HK1247858B - Light emitting device for inactivating microorganisms - Google Patents

Description

Light-emitting device that inactivates microorganisms

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue, and more particularly, to a light emitting device capable of emitting light that can be perceived as white or a white hue while simultaneously causing the inactivation of microorganisms.

Background Art

Lighting devices are a fundamental requirement in most indoor occupied environments that provide area lighting, for the tasks performed in the area, and for the occupants and objects in the area. Lighting technologies are widely used indoors, ranging from incandescent and halogen bulbs to fluorescent and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs and fixtures (among many other technologies). The primary goal of these lighting technologies to date has been to provide light that can be perceived by humans as "white" light, which can effectively illuminate the different colors, textures, and features of objects in a way that is pleasing to the human eye.

While many technologies are commercially used in lighting, LED lighting is growing as a technology that provides efficient, high-quality white light at an effective cost point. Some common LEDs used for general lighting use a semiconductor junction that is stimulated to emit blue light and is combined with a phosphor material, such as cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce), to convert a portion of this blue light into light of other wavelengths, such as yellow wavelengths. When properly balanced, the combined light emitted from the semiconductor junction and the phosphor material is considered white light or a white hue. Blue-emitting semiconductors are currently used for a number of reasons, including higher efficiency, lower cost, and the more desirable color benefit of the blue light contribution to the entire spectrum (compared to light-emitting semiconductors that emit light of another color).

Some alternative LED technologies use semiconductor junctions that emit UV, near-UV, or violet light instead of blue. Phosphor materials are combined to convert a portion of the blue, violet, or UV light into other wavelengths, and the two components are appropriately balanced to provide white light or a white hue. Violet LEDs are less commonly used due to their generally lower efficiency and cost-effectiveness, but have been commercially demonstrated to provide light of sufficient visual quality in terms of certain characteristics, such as the color rendering index (CRI).

With both LED technologies, achieving relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted radiation is balanced against achieving desired color properties of the emitted radiation (CRI, correlated color temperature (CCT), color gamut, etc.) In other words, the wavelength of the combined light emitted from the lighting device is selected with respect to the spectral sensitivity of the human eye to achieve high efficacy while minimizing the sacrifice of desired color properties.

Alternative light sources have been created with the added benefit of using the emitted light in different ways in mind. Lamps and fixtures have been demonstrated for gardening, health, warmth, and sterilization. In addition to adjusting the luminous efficacy of the emitted light, these lamps and fixtures are tuned to provide increased output for specific areas of the emitted light to achieve additional performance factors.

These lamps and devices provide dual-function or multifunctional lighting by using various alternative functions of light (such as photochemistry, photobiology, radiant energy, etc.). Generally, attempts are made to optimize the radiant energy output for a specific area that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of the added function. For example, attempts are made to optimize lamps and devices used for horticulture to emit light that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of chlorophyll and other plant-based light-activated mechanisms. Attempts are made to optimize lamps and devices used to assist circadian rhythms to emit light that matches the absorption or activation spectrum of melatonin.

In such luminaires and devices that emit light for multiple functions, light emission can be balanced to achieve acceptable levels of each function. One of the functions may be general lighting (e.g., when using multi-function luminaires and devices in spaces occupied by people), in which case achieving relatively high luminous efficacy of the emitted light is balanced not only against achieving desired color characteristics of the emitted light, but also against achieving one or more other functions to an acceptable or desired level.

Summary of the Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclosed herein may include a device for inactivating microorganisms, the device comprising: a light emitter; and at least one light-converting material, the at least one light-converting material being configured to convert at least a portion of light from the light emitter, wherein any light emitted from the light emitter and at least a portion of the converted light emitted from the at least one light-converting material mix to form combined light, the combined light having a proportion of spectral energy measured within a wavelength range of approximately 380 nm to approximately 420 nm that is greater than approximately 20%.

