emitted light, but also with achieving acceptable or desired levels of one or more other functions. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein include an apparatus for inactivating microorganisms, the apparatus including a light emitter and at least one light conversion material arranged to convert at least a portion of the light from the light emitter, wherein the light emitted from the light emitter and at least a portion of the converted light emitted from the at least one light conversion material mix to form a composite light, wherein the percentage of spectral energy observed in the wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the composite light is greater than about 20%.

[0010] An embodiment of the disclosure herein includes an apparatus for inactivating microorganisms. The apparatus includes a light emitter and at least one light conversion material arranged to be in a direct path of a first light. The light emitter is configured to emit a first light in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm, and the at least one light conversion material is configured to emit a second light in response to the first light being incident on the at least one light conversion material. The first light exiting the apparatus and the second light exiting the apparatus mix to form a composite light, the composite light being white. The at least one light conversion material includes at least one optical brightener that emits light at a wavelength in a range of 450 nm to 495 nm.

[0011] These and other features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of various aspects of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which depict various aspects of the disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 shows the ANSI C78.377A LED standard showing accepted xy coordinates for a selected CCT, which is the color coordinate range of a light emitting device in some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] It should be noted that the drawings are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbers represent like elements between the drawings. In the detailed description, embodiments of the present disclosure, together with advantages and features, are described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0014] According to various embodiments, a lighting device is disclosed that can emit light perceived as white or a white hue, and at the same time emit certain concentrations of light having specific wavelengths that cause inactivation of at least some microorganisms. The light emitting device is composed of a light emitter (e.g., LED, laser) and one or more light conversion materials (e.g., phosphor, optical brightener) assembled such that light emitted from the light emitter is directed to a light conversion material, and at least a portion of this light directed to the light conversion material is converted by the light conversion material into light having different qualities (e.g., different peak wavelengths). The light conversion material can convert light by absorbing and exciting or activating the light, and emitting light of different qualities (e.g., different peak wavelengths). The percentage of spectral energy observed within the wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the combined light emitted by the light emitter and the light conversion material is greater than about 20%.

[0015] The light emitters and light conversion material may be assembled in many different ways, including but not limited to the embodiments shown in Figures 1-15. The light emitted by the light emitters and light conversion material may be modified by optical elements, reflectors, or other assembly components to facilitate the perception of the composite light emitted by the light emitting device as white or a white hue. Referring to Figure 1, a light emitting device 10 is shown including a pump LED 12 as a light emitter, a light conversion material 14, an encapsulant 16, and a substrate 18. The light conversion material 104 may be dispersed within the encapsulant 106. The pump LED 12 and the light conversion material 104 are supported on a substrate 108.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a light emitting device 20 that includes a pump LED 22 packaged as a light emitter, a light conversion material 24, a lens 26 that contains the light conversion material 24, and a substrate or base 28.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a light emitting device 30 that includes an array of pump LEDs 32 housed in a light conversion material 34 that is uniformly distributed within an encapsulant 36 .

[0018] 4 shows a light emitting device 40 that includes an array of LEDs 42 having light conversion material 44 that converts light to red, green, blue, and amber light. The light conversion material 44 is dispersed or contained within an encapsulant 46. The LEDs 42 and encapsulant 46 are supported on a substrate 48.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a light emitting device 50 including an LED 52 encased in a light conversion material 54 encased in an encapsulant 56 , all of which are supported on a substrate 58 .

[0020] 6 shows a light emitting device 60 that includes a packaged LED 62 encased in a light conversion material 64 that is encased in a lens 66. The LED 62, light conversion material 64 and lens 66 are supported by a base or substrate 68.

[0021] 7 shows a light emitting device 70 including a packaged LED 72 encased in a conformally coated light conversion material 74 that is encased in a lens 76. The LED 72, light conversion material 74 and lens 76 are supported on a base or substrate 78.

