Abstract: One or more LED dice are mounted on a support structure. The support structure may be a submount with the LED dice already electrically connected to leads on the submount. A mold has indentations in it corresponding to the positions of the LED dice on the support structure. The indentations are filled with a liquid optically transparent material, such as silicone, which when cured forms a lens material. The shape of the indentations will be the shape of the lens. The mold and the LED dice/support structure are brought together so that each LED die resides within the liquid silicone in an associated indentation. The mold is then heated to cure (harden) the silicone. The mold and the support structure are then separated, leaving a complete silicone lens over each LED die. This over molding process may be repeated with different molds to create concentric shells of lenses.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light panel (12), comprising: a light guide having a front surface defining a viewing window (11), a back surface and sides (3, 4) between the front and back surfaces; and a patterned array of light sources (8, 9, 10) of at least two types, which types are distinguished by the color of light emitted by the light sources of said at least two types, said array being arranged along at least one of the sides. Each light source generates in use a divergent light beam of a color into the panel to, in combination, color the panel. Further, the array comprises complementary sub-arrays (8, 9, 8, 9 & 9, 10, 9, 10) of light sources along at least two of the sides.

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.

Abstract: A compact illumination system that is suitable for, e.g., projection systems, includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that are aligned along the same axis. The illumination system includes mirrors and a filter system for combining the light emitted by the different light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes may be mounted within the same plane, e.g., on the same heatsink, which simplifies assembly and alignment of the system. Moreover, a collimator system with integrally formed refractive and/or reflective collimators, may be used. The use of an integrally formed collimator system advantageously reduces the number of piece parts and simplifies assembly.

Abstract: The luminance of a system that includes a light emitting diode (LED), such as a projection system, may be increased by using an LED chip that has a light emitting surface that emits light directly into any medium with a refractive index of less than or equal to approximately 1.25. For example, the LED chip may emit light directly into the ambient environment, such as air or gas, instead of into an encapsulant. The low refractive index decreases the étendue of the LED, which increases luminance. Moreover, without an encapsulant, a collimating optical element, such as a lens, can be positioned close to the light emitting surface of the LED chip, which advantageously permits the capture of light emitted at large angles. A secondary collimating optical element may be used to assist in focusing the light on a target, such as a micro-display.

Abstract: A compact backlight system has a light-emitting panel (1) with a front wall (2), a rear wall (3) situated opposite thereto, and furthermore, between the front and the rear wall (2, 3), a first edge surface (4) and, opposite thereto, a second edge surface (5). A first light source (6) is associated with the first edge surface (4) which is light-transmitting. According to the invention, the light-emitting panel (1) widens over a widening section (100) from the first edge surface (4) in a direction towards the second edge surface (5), and the rear wall (3) is provided over the widening section (100) with a multiplicity of steps (13, 13?, . . . ) of which a surface (17) facing the front wall (2) is substantially parallel to the front wall (2). Preferably, the ratio of the surface area S1 of the first edge surface (4) and the surface area S2 of the second edge surface (5) ranges from 1.5<S2/S1<3.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention provides a backlight for an LCD display. The backlight uses a two-dimensional array of single color or white LEDs and a diffusing or phosphor coated cover plate. Various electrical connections of the LEDs and various phosphor color-conversion techniques are described.

Abstract: A backlight system includes at least first and second light-emitting panels (1; 11) having a front wall (2; 12), an opposing rear wall (3; 13) and opposite edge surfaces (4, 14; 5, 15). At least one of the edge surfaces (4; 14) is light-transmitting and associated with a light source (6; 16). Light originating from the light source is diffused in the light-emitting panels and coupled out of the light-emitting panels in the direction of a display device (25), preferably a LCD device. The light source associated with the first light-emitting panel (1) has clusters of red and blue or red and green LEDs. The light source (16) associated with the second light-emitting panel (11) has clusters of blue and green LEDs or only green LEDs.

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.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a color, transmissive LCD uses red, green, and blue LEDs as the light source. The red LED is optically coupled to a first edge of a rectangular light guide; the green LED is optically coupled to a second edge of the light guide; and the blue LED is optically coupled to a third edge of the light guide. Three sets of deformities in the light guide selectively direct the R, G, and B light out of the front surface of the light guide. The R, G, and B LEDs are constantly on and there is no color filtering. In another embodiment, a blue light LED is optically coupled to one or more edges of a light guide, and phosphor strips are placed on a surface of the light guide coinciding with the red and green pixel columns. Deformities below the red and green phosphor strips and below the blue pixel areas direct blue light to the backs of the phosphor strips and to the blue pixel areas. If an ultraviolet light LED is used, phosphor strips for the blue pixel areas would also be used.

Abstract: A color, transmissive LCD is described herein which uses red, green, and blue LEDs as the light source. The R, G, and B LEDs are coupled to separate light guides, one light guide for each color. These light guides may take the form of three overlying plastic or glass sheets. In another embodiment, thin fiber optic cables arranged parallel to each other on a supporting surface are used as the light guides, and each fiber optic cable is optically coupled to only one R, G, or B LED in a repeating pattern. The light guides contain deformities to emit light coinciding with the positions of the red, green, and blue pixels. The R, G, and B LEDs are constantly on, and there is no color filtering.