Embodiments of the present disclosure herein may include a device for inactivating microorganisms, the device comprising: a light emitter; and at least one light-converting material, the at least one light-converting material being positioned in a direct path of a first light. The light emitter is configured to emit a first light in a range of 380 nm to 420 nm, and the at least one light-converting material is configured to emit a second light in response to the first light being incident on the at least one light-converting material. The first light exiting the device and the second light exiting the device mix to form a combined light, the combined light being white. The at least one light-converting material includes at least one optical brightener that emits light in a wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the present disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of various aspects of the disclosure, taken together with the accompanying drawings that depict various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG2 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG3 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG4 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG5 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG6 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG7 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG8 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates another light emitting device according to various embodiments.

16 illustrates the ANSI C78.377A LED standard with accepted x-y coordinates at selected CCTs that are the range of color coordinates for light emitting devices in some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Note that the drawings may not be to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the drawings, like reference numerals represent like elements between the drawings. The detailed description of the embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example, to illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure, together with advantages and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to various embodiments, a lighting device is disclosed that can emit light that is perceived as white or a white hue, while also being capable of emitting light having a specific concentration of a specific wavelength associated with the inactivation of at least some microorganisms. The lighting device is comprised of a light emitter (e.g., an LED, a laser) and one or more light conversion materials (e.g., a phosphor, an optical brightener), the one or more light conversion materials being assembled in such a way that light emitted from the light emitter is directed into the light conversion material, and at least a portion of the light directed into the light conversion material is converted by the light conversion material into light of a different quality (e.g., a different peak wavelength). The light can be converted by the light conversion material by absorbing light, which excites or activates the light conversion material to emit light of a different quality (e.g., a different peak wavelength). The combined light emitted by the light emitter and the light conversion material has a proportion of spectral energy measured within a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 420 nm that is greater than about 20%.

The light emitter and the light conversion material can be assembled in many different ways, such as, but not limited to, the embodiments depicted in Figures 1 to 15. The light emitted by the light emitter and the light conversion material can be modified by optics, reflectors, or other assembly components to facilitate the combined light emitted by the light emitting device being perceived as white or a white hue. Referring to Figure 1, a light emitting device 10 is illustrated that includes a pump LED 12 as a light emitter, a light conversion material 14, an encapsulant 16, and a substrate 18. The light conversion material 14 can be dispersed within the encapsulant 16. The pump LED 12 and the light conversion material 14 are supported on the substrate 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a light emitting device 20 that includes a packaged pump LED 22 as a light emitter, a light converting material 24 , a lens 26 containing the light converting material 24 , and a substrate or base 28 .

FIG. 3 illustrates a light emitting device 30 that includes an array 32 of pump LEDs uniformly distributed within an encapsulant 36 and contained by a light converting material 34 .

4 illustrates a light emitting device 40 that includes an array 42 of LEDs and a light converting material 44 that converts light into red, green, blue, and amber light. The light converting material 44 is shown dispersed or contained within an encapsulant 46. The LEDs 42 and encapsulant 46 are shown supported on a substrate 48.

FIG. 5 illustrates a light emitting device 50 that includes an LED 52 encapsulated by a light converting material 54 contained within an encapsulant 56 , both supported on a substrate 58 .

6 illustrates a light emitting device 60 that includes an encapsulated LED 62 contained by a light converting material 64 that includes a lens 66. A base or substrate 68 supports the LED 62, the light converting material 64, and the lens 66.

7 illustrates a light emitting device 70 including an encapsulated LED 72 encompassed by a uniformly coated light converting material 74, which is encompassed by a lens 76. The LED 72, light converting material 74, and lens 76 are supported on a base or substrate 78.

8 illustrates a light emitting device 80 that includes an array 82 of pump LEDs enclosed by a light converting material 84 that is encapsulant 86. The LEDs 82, light converting material 84, and encapsulant 86 are supported on a substrate 88.

9 illustrates a light emitting device 90 that is a bulb, and includes an LED 92, an external light conversion filter 94, a base 97, and a base frame 98. The base 97 and the base frame 98 support the LED 92.