[0022] 8 shows a light emitting device 80 including an array of LEDs 82 housed in a light conversion material 84 which is housed in an encapsulant 86. The LEDs 82, light conversion material 84 and encapsulant 86 are supported on a substrate 88.

[0023] 9 shows a light emitting device 90 which is a light bulb including an LED 92, an outer light conversion filter 94, a base 97 and a seat 98. The base 97 and seat 98 support the LED 92.

[0024] 10 shows a light emitting device 100, which is a light bulb including an LED 102, a light conversion filter 104 housed in an outer bulb 106, a base 107, and a seat 108. The light conversion filter 104 may be in direct contact with the outer bulb 106.

[0025] 11 shows a light emitting device 110 which is a light bulb including an LED 112, a light conversion filter 114 disposed over the pump LED 112, an outer bulb 116, a base 117 and a seat 118. The light conversion filter 114 may be disposed directly over the pump LED 112.

[0026] 12 shows a light emitting device 120 which is a light bulb including an LED 122, a light conversion filter 124 surrounding the pump LED 122, an outer bulb 126, a base 127 and a seat 128. The light conversion filter 124 may be in direct contact with the pump LED 122.

[0027] 13 shows a light emitting device 130 which is a spot lamp including an LED 132, a light conversion filter 134 on the pump LED 132, a reflector 135, a lens 136 and a base 137. The light conversion filter 134 may be located directly on the pump LED 132.

[0028] 14 shows a light emitting device 140 which is a spot lamp including an LED 142, a light conversion filter 144, a reflector 145, a lens 146 on the light conversion filter 144, and a base 147. The lens 146 may be disposed directly on the light conversion filter 144.

[0029] FIG. 15 shows a light emitting device 150 which is a spot lamp including an LED 152 , a light conversion filter 154 , a reflector 155 and a base 157 .

[0030] Although shown as LEDs in Figures 1-15, the light emitters may be any known light emitters, including but not limited to conventional light bulbs with a substrate and LEDs (e.g., pump LEDs), packaged LEDs, arrays of LEDs, spot lamps, lasers, and LED replacement fixtures or other light bulbs. The light emitters may have a majority of their peak wavelength / light output within the 380-420 nm wavelength range of light. In embodiments having multiple light emitters (e.g., arrays of LEDs), the light emitters may all emit approximately the same wavelength of light. For example, the array of LEDs 32 shown in Figure 3 and the array of LEDs 42 shown in Figure 4 may both emit light in the 380-420 nm range. In some embodiments, the arrays of LEDs 32, 42 may both emit light in the 390-415 nm range, and in other embodiments, may emit light in the 400-410 nm range.

[0031] As used herein, light conversion materials constitute a broad category of materials, substances, or structures that have the ability to absorb a certain wavelength of light and re-emit it as light of another wavelength. It is noted that light conversion materials are distinct from light emitting materials and light transmitting / filtering materials. Light emitting materials can be broadly classified as materials, substances, or structures / devices that convert non-UV-VIS-IR forms of energy into UV-VIS-IR light emission. The non-UV-VIS-IR forms of energy can be, but are not limited to, electricity, chemical reactions / potentials, microwaves, electron beams, and radioactive decay. The light conversion material can be contained in or deposited on a medium making a light conversion medium. It is to be understood that light conversion material, light conversion medium, light conversion filter, phosphor, and other light conversion terms are intended to be examples of the disclosed light conversion materials. In some embodiments, the light conversion material can be a phosphor, an optical brightener, a combination of phosphors, a combination of optical brighteners, or a combination of phosphors and optical brighteners. Optical brighteners are light conversion materials (e.g., compounds) that absorb light in the ultraviolet and / or violet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and re-emit light in the blue region. Light conversion materials can absorb light at multiple different wavelengths and emit light at multiple different wavelengths, both in a scaled and particularly unscaled manner.

