SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE WITH INCORPORATED LIGHT OR TEMPERATURE SENSORS AND TIME MULTIPLEXING

• US 20120248988A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kmetec, Jeffrey Dellert, Vos, Frans Maurits
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,533 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/149
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/22 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 using temperature feedback

Abstract

Proposed is a package (10) having at least two pins (11, 12). The package comprises a semiconductor structure (20) having a first function and an electrical circuit (30) comprising at least one circuit element having a second function. The structure (20) and the circuit (30) are electrically connected to the pins (11, 12). Moreover, the package is operable to perform the first and second function by time multiplexing a first (60) and second (70) operating signal through the pins (11, 12). Finally, the first function is a lighting function and the second function is a sensing function. The invention is especially advantageous as it provides a cost effective and versatile miniaturized light emitting package comprising LEDs or laser diodes.

Claims

1. A package having at least two pins, the package comprising

a semiconductor structure having a first function,

an electrical circuit comprising at least one circuit element having a second function, said circuit element having a diode property and being arranged anti-parallel to the semiconductor structure,

wherein the structure and the circuit are electrically connected to the pins,

wherein the package is operable to perform the first and second function by time multiplexing a first operating signal with a positive polarity and a second operating signal with a negative polarity through the pins, and

wherein the first function is a lighting function and the second function is a sensing function.

3. A package according to claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises at least one DC operated device comprising at least one of a temperature sensor and a light sensor.

4. A package according to claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises a diode arranged anti-parallel to the semiconductor structure.

5. A package according to claim 1, wherein the sensing function comprises one of a flux measurement or a colour point measurement.

6. A package according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the circuit is integrated in the semiconductor structure.

7. A package according to claim 6, wherein the semiconductor structure comprises a sub-mount and the circuit is integrated on the sub-mount.

8. A package according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor structure comprises at least one of a light emitting diode and a laser diode.

9. A light emitting module comprising a package according to claim 1.

10. A light emitting module according to claim 9, wherein the module further comprises processing means arranged to time multiplex the first and second operating signals.

2. (canceled)

11. A method of operating a light emitting module comprising the steps

arranging the module to comprise a package having at least two pins,

arranging the package to comprise a semiconductor structure having a first function and an electrical circuit comprising at least one circuit element having a second function, said circuit element having a diode property and being arranged anti-parallel to the semiconductor structure,

electrically connecting the structure and the circuit to the pins, and

operating the package to perform the first and second function by time multiplexing a first operating signal with a positive polarity and second operating signal with a negative polarity through the pins,

wherein the first function is a lighting function and the second function is a sensing function.