Patents Assigned to Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
  • Publication number: 20060105478
    Abstract: A device is provided with at least one light emitting device (LED) die mounted on a submount with an optical element subsequently thermally bonded to the LED die. The LED die is electrically coupled to the submount through contact bumps that have a higher temperature melting point than is used to thermally bond the optical element to the LED die. In one implementation, a single optical element is bonded to a plurality of LED dice that are mounted to the submount and the submount and the optical element have approximately the same coefficients of thermal expansion. Alternatively, a number of optical elements may be used. The optical element or LED die may be covered with a coating of wavelength converting material. In one implementation, the device is tested to determine the wavelengths produced and additional layers of the wavelength converting material are added until the desired wavelengths are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Michael Camras, William Imler, Franklin Wall, Frank Steranka, Michael Krames, Helena Ticha, Ladislav Tichy
  • Patent number: 7038370
    Abstract: A system includes a radiation source capable of emitting first light and a fluorescent material capable of absorbing the first light and emitting second light having a different wavelength than the first light. The fluorescent material is a phosphor having the formula (Lu1-x-y-a-bYxGdy)3(Al1-zGaz)5O12:CeaPrb wherein 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0<z?0.1, 0<a?0.2 and 0<b?0.1. In some embodiments, the (Lu1-x-y-a-bYxGdy)3(Al1-zGaz)5O12:CeaPrb is combined with a second fluorescent material capable of emitting third light. The second fluorescent material may be a red-emitting phosphor, such that the combination of first, second, and third light emitted from the system appears white.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting, U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Regina B. Mueller-Mach, Gerd O. Mueller, Thomas Juestel, Wolfgang Busselt, Peter J. Schmidt, Walter Mayr
  • Patent number: 7030572
    Abstract: In a lighting arrangement comprising a LED array and a DC-DC-converter for supplying the LED array, the DC-DC-converter is an up-converter and the LED array is coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal. The up-converter generates a very low voltage over the LED array without making use of a transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Engbert Bernard Gerard Nijhof, Marcel Johannes Maria Bucks, Johannes Matheus Theodorus Lambertus Claessens, Jozef Petrus Emanuel De Krijger
  • Patent number: 7026663
    Abstract: A structure includes a semiconductor light emitting device including a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. The light emitting layer emits first light of a first peak wavelength. A wavelength-converting material that absorbs the first light and emits second light of a second peak wavelength is disposed in the path of the first light. A filter material that transmits a portion of the first light and absorbs or reflects a portion of the first light is disposed over the wavelength-converting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Krames, Gerd O. Mueller, Regina B. Mueller-Mach
  • Patent number: 7026653
    Abstract: III-nitride or III-phosphide light emitting devices include a light emitting region disposed between a p-type region and an n-type region. At least one heavily doped layer is disposed within either the n-type region or the p-type region or both, to provide current spreading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting, U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Decai Sun
  • Publication number: 20060071228
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a substrate, a doped substrate layer, a layer of first conductivity type overlying the doped substrate layer, a light emitting layer overlying the layer of first conductivity type, and a layer of second conductivity type overlying the light emitting layer. A conductive transparent layer, e.g., of indium tin oxide, and a reflective metal layer overlie the layer of second conductivity type and provide electrical contact with the layer of second conductivity type. A plurality of vias may be formed in the reflective metal and conductive transparent layer as well as the layer of second conductivity type, down to the doped substrate layer. A plurality of contacts are formed in the vias and are in electrical contact with the doped substrate layer. An insulating layer formed over the reflective metal layer insulates the plurality of contacts from the conductive transparent layer and reflective metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Decai Sun
  • Patent number: 7019330
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a resonant cavity formed by a reflective metal layer and a distributed Bragg reflector. Light is extracted from the resonant cavity through the distributed Bragg reflector. A light emitting region sandwiched between a layer of first conductivity type and a layer of second conductivity type is disposed in the resonant cavity. In some embodiments, first and second contacts are formed on the same side of the resonant cavity, forming a flip chip or epitaxy up device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Ludowise
  • Patent number: 7015054