10 illustrates a lighting device 100 that is a light bulb and includes an LED 102, a light converting filter 104 contained by an outer bulb 106, a substrate 107, and a base 108. The light converting filter 104 may be in direct contact with the outer bulb 106.

11 illustrates a light emitting device 110 that is a bulb and includes an LED 112, a light converting filter 114 on top of the pump LED 112, an outer bulb 116, a base 117, and a pedestal 118. The light converting filter 114 may be directly on the pump LED 112.

12 illustrates a light emitting device 120 that is a bulb and includes an LED 122, a light converting filter 124 surrounding the pump LED 122, an outer bulb 126, a substrate 127, and a base 128. The light converting filter 124 may directly contact the pump LED 122.

13 illustrates a light emitting device 130 that is a spotlight, including an LED 132, a light converting filter 134 on the pump LED 132, a reflector 135, a lens 136, and a substrate 137. The light converting filter 134 may be directly on the pump LED 132.

14 illustrates a light emitting device 140 that is a spotlight, including an LED 142, a light converting filter 144, a reflector 145, a lens 146 on the light converting filter 144, and a substrate 147. The lens 146 may be directly on the light converting filter 144.

FIG. 15 illustrates a light emitting device 150 that is a spotlight and includes an LED 152 , a light conversion filter 154 , a reflector 155 , and a substrate 157 .

Although illustrated as LEDs in Figures 1 to 15, the light emitters can be any known emitters, including but not limited to substrates and LEDs (e.g., pump LEDs), packaged LEDs, arrays of LEDs, spotlights, lasers, and traditional or other light bulbs with LED replacement fixtures. The light emitters can have a peak wavelength/most of their light output in the 380nm-420nm wavelength range of light. In embodiments having multiple light emitters (e.g., arrays of LEDs), the light emitters can all emit light of approximately the same wavelength. For example, the array 32 of LEDs shown in Figure 3 and the array 42 of LEDs shown in Figure 4 can all emit light in the 380nm-420nm range. In some embodiments, the arrays 32, 42 of LEDs can all emit light in the 390nm-415nm (and in other embodiments, 400nm-410nm) wavelength range.

As used herein, light-converting materials constitute a broad category of materials, substances, or structures that have the ability to absorb light of a specific wavelength and re-emit it as light of another wavelength. It should be noted that light-converting materials are different from luminescent materials and light-transmitting/filtering materials. Luminescent materials can be broadly classified as materials, substances, or structures/devices that convert non-UV-VIS-IR forms of energy into UV-VIS-IR light emission. Energy in non-ultraviolet-visible-infrared (UV-VIS-IR) forms can include, but is not limited to: electricity, chemical reactions/potentials, microwaves, electron beams, and radioactive decay. Light-converting materials can be contained in or deposited on a medium, which makes a light-converting medium. It should be understood that light-converting materials, light-converting media, light-converting filters, phosphors, and any other terms related to the conversion of light are intended to refer to examples of the disclosed light-converting materials. In some embodiments, the light-converting material can be a phosphor, an optical brightener, a combination of phosphors, a combination of optical brighteners, or a combination of phosphors and optical brighteners. Optical brighteners are light-converting materials (e.g., compounds) that absorb light in the ultraviolet and/or violet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and re-emit light in the blue region. Light-converting materials can be capable of absorbing and emitting light at multiple different wavelengths in both a scaled and non-scaling manner.

Phosphors or other light-converting materials can be deposited directly on the light emitter, as exemplified in at least Figures 1 through 7, or remotely or further removed from the light emitter, as exemplified in at least Figures 9 through 10 and 14 through 15, which illustrate light-converting filters remote from the light emitter. Remote phosphor configurations reduce flux density by increasing the surface area of flux through the light-converting filter. The physical separation of the light emitter and light-converting filter, and the reduced flux, can lower the operating temperature of the light-converting filter by reducing the amount of heat conducted from the light emitter. The lower light-converting filter temperature reduces thermal quenching of light output and other undesirable effects of elevated operating temperatures. The light-converting material can be deposited, for example, as a conformal coating, as a doped encapsulant or adhesive material, and as a remote phosphor. At least one light-converting material can be fully homogenized in varying or equal proportions and used as a bulk mixture, or at least one light-converting material can have some or all of its components separately disposed or layered, affecting the absorption and emission of different materials that, when mixed, may be incompatible or may absorb too much of the underlying light.