[0032] The phosphor or other light conversion material may be deposited directly on the light emitter as shown at least in Figures 1-7, or may be separate from or even removed from the light emitter as shown at least in Figures 9-10 and 14-15, which show the light conversion filter separate from the light emitter. The remote phosphor configuration reduces the light flux density through the light conversion filter by increasing the surface area of ​​the light flux. By physically separating the light emitter and the light conversion filter and reducing the light flux, the conducted heat from the light emitter can be reduced, lowering the operating temperature of the light conversion filter. The lower temperature of the light conversion filter reduces thermal quenching of the light output and other undesirable effects of increased operating temperature. The light conversion material may be deposited, for example, as a conformal coating, a doped encapsulant or binder material, and a remote phosphor. The at least one light conversion material may be fully homogenized in different or the same ratios and used as a bulk mixture, or the at least one light conversion material may have some or all of it disposed or layered separately to affect the absorption and emission of various materials that may not be compatible or may absorb too much of the underlying light when mixed.

[0033] In some embodiments, the CRI value of the combined light output or combined emission from the light emitting device (e.g., emission from the light emitters mixed with emission from the light conversion material) may be at least a CRI value of 55, 60, 65, or 70. In further embodiments, the CRI value may be at least 80, 85, 90, or 95, plus or minus about 5.

[0034] In some embodiments, the combined light output or combined emitted light from the light emitting device can be white light, which can be defined as light having a correlated color temperature (CCT) value of about 1000 Kelvin (K) to about 8000 K, in some embodiments about 2000 K to about 6000 K, and in some embodiments about 2,500 K to about 5,000 K, where "about" may include plus or minus approximately 200 K.

[0035] In some embodiments, the light emitting device may have a spectral content of the light output of at least 20% in the wavelength range of 380-420 nm. The spectral content of the light output in the wavelength range of 380-420 nm is defined as the ratio of the absolute irradiance value of the light having a wavelength in the range of 380-720 nm to the absolute irradiance value of the light having a wavelength in the range of 380-420 nm. Dividing the latter value by the former value gives the % spectral content of the emitted light in the wavelength range of 380-420 nm. Spectral output is defined as radiant energy. The absolute irradiance value may be observed by any means now known or later developed. In some embodiments, the absolute irradiance value is observed in mW of radiant energy.

[0036] Spectral content within the wavelength range of 380-420 nm can be utilized to inactivate bacterial pathogens. A peak wavelength of 405 nm as well as wavelength ranges above and below 405 nm (380-420 nm) have been proven effective in inactivating bacterial pathogens.

[0037] As an example, the device may be constructed similarly to a "blue phosphor" LED device. A blue phosphor LED device is a single package electronic device capable of emitting light. The embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 2 as well as some of the other figures may be structurally similar to a "blue phosphor" LED device, for example. Typically, in a "blue phosphor" LED device, a semiconductor LED capable of emitting blue light is covered or surrounded by a phosphor material or otherwise arranged such that the light emitted from the diode passes through the phosphor. A "blue phosphor" LED device emits a portion of the original blue light from the LED and a portion of the light from the phosphor that is converted from the blue light. A "blue phosphor" LED device emits light that has a combined light emission ratio of blue light and light emitted from the phosphor, resulting in an overall perception of white light.

