Light-radiating semiconductor component with a luminescence conversion element

• US 7,126,162 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OSRAM Licht AG (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: OSRAM GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Schlotter, Peter, Schmidt, Ralf, Waitl, Günter, Schneider, Jürgen, Höhn, Klaus, Reeh, Ulrike, Stath, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON JR, JEROME
• Application Number:
  US11/080,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98, 257/E33.061
• US Class Current: 257/98
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7718 with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7746 with alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7767 Chalcogenides
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7769 Oxides C09K11/7768 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/7774 Aluminates
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32257 the layer connector connecting to a bonding area disposed in a recess of the surface of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48257 connecting the wire to a die pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48472 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area also being a wedge bond, i.e. wedge-to-wedge
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49107 on the semiconductor or solid-state body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73265 Layer and wire connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/8592 Applying permanent coating, e.g. protective coating
• 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 2924/00012 Relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01021 Scandium [Sc]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01079 Gold [Au]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 : LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12044 : OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 : Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0091 : Scattering means in or on the semiconductor body or semiconductor body package H01L33/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/486 : adapted for surface mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 : Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/501 : characterised by the materials, e.g. binder
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 : Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/56 : Materials, e.g. epoxy or silicone resin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 : Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

The light-radiating semiconductor component has a radiation-emitting semiconductor body and a luminescence conversion element. The semiconductor body emits radiation in the ultraviolet, blue and/or green spectral region and the luminescence conversion element converts a portion of the radiation into radiation of a longer wavelength. This makes it possible to produce light-emitting diodes which radiate polychromatic light, in particular white light, with only a single light-emitting semiconductor body. A particularly preferred luminescence conversion dye is YAG:Ce.

Claims

1. A light-radiating semiconductor component, comprising:

a semiconductor body configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet, blue, and green light; and

a luminescence conversion element comprising at least one luminescent material, the luminescence conversion element configured to convert some of the light emitted from the semiconductor body to a different color, the remaining light emitted from the semiconductor body combining with the converted light to produce a light output for the semiconductor component having a mixture of colors,

wherein the luminescence conversion element is structured to cause the mixture of colors in the light output to be substantially homogeneous for different radiation directions.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the mixture of colors is substantially the same for all radiation directions.

3. The component of claim 1, wherein the substantially homogeneous mixture of colors creates a spatially substantially homogeneous color perception for the light output of the semiconductor component.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the luminescence conversion element has a substantially constant thickness to produce the substantially homogeneous mixture of colors.

5. The component of claim 1, wherein a path length through the luminescence conversion element for the light emitted by the same conductor body is substantially constant for all radiation directions.

6. The component of claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is a powder.

7. The component of claim 6, wherein the powder comprises particles sized to scatter unconverted light from the semiconductor body.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the luminescence conversion element further comprises light-diffusing particles.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the luminescence conversion element further compnses an encapsulation material supporting the luminescent material.

10. The component of claim 9, wherein the encapsulation material comprises epoxy resin.

11. The component of claim 9, wherein the encapsulation material comprises silicone.

12. The component of claim 1, wherein the luminescent material is an inorganic material.

13. The component of claim 12, wherein the luminescent material is a cerium-doped garnet.

14. The component of claim 12, wherein the luminescent material is an yttrium aluminum garnet.

16. The component of claim 1, wherein the mixture of colors produce white.

17. The component of claim 16, wherein the semiconductor body is configured to emit blue light.

18. The component of claim 17, wherein the luminescent conversion element converts blue light to yellow light.

19. The component of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a recess, wherein the semiconductor body is positioned in the recess.

25. The component of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a recess, wherein the semiconductor body is positioned in the recess.

27. Apparatus comprising:

a display device; and

one or more light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 1 disposed to illuminate the display device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 1 disposed to illuminate the display device.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.

15. A light-radiating semiconductor component, comprising:

a semiconductor body configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet, blue, and green light; and

a luminescence conversion element comprising at least one luminescent material, the luminescence conversion element configured to convert some of the light emitted from the semiconductor body to a different color, the remaining light emitted from the semiconductor body combining with the converted light to produce a light output for the semiconductor component having a mixture of colors,

wherein the luminescence conversion element is structured to cause the mixture of colors in the light output to be substantially homogeneous for different radiation directions,

wherein the luminescent material is applied directly to the semiconductor body.

20. A light-radiating semiconductor component, comprising:

a semiconductor body configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet, blue, and green light; and

means for converting some of the light emitted from the semiconductor body to a different color so that the remaining light emitted from the semiconductor body combines with the converted light to produce a light output for the semiconductor component having a mixture of colors that is substantially homogeneous for different radiation directions.

21. The component of claim 20, wherein the mixture of colors is substantially the same for all radiation directions.

22. The component of claim 20, wherein the substantially homogeneous mixture of colors creates a spatially substantially homogeneous color perception for the light output of the semiconductor component.

23. The component of claim 20, wherein the mixture of colors produce white.

24. The component of claim 23, wherein the semiconductor body is configured to emit blue light.

31. Apparatus comprising:

a display device; and

one or more light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 20 disposed to illuminate the display device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 20 disposed to illuminate the display device.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.

26. A light-radiating semiconductor component, comprising:

a semiconductor body configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet, blue, and green light; and

a luminescence conversion element comprising at least one luminescent material, the luminescence conversion element configured to convert some of the light emitted from the semiconductor body to a different color, the remaining light emitted from the semiconductor body combining with the converted light to produce a white light output for the semiconductor component having a mixture of colors,

wherein the white light output is substantially homogeneous for different radiation directions.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a display device; and

one or more light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 26 disposed to illuminate the display device.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of light-radiating semiconductor components as claimed in claim 26 disposed to illuminate the display device.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display device.