Variable color light emitting diode

• US 4,992,704 A
• Filed: 04/17/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Basic Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Basic Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Stinson, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laroche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US07/339,221
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 313/1, 313/6, 313/303, 315/312, 315/324, 315/167, 315/168, 315/291, 315/297, 358/59, 357/17, 340/701
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• 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: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/40 Details of LED load circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light emitting diode (LED) or lamp is disclosed herein programmable to emit a variety of colors or hues at the selection of the user having a unitary housing of clear molded solid epoxy supporting three light dies characterized as producing color hues of red, green and blue respectively. A common cathode is supported in the housing and wire leads interconnect the anode of each light die with the common cathode. Control circuits are operably coupled to anode leads and a common cathode lead for selectively energizing the light die anodes so that their respective color outputs visually combine to produce a desired color or hue.

Claims

1. A light emitting device radiating a variety of colors and hues comprising the combination of:

at least three separate and individual light dies wherein each light die is characterized as emitting a color chosen from red, green and blue;

each of said light dies having an anode and a cathode;

means for electrically and mechanically joining said light die cathodes in common for exterior connection;

means coupled to said light die anodes for separate and individual exterior connection;

a transparent housing enclosing and supporting said light dies and said connection means in a single unitary structure;

circuit means operably connected to said anodes and said cathode for selectively energizing said anodes individually at a desired intensity level;

said common cathode means includes an elongated lead having an enlarged portion provided with a recessed cup-like reflector operably supporting said light die cathodes therein;

said anode connector means includes at least three elongated leads arranged in fixed spaced relationship with respect to each other and with respect to said common cathode lead;

said anode connector means further including a connecting wire having its opposite ends secured between a selected one of said anode leads and a selected one of said light die anodes; and

one of said light die anodes being composed of AlGaAs, another light die anode is composed of GaP, and another light die anode is composed of Silicon Carbide.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said housing is composed of a clear molded solid epoxy having a portion of said common cathode lead and said anode leads projecting outward exteriorly of said housing for coupling with said circuit means.

3. A single unitized light emitting diode lamp for radiating any color or hue comprising:

three solid state light dies having cathodes and anodes capable of producing red, green and blue colors respectively;

a common cathode lead operably coupled in common to all said solid state light die cathodes;

separate anode leads individually connected to each of said solid state light die anodes;

circuit means coupled to anode leads and said common cathode lead selectively operably to vary the intensity of output for each of said solid state light dies so as to effect a combining of light die output to produce a composite color radiation;

said common cathode means includes an elongated lead having an elongated portion provided with recessed cup-like reflector operably supporting said light die cathodes therein;

said anode connector means includes at least three elongated leads arranged in fixed spaced relationship with respect to each other and with respect to said common cathode lead; and

said anode connector means further including a connecting wire having its opposite ends secured between a selected one of said anode leads and a selected one of said light die anodes;

a translucent housing enclosing and supporting said light dies including said common cathode lead and said anode leads and said interconnecting wires in a single unitary lamp package;

one of said light die anodes being composed of AlGaAs, another light die anode is composed of GaP, and another light die anode is composed of Silicon Carbide; and

said housing is composed of a translucent molded solid epoxy having a portion of said common cathode lead and said anode leads projecting outward exteriorly of said housing for coupling with said circuit means.