Abstract: Solid state light emitting devices include a solid state light emitting die and a photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may include a solid phosphor layer that includes dielectric nanostructures therein and may be on a light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may be attached to the light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die via an adhesive layer. The photonic crystal phosphor light conversion structure may also be directly on a light emitting surface of the solid state light emitting die. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Solid state luminaires and light engines comprising a first group of solid state emitters comprising a first emitter emitting above the black body locus (BBL) in a CIE diagram, and a second emitter emitting below the BBL. The combination of light from the first and second emitters generates an emission color point within a standard deviation of the BBL. A second group of solid state emitters is included, the combination of light from the first and second groups of emitters causes emission within a standard deviation of the black body locus (BBL), wherein varying the intensity of the second group of emitters causes emission from the first and second groups of emitters to vary within a range of color temperatures while still emitting within the standard deviation of the BBL.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of at least one operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus, and a control circuit coupled to the sensor. The control circuit is configured to temporarily interrupt electrical current to ones of the plurality of light emitting diodes at respective intervals responsive to the sensor signal indicating that the operating condition does not meet a desired operating threshold to provide a visible indicator thereof in light emitted by the apparatus. Related devices and methods of operation are also discussed.

Abstract: Provided is a solid state lighting apparatus that includes multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) including at least a first LED and a second LED. The apparatus includes a thermal sensor that is configured to provide a temperature signal corresponding to an operating condition of the solid state lighting apparatus and a control circuit that is configured to receive the temperature signal and to selectively interrupt electrical current to a portion of the plurality of light emitting diodes responsive to the temperature signal including a value that exceeds a high temperature limit.

Abstract: LED lighting systems include an enclosure adjacent at least one LED that is configured so that at least some light that is emitted by the at least one LED passes through the enclosure. The enclosure has less than about 10% total absorption. The enclosure also has a transmittance-to-reflectance ratio that is configured to homogenize light that emerges from the enclosure (1) directly from the at least one LED, and (2) after one or more reflections within the enclosure.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a string with a plurality of serially-connected light emitting device sets, each set comprising at least one light emitting device. The apparatus further includes at least one controllable bypass circuit configured to variably bypass current around at least one light emitting device of a set of the plurality of light emitting device sets responsive to a control input. The control input may include, for example, a temperature input, a string current sense input and/or an adjustment input. The control input may be varied, for example, to adjust a color point of the string.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a string of serially-connected light emitting devices and a bypass circuit coupled to first and second nodes of the string and configured to variably conduct a bypass current around at least one of the light-emitting devices responsive to a temperature and/or a total current in the string. In some embodiments, the bypass circuit includes a variable resistance circuit coupled to the first and second nodes of the string and configured to variably conduct the bypass current around the at least one of the light-emitting devices responsive to a control voltage applied to a control node and a compensation circuit coupled to the control node and configured to vary the control voltage responsive to a temperature and/or total string current.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus according to some embodiments includes a circuit including a plurality of light emitting devices, and a configurable shunt configured to bypass at least some current around at least one light emitting device of the plurality of light emitting devices. The configurable shunt may include, for example, a tunable resistor, a fuse, a switch, a thermistor, and/or a variable resistor.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Each of the LEDs includes an LED device configured to emit light having about a first dominant wavelength and a phosphor configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the LED device and responsively emit light having about a second dominant wavelength. A combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a first one of the plurality of LEDs has a first color point and a combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a second one of the plurality of LEDs has a second color point that falls outside a seven step Macadam ellipse around the first color point.

Abstract: LED lighting systems operate their LED above a junction temperature of 85° C. and space apart from the LED, components of the LED lighting system that reduce an expected lifetime of the LED lighting system to less than 25,000 hours as a result of operating the LED above the junction temperature of 85° C. Accordingly, the LED itself may be driven hotter than is conventionally the case, without impacting its lifetime. By allowing the LED to operate hotter, reduced heat sinking may be needed for the LED itself, which can decrease the cost, size and/or complexity of the thermal management system for the LED lighting system and/or can allow a thermal budget for the LED lighting system to be used elsewhere. Related structures are also described.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a semiconductor light emitting device (LED) configured to emit light having a first peak wavelength upon the application of a voltage thereto, an element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the LED, and a pattern of discrete lumiphor-containing regions on a surface of, or within, the element. The lumiphor-containing regions are configured to receive light emitted by the LED and convert at least a portion of the received light to light having a longer wavelength than the first peak wavelength. The remote element may be a lens, a reflective element, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Each of the LEDs includes an LED device configured to emit light having about a first dominant wavelength and a phosphor configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the LED device and responsively emit light having about a second dominant wavelength. A combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a first one of the plurality of LEDs has a first color point and a combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a second one of the plurality of LEDs has a second color point that falls outside a seven step Macadam ellipse around the first color point.

