LED LAMP WITH A WAVELENGTH CONVERTING LAYER
Disclosed herein are embodiments of replacement lights for conventional fluorescent tube lights for use in a conventional fluorescent fixture. One embodiment comprises a tubular housing, a circuit board disposed within the housing, a pair of end caps disposed on opposing ends of the tubular housing with at least one pin connector extending from each end cap, an array of LEDs arranged longitudinally along the circuit board, a number and spacing of the LEDs being such as to uniformly and fully occupy a space between the end caps, wherein at least one of the connectors is electrically connected to the LEDs and a wavelength-converting material in contact with at least a portion of the tubular housing. The wavelength-converting material is excited by transmitted light from the LEDs to produce visible light.
1 . A replacement light for a conventional fluorescent tube light for use in a conventional fluorescent fixture comprising:
a tubular housing;
a circuit board disposed within the housing;
a pair of end caps disposed on opposing ends of the tubular housing with at least one pin connector extending from each end cap;
an array of LEDs arranged longitudinally along the circuit board, a number and spacing of the LEDs being such as to uniformly and fully occupy a space between the end caps, wherein at least one of the connectors is electrically connected to the LEDs; and
a wavelength-converting material in contact with at least a portion of the tubular housing, wherein the wavelength-converting material is excited by transmitted light from the LEDs to produce visible light.
2 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing has an interior surface, and wherein the wavelength-converting material is a layer formed on at least a portion of the interior surface through which a majority of the transmitted light passes.
3 . The replacement light of claim 2 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is a layer formed on the entire interior surface.
4 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength-converting material comprises a transparent resin containing one or more phosphors.
5 . The replacement light of claim 4 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is formed as layers on at least a portion of an interior surface of the tubular housing, each layer comprising a phosphor of a distinct color.
6 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength converting material is incorporated into a material of the tubular housing prior to forming the tubular housing.
7 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the LEDs are blue LEDs and the wavelength-converting material comprises yellow phosphor.
8 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the LEDs are white LEDs formed from blue LEDs and a phosphor emitting a high color temperature white light, and wherein the wavelength-converting material comprises a quantum dot wavelength conversion material.
9 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is a diffuser comprised of transparent particles.
10 . The replacement light of claim 1 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is a heat sink comprised of a material with a high coefficient of thermal conductivity.
11 . The replacement light of claim 1 further comprising light diffracting structures formed on at least a portion of an interior surface of the tubular housing, wherein the wavelength-converting material forms a coating on the light diffracting structures.
12 . The replacement light of claim 1 further comprising tabs projecting from an interior surface of the tubular housing and configured to contact an LED-mounting side of the circuit board.
13 . A replacement light for a conventional fluorescent tube light for use in a conventional fluorescent fixture comprising:
a tubular housing having a back portion and a front portion attached to the back portion;
a circuit board disposed along the back portion of the tubular housing;
a pair of end caps disposed on opposing ends of the tubular housing with at least one pin connector extending from each end cap;
an array of LEDs arranged longitudinally along the circuit board opposite the back portion, a number and spacing of the LEDs being such as to uniformly and fully occupy a space between the end caps, wherein at least one of the connectors is electrically connected to the LEDs; and
a wavelength-converting layer in contact with at least a portion of the front portion of the tubular housing, wherein the wavelength-converting material is excited by transmitted light from the LEDs to produce visible light.
14 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength-converting material comprises a transparent resin containing one or more phosphors.
15 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is formed as layers on at least a portion of an interior surface of the front portion, each layer comprising a phosphor of a distinct color.
16 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength converting material is incorporated into a material of the front portion of the tubular housing prior to forming the front portion of the tubular housing.
17 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the LEDs are blue LEDs and the wavelength-converting material comprises yellow phosphor.
18 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the LEDs are white LEDs formed from blue LEDs and a phosphor emitting a high color temperature white light, and wherein the wavelength-converting material comprises a quantum dot wavelength conversion material.
19 . The replacement light of claim 13 , wherein the wavelength-converting material is a diffuser comprised of transparent particles.
20 . The replacement light of claim 13 further comprising light diffracting structures formed on at least a portion of an interior surface of the front portion of the tubular housing, wherein the wavelength-converting material forms a coating on the light diffracting structures.