Abstract:
A Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light including a housing with two ends, a base coupled to the housing at one of the two ends for connecting to an electrical fixture, the housing including vertical plates with a majority of higher-power LEDs mounted on the vertical plates at an angle of less than 75 degrees relative to the vertical plates. In one aspect, the LEDs are mounted in a column and row grid pattern. In one aspect, the housing includes a horizontal plate with lower-power LEDs mounted thereon. In one aspect, the LED light includes a temperature regulation device housed with in its housing for heat dissipation.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §120 
     The present Application for Patent is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 11/924,496 entitled LED Light filed Oct. 25, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,862,204, and assigned to the assignee (who is the listed inventor) hereof and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to lighting sources. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) lighting source. 
     BACKGROUND 
     LED bulbs are light sources that use semiconductor materials rather than filaments to emit light. LED bulbs are generally more efficient light sources than incandescent light bulbs because LED bulbs are nearly monochromatic and emit light within a very narrow range of wavelengths. LED bulbs also generally last many times longer than incandescent light bulbs. 
     Light posts can be fitted with light sources to illuminate a street, parking lot, walkway, etc. Historically, incandescent lights with filament type bulbs have been used for illumination. Since incandescent light bulbs illuminate radially outward, the illumination is distributed approximately uniformly in all directions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to one aspect, a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a base coupled to the housing at the second end; and the housing comprising at least six vertical plates having higher-power LEDs mounted thereon in a column and row of grid pattern; and wherein the higher-power LEDs form an angle of no greater than about seventy degrees relative to each of the at least six vertical plates on which the higher-power LEDs are mounted. 
     According to another aspect, a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a base coupled to the housing at the second end; the housing comprising at least six vertical plates having higher-power LEDs mounted thereon, and wherein the higher-power LEDs form an angle of no greater than about seventy degrees relative to each of the at least six vertical plates on which the higher-power LEDs are mounted; a power supply housed within the housing to regulate power to the higher-power LEDs; and a temperature regulation device housed within the housing to dissipate heat. 
     According to another aspect, a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a base coupled to the housing at the second end; the housing comprising at least six vertical plates having higher-power LEDs mounted thereon in a column and row grid pattern, and wherein in the higher-power LEDs from an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to each of the at least six vertical plates on which the higher-power LEDs are mounted; a horizontal plate mounted on the first end of the housing having lower-power LEDs mounted thereon; at least one power supply housed within the housing to regulate power to the higher-power LEDs and the lower-power LEDs; and a temperature regulation device housed within the housing to dissipate heat. 
     According to another aspect, a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a base coupled to the housing at the second end; and the housing comprising four vertical plates having higher-power LEDs mounted thereon in a column and row grid pattern; and wherein the higher-power LEDs form an angle of no greater than about seventy degrees relative to each of the four vertical plates on which the higher-power LEDs are mounted. 
     According to another aspect, a Light-Emitting Diode (“LED”) light comprising: a housing with a first end and a second end; a base coupled to the housing at the second end; and the housing comprising eight vertical plates having higher-power LEDs mounted thereon and wherein the housing forms an octagonal shape; and wherein the higher-power LEDs form an angle of no greater than about seventy degrees relative to each of the eight vertical plates on which the higher-power LEDs are mounted. 
     It is understood that other embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described various embodiments by way of illustration. The drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and now as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary LED light. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary LED light. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of another exemplary LED light. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of another exemplary LED light. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention, and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the present invention. Acronyms and other descriptive terminology may be used merely for convenience and clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary LED light  100  with arrangements of LEDs pointed downwards toward the ground. One skilled in the art would understand that  FIG. 1  presents an exemplary aspect of the LED light  100  in this disclosure. Various other aspects of the LED light  100  presented in  FIG. 1  will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the dimensions shown in  FIG. 1  are exemplary. Other dimensions will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     In one aspect, a base  101  for connecting to an electrical fixture is fixed to a shaft  102  that supports a housing  103 . The housing  103  comprises of vertical plates  104  upon which higher-power LEDs  105  are mounted. The housing  103  further comprises a horizontal plate  106  upon which lower-power LEDs  107  are mounted. The term “higher-power” and “lower-power” are used here to illustrate the relative power wattage of the two types of LEDs  105  and  107 . One skilled in the art would understand that power wattage are chosen based on the design application and will vary accordingly. In one aspect, the housing  103  comprises two horizontal plates  106 , one mounted at the first end and one mounted at the second end. Each of the two horizontal plates includes lower power LEDs  107  mounted thereon. In one aspect, one of the two horizontal plates includes a cutout for the base  101 . The housing  103  may also comprising a power supply  108  (not shown) to regulate power to the LEDs and a temperature regulation device  110  (not shown) within the housing to dissipate heat. 