In some embodiments, the CRI value of the combined light output or combined emitted light from the light emitting device (e.g., light emitted from the light emitters mixed with light emitted from the light conversion material) can have a CRI value of at least 55, 60, 65, or 70. In other embodiments, the CRI value can be at least 80, 85, 90, or 95, plus or minus approximately 5.

In some embodiments, the combined light output or combined emitted light from the light emitting devices can be white light. White light can be defined as light having a correlated color temperature (CCT) value of about 1000 Kelvin (K) to about 8000K (in some embodiments, about 2000K to about 6000K, and in some embodiments, about 2500K to about 5000K), where "about" can include plus or minus about 200K.

In some embodiments, the light emitting device may have a spectral content of light output within the wavelength range of 380nm-420nm of at least 20%. The spectral content of light output within the wavelength range of 380nm-420nm is defined as the ratio of the absolute irradiance value of light having a wavelength within the range of 380nm-420nm relative to the absolute irradiance value of light having a wavelength within the range of 380nm-720nm. Dividing the former value by the latter value produces the % spectral content of light emitted within the wavelength range of 380nm-420nm. The spectral output is defined as radiant energy. The absolute irradiance value can be measured by any means now known or later developed. In some embodiments, the absolute irradiance value is measured in units of mW of radiant energy.

Spectral content in the 380nm-420nm wavelength range can be used to inactivate bacterial pathogens. The 405nm peak wavelength and wavelength ranges above and below 405nm (380nm-420nm) have been shown to be effective for inactivating bacterial pathogens.

As an example, the device can be assembled similarly to a "blue phosphor" LED device. A blue phosphor LED device is a single-package electronic device capable of emitting light. The embodiment of the device depicted in Figure 2 and several other figures can, for example, be architecturally similar to a "blue phosphor" LED device. Typically, in a "blue phosphor" LED device, a semiconductor LED capable of emitting blue light is covered or surrounded by a phosphor material, or is otherwise positioned so that light emitted from the diode passes through the phosphor. The "blue phosphor" LED device emits some portion of the original blue light from the LED, and some light from the phosphor that has been converted from the blue light. The "blue phosphor" LED device has a combined luminous ratio of blue light to light emitted from the phosphor that emits light that is perceived as white overall.

LED devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure are assembled similarly to "blue phosphor" LED devices, but include semiconductor LEDs that emit most of their light/peak light in the 380nm-420nm wavelength range (rather than in the traditional range of approximately 450nm-495nm that is considered blue). Light in the 380nm-420nm wavelength range is capable of killing or inactivating microorganisms such as, but not limited to, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, bacterial endospores, and yeast and filamentous fungi. Some Gram-positive bacteria that can be killed or inactivated include Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hyosids, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Mycobacterium spp. Some Gram-negative bacteria include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella sonnei, and Serratia. Some bacterial endospores include Bacillus cereus and Clostridium difficile. Some yeasts and filamentous fungi include Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Light in the 380nm-420nm wavelength is effective for each of the bacteria tested, although it takes different amounts of time or dosage depending on the species. Based on known results, it is expected to be effective to a certain extent for all Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria within a time period. It can also be effective for many types of fungi, but these will take longer to show an effect. The LED according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is surrounded by a phosphor material that can absorb a portion of the antibacterial light emitted from the LED (380nm-420nm) and convert it into an alternative wavelength. The LED device can have a combination of selected phosphors (such as, but not limited to, lutetium aluminum garnet and nitride) that, when combined in appropriate proportions, can emit light that is considered white or a white hue. The example LED device can have a CRI equal to or greater than 70. In some embodiments, the example LED device can have a CRI equal to or greater than 80. The percentage of spectral content of light emitted from the example LED device having a wavelength of approximately 380 nm-420 nm can be equal to or greater than 20%. In some embodiments, light having a wavelength in the range of from approximately 380 nm to 420 nm can comprise at least approximately 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, or 50% of the total combined light emitted from the example LED device.