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes: a semiconductor structure formed on one side of a substrate, the semiconductor structure having a plurality of semiconductor layers and an active region within the layers; and first and second conductive electrodes contacting respectively different semiconductor layers of the structure; the substrate comprising a material having a refractive index n>2.0 and light absorption coefficient ?, at the emission wavelength of the active region, of ?>3 cm?1. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate material has a refractive index n>2.3, and the light absorption coefficient, ?, of the substrate material is ?<1 cm?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Steigerwald, Michael R. Krames
  • Patent number: 7012279
    Abstract: A photonic crystal structure is formed in an n-type layer of a III-nitride light emitting device. In some embodiments, the photonic crystal n-type layer is formed on a tunnel junction. The device includes a first layer of first conductivity type, a first layer of second conductivity type, and an active region separating the first layer of first conductivity type from the first layer of second conductivity type. The tunnel junction includes a second layer of first conductivity type and a second layer of second conductivity type and separates the first layer of first conductivity type from a third layer of first conductivity type. A photonic crystal structure is formed in the third layer of first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignees: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC, Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Wierer Jr., Michael R. Krames, Mihail M. Sigalas
  • Patent number: 7009213
    Abstract: A device includes a light emitting semiconductor device bonded to an optical element. In some embodiments, the optical element may be elongated or shaped to direct a portion of light emitted by the active region in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the semiconductor light emitting device and the optical element. In some embodiments, the semiconductor light emitting device and optical element are positioned in a reflector or adjacent to a light guide. The optical element may be bonded to the first semiconductor light emitting device by a bond at an interface disposed between the optical element and the semiconductor light emitting device. In some embodiments, the bond is substantially free of organic-based adhesives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Camras, Gerard Harbers, William R. Imler, Matthijs H. Keuper, Paul S. Martin, Douglas W. Pocius, Frank M. Steranka, Helena Ticha, Ladislav Tichy, R. Scott West
  • Patent number: 6995389
    Abstract: Heterostructure designs are disclosed that may increase the number of charge carriers available in the quantum well layers of the active region of III-nitride light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes. In a first embodiment, a reservoir layer is included with a barrier layer and quantum well layer in the active region of a light emitting device. In some embodiments, the reservoir layer is thicker than the barrier layer and quantum well layer, and has a greater indium composition than the barrier layer and a smaller indium composition than the quantum well layer. In some embodiments, the reservoir layer is graded. In a second embodiment, the active region of a light emitting device is a superlattice of alternating quantum well layers and barrier layers. In some embodiments, the barrier layers are thin such that charge carriers can tunnel between quantum well layers through a barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting, U.S., LLC
    Inventors: James C. Kim, Nathan F. Gardner, Michael R. Krames, Yu-Chen Shen, Troy A. Trottier, Jonathan J. Wierer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6995402
    Abstract: A mount for a semiconductor light emitting device includes an integrated reflector cup. The reflector cup includes a wall formed on the mount and shaped and positioned to reflect side light emitted from the light emitting device along a vertical axis of the device/mount combination. The wall may be covered by a reflective material such as a reflective metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting, U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Ludowise, Jerome C. Bhat
  • Patent number: 6992334
    Abstract: A high performance, highly reflective ohmic contact, in the visible spectrum (400 nm–750 nm), has the following multi-layer metal profile. A uniform and thin ohmic contact material is deposited and optionally alloyed to the semiconductor surface. A thick reflector layer selected from a group that includes Al, Cu, Au, Rh, Pd, Ag and any multi-layer combinations is deposited over the ohmic contact material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Wierer, Jr., Michael R Krames, Serge L Rudaz
  • Patent number: 6989555
    Abstract: In a III-nitride light emitting device, a ternary or quaternary light emitting layer is configured to control the degree of phase separation. In some embodiments, the difference between the InN composition at any point in the light emitting layer and the average InN composition in the light emitting layer is less than 20%. In some embodiments, control of phase separation is accomplished by controlling the ratio of the lattice constant in a relaxed, free standing layer having the same composition as the light emitting layer to the lattice constant in a base region. For example, the ratio may be between about 1 and about 1.01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Werner K. Goetz, Michael R. Krames, Anneli Munkholm
