Inverse visible spectrum light and broad spectrum light source for enhanced vision

摘要

A visible light spectrum and light source apparatus are described that provide over 90% of their total radiant power within the 385 nm-530 nm and the 570 nm-820 nm spectral ranges, collectively. The objective of the light spectrum and apparatus is to improve the visibility and shape of a wider range of objects than is practical using conventional LED white light sources at similar radiant power conditions. The new light source can provide good Scotopic or Mesopic at low power levels compared to most other light sources for illumination. One illustrative embodiment of this new spectrum and light source provides a full visible light spectrum with at least 6% of the highest peak radiant power of all wavelengths between 405 nm-730 nm, and another illustrative embodiment provides a similar full spectrum between 440 nm and 730 nm. In both embodiments, the average radiant power in the 475-510 nm cyan spectral region is at least 2-times the average radiant power in the 530-570 nm spectral region.

主权项

1. A light source configured to generate a light output for enhanced scotopic and mesopic visual acuity, said light source comprising (i) an array of LEDs, or (ii) one or more LEDs and one or more spectrum converters operatively arranged to convert light emitted by at least one of the one or more LEDs,
wherein (i) the array of LEDs, or (ii) the one or more LEDs and the one or more spectrum converters, is constructed and arranged to produce a light output spectrum in said light output including radiant power peaks in the red spectral range of 630-730 nm, in the blue-violet spectral range of 375-465 nm, and in the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm, and wherein in said light output spectrum produced by (i) the array of LEDs, or (ii) the one or more LEDs and the one or more spectrum converters, the radiant power of said light output spectrum in each of (a) the red spectral range of 630-730 nm of said light output spectrum, (b) the blue-violet spectral range of 375-465 nm of said light output spectrum, and (c) the cyan spectral range of 470-510 nm of said light output spectrum, is greater than (d) the radiant power in the yellow-green spectral range of 530-570 nm of said light output spectrum, wherein the light source is characterized by at least one characteristic or component selected from the group of characteristics or components consisting of: a) the light source comprising one or more violet LEDs, and the one or more spectrum converters comprising one or more spectrum converter structures that absorb at least 20% of the emitted light from the one or more violet LEDs in the 375 nm-425 nm spectral range and emit light primarily within the 390 nm-520 nm spectral range; b) the light source comprising one or more violet LEDs, and the one or more spectrum converters comprising one or more spectrum converter structures that absorb at least 20% of the emitted light from the one or more violet LEDs and emit light exhibiting one or more emission peaks in the 470 nm-530 nm spectral range. c) the light source comprising one or more violet LEDs, and the one or more spectrum converters comprising one or more spectrum converter structures that absorb at least 20% of the emitted light from the one or more violet LEDs and emit light exhibiting one or more emission peaks in the 580 nm-730 nm spectral range, with the proviso that if this or these 580 nm-730 nm spectral peak(s) are below 630 nm, then the relative radiance at 640 nm must be at least 45% of the 580-630 nm spectral peak; d) the one or more spectrum converters comprising one or more spectrum converter structures that absorb light primarily in the 520-580 nm spectral range and emit light primarily in the 580nm-780 nm range and that are arranged to reduce radiant power in the 530-570 nm spectral range while increasing radiant power in the over-580 nm spectral range; e) the one or more spectrum converters comprising at least one of phosphor(s), fluorescent dye(s), and quantum dots, wherein the one or more spectrum converters are at least one of (i) in one or more translucent medium materials, and (ii) on one or more reflective medium materials; the one or more spectrum converters comprising multiple spectrum converters arranged in parallel or in series, or in a combined parallel and series arrangement; g) the one or more spectrum converters absorb over 30% and less than 85% of light from at least one of the one or more LEDs of the light source; h) the one or more spectrum converters are in an optical path of light from at least one of the one or more LEDs of the light source to objects to be illuminated; i) the light source comprising an optical arrangement wherein the one or more spectrum converters (i)-pass, (ii) emit, or (iii) pass and emit light (A) at all wavelengths in the 440-730 nm spectral range, or (B) at all wavelengths in the 405 nm-730 nm spectral range with at least at 6% of the highest radiant spectral peak provided at all wavelengths in said 405-730 nm spectral range; j) the light output of the light source comprising average radiant power in the 530-570 nm spectral range that is no less than 6%, but no more than 45%, of radiant power of the highest peak in the overall light spectrum of the light source; k) the one or more spectrum converters comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of fluorescent dyes, phosphorescent dyes, phosphors, and quantum dots, in one or more translucent medium materials, wherein intrinsic internal quantum yields (QY-i) of primary individual active color converting materials in the one or more spectrum converters are at least 60%; and l) the light source comprising one or more optical elements selected from the group consisting of photonic crystals, polarizers, gratings, reflectors, lenses, interference filters, and non-interference filters, wherein the one or more optical elements are arranged before or after at least one of the one or more spectrum converters, in an optical path of the light source.