In some embodiments, the light emitting device can be a surface mount LED device that includes an LED and a light conversion material. The surface mount LED device can be mounted on a printed circuit board ("PCB") or otherwise configured to transfer power to the light emitting device and to the LED. The LED can be connected to the PCB with bonding wires or leads that enable electrical connection from the LED to the outside of the device. The device can have a lens, sealant or other protective cover. The embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 8 can be specifically implemented as a surface mount LED device by providing a surface mount LED device with wires or leads connected to each LED, and configured to be connected to a PCB.

In another embodiment, the light emitting device may be a through-hole LED device, which is similar to a surface mount package but is intended to be mounted on a PCB or otherwise configured to transfer power to the device and light emitter via conductive legs that mate with matching holes or vias on a PCB or similar structure. The legs are coupled to the PCB or similar structure with solder or another conductive medium.

In some embodiments, the light emitting device may be a chip-on-board LED structure, which is a package having one or more light sources and a light conversion material. The one or more light sources may be mounted directly to a substrate, and the light conversion material may be positioned so that a desired portion of the emitted light is converted by the light conversion material.

Unlike previous attempts at devices that produce acceptable light spectra, which required incorporating multiple different light emitters into the device to achieve white light of acceptable characteristics, embodiments of the present disclosure do not require multiple different light emitters, each of which would need to combine its light output with the aid of optics or housing structures, which in turn would require increased electronics, controllers, optics, and housing structures. The additional features and increased cost associated with multi-emitter lighting devices make color mixing methods inherently cumbersome for these lighting devices compared to lighting devices with single light emitters that can produce the combined spectrum of a single component.

In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes a unit that uses only violet LEDs (approximately 405 nm) to generate white light while maintaining the desired spectrum of germicidal properties. Color temperatures of 2700K, 3500K, and 4100K with a CRI above 80 are possible using a single light emitter (e.g., an LED) according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Typically, a CCT range of 2700K-5000K with a minimum CRI of 70 and violet spectrum content above 20% is possible. In some embodiments, the use of two or more light-converting materials can achieve these values. In some embodiments, phosphors (such as nitrides, lutetium aluminum garnet, and Ca ₂ PO ₄ Cl:Eu ²⁺ ) that convert light to each of the red (620nm-750nm), green (495nm-570nm), and blue (450nm-495nm) wavelengths can be used, respectively.

A challenging aspect to overcome is the lack of blue light emission compared to traditional LED white light. While violet light can be combined with other colors to produce white, it has been found that individual perception of violet light varies. This means that different people perceive the combined light differently; some may see too much violet, while others may not see enough; this leads to an overall misrepresentation of the white light color. Furthermore, without sufficient blue light, achieving a high CRI becomes even more difficult. Previous attempts have used blue LEDs mixed with other colors to boost CRI and balance the color of the mixed light output. Even with this approach, some people still perceive the light differently depending on their sensitivity, but the overall observed color of the combined spectrum has been shown to be less variable. Instead, some embodiments herein add blue light by using phosphors, optical brighteners, or other blue-emitting materials. These materials can absorb violet light and emit blue light, eliminating the need _for discrete blue LEDs. Some phosphor material compositions include yttrium aluminum garnet, lutetium aluminum garnet, nitrides, oxynitrides, calcium sulfide, _Ca₂PO₄Cl :Eu₂ ⁺ , and silicates. Some optical brighteners are chemical derivatives of stilbene, coumarin, 1,3-diphenylpyrazoline, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, heterocyclic dicarboxylic acids, and cinnamic acid.

