Lighting device comprising a split lighting engine

1. A lighting device comprising:

a split lighting engine with at least two thermally separated sub-engines, said lighting device further comprising an envelope and common driver circuitry connected to each sub-engine, the common driver circuitry adapted to provide an electric current or power to each sub-engine, wherein the sub-engines are arranged within the envelope along an optical axis of the lighting device, wherein each sub-engine comprises:

at least one solid state light source connected to the common driver circuitry; and

a component connected to the common driver circuitry, the component adapted to regulate the electric current or power to the at least one solid state light source based on a thermal environment of each sub-engine,

wherein each sub-engine adapts to and operates at a maximum temperature and light output based on the thermal environment.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein each sub-engine comprises a substrate arranged parallel to the optical axis of the lighting device, wherein the at least one solid state light source is mounted on the substrate.

3. A lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein each sub-engine is spaced apart from other sub-engines by a predetermined distance.

4. A lighting device according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined distance is at least 5 mm.

5. A lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the component is a passive component adapted to passively regulate electric current or power to the at least one solid state light source.

6. A lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the component is an active component adapted to actively regulate electric current or power to the at least one solid state light source.

7. A lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a shell made by additive manufacturing at least partially enclosing the sub-engines.

8. A lighting device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is a light bulb or a luminaire.

9. A method for operating a lighting device, which lighting device comprises a split lighting engine with at least two thermally separated sub-engines, said lighting device further comprising an envelope and common driver circuitry connected to each sub-engine, the common driver circuitry adapted to provide an electric current or power to each sub-engine, wherein the sub-engines are arranged within the envelope along an optical axis of the lighting device, wherein each sub-engine comprises at least one solid state light source, which method comprises:

regulating the electric current or power to the at least one solid state light source via a component connected to the common driver circuitry based on a thermal environment of each sub-engine and

wherein each sub-engine adapts to and operates at a maximum temperature and light output based on the thermal environment.

10. A method for determining the orientation of a lighting device, the lighting device comprising:

a split lighting engine with at least two thermally separated sub-engines, wherein each sub-engine comprises:

at least one solid state light source; and

a temperature sensor arranged on each sub-engine to measure the temperature of the sub-engine;

means for regulating electric current or power to the at least one solid state light source, so that the sub-engines are individually drivable based on their thermal environment; and

an envelope, wherein the sub-engines are placed within the envelope along an optical axis of the lighting device;

the method comprises the steps of:

applying a substantially equal amount of power to each sub-engine;

measuring the temperature of each sub-engine to provide temperature data for each sub-engine; and

determining the orientation of the lighting device based on the temperature data from each sub-engine and their respective placement along the optical axis.