Method for controlling color accuracy in a light-emitting semiconductor-based device and process for producing a light-emitting semiconductor-based device with controlled color accuracy

• US 8,222,652 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgelux Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bridgelux Incorporated
• Inventors: Harrah, Shane, Hum, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Sefer, A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUSHIN, NIKOLAY K
• Application Number:
  US12/763,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 257/79, 257/99, 257/89, 257/E33.055, 362/227, 362/231, 362/294, 362/276, 315/312
• US Class Current: 257/89
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2933/0041 relating to wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light

Abstract

A method for controlling color accuracy of a light-emitting semiconductor-based device, and a process for producing a light-emitting semiconductor-based device with desired color accuracy is disclosed. The color accuracy is controlled by defining a desired color accuracy of a light produced by mixing colors emitted by at least two light sources over a first range of operating conditions; determining characteristics of the light as a function of operating conditions; and establishing desired light characteristics of the at least two light sources over a second range of operating condition in accordance with the step of defining and the step of determining.

Claims

1. A method for controlling color accuracy of a light-emitting semiconductor-based device, the method comprising:

defining a desired color accuracy of a light produced by mixing colors emitted by at least two light sources over a first range of operating conditions;

determining characteristics of the produced light as a function of operating conditions; and

establishing desired light characteristics of the at least two light sources over a second range of operating condition in accordance with the defining and the determining.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first range of operating conditions comprises a manufacturing and/or testing conditions range;

and the second range of operating conditions comprises an application operating conditions range.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first range of operating conditions comprises a first temperature range;

and the second range of operating conditions comprises a second temperature range.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining characteristics of the produced light as a function of operating conditions comprises:

measuring characteristics of the produced light as a function of operating conditions.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining characteristics of the produced light as a function of operating conditions comprises:

measuring characteristics of the at least two light sources as a function of operating conditions; and

determining characteristics of the produced light in accordance with the measured characteristics of the at least two light sources.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

pre-selecting the at least two light sources, wherein the pre-selecting is carried out before the determining characteristics of the light.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

re-selecting the at least two light sources in accordance with the establishing.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the desired color accuracy comprises a tolerance in the characteristics of the produced light from the desired characteristics of the light.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the desired color accuracy is represented as an area in a Commission International de I'"'"'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity diagram.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two light sources comprise:

an LED die of a first material system;

an LED die of a second material system; and

at least one phosphors.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the LED die of a first material system comprises an AlInGaP die.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the LED die of a second material system comprises an InGaN die.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining allowed deviation of the color produced by mixing colors of the two LED dice over a range of operating conditions in accordance with the defined color accuracy; and

selecting a pair of bins so that a change in the color produced by mixing colors of the two LED dice remains within the determined allowed deviation over the range of operating conditions.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein a range of operating conditions comprises the first range of operating conditions.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two light sources comprise:

an LED dice of a first material system; and

at least one phosphors.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the LED die of a first material system comprises InGaN die.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one phosphor comprises silicate phosphor.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one phosphors comprises nitride phosphor.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein one of the at least two sources comprises Europium-doped silicate phosphor.