LED PACKAGE WITH WEDGE-SHAPED OPTICAL ELEMENT

• US 20070257270A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lu, Dong, Ouderkirk, Andrew, Leatherdale, Catherine
• Application Number:
  US11/381,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20070257270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/98
• 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 21/33 Immersion oils , or microscope systems or objectives for use with immersion fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• 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 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements

Abstract

In one aspect, the present application discloses a light source comprising an LED die having an emitting surface and an optical element having a base, two converging sides, and two diverging sides, wherein the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface. In another aspect, the present application discloses a light source comprising an LED die having an emitting surface and a high index optical element optically coupled to the LED die and shaped to direct light emitted by the LED die to produce a side emitting pattern having two lobes.

Claims

1. A light source, comprising:

an LED die having an emitting surface; and

an optical element having a base, two converging sides, and two diverging sides, wherein

the base is optically coupled to the emitting surface.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element directs light emitted by the LED die to produce a side emitting pattern having two lobes.

3. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element further comprises an apex residing over the emitting surface.

4. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element further comprises an apex centered over the base.

5. The light source of claim 1, further comprising an optically conducting layer disposed between the optical element and the emitting surface.

6. The light source of claim 5, wherein the thickness of the optically conducting layer is less than 50 nm.

7. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element is bonded to the LED die at the emitting surface.

8. The light source of claim 7, wherein the optical element is wafer bonded to the LED die at the emitting surface.

9. The light source of claim 1, wherein the base and the emitting surface are substantially matched in size.

10. The light source of claim 1, wherein the base is smaller than the emitting surface.

11. The light source of claim 1, wherein the LED die is one of a plurality of LED dies arranged in an array.

12. The light source of claim 11, wherein the base of the optical element and the LED die array are substantially matched in size.

13. The light source of claim 1, wherein the base is rectangular and wherein the optical element includes four sides.

14. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element has an index of refraction, n_o24 1.75.

15. The light source of claim 1, wherein the optical element consists of inorganic material.

16. An edge-lit backlight comprising the light source of claim 1.

17. A light source, comprising:

an LED die having an emitting surface; and

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

18. The light source of claim 17, wherein the optical element includes a base, two converging sides and two diverging sides.

19. The light source of claim 17, wherein the side emitting pattern is asymmetric.

20. The light source of claim 17, wherein the optical element is bonded to the LED die at the emitting surface.

21. The light source of claim 20, wherein the optical element is wafer bonded to the LED die at the emitting surface.

22. The light source of claim 17, wherein the optical element has an index of refraction, n_o≧

1.75.

23. The light source of claim 17, wherein the optical element consists of inorganic material.

24. The light source of claim 17, wherein the LED die is one of a plurality of LED dies arranged in an array.

25. An edge-lit backlight comprising the light source of claim 17.