LED system and method
First Claim
1. An LED comprising:
- a quantum well region operable to generate light; and
a shaped substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, wherein light generated by the quantum well region traverses the interface, the shaped substrate comprising;
an exit face opposite from and a distance from the interface, wherein the substrate is shaped so that a portion of the light entering the shaped substrate through the interface will exit the shaped substrate through the exit face and wherein the exit face has at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for a desired half-angle of light projected from the shaped substrate; and
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that at least a majority of rays having a straight transmission path from the interface to that sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments provide an LED comprising a quantum well region operable to generate light and a substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, wherein light generated by the quantum well region traverses the interface to enter the substrate and exit the LED through an exit face of the substrate. The exit face may be opposite from and a distance from the interface, with some portion or all of this LED being shaped to optimize the light extraction efficiency of the device. The exit face can have at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light. Sidewalls of the LED may be positioned and shaped so that rays incident on a sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An LED comprising:
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a quantum well region operable to generate light; and
a shaped substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, wherein light generated by the quantum well region traverses the interface, the shaped substrate comprising;
an exit face opposite from and a distance from the interface, wherein the substrate is shaped so that a portion of the light entering the shaped substrate through the interface will exit the shaped substrate through the exit face and wherein the exit face has at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for a desired half-angle of light projected from the shaped substrate; and
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that at least a majority of rays having a straight transmission path from the interface to that sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An LED comprising:
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a quantum well region operable to generate light;
a shaped substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, the shaped substrate comprising;
an exit face opposite from and a distance from the interface, wherein the substrate is shaped so that a portion of the light entering the shaped substrate through the interface will exit the shaped substrate through the exit face and wherein the exit face has at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for a desired solid angle of light projected from the shaped substrate;
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that at least a portion of rays having a straight transmission path from the interface to that sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face;
wherein the area of the exit face, distance and sidewall shapes are selected to project light with a half angle of between 10 to 60 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An LED comprising:
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a quantum well region operable to generate light;
a shaped substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, the shaped substrate comprising;
an exit face opposite from and a distance from the interface, wherein;
the substrate is shaped so that a portion of the light entering the shaped substrate through the interface will exit the shaped substrate through the exit face;
the exit face has an area that is within 30% of a minimum area defined by
D2n21
wherein Φ
1 is the light flux traversing the interface;
Φ
2 is the light flux exiting the exit face and is equal to Φ
1;
Ω
1 is the effective solid angle whereby light traverses the interface and Ω
2 is the effective solid angle whereby light leaves the exit face;
A1 is the area of the interface;
n1 is the refractive index of the shaped substrate and n2 is the refractive index of the medium external to the shaped substrate;
the distance is at least a minimum distance so that all rays with a straight transmission path from the interface to the exit face have an angle of incidence that is less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit face; and
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that at least a portion of rays having a straight transmission path from the interface to that sidewall reflect to the exit face with an angle of incidence at the exit face at less than or equal to the critical angle at the exit face. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An LED comprising:
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a quantum well region operable to generate light; and
a shaped substrate having an interface with the quantum well region, wherein light generated by the quantum well region traverses the interface, the shaped substrate comprising;
at least two exit faces, wherein the substrate is shaped so that a portion of the light entering the shaped substrate through the interface will exit the shaped substrate through the at least two exit faces and wherein the at least two exit faces have a combined area that is at least 70% of a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance; and
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that at least a majority of rays having a straight transmission path from the interface to that sidewall reflect to an exit face of the two or more exit faces with an angle of incidence at that exit face at less than or equal to a critical angle at that exit face.
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Specification