IP Library Granted Patent US 8,994,261
Granted Patent B2
US 8,994,261 · App. 12/246,110 · Granted Mar 31, 2015

Enhanced color contrast light source

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,994,261
App. No.
12/246,110
Granted
Mar 31, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lamp having improved color quality scale is provided. The lamp has a light-transmissive envelope and a phosphor layer comprising a first phosphor and a second phosphor wherein the first phosphor has an emission band with a maximum between 590 nm and 670 nm and the second phosphor has an emission band with a maximum between 520 nm and 570 nm. The light generated by the phosphor layer, when the lamp is energized, has delta chroma values for fifteen color samples of the color quality scale within select parameters. The delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB color space.

Claims (88)

1. A lamp which when energized exhibits a correlated color temperature of between about 2000 Kelvin to about 3500 Kelvin and having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising:

at least one light-emitting element having a light emission when energized; and

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows:

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−2 to 7 for VS1;

−3 to 7 for VS2;

−7 to 7 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−2 to 8 for VS4;

−2 to 14 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

1 to 25 for VS6;

4 to 25 for VS7;

−1 to 15 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

−2 to 7 for VS9;

−4 to 6 for VS10;

−2 to 8 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−1 to 8 for VS12;

−1 to 13 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−7 to 13 for VS14;

−9 to 1.2 for VS15,

wherein said delta chroma values are measured in the CIE LAB space;

with the proviso that the lamp does not comprise an incandescent light-emitting element.

2. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein said at least one light-emitting element is one of phosphor, vapor discharge, or high intensity discharge.

3. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein said lamp is a combination of a fluorescent lamp, vapor discharge lamp, or a HID lamp, supplemented by one or more of OLED and LED.

4. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein said lamp is a fluorescent or CFL lamp comprising a light-transmissive envelope, a fill gas sealed inside said envelope, wherein at least one of said light-emitting elements is a phosphor.

5. The lamp of claim 4 , said lamp comprising a phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composition, said composition comprising at least two different phosphors.

6. The lamp of claim 5 , said phosphor composition comprising at least a first phosphor and a second phosphor, wherein said first phosphor is selected from the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 :Eu; 3.5MgO*0.5MgF 2 *GeO 2 :Mn 4+ ; Gd(Zn,Mg)B 5 O 10 :Ce,Mn; (Sr, Mg) 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Sn; and combinations thereof, and said second phosphor comprises (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ and optionally further comprises a member selected from the group consisting of LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb; ZnSiO 4 :Mn; (Ce,Tb)MgAl 11 O 19 ; (Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al 11 O 19 ; and combinations thereof.

7. The lamp of claim 6 , said phosphor blend further comprising a third phosphor selected from the group consisting of (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ; (Sr,Ba,Ca) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl:Eu; Sr 4 Al 14 O 25 :Eu; Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce; Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 FCl:Sb,Mn, and combinations thereof.

8. The lamp of claim 6 , said first phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 590 nm and about 670 nm, and

said second phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 500 nm and about 570 nm.

9. The lamp of claim 6 , wherein said first phosphor is present in an amount of about 10 to about 90 weight percent and said second phosphor is present in an amount of about 5 to about 50 weight percent.

10. The lamp of claim 1 , wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp exhibits a color quality scale Q a value of about 60 or above.

11. A lamp in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein at least one of said light-emitting element is a phosphor, and

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp generates light with a total light emission having delta chroma values as follows:

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

0 to 6 for VS1;

−1 to 6 for VS2;

−5 to 5 for VS3;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

0 to 5 for VS4;

0 to 10 for VS5;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

3 to 20 for VS6;

6 to 20 for VS7;

2 to 10 for VS8;

at least two color samples of the CQS are within the parameters

0 to 5 for VS9;

0 to 5 for VS10;

0 to 5 for VS11;

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

0 to 6 for VS12;

0 to 10 for VS13; and

at least one color sample of the CQS is within the parameters

−6 to 10 for VS14;

−8 to 10 for VS15.

12. A lamp having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising

a phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composition, said composition comprising at least a first phosphor and a second phosphor, said first phosphor being selected from the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 :Eu; Gd(Zn,Mg)B 5 O 10 :Ce,Mn; (Sr,Mg) 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Sn; and combinations thereof, and said second phosphor comprising (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ and further comprising a member being selected from the group consisting of LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb; ZnSiO 4 :Mn; (Ce,Tb)MgAl 11 O 19 ; (Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al 11 O 19 ; and combinations thereof;

wherein when said lamp is energized said lamp exhibits a correlated color temperature of between about 2000 to about 3500 Kelvin and a color quality scale Q a value of about 60 or above.

