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Illumination systems utilizing light emitting diodes and light recycling to enhance output radiance

  • US 6,960,872 B2
  • Filed: 03/30/2004
  • Issued: 11/01/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An illumination system, comprising:

  • a light source, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode that emits light, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is further comprised of an emitting layer that emits said light and a reflecting layer that reflects said light, wherein the reflectivity of said reflecting layer is reflectivity RS, wherein the total light-emitting area of said light source is area AS and wherein said light emitted by said light source has a maximum intrinsic source radiance;

    a light-recycling envelope, wherein said light-recycling envelope at least partially encloses said light source, wherein said light-recycling envelope has reflectivity RE and wherein said light-recycling envelope reflects and recycles part of said light back to said reflecting layer of said at least one light-emitting diode; and

    at least one light output aperture, wherein said at least one light output aperture is located in a surface of said light-recycling envelope, wherein the total light output aperture area is area AO, wherein said area AO is less than said area AS, wherein said light source and said light-recycling envelope direct at least a fraction of said light out of said light-recycling envelope through said at least one light output aperture and wherein said fraction of said light exits said at least one light output aperture as incoherent light having a maximum exiting radiance.

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