Led white light source with remote photoluminescent converter

Abstract

The proposed illuminator relates to white-light lamps based on LEDs with remote phosphor converters. The illuminator comprises a heat removing base with a radiation output opening, and the LEDs secured near the periphery of the opening, with, arranged in series at a distance from the LEDs, a concave phosphor converter layer, wherein the layer's concavity is oriented towards the LED's and the opening. White light formed as mix of reflected LED's radiation and phosphor's radiation exits via the opening, while white light formed as mix of LED's radiation passing through the layer and phosphor's radiation exits through the layer. The layer may have the form of a truncated ellipsoid of revolution, in particular a sphere, or a paraboloid, with a main axis perpendicular to the plane of the opening, or a cylinder truncated by the plane of the opening.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An illuminator comprising:
 a heat-removing base having a base surface;   a primary radiation source including at least one light-emitting diode secured on said base surface;   a radiation converter designed as a conversion material layer having a converter surface with a predetermined converter's concavity remote from said primary radiation source, said radiation converter converts primary radiation, emitted by the at least one light emitting diode and incident on the converter surface, into secondary radiation;   wherein:   said heat-removing base has an orifice for output of radiation; said orifice has a perimeter;   said at least one light-emitting diode is located in predetermined proximity to said perimeter; and the converter's concavity face said orifice and said at least one light-emitting diode.   
     
     
         15 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , wherein said orifice is positioned in a plane, the converter surface is shaped as an ellipsoid of revolution, truncated by a plane parallel to the plane of said orifice, said ellipsoid of revolution is represented by a sphere or a paraboloid, and said ellipsoid of revolution is characterized with main axes extending perpendicular to the plane of said orifice. 
     
     
         16 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , wherein said orifice is positioned in a plane, the converter surface is shaped as a cylinder, truncated by a plane parallel to the plane of said orifice. 
     
     
         17 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , wherein the heat-removing base includes a protrusion screening a direct discharge of primary radiation into said orifice. 
     
     
         18 . The illuminator according to  claim 15 , wherein the said converter surface is formed of a plurality of flat facets or segments. 
     
     
         19 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a carrying element manufactured from optically transparent material;   wherein said carrying element has an inner carrying element's surface with a predetermined carrying element's concavity;   said converter further includes a converter surface with a predetermined converter's convexity situated opposite to said converter surface with a predetermined converter's concavity; and   wherein: said inner carrying element's surface with a predetermined carrying element's concavity is situated opposite to said converter surface with a predetermined converter's convexity, being in direct contact with said converter surface with a predetermined converter's convexity.   
     
     
         20 . The illuminator according to  claim 19 , wherein said converter surface with a predetermined converter's convexity and said inner carrying element's surface with a predetermined carrying element's concavity are separated by an optically transparent medium. 
     
     
         21 . The illuminator according to  claim 19 , wherein said carrying element is manufactured from a matted material or optically transparent material with the matted surface. 
     
     
         22 . The illuminator according to  claim 17 , wherein said protrusion further comprises a flat mirror part directing the primary radiation, incident thereon, to said converter surface being opposite to said flat mirror part. 
     
     
         23 . The illuminator according to  claim 20 , wherein: said axis of symmetry of the converter is defined as a converter's symmetry axis; said at least one light-emitting diode each is characterized with a radiation directivity diagram having a diagram axis and a diagram angular width; and wherein: said at least one light-emitting diode each is positioned such that the diagram axis thereof intersects the converter's symmetry axis at an angle not exceeding a difference between 90.degree. and a half of the diagram angular width of the corresponding light-emitting diode. 
     
     
         24 . The illuminator according to  claim 16 , wherein said axis of symmetry of the converter is defined as a converter's symmetry axis; said at least one light-emitting diode each is characterized with a radiation directivity diagram having a diagram axis; said at least one light-emitting diode each is positioned such that the diagram axis thereof extends parallel or at an acute angle relative to the converter's symmetry axis; the heat-removing base further includes an inclined mirror part located between said converter surface and said at least one light-emitting diode; and said inclined mirror part reflects the primary radiation incident thereon at the converter surface being opposite thereto. 
     
     
         25 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , wherein said orifice is sealed with a window manufactured from optically transparent or matted material or transparent material with the matted surface. 
     
     
         26 . The illuminator according to  claim 14 , wherein conversion material layer thickness ranges between 5 and 500 nm.