Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical system described herein comprises a source including light emitting diode chip and a homogenizer. One embodiment of the homogenizer comprises an entrance face positioned to receive light from the source, the entrance face having a first shape, a body configured to homogenize the received light and an exit face, the exit face parallel to the primary emitting face of the source. The homogenizer can emit light with a half angle that is at least 80% of the half angle of light entering the homogenizer.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an optical system having a light source (e.g., LED) and a high numerical aperture multi-element optical stack. According to one embodiment, the optical stack can reimage an entrance aperture. The multi-element optical stack can include a number of optical elements forming a series of lenses. The series of lenses comprises, a first lens positioned to receive light emitted in a first beam angle and a second lens more distal from the LED than the first lens, the second lens defining a second lens exit aperture that has at least a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for the emission beam angle in air. The lenses in said series of lenses are configured, in combination, to successively reduce a beam angle of light from the first beam angle to the emission beam angle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an optical system having a light source (e.g., LED) and a high numerical aperture multi-element optical stack. According to one embodiment, the optical stack can reimage an entrance aperture. The multi-element optical stack can include a number of optical elements forming a series of lenses. The series of lenses comprises, a first lens positioned to receive light emitted in a first beam angle and a second lens more distal from the LED than the first lens, the second lens defining a second lens exit aperture that has at least a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for the emission beam angle in air. The lenses in said series of lenses are configured, in combination, to successively reduce a beam angle of light from the first beam angle to the emission beam angle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical system described herein comprises a source including light emitting diode chip and a homogenizer. One embodiment of the homogenizer comprises an entrance face positioned to receive light from the source, the entrance face having a first shape, a body configured to homogenize the received light and an exit face, the exit face parallel to the primary emitting face of the source. The homogenizer can emit light with a half angle that is at least 80% of the half angle of light entering the homogenizer.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical system described herein comprises a source including light emitting diode chip and a homogenizer. One embodiment of the homogenizer comprises an entrance face positioned to receive light from the source, the entrance face having a first shape, a body configured to homogenize the received light and an exit face, the exit face parallel to the primary emitting face of the source. The homogenizer can emit light with a half angle that is at least 80% of the half angle of light entering the homogenizer.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide optical systems that can mix colors to produce illumination patterns having a large area with uniform color. One embodiment of an optical system can include a set of optical units that each produces an illumination pattern with uniform color and intensity. The optical units are spaced so that the individual illumination patterns overlap to create an overall illumination pattern with an overlap area. In the overlap area, the colors emitted by the individual optical units mix to create a desired color. Embodiments of optical systems can provide beam control so that the optical units emit a high percentage of light in beam.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide optical systems utilizing photon conversion materials in conjunction with a light source and an LED. An LED can be positioned in a cavity defined by a base and one or more sidewalls. Phosphors can be disposed on the entrance face of a lens between the entrance face to the lens body and the LED so that light emitted from the LED will be incident on the phosphor and down converted before entering the lens body through the entrance face. The lens can positioned so that the phosphors are separated from the LED by a gap.

Abstract: Embodiments of an LED disclosed has an emitter layer shaped to a controlled depth or height relative to a substrate of the LED to maximize the light output of the LED and to achieve a desired intensity distribution. In some embodiments, the exit face of the LED may be selected to conserve radiance. In some embodiments, shaping the entire LED, including the substrate and sidewalls, or shaping the substrate alone can extract 100% or approximately 100% of the light generated at the emitter layers from the emitter layers. In some embodiments, the total efficiency is at least 90% or above. In some embodiments, the emitter layer can be shaped by etching, mechanical shaping, or a combination of various shaping methods. In some embodiments, only a portion of the emitter layer is shaped to form the tiny emitters. The unshaped portion forms a continuous electrical connection for the LED.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for promoting plant growth that combine beam angle control with spectral control. In one embodiment, an optical device can be configured to emit multiple colors of light at particular wavelengths. The optical device may also be configured to generate an emission spectrum with multiple peaks. The spectrum can be selected based on stimulating biological processes of a plant.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include LEDs that promote photon tunneling. One embodiment of an LED device can have a quantum well layer adapted to generate light having a wavelength, a p-doped alloy layer on a first side of the quantum well layer and an n-doped alloy layer on the other side of the quantum well layer. The device can also include an electrode electrically connected to the p-doped alloy layer and an electrode electrically connected to the n-doped alloy layer. According to one embodiment the thickness of the n-doped alloy layer is less than the wavelength of light generated by the quantum well layer to allow light generated by the quantum well layer to tunnel to the medium (e.g., air). In another embodiment, the entire layer structure can have a thickness that is less than the wavelength.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an optical system having a light source (e.g., LED) and a high numerical aperture multi-element optical stack. According to one embodiment, the optical stack can reimage an entrance aperture. The multi-element optical stack can include a number of optical elements forming a series of lenses. The series of lenses comprises, a first lens positioned to receive light emitted in a first beam angle and a second lens more distal from the LED than the first lens, the second lens defining a second lens exit aperture that has at least a minimum area necessary to conserve radiance for the emission beam angle in air. The lenses in said series of lenses are configured, in combination, to successively reduce a beam angle of light from the first beam angle to the emission beam angle.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical system described herein comprises a source including light emitting diode chip and a homogenizer. One embodiment of the homogenizer comprises an entrance face positioned to receive light from the source, the entrance face having a first shape, a body configured to homogenize the received light and an exit face, the exit face parallel to the primary emitting face of the source. The homogenizer can emit light with a half angle that is at least 80% of the half angle of light entering the homogenizer.