[0038] An LED device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is constructed similarly to a "blue phosphor" LED device, but includes a semiconductor LED that emits light with a majority / peak wavelength in the range of 380-420 nm, rather than the traditional range of wavelengths perceived as blue from about 450-495 nm. Light with a wavelength of 380-420 nm can kill or inactivate microorganisms such as, but not limited to, gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria, bacterial endospores, and yeast and mold fungi. Some of the gram positive bacteria that are killed or inactivated include Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphyloccocus hyicus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Mycobacterium terrae. Some of the gram-negative bacteria include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella sonnei, and Serratia spp. Some of the bacterial endospores include Bacillus cereus and Clostridium difficile. Some of the yeast and filamentous fungi include Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Light with wavelengths between 380 and 420 nm was effective against all types of bacteria tested, but at different times or doses depending on the species. Based on known results, it is expected to be effective to some degree against all gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria over a period of time. It is also effective against many types of fungi, but takes longer to become effective.The LED according to the embodiments of the present disclosure is surrounded by a phosphor material that can absorb a portion of the antimicrobial light emitted from the LED (380-420 nm) and convert it to another wavelength. The LED device can have a combination of selected phosphors that can emit light perceived as white or a white hue when combined in the appropriate ratio, such as, but not limited to, lutetium aluminum garnet and nitride. The exemplary LED device can have a CRI of 70 or greater. In some embodiments, the exemplary LED device can have a CRI of 80 or greater. The percentage of the spectral content of the light emitted from the exemplary LED device having a wavelength of about 380-420 nm can be 20% or greater. In some embodiments, the light having a wavelength within the range of about 380-420 nm can comprise at least about 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% of the total combined light emitted from the exemplary LED device.

[0039] In some embodiments, the light emitting device may be a surface mounted LED device including LEDs and a light conversion material. The surface mounted LED device may be mounted on a printed circuit board ("PCB") or otherwise configured to transfer power to the light emitting device and the LEDs. The LEDs may be coupled to the PCB via bond wires or leads that allow electrical connection from the LEDs to the outside of the device. The device may have a lens, encapsulant, or other protective covering. The embodiments shown in Figures 1-8 may be implemented as surface mounted LED devices by configuring them with wires or leads connected to the respective LEDs and configured to be connected to a PCB.

[0040] In a further embodiment, the light emitting device may be a through-hole LED device, similar to a surface mount package but intended to be mounted on a PCB substrate, or otherwise configured such that power can be transferred to the device and light emitter via conductive legs that mate with corresponding holes or vias on the PCB or similar structure, the legs being coupled to the PCB or similar structure via solder or another conductive medium.

[0041] In some embodiments, the light emitting device may be a chip-on-board LED configuration, which is a package having one or more light sources and a light conversion material. The light source or light sources may be mounted directly to the substrate, and the light conversion material may be positioned such that a desired portion of the emitted light is converted by the light conversion material.

[0042] The embodiments of the present disclosure differ from previous attempts with devices that produce acceptable light spectra, which required the incorporation of multiple different light emitters into the device to achieve white light with acceptable characteristics. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not require multiple different light emitters, each of which requires combining its emitted light via optical elements or housing structures, resulting in increased electronics, control, optical elements, and housing structures. Compared to a light emitting device having a single light emitter that can produce a composite light spectrum from a single assembly, the additional elements and increased cost metrics associated with such a multiple emitter light emitting device make the color mixing method of the multiple emitter light emitting device inherently cumbersome.

[0043] In some embodiments, a device is disclosed that includes a unit that generates white light using only violet LEDs (approximately 405 nm) while maintaining the disinfection capabilities of the desired spectrum. Color temperatures of 2700k, 3500k, and 4100k with CRIs of over 80 are possible using a single light emitter (e.g., LED) according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In general, a CCT range of 2700-5000k with a minimum CRI of 70 and a violet spectral content of over 20% is possible. In some embodiments, these values ​​can be achieved by using two or more light conversion materials. In some embodiments, phosphors that convert light to red (620-750 nm), green (495-570 nm), and blue (450-495 nm) wavelengths, respectively, such as nitrides, lutetium aluminum garnet, and Ca2PO4Cl:Eu 2+ can be used, respectively.

