Illumination package

• US 20070104963A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epistar Corporation (Ennostar, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Epistar Corporation (Ennostar, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsieh, Min-Hsun, Yin, Chou-Chih
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/423.100
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0071 adapted to illuminate a complete hemisphere or a plane extending 360 degrees around the source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• 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 2924/01322 Eutectic Alloys, i.e. obtained by a liquid transforming into two solid phases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

An illumination package is disclosed in the invention. The illumination package includes an optical element, package base, and a light emitter. The optical element is designed to redirect a majority of light emitted from the light emitter to a direction approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the optical element. In one embodiment, the optical element includes an flared portion and a base portion. The flared portion is constructed by an upper surface forming a recess, a side surface adjacent to the upper surface and curved, and a lower surface connecting to the base portion. In another embodiment, a concave lens is formed on the upper surface.

Claims

1. An optical element comprised of a light-pervious material, comprising:

a base portion having a terrace;

a flared portion protruding from said base portion and constructed from an upper surface forming a recess and having a proximal end and a distal end, a side surface, and a lower surface; and

wherein said upper surface is substantially parallel to or departs far from said lower surface along a path from said proximal end to said distal end.

2. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said upper surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat plane, a rough surface, a curved surface, and any combination thereof.

3. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said side surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat plane, a rough surface, a curved surface, and any combination thereof.

5. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said upper surface and said lower surface are curved to the same direction.

6. The optical element of claim 1, further comprising:

a concaved surface connecting to said lower surface and said base portion.

7. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said terrace comprises an exposed surface selected from the group consisting of a horizontal plane, a curved surface, an incline, and any combination thereof.

8. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said side surface is obliquely angled with respect to a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of said base portion.

9. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said side surface is substantially faced upward.

10. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said flared portion is radially symmetric about a longitudinal axis passing through said optical element.

11. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said flared portion is bilaterally symmetric about a longitudinal plane passing through said optical element.

14. The optical element of claim 1, further comprising:

a package base for supporting at least one of said base portion and said flared portion.

15. The optical element of claim 14, wherein at least one of said base portion and said flared portion is attached to said package portion by a means selected the group consisting of screw, snap fitting, friction fitting, adhesive bonding, heat stacking, ultra-sonic welding, and any combination thereof.

16. The optical element of claim 1, wherein said base portion is adapted to receiving light from a light emitter.

17. The optical element of claim 16, wherein said light emitter is selected from the group consisting of a light-emitting diode, a laser diode, an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent tube, and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

18. The optical element of claim 16, wherein a part of light from said light emitter is refracted out of said optical element through said terrace.

19. The optical element of claim 16, wherein a part of light from said light emitter is guided out of said optical element via reflecting between said upper surface and said lower surface.

20. The optical element of claim 16, wherein a part of light from said light emitter passes through said recess.

4. The optical element of claim I, wherein said lower surface is selected from the group consisting of a flat plane, a rough surface, a curved surface, and, any combination thereof.

12. The optical element of claim I, further comprising:

a cavity formed on a side different from that of said recess on said base portion.

13. The optical element of claim 12, wherein said cavity has a shape selected from the group consisting of a cone, a pyramid, and a hemisphere.