Abstract: SSL lamps or luminaires are disclosed that combine blue, yellow (or green) and red photons or emissions to generate light with the desired characteristics. In different embodiments according to the present invention, the blue emission is not provided by an LED chip or package having a blue LED coated with a yellow phosphor, with blue light leaking through the yellow phosphor. Instead, the blue light component can be provided by other types of LED chips in the SSL luminaire such as one having a blue LED covered by a different colored conversion material, with blue light from the blue LED leaking through the different colored conversion material. In one embodiment, the blue component can be provided by an LED chip comprising a blue emitting LED covered by a conversion material that absorbs blue light and re-emits red light, with a portion of the blue light from the LED leaking through the red conversion material.

Abstract: Solid state lighting components are disclosed having multiple discrete light sources whose light combines to provide the desired emission characteristics. One embodiment of an LED component according to the present invention comprises a rectangular submount. A first group of blue shifted yellow (BSY) LED chips, a second group of BSY LED chips and a group of red LED chips are mounted on the submount. A plurality of contacts is arranged along one of the edges of the submount and accessible from one side of the component for applying electrical signals to the groups of LED chips.

Abstract: Lamps, luminaries or solid state lighting components are disclosed having multiple discrete light sources whose light combines to provide the desired emission characteristics. The discrete light sources are arranged in an array pursuant to certain guidelines to promote mixing of light from light sources emitting different colors of light. One embodiment solid state lighting component comprises a light emitting diode (LED) component having an array of LED chips having a first group of LED chips and one or more additional groups of LED chips. The array is arranged so that no two LED chips from said first group are directly next to one another in the array, that less than fifty percent (50%) of the LED chips in the first group of LEDs is on the perimeter of the array, and at least three LED chips from the one or more additional groups is adjacent each of the LED chips in the first group.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) including at least a first LED and a second LED. Chromaticities of the first and second LEDs are selected so that a combined light generated by a mixture of light from the pair of LEDs has about a target chromaticity. The first LED may include a first LED chip that emits light in the blue portion of the visible spectrum and a phosphor that emits red light in response to blue light emitted by the first LED chip. The second LED emits light having a color point that is above the planckian locus of a 1931 CIE Chromaticity diagram, and in particular may have a yellow green, greenish yellow or green hue.

Abstract: A solid state lighting apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Each of the LEDs includes an LED device configured to emit light having about a first dominant wavelength and a phosphor configured to receive at least some of the light emitted by the LED device and responsively emit light having about a second dominant wavelength. A combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a first one of the plurality of LEDs has a first color point and a combined light emitted by the LED device and the phosphor of a second one of the plurality of LEDs has a second color point that falls outside a seven step Macadam ellipse around the first color point.

Abstract: Semiconductor light emitting circuits include semiconductor light emitting diodes that are serially connected between a pair of input terminals. Four layer semiconductor devices, such as Shockley diodes and/or thyristors are also provided, a respective one of which is connected across a respective one of the semiconductor light emitting diodes. The four layer semiconductor devices can allow a string of light emitting diodes to continue to be lit if one light emitting diode fails.

Abstract: Semiconductor light emitting circuits include semiconductor light emitting diodes that are serially connected between a pair of input terminals. Four layer semiconductor devices, such as Shockley diodes and/or thyristors are also provided, a respective one of which is connected across a respective one of the semiconductor light emitting diodes. The four layer semiconductor devices can allow a string of light emitting diodes to continue to be lit if one light emitting diode fails.

Abstract: A display panel for a flat panel display includes a planar array of LCD devices and a planar array of LED devices that is closely spaced apart from the planar array of LCD devices, at least some of the LED devices being disposed within a periphery of the array of LCD devices such that, in operation, the planar array of LED devices provides backlighting for the planar array of LCD devices. The planar array of LED devices can include at least one solid metal block having first and second opposing metal faces. The first metal face includes therein an array of reflector cavities, and the second metal face includes therein heat sink fins that are exposed at the back face of the flat panel display.