Abstract: A lighting module comprising a base panel and a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) chips attached directly to the base panel. The LED chips are in electrical communication with conductive traces on the base panel, which deliver a current to the LED chips. Various embodiments of this generally described lighting module are also presented. Additionally, methods of preparing such a lighting module, and system components of the lighting module are presented.

Abstract: The present invention is a ceramic discharge vessel for use in high-intensity-discharge (HID) lamps. The discharge vessel has a ceramic body and at least one seal region comprised of an aluminum oxynitride material. The seal region further has a surface layer for contacting a frit material wherein the surface layer is less reactive than the aluminum oxynitride material with respect to the molten frit during sealing. Preferably, the surface layer has a lower nitrogen content than the aluminum oxynitride material. The less reactive surface acts to minimize the formation of bubbles in the sealing frit during the sealing operation.

Abstract: An assemblage (8) comprises an electrical connector (10) having body (12) with a tubular projection (14) having a push-through portion (16) having a first diameter and an engaging portion (18) having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A support (20) for the electrical connector (10) has a major part 22 that is substantially rigid and includes an aperture (24) formed by a plurality of deflectable spokes (26). The aperture (24) has a center opening (28) with a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter, whereby the tubular projection push-through portion (16) slides through the aperture (24) and the spokes (26) engage the second diameter of the engaging portion (18) and mount the electrical connector (10) with the support (20).

Abstract: There is described a brazing alloy having a first component comprising a source of molybdenum and a source of aluminum and a second component comprising boron, wherein a weight ratio of said second component to said first component is not greater than 1:20. The addition of boron results a substantially lower melting point than alloys employing molybdenum and aluminum alone. It is suitable for use in discharge vessels having a hollow bodies selected from the group of monocrystalline alumina, polycrystalline alumina and aluminum nitride; metallic electrode holders fitted into ends of the hollow body; and sealed thereto by a braze.

Abstract: A discharge lamp having a visual-change timer is described. The visual-change timer is comprised of a ceramic material that provides an indication of the cumulative operating time of the lamp. The visual-change timer is expected be a help to consumers in avoiding unnecessary, premature, and costly lamp replacement and a help to lamp manufacturers in verifying the validity of warranty claims for replacement lamps.

Abstract: Rare earth-activated aluminum nitride powders are made using a solution-based approach to form a mixed hydroxide of aluminum and a rare earth metal, the mixed hydroxide is then converted into an ammonium metal fluoride, preferably a rare earth-substituted ammonium aluminum hexafluoride ((NH4)3Al1-xRExF6), and finally the rare earth-activated aluminum nitride is formed by ammonolysis of the ammonium metal fluoride at a high temperature. The use of a fluoride precursor in this process avoids sources of oxygen during the final ammonolysis step which is a major source of defects in the powder synthesis of nitrides. Also, because the aluminum nitride is formed from a mixed hydroxide co-precipitate, the distribution of the dopants in the powder is substantially homogeneous in each particle.

Abstract: A high intensity discharge lamp includes an arc tube with a chemical fill, capillaries extended from the arc tube, electrodes fed through the capillaries into the arc tube, and a frit seal that seals the capillaries, where the frit seal includes silica (SiO2) in a range of more than 0 wt % to less than 5 wt %, alumina (Al2O3), and one of dysprosia (Dy2O3) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3). This frit seal material can withstand a higher operating temperature so that the length of the capillaries can be reduced compared to those sealed with conventional frit seal material.

Abstract: A novel metal halide reflector lamp is described wherein the reflector lamp has a passive optical element to scramble, color mix, and otherwise commingle the light emitted by the metal halide burner. The optical element is placed close to the radiating plasma volume to intercept a large solid angle. Preferably, the optical element substantially intercepts the emitted light within a solid angle that has its vertex at the center of the discharge volume of the burner and is subtended by the open end of the reflector. The optical element can be designed to scatter, reflect or refract the light emanating in this solid angle which otherwise would not impinge on the primary optical control surface of the reflector.

Abstract: The present invention uses a post-sinter-HIP anneal to increase the total transmittance of ceramic discharge vessels comprised of a submicron-grained alumina doped with MgO. After the anneal, the submicron-grained alumina discharge vessels have high values of both total and in-line transmittance, and are thus suitable for use in focused-beam, short-arc lamps. In particular, the total transmittance of the discharge vessel is increased to greater than 92% in the wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.

Abstract: A light engine kernel for a light emitting diode (LED) includes a solid body of transparent material having an index of refraction of at least 1.5. The body has a domed, light-emitting top that is an inverted parabola of revolution, a reflective sidewall that is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC), and a cavity at a focus of the CPC that is adapted to receive an LED. The domed top may include a phosphor coating of a yellow-emitting phosphor. The cavity may be adapted to receive only a single LED or plural LEDs of the same or different colors on a board. The kernel and LED are not integrally formed, reducing thermal degradation of the phosphor coating and improving application flexibility.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) includes a p-n junction containing luminescent activator ions. The visible emission from the activator ions preferably complementing the band edge emission of the LED in order to produce an overall white emission from the LED. In a preferred embodiment, the LED has double heterojunction structure having a semiconductor active layer between two confinement layers. The semiconductor active layer includes activator ions preferably selected from among Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Pr3+, Tm3+, and Mn2+. The electron-hole pairs trapped within the active layer sensitize the activator ions, causing the activator ions to emit light.

