Light emitting assembly with spectrum-shifting reflectance and method

1. A light emitting assembly, comprising:

a light source configured to emit light substantially about a the plane, the light having a first spectral profile; and

a material configured to shift light incident from the light source from the first spectral profile to a second spectral profile and emit light as shifted, wherein the material is or includes a phosphor, the material forms a layer that substantially encircles the light source about the plane, and the material is a spectrum-shifting material;

wherein the light, as shifted, is emitted from the assembly generally along an axis orthogonal to the plane;

wherein the light source comprises a light emitter configured to emit the light and a reflector configured to re-direct the light as emitted by the light emitter substantially about the plane,

a reflective surface in substantial contact with and distal to the spectrum-shifting material relative to the light source, wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect the light as shifted by the spectrum-shifting material along the axis, and

a housing formed from a housing material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of the spectrum-shifting material and configured to conduct heat energy from the spectrum-shifting material, and wherein the housing material is a filled silicone and the reflective surface is a part of the housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitter configured to emit the light and a lens configured to direct the light as emitted by the light emitter substantially about the plane.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the light emitter is a hemisphere-emitting light emitting diode (LED).

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a side light emitter with respect to the axis.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the material is contained within a silicone composition.

6. A method for making a light emitting assembly, comprising:

forming a light source configured to emit light substantially about a plane, the light having a first spectral profile; and

forming a spectrum-shifting material with respect to the light source, the spectrum-shifting material being configured to shift light incident from the light source from the first spectral profile to a second spectral profile and emit light as shifted, wherein the spectrum-shifting material is or includes a phosphor, and wherein the spectrum-shifting material forms a layer that substantially encircles the light source about the plane;

wherein the light, as shifted, is emitted from the assembly generally along an axis orthogonal to the plane;

wherein forming the light source comprises positioning a light emitter configured to emit the light with respect to a reflector configured to re-direct the light as emitted by the light emitter substantially about the plane and further comprising forming a reflective surface in substantial contact with and distal to the spectrum-shifting material relative to the light source, wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect the light as shifted by the spectrum-shifting material along the axis, and forming a housing from a housing material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of the spectrum-shifting material and configured to conduct heat energy from the spectrum-shifting material, wherein the housing is formed from a filled silicone and the reflector is a part of the housing.

7. A light emitting assembly, comprising:

a light source oriented on a plane, and configured to emit light substantially away from an axis orthogonal to the plane, the light having a first spectral profile; and

a material configured to shift light incident from the light source from the first spectral profile to a second spectral profile and emit light as shifted, wherein the material is or includes a phosphor, and wherein the material is a spectrum-shifting material and forms a layer that substantially encircles the light source about the plane,;

wherein the light, as shifted, is emitted from the assembly generally along an axis orthogonal to the plane;

wherein the light source comprises a light emitter configured to emit the light and a reflector configured to re-direct the light as emitted by the light emitter substantially about the plane and

further comprising a reflective surface in substantial contact with and distal to the spectrum-shifting material relative to the light source, wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect the light as shifted by the spectrum-shifting material along the axis, and a housing formed from a housing material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of the spectrum-shifting material and configured to conduct heat energy from the spectrum-shifting material, wherein the housing is formed from a filled silicone and the reflective surface is a part of the housing.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitter configured to emit the light and a lens configured to direct the light as emitted by the light emitter substantially about the plane.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the light emitter is a hemisphere-emitting light emitting diode (LED).

10. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the light source is a side light emitter with respect to the axis.

11. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the material is contained within a silicone composition.

12. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the reflective surface is a part of the housing.