[0044] A difficult aspect to overcome is the absence of blue light emission, in contrast to conventional LED white light. Although violet light can be combined with other colors to produce white, it has been found that there are human perceptual differences for violet light. This means that the composite light will look different to different people. Some people will see too much violet, while others will see too little, resulting in an overall misrepresentation of the color of the white light. Furthermore, without enough blue light, it becomes even more difficult to achieve a high CRI. Previous attempts have been to mix blue LEDs with other colors to increase the CRI and balance the color of the mixed light output. With this approach, some people still see the light differently depending on their sensitivity, but the observed color differences across the combined spectrum are reduced. In some embodiments herein, blue light is instead added by using phosphors, optical brighteners, or other blue-emitting materials. These materials can absorb violet light and emit blue light without the use of a separate blue LED. Some of the phosphor material compositions include yttrium aluminum garnet, lutetium aluminum garnet, nitrides, oxynitrides, calcium sulfide, Ca2P04Cl:Eu 2+ and silicates. Some of the optical brighteners include chemical derivatives of stilbene, coumarins, 1,3 diphenylpyrazolones, naphthalene dicarboxylic acids, heterocyclic dicarboxylic acids and cinnamic acids.

[0045] FIG. 16 provides an example of color coordinates and ranges of color coordinates that may actually be achieved with some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that these are examples of some existing standards of achievable color coordinates. Other standards for white light, existing or that may be developed in the future, may be used. Furthermore, the disclosed device may be approximately consistent in terms of color coordinates to a CIE standard illuminant and / or a family of standard illuminants. It should be noted that the disclosed device may not match every defined characteristic of a standard illuminant, but in some embodiments, it will be approximately consistent in xy color coordinates. Some of these additional CIE standard illuminants include, but are not limited to, A, B, C, D50, D55, D65, D75, E, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, and F12.

[0046] The foregoing description of various aspects of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Exemplary aspects of the invention are described below. <1> A light emitter; at least one light conversion material arranged to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitter; An apparatus for inactivating microorganisms, wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting body and at least a portion of the converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mix to form a composite light, and a proportion of spectral energy observed within a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the composite light exceeds about 20%. <2> The light emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED). <1> The apparatus described in <3> The light emitter includes a laser <1> The apparatus described in <4> The at least one light conversion material comprises at least one phosphor. <1> The apparatus described in <5> The at least one light conversion material comprises at least one optical brightener. <1> The apparatus described in <6> The peak wavelength of the synthetic light is within a range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm. <1> The apparatus described in <7> The light emitter emits light having a peak wavelength of about 405 nm. <1> The apparatus described in <8> The CRI of the composite light is 70 or higher. <1> The apparatus described in <9> The CRI of the composite light is 80 or higher. <1> The apparatus described in <10> The light emitter comprises an array of light emitters, and the at least one light conversion material is uniformly distributed on each light emitter of the array. <1> The apparatus described in <11> The composite light is white light. <1> The apparatus described in <12> The correlated color temperature of the composite light is about 2,500K to 5,000K. <1> The apparatus described in <13> The proportion of spectral energy observed within a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the synthetic light is greater than about 30%. <1> The apparatus described in <14> The proportion of spectral energy observed within a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the synthetic light is greater than about 40%. <1> The apparatus described in <15> At least a second portion of the light emitted by the light emitter exits the device without being converted by the at least one light conversion material. <1> The apparatus described in <16> An apparatus for inactivating microorganisms, comprising: A light emitter configured to emit a first light in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm; at least one light conversion material disposed in a direct path of the first light; the at least one light conversion material is configured to emit a second light in response to the first light being incident on the at least one light conversion material; the first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light that is white; The device wherein the at least one light conversion material comprises at least one optical brightener that emits light at a wavelength within the range of 450 nm to 495 nm. <17> The proportion of spectral energy observed within a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm in the synthetic light is greater than about 20%. <16> The apparatus described in <18> The light emitter includes a light emitting diode (LED). <16> The apparatus described in <19> The peak wavelength of the synthetic light is within a range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm. <16> The apparatus described in <20> The at least one light conversion material includes a first phosphor that emits light with a wavelength in the range of 620 nm to 750 nm and a second phosphor that emits light with a wavelength in the range of 495 nm to 570 nm. <16> The apparatus described in