Abstract: A method of producing a UV-emitting magnesium pentaborate phosphor is described. The method comprises combining a hydrated magnesium hexaborate with oxides of Y, Gd, Ce and Pr to form a mixture and firing the mixture in a slightly reducing atmosphere to form the phosphor. The hydrated magnesium hexaborate, which is preferably prepared as a precipitate, preferably has a formula MgB6O10.XH2O where X is from 4 to 6.

Abstract: There is described a method of producing a red-emitting manganese and cerium co-activated gadolinium magnesium zinc pentaborate phosphor that comprises combining a hydrated hexaborate of zinc, magnesium, and manganese with oxides of Gd and Ce to form a mixture, and firing the mixture in a slightly reducing atmosphere to form the phosphor. Preferably, the hydrated hexaborate has an approximate composition represented by (Zn,Mg,Mn)B6O10.XH2O, where X is 5.3 to 6.2.

Abstract: There is described a method for the preparation of a green-emitting terbium and cerium co-activated gadolinium magnesium pentaborate phosphor that utilizes a hydrated magnesium hexaborate as a boron source. The hydrated magnesium hexaborate preferably may be represented by the formula MgB6O10.XH2O where X is from 4 to 6, preferably 4.8 to 5.5, and more preferably about 5. The hydrated magnesium hexaborate is combined with oxides of Gd, Ce, and Tb, and at least one magnesium compound selected from MgCl2, MgF2, and MgO, and then fired in a slightly reducing atmosphere to form the phosphor. The method results in a greater homogeneity of the fired cake and subsequently a higher brightness. In addition, the method preferably requires only one firing step and provides very little or no sticking of the fired cake to the firing boats.

Abstract: White-light efficiency from a light emitting diode is enhanced by recycling inwardly penetrating light outwardly by application of a multi-layer, thin film filter between the LED die and the phosphor layer. This procedure increases the package extraction efficiency.

Abstract: The present method uses a methane-containing nitrogen gas sintering atmosphere to sinter aluminum nitride (AlN) to a high transmittance. The methane gas replaces the solid carbon charge material used in prior art sintering methods as the source of gaseous carbon. The amount of carbon in the methane-containing nitrogen gas is easily controlled by varying the partial pressure of methane in the nitrogen gas. In addition, the methane flow is stopped prior to the end of the sintering cycle to prevent darkening of the sintered part.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling lighting in a space reduces energy consumption of the light sources by changing at least one of the color rendering index (CRI) and the correlated color temperature (CCT) while maintaining illumination levels. Preferably, the method and system sense movement of people in the space relative to light sources that light the space, and automatically and individually adjust plural solid state lighting devices that form each of the respective light sources to a first lighting condition when people are in a first position, wherein the lamps respectively emit light of a first illumination level and a first CRI at a first electrical power level, and to a second lighting condition when people are in a second position, wherein the light sources respectively emit light of the first illumination level and a smaller CRI than the first CRI and at a lower electrical power level than the first electrical power level.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp that emits infrared light and a method of making the lamp includes a filament assembly inside a polycrystalline aluminum oxide (PCA) envelope, where the filament assembly preferably has a coiled tungsten filament, solid metal ends of tungsten or molybdenum attached to the coiled tungsten filament, and leads at distal ends of the solid metal ends. End caps are attached to ends of the envelope and have openings through which a respective one of the leads extends, where the leads are each made of an electrically conductive material having a coefficient of thermal expansion compatible with the end caps, such as niobium. The leads are attached to the end caps with glass-ceramic sealing frits. The end caps and sealing frits seal a suitable gas inside the envelope.

Abstract: There is described a sealing composition for sealing aluminum nitride and aluminum oxynitride ceramics comprising: a mixture of SiO2, at least one other metal oxide, and a silicon additive comprising at least one of silicon metal or a silicide. The silicon additive acts to suppress the formation of nitrogen bubbles during the sealing of articles comprised of aluminum nitride or aluminum oxynitride ceramics, e.g., as in the case of a ceramic discharge vessel for a high intensity discharge lamp.

Abstract: A sealing composition for ceramic discharge vessels is described. The sealing composition contains about 20 to about 40 mole percent MgO, about 20 to about 45 mole percent Y2O3, and about 20 to about 60 mole percent Al2O3 and has a melting point of less than about 1800° C., and preferably from about 1700° C. to about 1800° C. The sealing composition may be used for making ceramic-to-ceramic or ceramic-to-metal seals in ceramic discharge vessels.