Solid state LED bridge rectifier light engine

Abstract

A solid-state light engine comprised of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured into a bridge rectifier with a current limiting module coupled to the LED bridge rectifier. The light engine may be packaged for high temperature operation. Optionally, the LEDs comprise wavelength-converting phosphors with a persistence that is a multiple of the peak to peak current period, to smooth and mask ripple frequency pulsation of emitted light.

1 . A solid state light engine comprising: 
 an LED bridge rectifier; and    a current limiting module electrically connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier;    wherein the LED bridge rectifier comprises a plurality of LEDs configured to rectify an AC power signal and emit light, and the current limiting module limits the current passing through the LEDs in the LED bridge rectifier.    
     
     
         2 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises a resistive element.  
     
     
         3 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises a capacitor.  
     
     
         4 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises an inductor.  
     
     
         5 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises a positive temperature coefficient varistor.  
     
     
         6 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises a series combination of a capacitor and a negative temperature coefficient varistor.  
     
     
         7 . The light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises a current regulation circuit.  
     
     
         8 . The solid-state light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the current limiting module comprises one or more LEDs.  
     
     
         9 . The solid state light engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of AC power input terminals electrically connected to the input of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to an AC power source, and a pair of DC power input terminals connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to a DC power source.  
     
     
         10 . The solid state light engine of  claim 1 , wherein the LED bridge rectifier comprises four bridge legs, each bridge leg having at least two LEDs.  
     
     
         11 . The solid state light engine of  claim 1 , further comprising phosphor particles overlying at least one of the LEDs.  
     
     
         12 . The solid state light engine of  claim 11 , wherein the phosphor particles have a persistence in the range between about 40 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         13 . A solid state light engine comprising an LED bridge rectifier, wherein the LED bridge rectifier comprises four bridge legs, each bridge leg having at least two LEDs.  
     
     
         14 . The solid state light engine of  claim 13 , further comprising phosphor particles overlying at least one of the LEDs, wherein the particles have a persistence in the range between about 40 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         15 . The solid state light engine of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more LEDs electrically connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier.  
     
     
         16 . The solid state light engine of  claim 13 , further comprising a pair of AC power input terminals electrically connected to the input of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to an AC power source, and a pair of DC power input terminals connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to a DC power source.  
     
     
         17 . A solid state light engine comprising an LED bridge rectifier having a plurality of LED dice, wherein the LED bridge rectifier is packaged for high temperature operation.  
     
     
         18 . The solid state light engine of  claim 17  wherein the packaging for high temperature operation comprises the plurality of LED dice mounted in thermal contact with a thermally conductive mounting base, and an apertured printed wiring board overlying the thermally conductive mounting base, wherein one or more apertures are in registration with one or more of the LED dice.  
     
     
         19 . The solid state light engine of  claim 18  wherein the thermally conductive mounting base comprises a metal layer.  
     
     
         20 . The solid state light engine of  claim 19  further comprising phosphor particles overlying one or more of the LED dice.  
     
     
         21 . The solid state light engine of  claim 20  wherein a transparent encapsulant overlies one or more of the LED dice and the phosphor particles are dispersed in the encapsulant.  
     
     
         22 . The solid state light engine of  claim 20  wherein the phosphor particles are adhered in a layer to one or more of the LED dice.  
     
     
         23 . The solid state light engine of  claim 20 , wherein the phosphor particles have a persistence in the range between about 40 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         24 . The solid state light engine of  claim 18  further comprising a current limiting module electrically connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier.  
     
     
         25 . The solid state light engine of  claim 24  wherein the current limiting module comprises one or more LEDs.  
     
     
         26 . The solid state light engine of  claim 18  further comprising an interposer disposed between the mounting base and at least one of the LED die, the interposer comprising a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion approximately equivalent to a thermal coefficient of expansion of the at least one LED die.  
     
     
         27 . The solid state light engine of  claim 18 , further comprising a pair of AC power input terminals electrically connected to the input of the LED bridge rectifier, and a pair of DC power input terminals connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier.  
     
     
         28 . The solid state light engine of  claim 17  wherein the packaging for high temperature operation comprises a low temperature co-fired ceramic-on-metal (LTCC-M) base, the base including a surface cavity, and one or more of the LED dice are mounted within the cavity in thermal contact with the base.  
     
     
         29 . The solid state light engine of  claim 28  further comprising phosphor particles overlying one or more of the LED dice.  
     
     
         30 . The solid state light engine of  claim 29  wherein a transparent encapsulant overlies one or more of the LED dice and the phosphor particles are dispersed in the encapsulant.  
     
     
         31 . The solid state light engine of  claim 29  wherein the phosphor particles are adhered in a layer to one or more of the LED dice.  
     
     
         32 . The solid state light engine of  claim 28  further comprising a current limiting module electrically connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier.  
     
     
         33 . The solid state light engine of  claim 29 , wherein the phosphor particles have a persistence in the range between about 40 milliseconds to about 100 milliseconds.  
     
     
         34 . The solid state light engine of  claim 32  wherein the current limiting module comprises one or more LEDs.  
     
     
         35 . The solid state light engine of  claim 28  further comprising an interposer disposed between the base and at least one of the LED die, the interposer comprising a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion approximately equivalent to a thermal coefficient of expansion of the at least one LED die.  
     
     
         36 . The solid state light engine of  claim 28 , further comprising a pair of AC power input terminals electrically connected to the input of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to an AC power source, and a pair of DC power input terminals connected to the rectified output of the LED bridge rectifier for use in coupling the LED bridge rectifier to a DC power source.