Solid State Lamp Using Light Emitting Strips

Abstract

In one embodiment, an LED lamp has a generally bulb shape. The LEDs are low power types and are encapsulated in thin, narrow, flexible strips. The LEDs are connected in series in the strips to drop a desired voltage. The strips are affixed to the outer surface of a bulb form to provide structure to the lamp. The strips are connected in parallel to a power supply, which may be housed in the lamp. Since many low power LEDs are used and are spread out over a large surface area, there is no need for a large metal heat sink. Further, the light emission is similar to that of an incandescent bulb. In other embodiment, there is no bulb form and the strips are bendable to have a variety of shapes. In another embodiment, a light sheet is bent to provide 360 degrees of light emission. Many other embodiments are described.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A solid state lamp comprising:
 one or more flexible strips, each of the flexible strips comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and an end having electrical contacts, the LEDs being electrically connected to the electrical contacts, and at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips being deformed into deformable resilient shapes;   a base structure having one or more connection locations, each connection location being configured to receive the end of one of the flexible strips and to provide drive current to the one or more LEDs of the one of the flexible strips via the electrical contacts; and   an electrical connector affixed to the base structure for connection to an external power source,   wherein the one or more flexible strips are further deformable into alternative deformable resilient shapes.   
     
     
         22 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips comprises a layer of a metal sufficient to provide the flexible strips with resilience against relaxation from the deformed resilient shapes to non-deformed shapes. 
     
     
         23 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the base structure has a central axis and at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips are deformable between directions perpendicular to the central axis and parallel to the central axis. 
     
     
         24 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips has a longitudinal axis and is deformable about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more flexible strips comprise at least two flexible strips and the at least two flexible strips are spaced apart. 
     
     
         26 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips is independently deformable. 
     
     
         27 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21  wherein the one or more flexible strips comprise at least two flexible strips and the one or more connection locations are arranged such that the one or more LEDs of the at least two flexible strips emit light 360 degrees around the solid state lamp. 
     
     
         28 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more flexible strips comprise at least two flexible strips and a first portion of the at least two flexible strips is configured to emit a light emission pattern different from a second portion of the at least two flexible strips. 
     
     
         29 . The solid state lamp of  claim 28 , wherein the light emission pattern of the first portion of flexible strips is a substantially lambertian emission pattern, and the light emission pattern of the second portion of the at least two flexible strips is a substantially prescribed directional light emission pattern. 
     
     
         30 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , further comprising an outer shell at least partially surrounding the one or more flexible strips. 
     
     
         31 . The solid state lamp of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the outer shell is transparent. 
     
     
         32 . The solid state lamp of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the outer shell comprises a reflector to confine within the outer shell at least some of the light emitted by the LEDs. 
     
     
         33 . The solid state lamp of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the outer shell comprises a diffuser to diffuse at least some of the light emitted by the LEDs. 
     
     
         34 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the one or more flexible strips has variable widths. 
     
     
         35 . The solid state lamp of  claim 34 , wherein at least a portion the one or more flexible strips has a wider end opposite the end with the electrical contacts and wherein the one or more LEDs are distributed adjacent the wider end. 
     
     
         36 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein each flexible strip comprises:
 a first substrate having a first set of conductors; and   a second transparent substrate having a second set of conductors,   the one or more LEDs being sandwiched between the first and second substrates, such that, without wires, a first portion of the first set of conductors connects to a first electrode of each of the LEDs, a second portion of the first set of conductors connects to a first portion of the second set of conductors, and a second portion of the second set of conductors connects to a second electrode of each of the LEDs, to provide power to the one or more LEDs, and light emitted by the one or more LEDs is transmitted through the second substrate.   
     
     
         37 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprise at least two LEDs and each flexible strip comprises:
 a first substrate having a top set of conductors formed on a top surface of the first substrate and a bottom set of conductors formed on a bottom surface of the first substrate, wherein the top surface opposes the bottom surface;   a second transparent substrate having a second set of conductors; and   a third transparent substrate having a third set of conductors,   a first portion of LEDs of the at least two LEDs being sandwiched between the first and second substrates, such that, without wires, a first portion of the top set of conductors connects to a first electrode of each LED of the first portion of LEDs, a second portion of the top set of conductors connects to a first portion of the second set of conductors, and a second portion of the second set of conductors connects to a second electrode of each LED of the first portion of LEDs, to provide power to the first portion of LEDs, and light emitted by the first portion of LEDs is transmitted through the second substrate,   a second portion of LEDs of the at least two LEDs being sandwiched between the first and second substrates, such that, without wires, a first portion of the bottom set of conductors connects to a first electrode of each LED of the second portion of LEDs, a second portion of the bottom set of conductors connects to a first portion of the third set of conductors, and a second portion of the third set of conductors connects to a second electrode of each LED of the second portion of LEDs, to provide power to the second portion of LEDs, and light emitted by the second portion of LEDs is transmitted through the third substrate.   
     
     
         38 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprise at least two LEDs and
 each LED of the at least two LEDs comprises a first electrode coupled to a first surface of the LED and a second electrode coupled to a second surface of the LED, wherein the first surface opposes the second surface; and   each flexible strip comprises:
 a first transparent substrate having a first set of conductors; and 
 a second transparent substrate having a second set of conductors, 
   the at least two LEDs being sandwiched between the first and second substrates, such that, without wires, a portion of the first set of conductors connects to the first electrode of a first LED of the at least two LEDs, a second portion of the first set of conductors connects to the second electrode of a second LED of the at least two LEDs, the second LED being adjacent to the first LED, a first portion of the second set of conductors connects to the second electrode of the first LED, and a second portion of the second set of conductors connects to the first electrode of the second LED, where light emitted by the first LED is transmitted through the first transparent substrate and light emitted by the second LED is transmitted through the second transparent substrate.   
     
     
         39 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , further comprising a power converter, the power converter providing power to the end of each flexible strip of the one or more flexible strips. 
     
     
         40 . The solid state lamp of  claim 39 , further comprising one or more current sources connected to the power converter, wherein each current source is connected to the end of a corresponding flexible strip. 
     
     
         41 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the electrical connector comprises a connector for an Edison type socket. 
     
     
         42 . The solid state lamp of  claim 21 , wherein the base structure is configured to receive different combinations of flexible strips to generate a desired light output from the solid state lamp.