Abstract: Light emitter components with improved light extraction and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the light emitter component can include a submount, at least one light emitting chip disposed over the submount, and a lens disposed over a portion of the light emitting chip. The lens can include an optical element. The optical element can be configured to affect light output from the at least one light emitting chip.

Abstract: A discontinuity-containing, light-diffusing substrate is placed within an LED light source. In one embodiment, the substrate is placed between an LED light source and a light guide. The light diffusing substrate may include a plurality of air bubbles, grooves or both, effective to mix the colored light and yield a white light exiting the light guide. Methods of constructing optical devices and light sources having a bubble-containing substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A light source and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The light source includes a light emitter and a controller. The light emitter generates light in response to a control signal coupled thereto. The light emitter is characterized by an age related to the amount of light that has been cumulatively generated by the light emitter, the generated light for a given control signal changing with the age. The controller measures the age of the light emitter and generates the control signal based on the desired light intensity and the measured age of the light emitter. In one embodiment, the controller stores an age value for the light emitter, and the controller determines the control signal in response to an input signal specifying a desired light intensity from the light emitter, the controller updating the age value each time the control signal is determined.

Abstract: A light source that has improved light mixing. The light source uses a nanolens layer in conjunction with an LED light source to enhance the mixing of the colored light emitting from the LED light source.

Abstract: A lighting system is described. One embodiment of the lighting system includes a light guide, a first lighting device, and a second lighting device. The light guide receives light along a transmission interface. The first lighting device has a first plurality of lighting elements coupled to a first substrate between a first pair of reflector walls. The first substrate and the first pair of reflector walls define a first exposed side of the first lighting device. The second lighting device has a second plurality of lighting elements coupled to a second substrate between a second pair of reflector walls. The second substrate and the second pair of reflector walls define a second exposed side of the second lighting device configured to match the first exposed side of the first lighting device. Using lighting devices without sidewalls illuminates a diffusion panel so that there are no dark spots.

Abstract: A device and method for producing an enhanced color image of a scene of interest captures a grayscale image of the scene of interest using a flash of infrared light and a color image of the scene of interest without using any flash of infrared light. The grayscale information from the grayscale image and the visible color information from the color image are combined to produce the enhanced color image.

Abstract: A light source and a method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a lead frame, an integrated circuit chip and a body. The lead frame has first and second sections. The first section includes a lateral portion, a chip mounting area and a first extension. The integrated circuit chip is bonded to the first section in the chip mounting area and is in thermal contact with the chip mounting area. The body has top, bottom, and side surfaces. The first extension is bent to provide a heat path from the chip mounting area to the side surface, a surface of the first extension that is not in contact with the side surface forming a first planar bonding surface. The heat path has less thermal resistance than a heat path through the lateral portion.

Abstract: An electronic flash, imaging device and method for producing flashes of light uses a diffractive optical element to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract light emitted from a light source such that the radiation pattern of the light emitted from the diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce the rectangular flash of light.

Abstract: A camera flash is disclosed for producing a warm light having a desired color temperature. In one embodiment, the flash has a xenon flash component producing a light with a spectrum having a color temperature at a higher Kelvin rating than the warm light, and a light emitting diode flash component producing a light with a spectrum having a color temperature at a lower Kelvin rating than the warm light. The color temperature of the light of the xenon flash component and the color temperature of the light of the light emitting diode flash component together produce the warm light having the desired color temperature.

Abstract: A light source and a method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a lead frame, an integrated circuit chip and a body. The lead frame has first and second sections. The first section includes a lateral portion, a chip mounting area and a first extension. The integrated circuit chip is bonded to the first section in the chip mounting area and is in thermal contact with the chip mounting area. The body has top, bottom, and side surfaces. The first extension is bent to provide a heat path from the chip mounting area to the side surface, a surface of the first extension that is not in contact with the side surface forming a first planar bonding surface. The heat path has less thermal resistance than a heat path through the lateral portion.

Abstract: An imaging device and method for producing a flash of light utilizes pulsing of one or more color lights, e.g., red, green and blue lights, emitted from light sources to produce the flash of light. The light sources may include light emitting diode dies configured to generate different color lights.

Abstract: A light source having a plurality of dies, an LED carrier, and a cover. Each die includes an LED. The LED carrier includes a metallic core having a top and a bottom surface, the dies are bonded to a circuit layer on the top surface of the core. The cover is bonded to the LED carrier and includes an opening having reflective sides that allows light from the LEDs to leave the cover. A dome-shaped encapsulant layer covers each of the dies. The encapsulant layer is spaced from the sides of the opening such that there is an air gap between the encapsulant layers and the sides. The air gap is positioned such that light leaving the side surfaces of the dies passes through the air gap before being reflected by one of the sides.

Abstract: A light emitting device package and method for making the package utilizes a first leadframe having a first surface and a second leadframe having a second surface that are relatively positioned such that the second surface is at a higher level than the first surface. The light emitting device package includes a light source, e.g., a light emitting diode die, which is mounted on the first surface of the first leadframe and electrically connected to the second surface of the second leadframe.

Abstract: A variable focal length light source is constructed using a tunable focus length lens which can be adjusted in synchronization to the focal length of a camera lens. In one embodiment, a deformable lens is used in conjunction with an LED light source to provide the tunable focal length required for a camera flash device.

Abstract: A discontinuity-containing, light-diffusing substrate is placed within an LED light source. In one embodiment, the substrate is placed between an LED light source and a light guide. The light diffusing substrate may include a plurality of air bubbles, grooves or both, effective to mix the colored light and yield a white light exiting the light guide. Methods of constructing optical devices and light sources having a bubble-containing substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A LED based light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a plurality of LEDs, an LED carrier, and a cover. The LED carrier includes a metallic core having a top surface bonded to a circuit layer having mounting pads for each of the LEDs and a connector that provides connections to circuit conductors connected to the mounting pads. The cover is bonded to the LED carrier and includes a first opening positioned to allow light from the LEDs to leave the cover and a second opening that provides access to the connector. An encapsulant system covers each of the LEDs with a layer of encapsulant material. The encapsulant system bonds the cover to the LED carrier and can provide optical processing of the light from the LEDs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, light emitted by a plurality of solid-state light emitters is mixed by mounting the plurality of solid-state light emitters on a transparent to translucent substrate so that they primarily emit light away from the substrate. The light emitters are then covered with a transparent to translucent encapsulant; and the encapsulant is coated with a reflective material that reflects light emitted by the light emitters toward the substrate. Related apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light emitting panel includes a base panel and a plurality of light emitting elements mounted to the base panel. Each of the light emitting elements produces an illumination pattern having a region of substantially uniform intensity that extends over a radiation angle of at least about 60°. One or more light conditioners are positioned adjacent the base panel to receive and condition light produced by the light emitting elements.