Efficient emitting LED package and method for efficiently emitting light

• US 20070297179A1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creeled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Michael, Bernd, Keller, James, Ibbetson, Eric, Tarsa
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/296.07
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0033 with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/507 the elements being in intimate contact with parts other than the semiconductor body or integrated with parts other than the semiconductor body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements

Abstract

An LED package comprises an LED for emitting LED light, and a conversion material remote to said LED for down-converting the wavelength of LED light. The package further comprises a reflector directing at least some of the LED light toward the conversion material, the conversion material down-converting the wavelength of at least some of the reflected LED light. A method for emitting light from an LED package comprising providing an LED, reflector and conversion material, and emitting light from said LED, at least some of the LED light emitted toward the reflector. The method further comprises reflecting at least some of the LED light toward the conversion material, and converting at least some of said reflected LED light at the conversion material. At least some of the converted reflected LED light is emitted by the LED package.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) package, comprising:

an LED for emitting LED light;

a conversion material remote to said LED for down-converting the wavelength of said LED light;

a reflector reflecting at least some of said LED light toward said conversion material, said conversion material down-converting the wavelength of at least some of said reflected LED light.

2. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material down-converts substantially all of said reflected LED light, said emitter package emitting primarily down-converted LED light.

3. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material down-converted some of said reflected LED light, said emitter package emitting a wavelength combination of said LED light and down-converted LED light.

4. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material comprises one or more phosphors.

5. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material further comprises a reflective element to reflect said down-converted converted LED light and LED light not down-converted.

6. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said reflector reflects substantially all of said LED light away from said LED.

7. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material contains scattering particles.

8. The LED package of claim 1, wherein said conversion material comprises neutral reflective elements to reflect said converted reflected LED light and any reflected light not converted.

9. The LED package of claim 1, further comprising an optical element for light extraction or beam shaping or both.

10. An emitter package, comprising:

a primary emitter emitting light;

a reflective converter remote to said primary emitter capable of converting the wavelength of said emitter light; and

a reflector reflecting at least some of said emitter light toward said reflective converter, the wavelength of at least some of said reflected light converted by said reflective converter.

11. The emitter package of claim 10, wherein said reflective converter comprises one or more phosphors that down convert said emitter light.

12. The emitter package of claim 10, wherein said reflective converter further comprises a reflective element to reflect said converted reflected light and any reflected light not converted.

13. The emitter package of claim 10, wherein said reflector reflects substantially all of said light away from said primary emitter.

14. The emitter package of claim 10, wherein said reflective converter contains scattering particles.

15. The emitter package of claim 10, wherein said reflective converter comprises neutral reflective elements to reflect said converted reflected light and any reflected light not converted.

16. A method for emitting light, comprising;

emitting primary light from a primary emitter;

reflecting at least some of said primary light away from said primary emitter;

converting at least some said reflected primary light;

emitting said converted primary light or a wavelength combination of said converted primary light and said primary light.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said substantially all of said reflected primary light is converted and wherein converted primary light is emitted.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein some of said reflected primary light is converted, and wherein a wavelength combination of said converted primary light and said primary light is emitted.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising reflecting said converted reflected primary light and any reflected primary light not converted.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said converting comprises wavelength down-converting.

21. A method for emitting light from a light emitting diode (LED) package, comprising:

providing an LED, reflector and conversion material;

emitting light from said LED, at least some of said light emitted toward said reflector;

reflecting at least some of said LED light toward said conversion material;

converting at least some of said reflected LED light at said conversion material;

emitting at least some of said converted reflected LED light.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said substantially all of said reflected LED light is converted and wherein converted reflected LED light is primarily emitted.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein some of said reflected LED light is converted, and wherein a wavelength combination of said converted reflected LED light and said reflected LED light is emitted.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising reflecting said converted reflected LED light and any reflected LED light not converted.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said converting comprises wavelength down-converting.

26. A light emitting diode (LED) package, comprising:

an LED mounted to a submount and capable of emitting LED light;

a reflector arranged to reflect at least some of said LED light; and

a reflective converter remote to said LED and arranged to accept at least some of said reflected LED light, down-convert the wavelength of at least some of said reflected LED light, and reflect said down-converted light and any reflected LED light not down-converted.

27. The LED package of claim 26, wherein said reflective converter comprises a conversion material and a reflective element.

28. The LED package of claim 26, wherein said conversion material comprises one or more phosphors.

29. The LED package of claim 26, wherein said reflector reflects substantially all of said LED light away from said LED.

30. The LED package of claim 26, further comprising an optical element.

31. The LED package of claim 26, wherein said reflective converter is mounted to said submount.

32. A method for emitting light, comprising;

emitting primary light from a primary emitter;

directing at least some of said primary light towards a reflective converter;

converting at least some said directed primary light;

emitting said converted primary light or a wavelength combination of said converted primary light and said primary light.

33. A light emitting diode (LED) package, comprising:

an LED for emitting LED light;

a reflective converter remote to said LED for down-converting the wavelength of at least some of said LED light and reflecting said LED light and converted light, said LED emitting LED light toward said reflective converter, said reflective converter extracting said converted light or combination of said converted light and said LED light.

34. The emitter package of claim 33, wherein said reflective converter comprises one or more phosphors that down convert at least some of said LED light.

35. The emitter package of claim 33, wherein said reflective converter further comprises a reflective element said converted light or combination of converted light or said LED extracted by reflecting from said reflective element.

36. The emitter package of claim 35, wherein said LED is arranged such that said reflector reflects at least some of said light toward said LED.

37. The emitter package of claim 35, wherein said reflective converter contains scattering particles.

38. The emitter package of claim 35, wherein said reflective converter comprises neutral reflective elements said converted light or combination of converted light or said LED light extracted by reflecting from said neutral reflective elements.