     The base  101 , for example, includes but is not limited to a mogul base, an Edison socket base, a bayonet base, a wedge base, a Candelabra base, a recessed single contact base, a single-pin base, a two-pin base, a three-pin base or a four-pin base. In one aspect, the base  101  allows an LED light  100  to be connected to standardized electrical fixtures. In another aspect, the base  101  is customized to fit a customized electrical fixture.  FIG. 1  shows the base  101  on the end of the LED light  100  without the horizontal plate  106 . Alternatively, the base  101  could be fixed to the end of the LED light  100  with the horizontal plate  106 . In one aspect, the horizontal plate  106  includes a cutout to accommodate the base  101 . 
     In one aspect, the vertical plates  104 , for example, are arranged such that there are at least six vertical plates in a hexagonal shape (from the axial view). One skilled in the art would understand that the quantity of vertical plates is a designed choice and may be based on feasibility and manufacturing considerations. In one aspect, four vertical plates  104  are included. In another aspect, eight vertical plates  104  are included. In yet another aspect, ten or twelve vertical plates  104  are included. One skilled in the art would understand that although an even number of vertical plates are recited as examples, an odd number of vertical plates  104  may be included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary LED light  100  and shows eight vertical plates arranged in an octagonal shape. In one aspect, the vertical plates  104  allow placement of a Printed Circuit Board (“PCB”)  111  underneath each of the vertical plates  104  in order to electrically drive the higher-power LEDs  105  mounted thereon. Each of the vertical plates  104 , for example, allows the higher-power LEDs  105  to be connected to the PCB  111  through the vertical plates  104 . One skilled in the art would understand that the quantity of PCB does not have to equal the quantity of vertical plates. For example, an exemplary LED light  100  with eight vertical plates  104  arranged in an octagonal shape could include a single PCB for connection to the LEDs arranged on the eight vertical plates  104 , or it could include eight PCBs, one PCB associated with each vertical plate, or any other quantity of PCBs chosen based on particular applications or manufacturing considerations. 
     In one aspect, the higher-power LEDs  105  mounted on the vertical plates  104 , for example, are arranged as shown in  FIG. 1  in columns  112  and rows  113  in a grid pattern. The quantity of LEDs  105  used in a LED light  100  is dependent on the particular application and desired illumination intensity. The arrangements of the higher-power LEDs  105  may include LEDs with narrow-beam angle and/or wide-beam angle. Alternatively, the higher-power LEDs  105  may also be composed of a combination of LEDs with narrow beam angles and wide beam angles designed to further spread out the light emitted from each of the higher-power LEDs  105 . Generally, the narrower the LED beam angle, the further the emitted light may travel before losing its intensity. One skilled in the art would understand that the LED beam angle is a design parameter that is based upon the particular application. An example of an application is for the LED light  100  to illuminate a street and sidewalk surrounding a street post  117 . One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the LED light  100  is not limited to the example of the street post  117 , but may be adapted to other various applications, including indoor illumination. 
     Generally, each of the columns  112  is arranged running along the longer direction of the vertical plates  104  of the housing  103 . In one aspect, the LED light  100  bulbs on the columns  112  are uniformly spaced apart from each other. Similarly, each of the rows is arranged running along the shorter direction of the vertical plates  104 . In one aspect, the LED light  100  bulbs on the rows  113  are uniformly spaced apart from each other. In one aspect, each of the higher-power LEDs  105  is arranged at an angle  118  relative to the vertical plates  104  such that light emitted by the higher-power LEDs  105  is directed to illuminate the ground with its brightest intensity. In  FIG. 1 , the angle  118  is shown as φ. The higher-power LEDs  105  are arranged on the vertical plates  104  at an angle  118  chosen to reduce illumination in directions that are perpendicular or near perpendicular to the vertical plates  104 . In one example, the angle  118  is chosen to result in an LED illumination pattern that would reduce illumination into the eyes of drivers approaching the LED light  100  in an oncoming direction. 
