SOLID STATE WHITE LIGHT EMITTER AND DISPLAY USING SAME

• US 20120314402A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischler, Michael A., BARETZ, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,860,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/97.3
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48139 with an intermediate bond, e.g. continuous wire daisy chain
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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 2924/00014 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 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/504 Elements with two or more wavelength conversion materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A light emitting assembly comprising a solid state device coupleable with a power supply constructed and arranged to power the solid state device to emit from the solid state device a first, relatively shorter wavelength radiation, and a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said first, relatively shorter wavelength radiation, and which in exposure to said first, relatively shorter wavelength radiation, is excited to responsively emit second, relatively longer wavelength radiation. In a specific embodiment, monochromatic blue or UV light output from a light-emitting diode is down-converted to white light by packaging the diode with fluorescent organic and/or inorganic fluorescers and phosphors in a polymeric matrix.

Claims

1. A light emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die semiconductor LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength UV or blue light radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits radiation at a multiplicity of wavelengths and in the visible white light spectrum, with said radiation of said multiplicity of wavelengths mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein the luminophoric medium comprises an inorganic luminophor.

2. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed on or in a housing member.

3. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed in a film on a surface of a housing member.

4. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein the inorganic luminophor is within a housing member.

5. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein each said LED comprises material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride and its alloys.

6. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride.

7. The light emitting device of claim 1, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride alloy.

8. A light-emitting device, comprising:

a solid-state semiconductor laser coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation having a relatively shorter wavelength outside the visible light spectrum; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits polychromatic radiation in the visible light spectrum, with different wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises an inorganic luminophor.

9. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed on or in a housing member.

10. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed in a film on a surface of a housing member.

11. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the inorganic luminophor is within a housing member.

12. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the semiconductor laser comprises material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride and its alloys.

13. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the semiconductor laser comprises gallium nitride.

14. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the semiconductor laser comprises gallium nitride alloy.

153. The light-emitting device of claim 8, wherein the luminophoric medium is contiguous to said semiconductor laser.

15. A light-emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises an inorganic luminophor, and wherein the white light output comprises primary radiation blue light.

16. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed on or in a housing member.

17. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed in a film on a surface of a housing member.

18. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein the inorganic luminophor is within a housing member.

19. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein each said LED comprises material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride and its alloys.

20. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride.

21. The light-emitting device of claim 15, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride alloy.

22. A liquid crystal display, including:

a backlight member including a multiplicity of light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device comprising;

at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation, and a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises an inorganic luminophor, and wherein the white light output comprises primary radiation blue light.

23. The liquid crystal display of claim 22, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed on or in a housing member.

24. The liquid crystal display of claim 22, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed in a film on a surface of a housing member.

25. The liquid crystal display of claim 22, wherein the inorganic luminophor is within a housing member.

26. The liquid crystal display of claim 22, wherein each said LED comprises material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride and its alloys.

27. The liquid crystal display of claim 22, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride.

28. The light-emission device of claim 22, wherein each said LED comprises gallium nitride alloy.

29. A light-emission device, comprising a single-die, two-lead semiconductor blue light-emitting diode emitting radiation;

and a recipient down-converting luminophoric medium for down-converting the radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode, to a polychromatic white light, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises an inorganic luminophor.

30. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed on or in a housing member.

31. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the inorganic luminophor is dispersed in a film on a surface of a housing member.

32. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the inorganic luminophor is within a housing member.

33. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the light-emitting diode comprises material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride and its alloys.

34. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride.

35. The light-emission device of claim 29, wherein the light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride alloy.

36. A light-emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength blue light radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein the light-emitting device comprises one or more compatible characteristics selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die light-emitting diode;

(ii) the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode;

(iii) the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side surface and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side surface;

(iv) the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass; and

(v) the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

37. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die light-emitting diode.

38. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

39. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the side die surface.

40. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

41. The light-emitting device of claim 40, wherein the luminophoric medium is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

42. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge primary radiation on the luminophoric medium.

43. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode and luminophoric medium being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

44. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass.

45. The light-emitting device of claim 44, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer about the single-die light-emitting diode.

46. The light-emitting device of claim 44, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

47. The light-emitting device of claim 46, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single die light-emitting diode.

48. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

49. The light-emitting device of claim 36, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

50. The light-emitting device of claim 36, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

51. The light-emitting device of claim 36, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

52. The light-emitting device of claim 36, wherein the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprises only one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

53. The light-emitting device of claim 36, comprising a light-emitting diode lamp.

54. The light-emitting device of claim 53, wherein the light-emitting diode lamp comprises the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and inorganic luminophoric material within an enclosure comprising material that is light-transmissive of said white light output.

