Compact, high efficiency, high power solid state light source using a single solid state light-emitting device

• US 9,022,628 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: Krupa, Robert J., Lorenz, Peter G., Root, Thomas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US12/252,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,392 Days
• Field of Search: 362572-574, 362/119, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/231, 362/516, 362/517, 362/551, 362554-556, 362/612, 362/613, 362/615, 362/621, 257/81, 257/79, 257/82, 257/88, 257/94, 257/98, 257/99, 385/119, 385/28, 385 31- 34, 385/92, 385115-117, 385/120, 385/121, 385/146, 385/901
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298

Abstract

A compact, high-efficiency, high-power, solid state light source, comprising a high-power solid state light-emitting device, a light guide having a proximal light-receiving end proximate the light-emitting device and a distal light-transmitting end spaced farther from the light-emitting device, and a mechanical light guide fixing device coupled to the light guide near its proximal end, to hold the proximal end of the light guide in position near the light-emitting device.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a high-power solid state light-emitting device having a flat package, the flat package comprising a structural window material encasing a light-emitting element of the light-emitting device on exposed top and side surfaces of the light emitting element such that the structural window material is disposed adjacent to and in contact with a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element and has a flat face opposite the light-emitting surface, wherein the flat face directly light couples to a light guide; and

the light guide comprising a light-receiving end and a light-transmitting end, wherein the light-receiving end is in contact with proximate to the face of the structural window material;

wherein the structural window material comprises a ground dome lens having a flat top surface.

2. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light-receiving end of the light guide matches a size and shape of the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting device semiconductor chip.

3. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light-receiving end of the light guide is substantially flat.

4. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting element further comprises a wavelength-conversion phosphor.

5. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the wavelength-conversion phosphor is disposed between the light guide and the light-emitting surface.

6. The illumination device according to claim 4, wherein the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element is coated with the wavelength-conversion phosphor.

7. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optic fibers.

9. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light-receiving end is directly bonded to the flat face of the flat package.

10. The illumination device according to claim 9, wherein the light-receiving end of the light guide matches a size and shape of the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting device semiconductor chip.

11. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein an index matching material is disposed between the structural window material of the flat package and the light-receiving end of the light guide.

12. The illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the window comprises a solid face.

13. The illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the light-emitting device is mounted on and in contact with a heat sink material.

8. The illumination device according to clause 1, wherein the light guide comprises a single glass or plastic fiber.

14. An illumination device comprising:

a high-powered solid state light-emitting device having a package, the package comprising a light-emitting element and a flat structural window material, wherein the light-emitting element defines a light-emitting surface and the flat structural window material is adjacent to and in contact with the light-emitting surface, wherein the structural window material encases the light-emitting element on exposed top and side surfaces is encased within the package such that the structural window material has a flat surface that directly light couples to a light guide; and

the light guide comprising a flat light-receiving end and a light-transmitting end, wherein the flat light-receiving end is in contact with proximate to the flat structural window material;

wherein the structural window material comprises a ground dome lens having a flat top surface.

15. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein the light-emitting element further comprises a wavelength-conversion phosphor.

16. The illumination device according to claim 15, wherein the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting element is coated with the wavelength-conversion phosphor.

17. The illumination device according to claim 15, wherein the wavelength-conversion phosphor is disposed between the light guide and the light-emitting surface.

18. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein the light guide comprises a bundle of optic fibers.

19. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein the light guide comprises a single glass or plastic fiber.

20. The illumination device according to claim 14, further comprising a battery power source for the light-emitting device.

21. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein the flat light-receiving end is directly bonded to the flat window.

22. The illumination device according to claim 14, wherein an index matching material is disposed between a window of the flat package and the light receiving end of the light guide.

23. The illumination device according to claim 14 wherein the light-emitting device is mounted on and in contact with a heat sink material.