Patent ID: 7224001

Claim:
A semiconductor light source for emitting light to illuminate a space used by humans, the semiconductor light source comprising: an enclosure, said enclosure being fabricated from a material substantially transparent to white light, an interior volume within said enclosure, a heat sink located in said interior volume, said heat sink being capable of drawing heat from one or more semiconductors devices, said heat sink having a plurality of panels on it suitable for mounting semiconductor devices thereon, said panels on said heat sink being oriented to facilitate emission of light from the semiconductor light source in desired directions around the semiconductor light source, at least one semiconductor chip capable of emitting light mounted on one of said panels, said semiconductor chip being capable of emitting monochromatic light, said semiconductor chip being selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, light emitting diode arrays, laser chips, LED modules, laser modules, and VOSEL chips, said chip including a substrate on which epitaxial layers are grown, a buffer layer located on said substrate, said buffer layer serving to mitigate differences in material properties between said substrate and other epitaxial layers, a first cladding layer serving to confine electron movement within the chip, said first cladding layer being adjacent said buffer layer, an active layer, said active layer emitting light when electrons jump to a valance state, a second cladding layer, said second cladding layer positioned so that said active layer lies between cladding layers, a first and a second reflective layer, each of said first and second reflective layers being located on opposite sides of said active layer, said reflective layers serving to reflect light emitted by said active layer, said reflective layers including multiple quantum wells, a contact layer on which an electron may be mounted for powering said chip, a coating for converting monochromatic light emitted by said chip to white light, an air entrance, an air exit, and an interior airflow path through said heat sink, said air entrance and air exit being proximate a fitting for electrical connection to a light bulb socket, said airflow path proceeding from said air entrance toward the top of the bulb, turning 90 degrees to move laterally a predetermined distance, then turning to move down toward the bottom of the bulb, and out said air exit, said airflow path permitting air to enter said heat sink through said air entrance, absorb heat from said heat sink, and exit said heat sink through said air exit, and air located within said enclosure.