FIG16 serves as an example of color coordinates and ranges of color coordinates that can be actually achieved in some embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that these are examples of some existing standards for color coordinates that can be achieved; other standards for white light, either existing or developed in the future, may be used. Additionally, the disclosed device can be appropriately matched to a CIE standard illuminant and/or a family of standard illuminants in color coordinates; it should be noted that the disclosed device may not match all defined characteristics of a standard illuminant, but in some embodiments will appropriately match xy color coordinates. Some of these additional CIE standard illuminants include, but are not limited to, A, B, C, D50, D55, D65, D75, E, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, and F12.

The above description of various aspects of the present disclosure is provided for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such variations and modifications that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. A luminescent device for inactivating microorganisms, the luminescent device comprising: One or more light emitters, said one or more light emitters being configured to emit light having the same wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm; and At least two light conversion materials are configured to convert a portion of the light emitted from the one or more emitters into at least two different wavelengths, said at least two different wavelengths being different from the wavelengths of the light emitted from the one or more emitters. The light emitted from one or more light emitters and the light emitted from at least two light conversion materials are mixed to form a combined light, which is white, has a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70, and has a proportion of spectral energy greater than 20% measured in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm. 2. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light emitters comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 3. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more light emitters includes a laser. 4. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two light conversion materials includes at least one phosphor. 5. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two light conversion materials includes at least one optical brightener. 6. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm. 7. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the one or more light emitters emits light having a peak wavelength of 405 nm. 8. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a CRI of at least 80. 9. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more light emitters comprise an array of light emitters, and the at least two light conversion materials are uniformly distributed on each light emitter of the array. 10. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) between 1000K and 8000K. 11. The light-emitting device according to claim 10, wherein the combined light has a CCT between 2500K and 5000K. 12. A luminescent device for inactivating microorganisms, the luminescent device comprising: One or more light emitters, said one or more light emitters being configured to emit a first light having the same wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm; and A first light conversion material is positioned in the direct path of the first light and configured to emit second light in the wavelength range of 450 nm to 495 nm based on the first light being incident on the first light conversion material. A second light conversion material is positioned in the direct path of the first light and configured to emit a third light with a wavelength different from the first light and the second light based on the first light or the second light being incident on the second light conversion material; The first light conversion material includes at least one optical brightener, the second light conversion material includes at least one phosphor, and the first light, the second light, and the third light are mixed to form a combined light, the combined light being white, having a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70, and having a proportion of spectral energy greater than 20% measured in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 420 nm. 13. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the one or more light emitters comprises a light-emitting diode (LED). 14. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the combined light has a peak wavelength in the range of 380 nm to 420 nm. 15. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the second light conversion material comprises: a first phosphor emitting light in the wavelength range of 620 nm to 750 nm; and a second phosphor emitting light in the wavelength range of 495 nm to 570 nm. 16. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the combined light has a CRI of at least 80. 17. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the combined light has a correlated color temperature (CCT) between 1000K and 8000K. 18. The light-emitting device according to claim 17, wherein the combined light has a CCT between 2500K and 5000K. 19. The light-emitting device according to claim 12, wherein the one or more light emitters comprise an array of light emitters, and wherein the first light conversion material and the second light conversion material are uniformly distributed on each of the light emitters in the array. 20. A light-emitting device for inactivating microorganisms, the light-emitting device comprising: Light emitter; and At least one light conversion material, said light conversion material being configured to convert at least a portion of the light emitted from said light emitter. Wherein, any light emitted from the emitter and the at least one light conversion material is mixed to form a combined light, which is white, has a color rendering index (CRI) value of at least 70, a correlated color temperature (CCT) between 1000K and 8000K, and has a proportion of spectral energy greater than 20% measured in the wavelength range of 380nm to 420nm. 21. The light-emitting device according to claim 20, wherein the CCT is between 2500K and 5000K.