LED lamp device having a fluorescent element shaped for uniform light conversion

1. An LED lamp device comprising;

a substrate;

a plurality of LED elements positioned in a 2×2 array on the substrate and effective to emit light having a first wavelength, and further comprising a cross-sectional space defined between each adjacent LED element; and

a fluorescent element having an inner surface and an outer surface, the fluorescent element comprising:

a fluorescent material excitable by light emitted from the LED elements to emit light of a second wavelength, wherein the fluorescent element is arranged to cover each LED element and the cross-sectional spaces with no gaps provided between an inner surface of the fluorescent element and the substrate;

a plurality of cross-sectional grooves formed in the outer surface, the cross-sectional grooves positioned in accordance with the positioning of the LED elements and substantially aligned with the spaces defined between adjacent LED elements, the cross-sectional grooves causing distances traveled by light at the first wavelength propagating through the fluorescent material in different directions to be substantially uniform such that a proportion of light of the first wavelength with respect to light of the second wavelength is substantially uniform irrespective of light exit direction from the LED elements;

a plurality of side surfaces extending along the circumference of the fluorescent element and perpendicular to a surface of the substrate upon which the LED elements are positioned, each side surface having a distal edge disposed away from the surface of the substrate; and

a plurality of inclined surfaces along a circumference of the fluorescent element, wherein each of the inclined surfaces extends from the outer surface of the fluorescent material to the distal edge of an adjacent side surface.

2. The LED lamp device of claim 1 , wherein each of the LED elements comprises a substantially rectangular shape and has an outer surface distal the surface of the substrate, and wherein a distance from the surface of the substrate to the outer surface of the LED element is substantially equal to a distance from the surface of the substrate to the distal edges of the side surfaces of the fluorescent element.

3. An LED lamp device comprising:

a mounting substrate;

a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted on the mounting substrate, said light-emitting elements being arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, the light-emitting elements further spaced separately from each other with spaces between adjacent light-emitting elements, each light-emitting element having a distal surface disposed away from the mounting substrate;

a fluorescent element comprising a fluorescent material excitable by light of a first color radiated from the light-emitting element to radiate light of a second color, wherein:

the fluorescent element is formed continuously over the plurality of light-emitting elements to cover the light-emitting elements and to fill the spaces left between adjacent light-emitting elements with no air gap provided between the light-emitting elements; and

the fluorescent element has a distal surface substantially parallel to the mounting substrate, the distal surface having at least one groove formed therein in alignment with the spaces between light-emitting elements in adjacent rows and having at least one groove formed therein in alignment with the spaces between light-emitting elements in adjacent columns.

4. The LED lamp device of claim 3 , wherein each groove has a deepest part with respect to the distal surface of the fluorescent element, and wherein a distance between the deepest part of the groove and the mounting substrate is made closer less than a distance between the mounting substrate and the distal surface of one of the light-emitting elements.

5. The LED lamp device of claim 3 , wherein each groove has a deepest part with respect to the upper surface of the fluorescent element, and wherein a distance between the deepest part of the grooved section and the mounting substrate is substantially equal to a distance between the mounting substrate and the distal surface of one of the light-emitting elements.

6. An LED lamp device comprising:

a substrate having a mounting surface;

a plurality of rows of LED elements mounted on the mounting surface of the substrate, each row comprising a like plurality of LED elements arranged in parallel with each other row, and effective to emit light having a first wavelength, a space defined between each adjacent LED element; and

a fluorescent element comprising:

a fluorescent material excitable by light emitted from the LED elements to emit light of a second wavelength, the fluorescent element arranged to cover each LED element with no gaps provided between the fluorescent element and the surface of the substrate,

a plurality of side surfaces defining an outer circumference of the fluorescent material and extending perpendicular to a surface of the substrate upon which the LED elements are positioned,

an outer surface parallel with the surface of the substrate,

a plurality of inclined surfaces extending from the outer surface to an edge of an associated side surface, and

a plurality of grooved sections, a grooved section arranged along each space between the plurality of LED elements and each grooved section comprising a pair of inclined surfaces corresponding to an inclined surface on an opposing side of the associated LED elements; and

wherein the fluorescent element is shaped in accordance with the positioning of the LED elements and the spaces defined there-between such that a proportion of light of the first wavelength with respect to light of the second wavelength is substantially uniform irrespective of light exit direction.

7. The LED lamp device of claim 6 , wherein a distance between a deepest part of the one or more grooved sections and the surface of the substrate is made less than a distance between the surface of the substrate and the outer surfaces of the LED elements.

8. The LED lamp device of claim 6 , wherein a distance between a deepest part of the one or more grooved sections and the surface of the substrate is made substantially equal to a distance between the surface of the substrate and the outer surfaces of the LED elements.