Reflective optical elements for semiconductor light emitting devices

• US 7,118,262 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CREE Led Incorporated (Smart Global Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Negley, Gerald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US10/898,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/560, 362/311, 362/307, 362/308, 362/309, 362/296, 362/341, 362/326, 362/327, 362/329, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• 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: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

Optical elements for semiconductor light emitting devices include a body that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device. The body includes an integral lens. A mirror is provided in and/or on the body. The body, the lens and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body.

Claims

1. An optical element for a semiconductor light emitting device, comprising:

a body that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device and that includes a lens integral therewith; and

a mirror that is in the body;

the body, the lens and the mirror being positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body;

wherein the mirror comprises a reflective plug that extends in the body.

2. An optical element according to claim 1 wherein the body, the lens and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device in a first direction enters the body, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

3. An optical element according to claim 1 wherein the body, the lens and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device in a first direction enters the body, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body over 360°

in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

4. An optical element according to claim 1 wherein the lens comprises a portion of an outer surface of the body.

5. An optical element according to claim 1 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the body is configured to attach to the mounting substrate.

6. An optical element according to claim 1 in combination with the semiconductor light emitting device that is attached to the body.

7. An optical element according to claim 6 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the body is configured to attach to the mounting substrate such that the semiconductor light emitting element is between the mounting substrate and the body.

8. An optical element according to claim 7 further comprising an optical coupling medium between the semiconductor light emitting element and the body.

9. An optical element for a semiconductor light emitting device comprising:

a body that is transparent to optical radiation from a semiconductor light emitting device, the body including a base that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device, a cavity that is remote from the base and that defines a cavity surface and a lens element on a surface of the body between the base and the cavity; and

a mirror on at least a portion of the cavity surface;

wherein the mirror comprises a reflective plug in the cavity.

10. An optical element according to claim 9 wherein the base, the cavity the lens element and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body perpendicular to the base, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body parallel to the base.

11. An optical element according to claim 9 wherein the base, the cavity the lens element and the mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body perpendicular to the base, is reflected from the mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body parallel to the base over 360°

.

12. An optical element according to claim 9 wherein the cavity is an inverted conical cavity and the cavity surface is an inverted conical cavity surface.

13. An optical element according to claim 9 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the base is configured to attach to the mounting substrate.

14. An optical element according to claim 9 in combination with the semiconductor light emitting device that is attached to the body.

15. An optical element according to claim 14 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the base is configured to attach to the mounting substrate such that the semiconductor light emitting element is between the mounting substrate and the body.

16. An optical element according to claim 15 further comprising an optical coupling medium between the semiconductor light emitting element and the body.

17. An optical element for a semiconductor light emitting device comprising:

a truncated spherical body that is transparent to optical radiation from a semiconductor light emitting device, the truncated spherical body including a base that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device, and an inverted conical cavity that is remote from the base and that defines an inverted conical cavity surface; and

an inverted conical mirror on the inverted conical cavity surface.

18. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the truncated spherical body and the inverted conical cavity include coincident axes and wherein the base is positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body parallel to the coincident axes, is reflected from the inverted conical mirror and emerges from the truncated spherical body parallel to the base over 360°

.

19. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the inverted conical cavity includes a curved and/or segmented surface when viewed in cross section.

20. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the truncated spherical body includes a curved and/or segmented surface when viewed in cross section.

21. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the inverted conical mirror comprises a reflective coating that extends on the inverted conical cavity surface.

22. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the inverted conical mirror comprises a reflective inverted conical plug in the inverted conical cavity.

23. An optical element according to claim 21 further comprising:

a plug on the reflective coating opposite the inverted conical cavity.

24. An optical element according to claim 17 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the base is configured to attach to the mounting substrate.

25. An optical element according to claim 17 in combination with the semiconductor light emitting device that is attached to the body.

26. An optical element according to claim 25 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the base is configured to attach to the mounting substrate such that the semiconductor light emitting element is between the mounting substrate and the body.

27. An optical element according to claim 26 further comprising an optical coupling medium between the semiconductor light emitting element and the body.

28. An optical element according to claim 18 wherein the optical element is symmetrical about the coincident axes.

29. An optical element for a semiconductor light emitting device, comprising:

a body that is configured to attach to a semiconductor light emitting device and that includes a lens integral therewith; and

a V-shaped mirror that is in and/or on the body;

the body, the lens and the V-shaped mirror being positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device enters the body, is reflected from the V-shaped mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body as two beams.

30. An optical element according to claim 29 wherein the body, the lens and the V-shaped mirror are positioned such that, in operation, light that is emitted from the semiconductor light emitting device in a first direction enters the body, is reflected from the V-shaped mirror and passes through the lens to emerge from the body in two second directions that are perpendicular to the first direction.

31. An optical element according to claim 29 wherein the lens comprises a portion of an outer surface of the body.

32. An optical element according to claim 29 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the body is configured to attach to the mounting substrate.

33. An optical element according to claim 29 in combination with the semiconductor light emitting device that is attached to the body.

34. An optical element according to claim 33 wherein the semiconductor light emitting device comprises a semiconductor light emitting element on a mounting substrate and wherein the body is configured to attach to the mounting substrate such that the semiconductor light emitting element is between the mounting substrate and the body.

35. An optical element according to claim 34 further comprising an optical coupling medium between the semiconductor light emitting element and the body.