LED device with re-emitting semiconductor construction and converging optical element

• US 7,541,610 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Haase, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soward; Ida M
• Application Number:
  US11/761,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20080006832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 257 13-252
• US Class Current: 257/13
• 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: G02B 19/0095 for use with ultraviolet radiation
• 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 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/08 with a plurality of light emitting regions, e.g. laterally discontinuous light emitting layer or photoluminescent region integrated within the semiconductor body H01L27/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/502 Wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements

Abstract

A light source is provided including an LED component having an emitting surface, which may include: i) an LED capable of emitting light at a first wavelength; and ii) a re-emitting semiconductor construction which includes a second potential well not located within a pn junction having an emitting surface; or which may alternately include a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction; and which additionally includes a converging optical element.

Claims

1. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) an optical element including a base, an apTex, and a side joining the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to and mechanically decoupled from the emitting surface.

2. A graphic display device comprising the light source according to claim 1.

3. An illumination device comprising the light source according to claim 1.

4. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) an optical element having a base, two converging sides, and two diverging sides, wherein the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface.

5. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) a high index optical element optically coupled to the LED component and shaped to direct light emitted by the LED component to produce a side emitting pattern having two lobes.

6. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) an optical element including a base, an apex smaller than the base, and a converging side extending between the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to and is no greater in size than the emitting surface;

wherein the optical element directs light emitted by the LED component to produce a side emitting pattern.

7. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) an optical element including a base, an apex, and a converging side joining the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface;

wherein the optical element comprises a first section including the base and that is composed of a first material; and

wherein the optical element comprises a second section including the apex and that is composed of a second material.

8. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) a first optical element including a base, an apex, and a converging side joining the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to and is no greater in size than the emitting surface, the first optical element having a first index of refraction; and

c) a second optical element encapsulating the LED component and the first optical element, the second optical element having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction.

9. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) a first optical element including a base, an apex residing over the emitting surface, and a converging side joining the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface, the first optical element having a first index of refraction; and

c) a second optical element encapsulating the LED component and the first optical element, the second optical element having a second index of refraction lower than the first index of refraction.

10. A light source, comprising:

a) an LED component comprising a first potential well located within a pn junction and a second potential well not located within a pn junction, the component having an emitting surface; and

b) a first optical element including a base, an apex, and a converging side joining the base and the apex, wherein the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface; and

c) a second optical element encapsulating the LED component and the first optical element, the second optical element providing an increase in power extracted from the LED component as compared to the power extracted by first optical element alone.