Abstract: LED based lamps and bulbs are disclosed that comprise a pedestal having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the pedestal at least partially comprises a thermally conductive material. A heat sink structure is included with the pedestal thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. A remote phosphor is arranged in relation to the LEDs so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the remote phosphor and is converted to a different wavelength of light. Some lamp or bulb embodiments can emit a white light combination of light from the LEDs and the remote phosphor. These can include LEDs emitting blue light with the remote phosphor having a material that absorbs blue light and emits yellow or green light. A diffuser can be included to diffuse the emitting light into the desired pattern, such as omnidirectional.

Abstract: An LED lamp or bulb is disclosed that comprises a light source, a heat sink structure and a remote phosphor carrier having at least one conversion material. The phosphor carrier can be remote to the light sources and mounted to the heat sink so that heat from the phosphor carrier spreads into the heat sink. The phosphor carrier can have a three-dimensional shape, and can comprise a thermally conductive transparent material and a phosphor layer, with an LED based light source mounted to the heat sink such that light from the light source passes through the phosphor carrier. At least some of the LED light is converted by the phosphor carrier, with some lamp embodiments emitting a white light combination of LED and phosphor light. The phosphors in the phosphor carriers can be arranged to operate at a lower temperature to thereby operate at greater phosphor conversion efficiency and with reduced heat related damage to the phosphor.

Abstract: Lamps and bulbs are disclosed generally comprising different combinations and arrangements of a light source, one or more wavelength conversion materials, regions or layers which are positioned separately or remotely with respect to the light source, and a separate diffusing layer. This arrangement allows for the fabrication of lamps and bulbs that are efficient, reliable and cost effective and can provide an essentially omni-directional emission pattern, even with a light source comprised of a co-planar arrangement of LEDs. The lamps according to the present invention can also comprise thermal management features that provide for efficient dissipation of heat from the LEDs, which in turn allows the LEDs to operate at lower temperatures. The lamps can also comprise optical elements to help change the emission pattern from the generally directional (e.g. Lambertian) pattern of the LEDs to a more omni-directional pattern.

Abstract: A lighting device comprising a light source and a diffuser spaced from the light source. The lighting device further comprises a wavelength conversion material disposed between the light source and the diffuser and spaced from the light source and the diffuser, wherein the diffuser is shaped such that there are different distances between the diffuser and said conversion material at different emission angles. In other embodiments the diffuser includes areas with different diffusing characteristics. Some lamps are arranged to meet A19 and Energy Star lighting standards.

Abstract: An LED lamp or bulb is disclosed that comprises a light source, a heat sink structure and a remote planar phosphor carrier having at least one conversion material. The phosphor carrier can be remote to the light sources and mounted to the heat sink so that heat from the phosphor carrier spreads into the heat sink. The phosphor carrier can comprise a thermally conductive transparent material and a phosphor layer, with an LED based light source mounted to the heat sink such that light from the light source passes through the phosphor carrier. At least some of the LED light is converted by the phosphor carrier, with some lamp embodiments emitting a white light combination of LED and phosphor light. The phosphor arranged according to the present invention can operate at lower temperature to thereby operate at greater phosphor conversion efficiency and with reduced heat related damage to the phosphor.

Abstract: Solid state lamp or bulb structures are disclosed that can provide an essentially omnidirectional emission pattern from directional emitting light sources, such as forward emitting light sources. The present invention is also directed to lamp structures using active elements to assist in thermal management of the lamp structures and in some embodiments to reduce the convective thermal resistance around certain of the lamp elements to increase the natural heat convection away from the lamp. Some embodiments include integral fans or other active elements that move air over the surfaces of a heat sink, while other embodiments comprise internal fans or other active elements that can draw air internal to the lamp. The fan's movement of the air over these surfaces can agitate otherwise stagnant air to decrease the convective thermal resistance and increasing the ability of the lamp to dissipate heat generated during operation.

Abstract: Solid state lamp or bulb structures are disclosed that can provide an essentially omnidirectional emission pattern from directional emitting light sources, such as forward emitting light sources. The present invention is also directed to lamp structures using active elements to assist in thermal management of the lamp structures and in some embodiments to reduce the convective thermal resistance around certain of the lamp elements to increase the natural heat convection away from the lamp. Some embodiments include integral fans or other active elements such as diaphragm-pump type active cooling elements, that move air over the surfaces of a heat sink, while other embodiments comprise internal fans or other active elements that can draw air internal to the lamp. The movement of the air over these surfaces can agitate otherwise stagnant air to decrease the convective thermal resistance and increasing the ability of the lamp to dissipate heat generated during operation.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays can be used as a thermal interface materials (TIMs). Using a phase sensitive transient thermo-reflectance (PSTTR) technique, the thermal conductance of the two interfaces on either side of the CNT arrays can be measured. The physically bonded interface has a conductance ˜105 W/m2-K and is the dominant resistance. Also by bonding CNTs to target surfaces using indium, it can be demonstrated that the conductance can be increased to ˜106 W/m2-K making it attractive as a thermal interface material (TIM).

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: A two-sided carbon nanostructure thermal interface material having a flexible polymer matrix; an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface of the flexible polymer matrix; and an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a second surface of the flexible polymer matrix, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposite sides of the flexible polymer matrix.

Abstract: A carbon nanostructure adhesive for adhering two surfaces together, including: an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface; and a second surface positioned adjacent to the vertically aligned carbon nanostructures such that the vertically aligned carbon nanostructures adhere the first and second surfaces together by van der Waals forces.