Light-emitting devices and related systems

• US 20070085082A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Luminus Devices Incorporated (Sanan Optoelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lim, Michael, Lidorikis, Elefterios, Karlicek, Robert, Venezia, Jo, Erchak, Alexei, Nemchuk, Nikolay
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/79
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45144 Gold (Au) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49113 the connectors connecting different bonding areas on the semiconductor or solid-state body to a common bonding area outside the body, e.g. converging wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49175 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/45 of an individual wire connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01013 Aluminum [Al]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01014 Silicon [Si]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01046 Palladium [Pd]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0105 Tin [Sn]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/648 the elements comprising fluids, e.g. heat-pipes

Abstract

Light-emitting devices can include a package that supports one or more light-emitting die (e.g., light-emitting diode die, laser diode die) and which can ensure mechanically stability, can facilitate electrical and/or thermal coupling with light-emitting die, and can manipulate the manner by which light generated by the die is emitted out of the light-emitting device. The package can also facilitate the integration of the light-emitting devices in various components and systems. For example, suitable packages may facilitate the use of light-emitting devices in components and systems such as light-emitting panel assemblies, LCD back lighting, general lighting, decorative or display lighting, automotive lighting, and other types of lighting components and systems.

Claims

1. A light-emitting panel assembly comprising:

a light-emitting device designed to emit light;

a heat pipe in contact with the light-emitting device and designed to extract heat from the light-emitting device; and

an illumination panel associated with the light-emitting device such that light emitted from the light-emitting device passes therethrough, wherein the light-emitting device is arranged to emit light into an edge of the illumination panel.

2. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is arranged to wrap around a backside of the illumination panel.

3. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the heat pipe is arranged to wrap around at least a portion of an edge of the illumination panel.

4. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second heat pipe in contact with the light-emitting device and designed to extract heat from the light-emitting device.

5. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the light-emitting devices comprises a plurality of light-emitting die, wherein the second heat pipe is designed to extract heat in the vicinity of one of the plurality of the light-emitting die.

6. A light-emitting module assembly comprising:

a first light-emitting device having a first feature; and

a second light-emitting device having a second feature,

wherein the first feature and the second feature are engaged to connect the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device.

7. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first feature and the second feature are interlocking.

8. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the assembly is rigid.

9. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first light-emitting device is electrically coupled to the second light-emitting device.

10. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first feature is a protrusion.

11. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the second feature is a depression.

12. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device are connected such that light emission surfaces of the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device are aligned so as to be substantially parallel.

13. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first light-emitting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting die, and wherein the second light-emitting device comprises a plurality of light-emitting die.

14. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, further comprising an illumination panel having an emission area, and wherein the first and the second light-emitting devices are associated with the illumination panel such that light emitted from the first and the second light-emitting devices passes therethrough.

15. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and the second light-emitting devices are arranged to emit light into an edge of the illumination panel.

16. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 15, further comprising an LCD layer disposed over the illumination panel.

17. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a supporting structure constructed and arranged to support the first and the second light-emitting devices and the illumination panel, wherein the supporting structure is capable of conducting heat generated by the first and the second light-emitting devices.

18. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

an external heat sink constructed and arranged to extract heat from the first and the second light-emitting devices.

19. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6,

wherein the first light-emitting device comprises a first base structure supporting a first light-emitting die, the first base structure comprising a first heat removal feature,

wherein the second light-emitting device comprises a second base structure supporting a second light-emitting die, the second base structure comprising a second heat removal feature, and

wherein the first and second heat removal features are aligned.

20. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 19, wherein the first and second heat removal features are holes in the first and the second base structures, respectively.

21. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a third light-emitting device having a third feature,

wherein the second light-emitting device further comprises a fourth feature, and

wherein the third feature and the fourth feature are engaged to connect the second light-emitting device and the third light-emitting device.

22. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and the second light-emitting devices comprise LEDs.

23. A light-emitting device comprising:

at least one first feature configured to engage a second feature on a second light-emitting device to connect the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device.

24. The light-emitting device of claim 23, wherein the first feature comprises a protrusion and/or a depression.

25. The light-emitting device of claim 23, wherein the first light-emitting device comprises an LED.

26. A light-emitting module assembly comprising:

a first light-emitting device having a first light emission surface;

a second light-emitting device have a second light emission surface; and

an intermediate component having a first engagement feature and a second engagement feature,

wherein the first engagement feature is connected to the first light-emitting device and the second engagement feature is connected to the second light-emitting device to form a rigid assembly.

27. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 26, wherein first light emission surface and the second light emission surfaces are aligned so as to lie substantially on the same plane.

28. The light-emitting module assembly of claim 26, wherein intermediate component comprises electrical connections electrically coupling an electrical terminal of the first light-emitting device to an electrical terminal of the second light-emitting device.

29. A light-emitting panel assembly comprising:

a light-emitting device designed to emit light;

an illumination panel associated with the light-emitting device such that light emitted from the light-emitting device passes therethrough; and

a supporting structure constructed and arranged to support the light-emitting device and the illumination panel, wherein the supporting structure is capable of conducting heat generated by the light-emitting device.

30. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 29, further comprising an LCD layer disposed over the illumination panel.

31. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 29, wherein the light-emitting device is arranged to emit light into an edge of the illumination panel.

32. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 29, wherein the supporting structure and the illumination panel are not in thermal contact.

33. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 32, wherein a thermally insulating layer is disposed between the supporting structure and the illumination panel such that the supporting structure and the illumination panel are not in thermal contact.

34. The light-emitting panel assembly of claim 29, further comprising an external heat sink constructed and arranged to extract heat from the light-emitting device.