Claims

1. A light-emitting device that inactivates microorganisms present on a surface irradiated with light by the light-emitting device, a plurality of light emitters configured to emit a first light at a first wavelength in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm and configured to provide an illuminance sufficient to cause inactivation of microorganisms present on the surface; a first light conversion layer disposed in a direct path of the first light and configured to convert a first portion of the first light emitted from the plurality of light emitters into a second light having a wavelength in a range of 450 nm to 495 nm; a second light conversion layer disposed in a direct path of the first light and configured to convert a second portion of the first light emitted from the plurality of light emitters into a third light having a third wavelength different from the first wavelength; Including, At least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer contains at least one phosphor; the second light conversion layer includes a first phosphor that emits light in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm and a second phosphor that emits light in a wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm; the first light, the second light, and the third light mix to form a composite light that is white and has a color tone index (CRI) of 70 or greater; the proportion of spectral energy observed within the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm in the synthetic light is greater than 20%; the plurality of light emitters are included in an array, and one of a first light conversion layer and a second light conversion layer is provided on each light emitter of the array, but not the other; At least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer is located away from the plurality of light emitters, and the at least one phosphor reduces the light flux density through at least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer by increasing a surface area of ​​the light flux. Light emitting device.

2. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitters comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

3. The light emitting device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitters comprises a laser.

4. 10. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer comprises at least one optical brightener.

5. 2. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the peak wavelength of the synthetic light is within a range of 380 nm to 420 nm.

6. 2. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the proportion of spectral energy observed in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm in the combined light is greater than 40%.

7. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of light emitters emits light having a peak wavelength of 405 nm.

8. The light emitting device according to claim 1 , wherein the CRI of the combined light is 80 or more.

9. 2. The light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 1,000K to 8,000K.

10. The light emitting device according to claim 9, wherein the CCT of the combined light is from 2,500K to 5,000K.

11. a plurality of light emitters configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength within a range of 380 nm to 420 nm and configured to provide an illuminance sufficient to cause inactivation of microorganisms present on a surface onto which the light is irradiated; a first light conversion layer disposed in a direct path of the first light; a second light conversion layer disposed in the direct path of the first light; the first light conversion layer includes at least one phosphor and emits second light having a wavelength in the range of 450 nm to 495 nm; the second light conversion layer includes at least one phosphor and emits a third light having a wavelength longer than 495 nm; the second light conversion layer includes a first phosphor that emits light in a wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm and a second phosphor that emits light in a wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm; the first light, the second light, and the third light mix to form a composite light that is white and has a color tone index (CRI) of 70 or greater; the proportion of spectral energy observed within the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm in the synthetic light is greater than 20%; the plurality of light emitters are included in an array, a first light conversion layer is provided on at least a first portion of the array, a second light conversion layer is provided on at least a second portion of the array, and the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer are provided on the plurality of light emitters included in the array; A light emitting device that inactivates microorganisms present on a surface illuminated by the light emitting device.

12. 12. The light emitting device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer is located away from the plurality of light emitters, and the at least one phosphor reduces the light flux density passing through at least one of the first light conversion layer and the second light conversion layer by increasing a surface area of ​​the light flux.

13. The light emitting device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitters comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

14. 12. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the peak wavelength of the synthetic light is within a range of 380 nm to 420 nm.

15. 12. The light emitting device of claim 11, wherein the proportion of spectral energy observed in the combined light within the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm is greater than 40%.

16. The light emitting device according to claim 11 , wherein the CRI of the combined light is 80 or more.

17. The light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the composite light is from 1,000K to 8,000K.

18. 18. The light emitting device according to claim 17, wherein the correlated color temperature (CCT) of the composite light is from 2,500K to 5,000K.

19. 12. The light emitting device of claim 11, wherein said at least one phosphor reduces the luminous flux density through said second light conversion layer by increasing a surface area for luminous flux.

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