Ac led array module for street light applications

Abstract

A street light includes a pole, arm and a head attached to the pole, wherein the head comprises a light source having a plurality of solid state light emitting devices and an optical element configured to produce a light distribution pattern from light emitted from the solid state light emitting devices, wherein the light source is configured to be powered directly from an AC source.

1 . A street light, comprising:
 a pole; and   a head attached to the pole, wherein the head comprises a light source having a plurality of solid state light emitting devices and an optical element configured to produce a light distribution pattern from light emitted from the solid state light emitting devices, wherein the light source is configured to be powered directly from an AC source.   
     
     
         2 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a thermal management system thermally coupled to the light source. 
     
     
         3 . The street light of  claim 2  wherein the light source further comprises means for providing an electrically insulating and thermally conductive attachment between the solid state light emitting devices and a heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a mounting carriage supporting the light source. 
     
     
         5 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting devices comprises one or more first light emitting devices connected in series and one or more second light emitting devices connected in series, the one or more first light emitting devices being connected in parallel to the one or more second light emitting devices with reverse polarity. 
     
     
         6 . The street light of  claim 5  further comprises one or more capacitors or other power storage devices or electronics electrically coupled to the one or more first light emitting devices and the one or more second light emitting devices to reduce flicker. 
     
     
         7 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the light emitting devices comprises one or more first light emitting devices configured to emit light only during a first portion of an AC cycle and one or more second light emitting devices configured to emit light only during a second portion of the AC cycle, wherein the first portion of the AC cycle is different from the second portion of the AC cycle. 
     
     
         8 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the light source further comprises an electrically conductive substrate supporting the light emitting devices. 
     
     
         9 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the light source further comprises phosphor, and wherein the light emitting devices are encapsulated in the phosphor. 
     
     
         10 . The street light of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a heat spreader thermally coupling the light source to the head. 
     
     
         11 . A street light, comprising:
 a pole;   a head attached to the pole, wherein the head comprises a light source having a plurality of solid state light emitting devices and a phosphor encapsulating the light emitting devices, wherein the light source is configured to be powered directly from an AC source.   
     
     
         12 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the head further comprises a thermal management system thermally coupled to the light source. 
     
     
         13 . The street light of  claim 13  wherein the light source further comprises means for providing an electrically insulating and thermally conductive attachment between the solid state light emitting devices and a heat sink. 
     
     
         14 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the head further comprises a mounting carriage supporting the light source. 
     
     
         15 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the light emitting devices comprises one or more first light emitting devices connected in series and one or more second light emitting devices connected in series, the one or more first light emitting devices being connected in parallel to the one or more second light emitting devices with reverse polarity. 
     
     
         16 . The street light of  claim 15  further comprises one or more capacitors or other electrical power storage devices or electronics electrically coupled to the one or more first light emitting devices and the one or more second light emitting devices to reduce flicker. 
     
     
         17 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the light emitting devices comprises one or more first light emitting devices configured to emit light only during a first portion of an AC cycle and one or more second light emitting devices configured to emit light only during a second portion of the AC cycle, wherein the first portion of the AC cycle is different from the second portion of the AC cycle. 
     
     
         18 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the light source further comprises an electrically conductive substrate supporting the light emitting devices. 
     
     
         19 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the head further comprises an optical element configured to produce a light distribution pattern from light emitted from the solid state light emitting devices. 
     
     
         20 . The street light of  claim 11  wherein the head further comprises a heat spreader thermally coupling the light source to the head.