55. A liquid crystal display, including:

a backlight member including a multiplicity of light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device comprising;

at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength blue light radiation, and a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein each light-emitting device comprises one or more compatible characteristics selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die LED;

(ii) the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die LED;

(iii) the single-die LED comprising side surface and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side surface;

(iv) the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass; and

(v) the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

56. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die light-emitting diode.

57. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

58. The liquid crystal display of claim 57, the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the side die surface.

59. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

60. The liquid crystal display of claim 59, wherein the luminophoric medium is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

61. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge primary radiation on the luminophoric medium.

62. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode and luminophoric medium being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

63. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass.

64. The liquid crystal display of claim 63, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer about the single-die light-emitting diode.

65. The liquid crystal display of claim 63, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

66. The liquid crystal display of claim 65, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single die light-emitting diode.

67. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, comprising the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

68. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

69. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

70. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

71. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprises only one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

72. The liquid crystal display of claim 55, wherein each light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode lamp.

73. The liquid crystal display of claim 72, wherein the light-emitting diode lamp comprises the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and inorganic luminophoric material within an enclosure comprising material that is light-transmissive of said white light output.

74. A light-emission device, comprising a single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode emitting radiation;

and a recipient down-converting luminophoric medium for down-converting the radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode, to a polychromatic white light, wherein the light-emission device comprises one or more compatible characteristics selected from the group consisting of;

(i) the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die light-emitting diode;

(ii) the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode;

(iii) the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side surface and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side surface;

(iv) the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass; and

(v) the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

75. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the luminophoric medium being arranged about the single-die light-emitting diode.

76. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

77. The light-emission device of claim 76, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being contiguous to the side die surface.

78. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode comprising side die surface, and the luminophoric medium being in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

79. The light-emission device of claim 78, wherein the luminophoric medium is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

80. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge primary radiation on the luminophoric medium.

81. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode and luminophoric medium being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

82. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer or glass.

83. The light-emission device of claim 82, comprising the luminophoric medium being dispersed in polymer about the single-die light-emitting diode.

84. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

85. The light-emission device of claim 84, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

86. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

87. The light-emission device of claim 74, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

88. The light-emission device of claim 74, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

89. The light-emission device of claim 74, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

90. The light-emission device of claim 74, comprising a light-emitting diode lamp.

91. The light-emission device of claim 90, wherein the light-emitting diode lamp comprises the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and inorganic luminophoric material within an enclosure comprising material that is light-transmissive of said white light.

92. A light-emission device, comprising a single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode emitting radiation;

and a recipient down-converting luminophoric medium for down-converting the radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode, to a polychromatic white light, wherein the luminophoric medium is dispersed in a polymer that is on or about the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode, and wherein the polychromatic white light comprises blue light from the light-emitting diode.

93. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is on the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

94. The light-emission device of claim 93, comprising the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is contiguous to the die side surface.

95. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is about the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

96. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

97. The light-emission device of claim 96, wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

98. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge radiation on the polymer.

99. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the single-die, two-lead gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and polymer being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

100. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

101. The light-emission device of claim 100, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

102. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising the luminophoric medium being on polymer or glass.

103. The light-emission device of claim 92, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

104. The light-emission device of claim 92, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

105. The light-emission device of claim 92, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

106. The light-emission device of claim 92, comprising a light-emitting diode lamp.

107. The light-emission device of claim 106, wherein the light-emitting diode lamp comprises the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and inorganic luminophoric material within an enclosure comprising material that is light-transmissive of said white light.

108. A light-emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein the luminophoric medium is dispersed in a polymer that is on or about the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode, and wherein the white light output includes primary radiation blue light.

109. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is on the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

110. The light-emitting device of claim 109, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is contiguous to the die side surface.

111. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is about the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

112. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

113. The light-emitting device of claim 112, wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

114. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge radiation on the polymer.

115. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the single-die light-emitting diode and polymer being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

116. The light-emitting device of claim 108, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

117. The light-emitting device of claim 116, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

118. The light-emitting device of claim 108, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

119. The light-emitting device of claim 108, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

120. The light-emitting device of claim 108, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

121. The light-emission device of claim 108, comprising a light-emitting diode lamp.

122. The light-emission device of claim 121, wherein the light-emitting diode lamp comprises the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and inorganic luminophoric material within an enclosure comprising material that is light-transmissive of said white light output.

