Solid State Lamp with Modular Couplings for Incandescent Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for energy-efficient lighting solutions that mimic the light characteristics of incandescent lamps while using solid state light emitters and conforming to widely accepted lamp designs, as incandescent lamps are inefficient and compact fluorescent lamps pose environmental hazards and have undesirable color characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The development of solid state lamps that utilize heat sinks with modular couplings for various lamp bases and bulbs, featuring solid state light emitters positioned to mimic incandescent filament light emissions, and employing phosphors to achieve desired color temperatures and spectral quality, including the use of semiconductor nanophosphors and rare earth phosphors for white light production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If incandescent lamps are used, then light output characteristics are desirable and familiar to the public, but energy efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental light generation mechanism from thermal radiation (incandescent) to electroluminescence (LED), fundamentally altering the energy conversion parameters. By using semiconductor LEDs with phosphor conversion, the system achieves high energy efficiency while maintaining desirable light output characteristics through spectral engineering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system of incandescent filaments with a solid-state electronic system using LED chips and phosphor materials. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature filament operation, dramatically improving energy efficiency while maintaining light output quality through optical conversion processes.
2Use of energy by moving object
If compact fluorescent lamps are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but environmental hazards increase due to mercury vapor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the harmful mercury vapor substance entirely by replacing the fluorescent discharge mechanism with solid-state LED technology. This substitution converts a harmful lighting system into a benign one, achieving energy efficiency improvements without introducing environmental hazards associated with mercury disposal and breakage.
3Use of energy by moving object
If compact fluorescent lamps are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but color characteristics of light output become undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different phosphor materials with specific emission characteristics to tune the overall light output. By selecting and positioning phosphors with complementary color temperatures and spectral properties, the system achieves desirable color characteristics while maintaining energy efficiency, allowing different regions of the light output to have optimized properties.
4Use of energy by moving object
If solid state light emitters are used to mimic incandescent emissions, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components: the LED chip, phosphor materials, and optical elements are combined into a unified solid-state lighting module. This integration achieves the complex goal of mimicking incandescent spectral characteristics while maintaining energy efficiency, as the merged system handles both light generation and spectral shaping in a compact configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These lamps produce energy-efficient, substantially white light that approximates incandescent lamp emissions, offering modular compatibility and improved color temperature and spectral quality, making them suitable replacements for traditional lighting sources.
Implementation Method 1
solid state light emitters
Implementation Method 2
solid state light emitters
Implementation Method 3
employing phosphors to achieve desired color temperatures and spectral quality
Implementation Method 4
use of semiconductor nanophosphors and rare earth phosphors for white light production
Implementation Method 5
heat sink having a first modular-coupling for attachment of one of a number of different lighting industry standard lamp bases
Data Source
AI summary
A lamp for general lighting applications utilizes solid state light emitters and provides light output that may approximate light emissions from of an incandescent lamp. An exemplary lamp includes a bulb and a pedestal extending into the bulb that supports the light emitters in orientations such that emissions from the emitters through the bulb approximate emissions from a filament of an incandescent lamp. An inner member around the emitters and the pedestal provides further light processing, e.g. diffusing and/or phosphor luminescence. The lamp conforms to form factors and/or uses lamp base connectors of common incandescent lamps and/or compact fluorescent lamps. For efficient substitution of components during manufacture of lamps to different specifications, at least some examples use modular couplings for the parts of the lamp to the heat sink or other housing, such as for couplings of the lamp base, the bulb and the inner light processing member (if provided).