Lighting devices utilizing optical waveguides and remote light converters, and related methods

• Main Authors: Davis James Lynn, Ward Brent Thomas, Lamvik Michael
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.09.2016
• Subjects: BLASTING; CONTROLLING; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMSTHEREOF; HEATING; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATINGELEMENTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHERARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLEEXTERIORS; WEAPONS

A lighting device (100) includes a housing (104), a light converter (136), one or more light sources (132), and one or more optical waveguides (160). The housing includes a light exit (124) for outputting a combination of primary light (140) and secondary light (156,158). The light source emits a primary light beam of a primary wavelength. The optical waveguide includes an input end (162) optically coupled to the light source, and an output end (164) facing a housing interior (108) and positioned at an angle to an axial direction through the housing interior. The optical waveguide directs the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward a luminescent material of the light converter. The luminescent material emits secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam. The light source may be mounted outside the housing interior so as not to obstruct light propagation.