High brightness LED package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9601672-B2
Application number	US-97348107-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2007
Priority date	Oct 29, 2004
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

Light sources are disclosed utilizing LED dies that have a light emitting surface. A patterned low refractive index layer that can support total internal reflection within the LED die is provided in optical contact with a first portion of the emitting surface. In optical contact with a second portion of the emitting surface is an input surface of an optical element. The refractive index of the low index layer is below both that of the optical element and the LED die. The optical element can have a variety of shapes and sizes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light source, comprising:
an LED die having side surfaces and a primary emitting surface disposed between the side surfaces;
a patterned low index layer in optical contact with a first portion of the primary emitting surface, the patterned low index layer having a first refractive index; and
an optical element having an input surface in optical contact with a second portion of the primary emitting surface, the optical element having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index.

2. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the patterned low index layer provides total internal reflection at the primary emitting surface of the LED for at least some light generated within the LED die.

3. A light source, comprising:
an LED die having side surfaces and a primary emitting surface disposed between the side surfaces;
means for totally internally reflecting at least some of the light generated by the LED die back into the LED die, the reflecting means being in optical contact with a first portion of the primary emitting surface; and
an optical element having an input surface in optical contact with a second portion of the primary emitting surface different from the first portion.

4. The light source of claim 3 , wherein the reflecting means comprises a patterned low index layer in optical contact with the first portion of the primary emitting surface, the patterned low index layer having a first refractive index.

5. The light source of either claim 1 or 4 , wherein the patterned low index layer comprises a dielectric material in optical contact with the first portion of the primary emitting surface and having the first refractive index, and a normal incidence reflector covering the dielectric material.

6. A light source comprising:
an LED die having side surfaces and a primary emitting surface disposed between the side surfaces;
a patterned low index layer in optical contact with the side surfaces and a first portion of the primary emitting surface, thereby defining at least one aperture at the primary emitting surface, the patterned layer having a first refractive index; and
an optical element having an input surface in optical contact with the at least one aperture, the optical element having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index.

7. A light source comprising:
an LED die having a primary emitting surface;
an optical element having an input surface in optical contact with at least a portion of the primary emitting surface; and
a patterned low index layer in optical contact with at least a portion of the primary emitting surface exclusive of at least one aperture;
wherein at least a portion of the patterned low index layer is disposed between the primary emitting surface and the optical element;
wherein the patterned layer has a first refractive index, the optical element has a second refractive index, and the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index; and
wherein the portion of the primary emitting surface in optical contact with the optical element comprises at least a portion of the at least one aperture.

Assignees

• Ouderkirk Andrew J
• Leatherdale Catherine A
• Conner Arlie R
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Ouderkirk Andrew J
• Leatherdale Catherine A
• Conner Arlie R

Classifications

• H01L33/60

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L33/58 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L33/54

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H10H20/856

  Reflecting means · CPC title

• H10H20/853

  characterised by their shape · CPC title