Abstract: A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LED's). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spectral characteristic of the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′) generated by the light source (4; 5) depends upon the position in the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′). Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. The light beam comprises at least two light beam segments (6, 6′; 7, 7′) having essentially different spectral characteristics. Preferably, one of the light beam segments (6′; 7′) is mesotopically tuned.

Abstract: A backlight system comprises at least two light-emitting panels (1; 11) having a front wall (2; 12), an opposing rear wall (3; 13) and opposite edge surfaces (4, 14; 5, 15). At least one of the edge surfaces (4; 14) is light-transmitting and associated with a plurality of light sources (6, 16). Light originating from the light sources (6; 16) is diffused in the panel (1; 11). Sub-surfaces (8, 18) of the rear walls (3, 13) are provided with means for extracting light from the panel (1, 11). In operation, said sub-surfaces (8, 18) project light on areas (9, 19) of an (imaginary) plane (40) which is positioned parallel to the light-emitting panels (1, 11). Said projected areas (9, 19) in the plane (40) are substantially contiguous. Preferably, said sub-surfaces (8, 18) are remote from the light-transmitting edge surfaces (4; 14). Preferably, each of said sub-surfaces (8, 18) forms a single surface covering half the front wall (2, 12) of the light-emitting panel (1, 11).

Abstract: A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LED's). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spectral characteristic of the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′) generated by the light source (4; 5) depends upon the position in the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′). Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. The light beam comprises at least two light beam segments (6, 6′; 7, 7′) having essentially different spectral characteristics. Preferably, one of the light beam segments (6′; 7′) is mesotopically tuned.

Abstract: The lighting system comprises a body (1) to emit visible light and an envelope (5) which is transparent to light. The invention is characterized in that the lighting system comprises at least one opto-electronic element (2, 2′) to emit light in a first wavelength range, in that the body (1) is provided with conversion means (3) for absorbing light emitted by the opto-electronic element (2, 2′) and re-emitting light in a second wavelength range, and in that the envelope (5) is provided with a coating (6) reflecting light of the first wavelength range. In a preferred embodiment, the opto-electronic elements (2, 2′) are light-emitting diodes, which preferably emit blue light. Preferably, the conversion means (3) consist of a luminescent material and can be excited, preferably, by light originating from the wavelength range of 400 to 500 nm. Preferably, the coating (6) comprises a multilayer optical filter and is, preferably, provided on an inside surface of the envelope (5).

Abstract: A backlight system for illuminating a display device comprises a light-emitting panel (1) having a front wall, an opposing rear wall and edge areas (4). At least one of the edge areas (4) is light-transmitting and associated with a light source. The light source associated with the light-transmitting edge areas (4) of the light-emitting panel (1) comprises symmetric clusters (C) of light-emitting diodes having three mutually different light emission wavelengths, for example symmetric clusters (C) of blue, green and red LEDs (6G, 6B, 6R, 6B′, 6G′; 6G, 6B, 6R, 6B′, 6G′; . . . ).

Abstract: A headlamp (2; 3) of a vehicle (1) has a light source (4; 5) comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14), preferably light-emitting diodes (LED's). At least one of these opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) has, in operation, a luminous flux of 5 lm or higher. According to the invention, the spectral characteristic of the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′) generated by the light source (4; 5) depends upon the position in the light beam (6, 6′; 7, 7′). Preferably, the light source (4; 5) comprises opto-electronic elements (11; 12; 13; 14) only. The light beam comprises at least two light beam segments (6, 6′; 7, 7′) having essentially different spectral characteristics. Preferably, one of the light beam segments (6′; 7′) is mesotopically tuned.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a display device (3) comprises a light-emitting panel (1) having a light-emission window (2) and at least one edge surface (4) for coupling light into the light-emitting panel (1). The illumination system further comprises a light mixing chamber (5) provided with a light source (6). The light mixing chamber (5) is associated with the edge surface (4). According to the invention, the light source (6) comprises a plurality of clusters of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) having different light-emission wavelengths, the clusters being arranged at a pitch P with respect to each other. The ratio of the height H of the light mixing chamber (5) to the pitch P of the clusters meets the relation 0.1≦H/P≦10, preferably 0.2≦H/P≦2. Preferably, each cluster comprises one blue, one green and one red LED, or one blue, two green and one red LEDs. Preferably, each LED has a luminous flux of at least 5 lumen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light panel (12), comprising: a light guide having a front surface defining a viewing window (11), a back surface and sides (3, 4) between the front and back surfaces; and a patterned array of light sources (8, 9, 10) of at least two types, which types are distinguished by the color of light emitted by the light sources of said at least two types, said array being arranged along at least one of the sides. Each light source generates in use a divergent light beam of a color into the panel to, in combination, color the panel. Further, the array comprises complementary sub-arrays (8,9,8,9 & 9,10,9,10) of light sources along at least two of the sides.