Patchwork patterned devices and related methods

• US 7,388,233 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luminus Devices Incorporated (Sanan Optoelectronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Luminus Devices Incorporated (Sanan Optoelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lim, Michael, Erchak, Alexei A., Lidorikis, Elefterios, Venezia, Jo A., Nemchuck, Nikolay I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitehead, Jr.; Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dolan; Jennifer M
• Application Number:
  US11/369,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20070087459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 257/E33.067, 257/E33.071, 257/E33.074, 438/27, 438/32, 977/949, 977/950, 977/951, 977/952
• US Class Current: 257/98
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0083 Periodic patterns for optical field-shaping in or on the semiconductor body or semiconductor body package, e.g. photonic bandgap structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/20 with a particular shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/95 Electromagnetic energy

Abstract

Devices, such as light-emitting devices (e.g., LEDs), and methods associated with such devices are provided. A light-emitting device may include an interface including a first region and a second region. The first region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a first pattern, and the second region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a second pattern, wherein the second pattern is a rotation of the first pattern. A method of forming a light-emitting device is provided. The method comprises forming an interface comprising a first region and a second region. The first region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a first pattern, and the second region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a second pattern, wherein the second pattern is a rotation of the first pattern.

Claims

1. A light-emitting device comprising:

a light generating region; and

an interface comprising a first region and a second region, the first region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a first pattern, the second region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a second pattern, the second pattern being a rotation of, and distinguishable from, the first pattern, wherein the first and the second patterns are disposed vertically over and horizontally overlap the light generating region.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein light emitted from the light-emitting device passes through the interface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second patterns comprise a plurality of holes formed in the interface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the interface is an emission surface of the light-emitting device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first region has an area of greater than 100 microns².

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first region has an area of less than 40000 microns².

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pattern is periodic.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first pattern comprises a hexagonal pattern.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pattern is non-periodic.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first pattern is quasi-crystalline.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein emitted light has a substantially isotropic emission pattern such that an integrated intensity varies by less than 20% over all azimuthal angles, wherein the integrated intensity is a summed intensity over all polar collection amries.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the integrated intensity varies by less than 10% over all azimuthal angles.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the emitted light is more collimated than a Lambertian distribution of light.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein a total of the emitted light within a solid angle collection cone is greater than a total emission corresponding to the Lambertian distribution within the solid angle collection cone, wherein the solid angle collection cone has a center axis oriented along a normal of the surface.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the solid angle collection cone has a collection angle of 30 degrees with respect to the normal of the surface.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the emitted light is more collimated than a Lambertian distribution of light.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein a total of the emitted light within a solid angle collection cone is greater than a total emission corresponding to the Lambertian distribution within the solid angle collection cone, wherein the solid angle collection cone has a center axis oriented along a normal of the surface.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the solid angle collection cone has a collection angle of 30 degrees with respect to the normal of the surface.

19. A method of forming a light-emitting device, the method comprising:

forming a light generating region;

forming an interface comprising a first region and a second region, the first region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a first pattern, the second region having a dielectric function that varies spatially according to a second pattern, the second pattern being a rotation of, and distinguishable from, the first pattern, wherein the first and the second patterns are disposed vertically over and horizontally overlap the light generating region.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein light emitted from the light-emitting device passes through the interface.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first and second patterns comprise a plurality of holes formed in the interface.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first region has an area of greater than 100 microns².

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first region has an area of less than 1000 microns².

24. The method of claim 19, wherein emitted light has a substantially isotropic emission pattern.