Side emitting illumination systems incorporating light emitting diodes
First Claim
1. An side-emitting illumination system, comprising:
- a light emitting diode havinga first doped semiconductor layer having an output surface;
a second doped semiconductor layer, said second doped semiconductor layer and said first doped semiconductor layer having opposite n and p conductivity types;
an active region interposed between said first doped semiconductor layer and said second doped semiconductor layer, said active region in electrical contact with said first doped semiconductor layer and said second doped semiconductor layer;
a first reflecting electrode in electrical contact with said first doped semiconductor layer;
a second reflecting electrode in electrical contact with said second doped semiconductor layer;
a first reflector surrounding said light emitting diode;
a second reflector separated from and opposing said first reflector and said light emitting diode and said second reflector having an edge;
an output aperture formed by said first reflector and by said edge of said second reflector;
a supporting means which holds and separates said second reflector from said first reflector;
wherein said active region of said light emitting diode emits internally generated light through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer when a voltage is applied between said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode;
wherein said internally generated light emitted through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer is directed to said second reflector or is directed through said output aperture;
wherein said internally generated light reflected by said second reflector is redirected through said output aperture or is redirected to said first reflector or is recycled back to said light emitting diode as externally incident light; and
wherein a portion of said externally incident light recycled back to said light emitting diode is reflected by said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode of said light emitting diode, thereby increasing the effective brightness of said light emitting diode, and is directed through said output aperture, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of said side-emitting illumination system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a side-emitting illumination system that incorporates a light emitting diode. The side-emitting illumination system recycles a portion of the light internally generated by a light emitting diode back to the light emitting diode as externally incident light. The light emitting diode reflects the recycled light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light reflected by the light emitting diode is directed though the output aperture of the side-emitting illumination system, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of the side-emitting illumination system. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.
113 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An side-emitting illumination system, comprising:
-
a light emitting diode having a first doped semiconductor layer having an output surface; a second doped semiconductor layer, said second doped semiconductor layer and said first doped semiconductor layer having opposite n and p conductivity types; an active region interposed between said first doped semiconductor layer and said second doped semiconductor layer, said active region in electrical contact with said first doped semiconductor layer and said second doped semiconductor layer; a first reflecting electrode in electrical contact with said first doped semiconductor layer; a second reflecting electrode in electrical contact with said second doped semiconductor layer; a first reflector surrounding said light emitting diode; a second reflector separated from and opposing said first reflector and said light emitting diode and said second reflector having an edge; an output aperture formed by said first reflector and by said edge of said second reflector; a supporting means which holds and separates said second reflector from said first reflector; wherein said active region of said light emitting diode emits internally generated light through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer when a voltage is applied between said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode; wherein said internally generated light emitted through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer is directed to said second reflector or is directed through said output aperture; wherein said internally generated light reflected by said second reflector is redirected through said output aperture or is redirected to said first reflector or is recycled back to said light emitting diode as externally incident light; and wherein a portion of said externally incident light recycled back to said light emitting diode is reflected by said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode of said light emitting diode, thereby increasing the effective brightness of said light emitting diode, and is directed through said output aperture, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of said side-emitting illumination system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification