Lighting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9631794-B2
Application number	US-201314101767-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2013
Priority date	Jun 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A wavelength converting unit includes: an incident portion configured to be connected to an excited-light emitting end of a excited-light source, and on which excited light emitted from the excited-light source is made incident; a wavelength converting member configured to convert the excited light into wavelength-converted light of a desired wavelength; a light transmitting member configured to transmit the excited light and the wavelength-converted light; a reflector configured to reflect at least part of the wavelength-converted light; and an emitting portion configured to emit at least part of the at least part of the wavelength-converted light reflected by the reflector to outside. At least part of the light transmitting member is continuously formed to extend from the incident portion to the emitting portion, and part of an external surface of the light transmitting member has the reflector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:
an excited-light source including an excited-light emitting end;
a wavelength converting unit, and
an optical fiber for transmitting excited light from the excited-light source to the wavelength converting unit, the optical fiber having a proximal end optically connected with the excited-light source and a distal end substantially in contact with the wavelength-converting unit;
wherein the wavelength converting unit includes:
an incident portion configured to be connected to the excited-light emitting end, and on which excited light emitted from the excited-light source is made incident;
a wavelength converting member configured to convert the excited light made incident on the incident portion into wavelength-converted light of a desired wavelength;
a light transmitting member configured to transmit the excited light and the wavelength-converted light, the light transmitting member having a body defined by an exterior surface;
a reflector layer configured to reflect at least part of the wavelength-converted light from the wavelength converting member; and
an emitting portion configured to emit at least part of the at least part of the wavelength-converted light reflected by the reflector layer to outside without reentering the wavelength converting member, and
wherein the reflector layer is provided on the exterior surface of the body of the light transmitting member and the wavelength converting member and the light transmitting member completely fill a cavity defined by the reflector.

2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector layer and the wavelength converting member are arranged separately from each other, and the light transmitting member is provided between them.

3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the light transmitting member is glass or resin.

4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the body of the light transmitting member has one of a cylindrical shape and a circular truncated cone shape spreading from the incident portion toward the emitting portion.

5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the wavelength converting member includes a first area, at least part of which faces the excited-light emitting end, and
the first area is disposed in contact with the light transmitting member.

6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first area of the wavelength converting member includes a bottom surface of the wavelength converting member and a side surface of the wavelength converting member, the bottom surface facing the excited-light emitting end, and the side surface contacting the bottom surface.

7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the wavelength converting member has a cylindrical shape, in which the bottom surface has a generally circular shape, and
the bottom surface of the wavelength converting member has a size larger than a beam spot formed on a plane including the bottom surface of the wavelength converting member by the excited light emitted from the excited-light emitting end.

8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the reflector layer is formed on the exterior surface of the light transmitting member, excluding at least the incident portion and the emitting portion.

9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein an external surface of the reflector layer further includes a protective film.

10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the reflector layer is formed of metal.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the light transmitting member is continuously formed to extend from the incident portion to the emitting portion.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• Kamee Hiroyuki
• Ito Takeshi
• Seki Hiroyuki
• Nakaya Norio

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V9/08

  for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light (with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40) · CPC title

• F21V13/08 Primary

  the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors · CPC title

• G02B6/0003

  the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents · CPC title

• G02B6/0008

  the light being emitted at the end of the fibre · CPC title