     In one aspect, the angle  118  at which the higher-power LEDs  105  are mounted is chosen to reduce light pollution above the angle  118 . Accordingly, the higher-power LEDs  105  are mounted so that they tilt toward the ground at an angle  118  to provide maximum desired ground illumination and reduce illumination pollution above an imaginary horizontal line of sight. In one aspect, the higher-power LEDs  105  are mounted at a maximum angle  118  φ of seventy degrees relative to their respective vertical plates to reduce light pollution for oncoming traffic. The angle  118  at greater than about seventy degrees relative to the vertical plates  104 , for example, would not optionally reduce light pollution for oncoming traffic. In one aspect, the higher-power LEDs  105  form an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the vertical plates  104 . 
     In one aspect, the minimum value of the angle  118  is limited by the physical characteristics of the LEDs. For example the physical circumference of the LEDs limits the minimum value of the angle  118  at which the LEDs can be mounted onto the vertical plates  104  while directing its illumination toward the ground. For example, the LEDs&#39; height dimension will also limit the minimum value of the angle  118 . Accordingly, the LEDs can only be angled toward the ground at a certain angle before it physically blocks a nearby LED bulb above or below it. Additionally, the overall physical size of the higher-power LED bulb limits the minimum angle relative to the vertical plates  104  it can be mounted. This minimum angle ensures reduced or not blockage to the light emitted from another nearby LED bulb. Thus, one skilled in the art would understand that the minimum value of the angle  118  is a design parameter dependent on various factors, such as but not limited to the dimensions of the LEDs. In one aspect, the angle  118  is about forty-five degrees. 
     In one aspect, a temperature regulation device  110  is included within the housing  103 . The temperature regulation device  110 , for example, may be an air circulation device such as a fan or a heat transfer device such as a heat sync. The temperature regulation device  110  uniformly dissipates heat collection within the housing  103  to reduce local hot spots on the LED light  100 . Regulating heat dissipation can promote longer life span of the LEDs. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary LED light  100 . In one aspect, the horizontal plate  106  is mounted on the end opposite the base  101 . Alternatively, the horizontal plate  106  maybe mounted on the same end as the base  101 . The polygon shape of the horizontal plate  106  matches the polygon shape formed by the total quantity of vertical plates  104  in the housing. For example, if eight vertical plates  104  form an octagonally shaped perimeter of the LED light  100 , then the horizontal plate  106  would have a corresponding octagonal shape to fit one end of the housing  103 . 
     In one aspect, lower-power LEDs  107  are mounted on the horizontal plate  106  for illumination. In one aspect, the lower-power LEDs  107  are connected to a PCB  111  through the horizontal plate  106 . A number of the lower-power LEDs  107  are mounted on the horizontal plate and arranged in a pattern to fill out the polygon shape of the horizontal plate  106 . In one aspect, the lower-power LEDs  106  have low wattage and may have wide-angled beams to provide a soft glow and reduce lighting pollution above a predefined horizontal line of sight. In one aspect, when mounted to a street post  117 , the lower-power LEDs  107  illuminate the aesthetic elements on one end of the street post  117  with a soft glow. 
     In one aspect, a majority of the higher-power LEDs are mounted at an angle  118  relative to the vertical plates  104 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of another exemplary LED light  200 . Structures shown in  FIG. 3  that are the same as those described in  FIG. 1  have the same numbers. Descriptions of these structures are not repeated here unless necessary for context. LED light  200  includes a mixture of higher-power LEDs mounted at an angle  118  relative to the vertical plates  104  (“angled higher-power LEDs  119 ”) and higher power LEDs mounted approximately perpendicular to the vertical plates  104  (“perpendicular higher-power LEDs  120 ”).  FIG. 4  is a top view of another exemplary LED light  200  showing an exemplary arrangement of angled higher-power LEDs  119  and perpendicular higher-power LEDs  120  mounted on the vertical plates  104 . One skilled in the art would understand that the mixture ratio of angled higher-power LEDs  119  and perpendicular higher-power LEDs  120  is dependent on design choice and application parameters. In one aspect, about 8% to 10% of the higher-power LEDs mounted on the vertical plates  104  are mounted approximately perpendicular to the vertical plates  104  to provide added illumination to the surrounding LEDs. One skilled in the art would understand that to be mounted approximately perpendicular to the vertical plates  104  could include being mounted perpendicular to the vertical plates  104 . 
     The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.