123. A liquid crystal display, including:

a backlight member including a multiplicity of light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device comprising;

at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary blue light radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation, and a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein the luminophoric medium is dispersed in a polymer that is on or about the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode, and wherein said white light output comprises primary blue light radiation.

124. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is on the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

125. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is contiguous to the die side surface.

126. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the luminophoric medium dispersed in a polymer that is about the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

127. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprising die side surface, and wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced relationship to said side die surface.

128. The liquid crystal display of claim 126, wherein the polymer is in laterally spaced facing relationship to said side die surface.

129. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode being arranged to directly impinge radiation on the polymer.

130. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode and polymer being arranged without intermediate material therebetween.

131. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, comprising the luminophoric medium being in a homogeneous composition.

132. The liquid crystal display of claim 131, wherein the homogeneous composition is contiguous to the single-die light-emitting diode.

133. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

134. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

135. The liquid crystal display of claim 123, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

136. A light-emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength blue light radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, and wherein said at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode is in a housing comprising a light-transmissive wall member in spaced relationship to said at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode, and wherein said luminophoric medium is dispersed in or on said light-transmissive wall member, wherein the white light output comprises primary blue light radiation.

137. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein said luminophoric medium is dispersed in said light-transmissive wall member.

138. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein said luminophoric medium is dispersed on said light-transmissive wall member.

139. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the light-transmissive wall member comprises polymer.

140. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the light-transmissive wall member comprises glass.

141. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

142. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

143. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the single-die light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

144. The light-emitting device of claim 136, wherein the at least one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprises only one single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

145. The light-emitting device of claim 136, comprising a light-emitting diode lamp.

146. A light-emitting device, comprising:

at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, wherein the secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation comprises a broad spectrum of frequencies including blue primary radiation.

147. The light-emitting device of claim 146, wherein the single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode is on a support in an interior volume of a light-transmissive enclosure.

148. A liquid crystal display, including:

a backlight member including a multiplicity of light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device comprising;

at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation which is the same for each single-die LED present in the device, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength radiation, and a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation responsively emits a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein each of the at least one single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode in interaction with luminophoric medium receiving its primary radiation produces white light output, wherein the secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation comprises a broad spectrum of frequencies including blue primary radiation.

149. The liquid crystal display of claim 148, wherein in each light-emitting device the single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode is on a support in an interior volume of a light-transmissive enclosure.

154. The liquid crystal display of claim 148, wherein said multiplicity of light-emitting devices comprises an array of single-die semiconductor light-emitting diodes.

155. The liquid crystal display of claim 154, wherein said array comprises a regular pattern.

156. The liquid crystal display of claim 148, wherein said luminophoric medium comprises inorganic luminophoric material.

157. The liquid crystal display of claim 156, wherein each single-die semiconductor light-emitting diode comprises a single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode.

158. The liquid crystal display of claim 157, wherein each single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprises gallium nitride and its alloys.

159. The liquid crystal display of claim 157, wherein each single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode comprises at least one of gallium nitride, indium gallium nitride, aluminum gallium nitride, and aluminum gallium indium nitride.

160. The liquid crystal display of claim 148, comprising a full-color liquid crystal display.

150. A light-emission device, comprising a single-die, two-lead semiconductor light-emitting diode emitting radiation;

and a recipient down-converting luminophoric medium for down-converting the radiation emitted by the light-emitting diode, to a polychromatic white light, wherein radiation down-converted by the recipient down-converting luminophoric medium comprises a broad spectrum of frequencies including blue primary radiation.

151. The light-emission device of claim 150, wherein the single-die, two-lead semiconductor light-emitting diode is on a support in an interior volume of a light-transmissive enclosure.

152. A light-emitting device, comprising:

a single-die gallium nitride based semiconductor blue light-emitting diode (LED) coupleable with a power supply to emit a primary radiation, said primary radiation being a relatively shorter wavelength blue light radiation; and

a down-converting luminophoric medium arranged in receiving relationship to said primary radiation, and which in exposure to said primary radiation, is excited to responsively emit a secondary, relatively longer wavelength, polychromatic radiation, with separate wavelengths of said polychromatic radiation mixing to produce a white light output, wherein the white light output comprises primary blue light radiation.

161. A light emitting device comprising a light-emitting diode operative to emit blue or ultraviolet radiation, packaged with luminophoric medium in a polymeric matrix, wherein the luminophoric medium absorbs blue or ultraviolet radiation from the light-emitting diode and down converts same to a broad spectrum of frequencies producing polychromatic white light, wherein the light-emitting diode is a single-die, two-lead semiconductor light-emitting diode.

162. The light-emitting device of claim 161, wherein the light-emitting diode is operative to emit blue light.