13. The lamp of claim 12 , said first phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 590 to about 670 nm.

14. The lamp of claim 12 , said second phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 500 to about 570 nm.

15. The lamp of claim 12 , said composition further comprising a phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 430 and about 490 nm.

16. The lamp of claim 12 , said phosphor composition further comprising a third phosphor selected from the group consisting of (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ; (Sr,Ba,Ca) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl:Eu; Sr 4 Al 14 O 25 :Eu; Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce; Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 FCl:Sb,Mn; and combinations thereof.

17. The lamp of claim 12 , wherein said first phosphor is Y 2 O 3 :Eu.

18. The lamp of claim 12 , further comprising a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, a discharge-sustaining fill gas sealed inside said envelope, and a barrier layer positioned between said envelope and said phosphor layer, wherein said barrier layer comprises alumina particles.

19. The lamp of claim 12 , wherein the discharge-sustaining fill gas contains mercury.

20. A lamp having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising

a phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composition, said composition comprising at least a first phosphor and a second phosphor;

said first phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 590 nm and about 670 nm, wherein said first phosphor is present in an amount of about 10 to about 90 weight percent, said first phosphor being selected from the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 :Eu; 3.5MgO*0.5MgF 2 *GeO 2 :Mn 4+ ; Gd(Zn,Mg)B 5 O 10 :Ce,Mn; (Sr,Mg) 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Sn; and combinations thereof;

said second phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 500 nm and about 570 nm, wherein said second phosphor is present in an amount of about 5 to about 50 weight percent, and

said lamp having a Q a value greater than about 60 and a correlated color temperature between about 2000 and about 3500 Kelvin.

21. The lamp of claim 20 , said second phosphor comprising (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ and optionally further comprising a member being selected from the group consisting of LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb; ZnSiO 4 :Mn; (Ce,Tb)MgAl 11 O 19 ; (Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al 11 O 19 ; and combinations thereof.

22. The lamp of claim 20 , wherein said first phosphor is Y 2 O 3 :Eu and said second phosphor is (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ .

23. The lamp of claim 20 , said composition further comprising a phosphor having an emission band with a maximum between about 430 and about 490 nm.

24. The lamp of claim 20 , said composition further comprising a third phosphor selected from the group consisting of (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ ; LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb; ZnSiO 4 :Mn; (Ce,Tb)MgAl 11 O 19 ; (Ce,Tb)(Mg,Mn)Al 11 O 19 ; (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ; (Sr,Ba,Ca) 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl:Eu; Sr 4 Al 14 O 25 :Eu; Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce ; Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 FCl:Sb,Mn; and combinations thereof.

25. The lamp of claim 20 , further comprising a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, a discharge-sustaining fill gas sealed inside said envelope, and a barrier layer positioned between said envelope and said phosphor layer, wherein said barrier layer comprises alumina particles.

26. A fluorescent lamp having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising a phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composition, said phosphor composition comprising: Y 2 O 3 :Eu; (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ ; LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb; and (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ;

wherein Y 2 O 3 :Eu is present in the phosphor composition in an amount of about 10 to about 90 weight percent, and the combined amount of (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ and LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb in the phosphor composition is from about 5 to about 50 weight percent:

and wherein said lamp has a Qa value greater than about 60.

27. The lamp of claim 26 , further comprising a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, a discharge-sustaining fill gas sealed inside said envelope, and a phosphor layer carried on the inner surface.

28. A fluorescent lamp having an improved color quality scale, the lamp comprising a phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composition, said phosphor composition comprising: Y 2 O 3 :Eu; (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ ; and (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ;

wherein Y 2 O 3 :Eu is present in the phosphor composition in an amount of about 10 to about 90 weight percent, and the amount of (Ba,Sr,Ca)MgAl 10 O 17 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ in the phosphor composition is from about 5 to about 50 weight percent;

and wherein said lamp has a Qa value greater than about 60.

29. The lamp of claim 28 , further comprising a light-transmissive glass envelope having an inner surface, a discharge-sustaining fill gas sealed inside said envelope, and a phosphor layer carried on the inner surface.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2026
From: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075090/0369 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2022
From: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC (FKA - GE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC)
To: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.) LLC
Reel/Frame 060447/0477 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 5, 2022
From: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
To: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059858/0248 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
Reel/Frame 059790/0696 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
To: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059719/0073 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SAVANT SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RACEPOINT ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 059910/0312 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: SAVANT SYSTEMS, INC.; CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053095/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2008
From: BALAZS, LASZLO; BAKK, ISTVAN
To: GE HUNGARY ZRT
Reel/Frame 021769/0200 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2008
From: BEERS, WILLIAM W.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 021769/0285 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2008
From: GE HUNGARY ZRT
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 021769/0166 →