Lighting device having heat dissipation element

1. A lighting device comprising:

at least a first light source; and

at least a first heat dissipation element, at least a first region of the first heat dissipation element comprising at least one material selected from among (1) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one other ceramic material, (2) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one metal other than aluminum, (3) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal other than aluminum and (4) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal,

the first light source oriented such that at least a portion of light emitted from the first light source is directed toward at least a first portion of the first region of the first heat dissipation element.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first heat dissipation element is substantially cylindrical.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first heat dissipation element is substantially disc-shaped.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first heat dissipation element is substantially bulb-shaped.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first light source is in contact with the first heat dissipation element.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the first light source is in direct contact with the first heat dissipation element.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a first cross-section of the first heat dissipation element is substantially annular.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first heat dissipation element comprises at least one opaque region.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first heat dissipation element comprises at least a first reflective region.

10. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first region of the first heat dissipation element further comprises at least one material selected from among scattering agents and luminescent materials.

11. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least a second region of the first heat dissipation element comprises at least one material selected from among diamond, glass, polymer and ceramic.

12. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first region of the first heat dissipation element is substantially transparent.

13. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein substantially all light emitted by the first light source that exits the lighting device passes through the first heat dissipation element.

14. A lighting device comprising:

at least a first light source; and

at least a first heat dissipation element, at least a first region of the first heat dissipation element comprising at least one material selected from among (1) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one other ceramic material, (2) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one metal other than aluminum, (3) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal other than aluminum and (4) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal, at least a first portion of the first region of the first heat dissipation element substantially surrounding the first light source.

15. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein substantially all light emitted by the first light source that exits the lighting device passes through the first heat dissipation element.

16. A lighting device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the first light source is in contact with the first heat dissipation element.

17. A lighting device as recited in claim 14 , wherein the first light source is in direct contact with the first heat dissipation element.

18. A lighting device as recited in claim 14 , wherein at least a first region of the first heat dissipation element comprises at least one material selected from among diamond, glass, polymer and ceramic.

19. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first light source comprises at least one solid state light emitter.

20. A lighting device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first light source comprises at least one light emitting diode.

21. A lighting device comprising:

at least a first light source;

at least a first heat dissipation element; and

at least a first reflector,

at least a first region of the first heat dissipation element comprising at least one material selected from among (1) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one other ceramic material, (2) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide and at least one metal other than aluminum, (3) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal other than aluminum and (4) a sintered mixture of silicon carbide, at least one other ceramic material and at least one metal,

the first light source and at least a first portion of the first region of the first heat dissipation element both to a first side of the first reflector.

22. A lighting device as recited in claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of light emitted by the first light source that exits the lighting device passes through the first heat dissipation element.