  • Patent number: 6987613
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting device including a Fresnel lens and/or a holographic diffuser formed on a surface of a semiconductor light emitter for improved light extraction, and a method for forming such light emitting device. Also provided is a light emitting device including an optical element stamped on a surface for improved light extraction and the stamping method used to form such device. An optical element formed on the surface of a semiconductor light emitter reduces reflective loss and loss due to total internal reflection, thereby improving light extraction efficiency. A Fresnel lens or a holographic diffuser may be formed on a surface by wet chemical etching or dry etching techniques, such as plasma etching, reactive ion etching, and chemically-assisted ion beam etching, optionally in conjunction with a lithographic technique. In addition, a Fresnel lens or a holographic diffuser may be milled, scribed, or ablated into the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Douglas W. Pocius, Michael D. Camras, Gloria E. Hofler
  • Patent number: 6977396
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active region, and a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type. First and second contacts are connected to the first and second semiconductor layers. In some embodiments at least one of the first and second contacts has a thickness greater than 3.5 microns. In some embodiments, a first heat extraction layer is connected to one of the first and second contacts. In some embodiments, one of the first and second contacts is connected to a submount by a solder interconnect having a length greater than a width. In some embodiments, an underfill is disposed between a submount and one of the first and second interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Shen, Daniel A. Steigerwald, Paul S. Martin
  • Publication number: 20050274970
    Abstract: A device includes a semiconductor light emitting device with contacts on the same side of the device and is mounted on a transparent submount having conductive vias that are electrically connected to the contacts in a flip-chip configuration. A method of producing a semiconductor light emitting device includes producing a light emitting active region disposed between a first region of first conductivity type and a second region of second conductivity type on a growth substrate. A contact region is etched through the second region, the active region, and partially through the first region. Contacts are produced on the first region, i.e., in the etched contact region, and on the second region. A transparent submount with conductive vias is provided and bonded to the assembly before the growth substrate is removed. The submount and assembly are then diced together resulting in the submount and assembly having approximately the same footprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventor: Michael Ludowise
  • Publication number: 20050274967
    Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device is provided with a separately fabricated wavelength converting element. The wavelength converting element, of e.g., phosphor and glass, is produced in a sheet that is separated into individual wavelength converting elements, which are bonded to light emitting devices. The wavelength converting elements may be grouped and stored according to their wavelength converting properties. The wavelength converting elements may be selectively matched with a semiconductor light emitting device, to produce a desired mixture of primary and secondary light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: Lumileds lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Paul Martin, Gerd Mueller, Regina Mueller-Mach, Helena Ticha, Ladislav Tichy
  • Patent number: 6974229
    Abstract: A mixing chamber includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. At least two light emitting diodes are disposed along the first surface. At least a portion of the first surface is reflective, and the second surface includes a reflective region and a plurality of openings formed in the reflective region. In some embodiments, the first surface and the second surface are separated by at least one side surface. Light emitted from the light emitting diodes is reflected off the first surface, reflective region of the second surface, and side surfaces of the mixing chamber until it is emitted from the openings of the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. West, Yourii Martynov, Huub Konijn, Nicola Pfeffer, Simon J. M. Kuppens
  • Publication number: 20050270775
    Abstract: An illumination device uses a wavelength converting element, such as a phosphor layer, that is physically separated from a light source, such as one or more light emitting diodes, a Xenon lamp or a Mercury lamp. The wavelength converting element is optically separated from the light source, so that the converted light emitted by the wavelength converting element is prevented from being incident on the light source. Accordingly, the temperature limitations of the wavelength converting element are removed, thereby permitting the light source to be driven with an increased current to produce a higher radiance. Moreover, by optically separating the wavelength converting element from the light source, the conversion and recycling efficiency of the device is improved, which also increases radiance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: Lumileds Lighting U.S., LLC
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Matthijs Keuper