Submount based light emitter components and methods

• US 8,878,204 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creeled Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reiherzer, Jesse Colin, Hussell, Christopher P., Welch, Erin
• Primary Examiner(s): POTTER, ROY KARL
• Application Number:
  US13/829,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 257/88, 257/87, 257/91, 257/99, 257/179, 257/E33.002, 438/27, 438/20, 438/28, 359/152
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 33/486 adapted for surface mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/62 Arrangements for conducting electric current to or from the semiconductor body, e.g. lead-frames, wire-bonds or solder balls

Abstract

Submount based light emitter components and methods are provided herein. In one aspect, a submount based light emitter component can include a primary submount, a secondary submount, and at least one light emitter chip. The at least one light emitter chip can be disposed over the primary submount and electrically connected to the secondary submount.

Claims

1. A light emitter component comprising:

a primary submount comprising a reflective ceramic material;

a secondary submount; and

at least one light emitter chip;

wherein the at least one light emitter chip is disposed over a portion of the primary submount and electrically connected to a portion of the secondary submount.

2. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the ceramic material comprises alumina or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), zirconia or zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), aluminum nitride (AlN), and/or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

3. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the secondary submount comprises a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB), a metal-core printed circuit board (MCPCB), an FR4 material, a ceramic material, a leadframe, a retaining member, a flexible circuit, and/or combinations thereof.

4. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter chip is electrically connected to the secondary submount by at least one wirebond.

5. The light emitter component of claim 4, wherein a termination location for the wirebond at the secondary submount is along a first plane that is at least substantially close to or co-planar with a second plane of a bottom surface of the LED chip.

6. The light emitter component of claim 4, wherein the wirebond is encapsulated.

7. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the at least one light emitter chip comprises either a growth substrate or a carrier substrate.

8. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is disposed over the secondary submount.

9. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the at least one chip is directly attached to the primary submount with an adhesive.

10. The light emitter component of claim 1, further comprising two or more light emitter chips.

11. The light emitter component of claim 10, further comprising six light emitter chips.

12. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is mounted to the secondary submount via an epoxy, a silicone material, a solder, a eutectic material, AuSn solder, and/or combinations thereof.

13. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is inset with respect to the secondary submount.

14. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is disposed between a first portion of the secondary submount and a second portion of the secondary submount.

15. The light emitter component of claim 1, further comprising an optical element disposed over the at least one emitter chip.

16. The light emitter component of claim 1, further comprising an encapsulant at least partially disposed over the at least one emitter chip.

17. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is retained within a portion of the secondary submount.

18. The light emitter component of claim 17, wherein the secondary submount is disposed along at least two surfaces of the primary submount.

19. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount is slidable with respect to the secondary submount before fixing the secondary submount therein with adhesive.

20. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the primary submount comprises a thru-hole.

21. The light emitter component of claim 20, wherein a wirebond extends through the thru-hole.

22. The light emitter component of claim 21, wherein a termination location for the wirebond at the secondary submount is along a first plane that is co-planar with or below a second plane of at least a portion of or all of a bottom surface of the primary submount.

23. The light emitter component of claim 1, wherein the secondary submount is flexible.

24. A light emitter component comprising:

at least one primary submount;

at least one secondary submount; and

at least one light emitter chip mounted to the primary submount and electrically connected to the at least one secondary submount;

wherein the at least one secondary submount is flexible for directing light from the at least one emitter chip in any desired direction.

25. The light emitter component of claim 24, comprising a first primary submount and a second primary submount, wherein each primary submount is disposed over the secondary submount, and wherein the first primary submount is angled with respect to the second primary submount.

26. The light emitter component of claim 24, wherein the at least one primary submount comprises a ceramic material.

27. The light emitter component of claim 26, wherein the ceramic material comprises alumina or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), aluminum nitride (AlN), and/or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

28. The light emitter component of claim 26, wherein the at least one secondary submount comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), a metal-core printed circuit board (MCPCB), an FR4 material, a ceramic material, a leadframe, a retaining member, a flexible circuit, and/or combinations thereof.

29. The light emitter component of claim 26, wherein the primary submount is mounted to the secondary submount via an epoxy, a silicone material, solder, a eutectic material, AuSn solder, and/or combinations thereof.

30. The light emitter component of claim 26, wherein the at least one light emitter chip is electrically connected to the at least one secondary submount by at least one wirebond.

31. A method of providing a light emitter component, the method comprising:

providing a reflective, ceramic based primary submount;

providing a secondary submount;

attaching at least one light emitter chip to the primary submount; and

electrically connecting the light emitter chip to the secondary submount.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising attaching the primary submount to the secondary submount.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an optical element over a portion of the at least one light emitter chip.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the ceramic based primary submount comprises alumina or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), aluminum nitride (AlN), and/or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein providing the secondary submount comprises providing a printed circuit board (PCB), a metal-core printed circuit board (MCPCB), an FR4 material, a ceramic material, a leadframe, a retaining member, a flex circuit, and/or combinations thereof.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising sliding the primary submount into a portion of the secondary submount.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising fixing the primary submount into the portion of the secondary submount via and adhesive.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising insetting the primary submount within a portion of the secondary submount.

39. The method of claim 31, comprising electrically connecting the light emitter chip to the secondary submount by a wirebond.

40. The method of claim 39, comprising electrically connecting the light emitter chip to the secondary submount by a wirebond wherein a termination location for the wirebond at the secondary submount is along a first plane that is at least substantially close to or co-planar with a second plane of a bottom surface of the LED chip.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein electrically connecting the at least one light emitter chip comprises a wirebond extending through a thru-hole disposed in the primary submount.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the wirebond electrically connects to the secondary submount at a termination location that is along a first plane that is co-planar with or below a second plane of at least a portion of or all of a bottom surface of the primary submount.

43. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing at least two light emitter chips and bending the secondary submount for directing light from the at least two light emitter chips in any desired direction.

44. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing an encapsulant over the submount, wherein the encapsulant comprises one or more phosphors.

45. A light emitter component comprising:

a ceramic submount disposed on a ceramic mount; and

at least one light emitter chip disposed over the ceramic submount.

46. The light emitter component of claim 45, wherein the ceramic submount is attached to the ceramic mount via at least one material consisting of a glue, an epoxy, a silicone, or a solder.

47. The light emitter component of claim 45, wherein the ceramic submount comprises alumina or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), zirconia or zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), aluminum nitride (AlN), and/or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

48. The light emitter component of claim 47, wherein the ceramic mount comprises alumina or aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), zirconia or zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), beryllium oxide (BeO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG), aluminum nitride (AlN), and/or derivatives and/or combinations thereof.

49. The light emitter component of claim 45, wherein the at least one light emitter chip is electrically connected to a portion of the ceramic mount by at least one wirebond.

50. The light emitter component of claim 45, further comprising an optical element disposed over the at least one emitter chip.

51. The light emitter component of claim 45, further comprising an encapsulant at least partially disposed over the at least one emitter chip.

52. The light emitter component of claim 45, wherein the primary submount is retained within a portion of the secondary submount.