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 source having a rigid substrate, a first LED, and a flexible reflector housing is disclosed. The rigid substrate has a first surface having a plurality of electrical traces formed thereon, the first LED die being disposed on the first surface and connected to two of the electrical traces. The rigid substrate also includes a plurality of external electrical connections for accessing the electrical traces. The reflector housing includes a layer of flexible material having at least one cavity extending through the layer of flexible material. The layer of flexible material is bonded to the first surface such that the cavity overlies the first LED die. The cavity has walls that reflect light generated in the first LED die. The first die can be encapsulated in a layer of silicone encapsulant. The reflector can likewise be constructed from silicone.

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 light source having a die, a substrate, and a housing is disclosed. The die has a semiconducting light emitting device thereon, the die having a top surface and a bottom surface, light being emitted through the top surface. The die is characterized by a maximum dimension. The substrate has a top surface bonded to the bottom surface of the die. The substrate includes a plurality of electrical traces connected to the die that are used to power the light emitting device. The housing includes a reflector having a reflective inner wall facing the die and an aperture through which light reflected from the inner wall exits the housing. The aperture lies in a plane normal to the top surface of the die and has a height that is less than the maximum dimension of the die. The die is encapsulated in a transparent layer of material.

Abstract: A light source having a circuit carrier and a die is disclosed. The circuit carrier includes top and bottom conducting layers sandwiching an insulating substrate. The bottom layer has a first surface adjacent to the insulating substrate and a second surface includes a portion of a bottom surface of the light source, the substrate having a die bonding region in which the top conducting layer and a portion of the substrate are absent. A portion of the bottom conducting layer is present under the die bonding region and the die is bonded to the top surface of the bottom conducting layer in the die bonding region. The bottom conducting layer is patterned to provide first and second bottom electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another and connected to first and second contacts for powering the LED.

Abstract: A light source including a die, substrate, and droplet of encapsulating material is disclosed. The die includes a semiconductor light-emitting device that is connected to first and second conducting traces on a first surface of the substrate. The droplet of encapsulant material overlies the die and is formed from a liquid precursor material that is characterized by a surface tension. The droplet has a periphery in contact with the first surface, the periphery having a shape determined by a predefined feature on the first surface and the surface tension of the liquid precursor material. The feature can include a recess in the first surface or a ring having an area that is raised above the first surface.

Abstract: A light source, a flexible circuit carrier and a flexible reflector are disclosed. The flexible circuit carrier includes a flexible substrate having a first surface having a plurality of electrical traces formed thereon. A first LED die is disposed on the first surface and connected to two of the electrical traces. A plurality of external electrical connections for accessing the electrical traces are also included in the circuit carrier. The flexible reflector includes a layer of flexible material having at least one cavity extending through the layer of flexible material. The flexible layer is bonded to the first surface such that the cavity overlies the first LED die. The cavity has walls that reflect light generated in the first LED die. The flexible material and the flexible substrate can include silicone.

Abstract: A New Phosphor-converted LED Device (“NPCLD”) is disclosed. The NPCLD may include a lens over a phosphor body, in which the lens and the phosphor body each have a substantially convex upper surface. The NPCLD may alternatively include first and second lenses, the first lens having a substantially flat interface with a phosphor body.

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 New Phosphor-converted LED Device (“NPCLD”) is disclosed. The NPCLD may include a lens over a phosphor body, in which the lens and the phosphor body each have a substantially convex upper surface. The NPCLD may alternatively include first and second lenses, the first lens having a substantially flat interface with a phosphor body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light-emitting apparatus includes a plurality of adjacent, overlapping light-guide plates formed of substantially transparent material, and a plurality of light sources. Each of the light-guide plates has i) first and second ends, ii) one or more substantially transparent surfaces through which light is emitted, and iii) one or more reflective surfaces to redirect light within the light-guide plate. Where first and second light-guide plates are adjacent, the first end of the first light-guide plate A) underhangs the second end of the second light-guide plate, and B) is positioned opposite a primary light-emitting side of the apparatus. The plurality of light sources are optically coupled to the first ends of the light-guide plates so as to illuminate the interiors of the light-guide plates.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus is described. One embodiment of the lighting apparatus includes a substrate and a lighting element. The lighting element is coupled to the substrate to emit light through a light exit plane. The light exit plane is substantially perpendicular to the substrate. By providing a lighting device with a substrate oriented perpendicular to the light exit plane of the lighting device, the lighting device can enable better mixing of the light from different LEDs. The lighting apparatus facilitates light mixing, generally, to minimize or eliminate dark spots on the diffusion panel. The lighting device also facilitates color mixing to produce relatively consistent white light on the diffusion panel.

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 light source having a light pipe and a light generation section. The light pipe includes a two-dimensional sheet of transparent material having a transparent top surface that is substantially parallel to a reflective bottom surface. The light pipe includes light pipe scattering centers that cause light traveling in the sheet of transparent material to be scattered in directions that allow some of the scattered light to escape the sheet through the top surface. The light generating section includes a plurality of LEDs and a mixing chamber. The LEDs are positioned to emit light into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber includes an adapter having a wedge-shaped cavity with reflective walls. The cavity has an opening positioned to direct light into the light pipe. The mixing chamber includes scattering centers for redirecting light traveling in the cavity in directions that would not be obtained by reflection from the reflective walls.

Abstract: A light source having light emitting modules coupled to a flexible circuit carrier. The flexible circuit carrier includes a sheet of flexible material having electrically conducting traces connecting a circuit mounting area and a connector region. The light emitting modules are electrically connected to the circuit mounting area. In one embodiment, the light emitting modules are arranged in a linear array. The light source preferably includes a light pipe having a planar layer of transparent material, the light emitting modules being bonded to an edge of the planar layer. The light pipe is preferably attached to a printed circuit board and the connection region of the flexible circuit carrier is attached to the printed circuit board. The flexible circuit carrier can move heat from the light emitting modules to the printed circuit board as well as providing electrical connections.

Abstract: A flash module has a first light-emitting diode (“LED”) optically coupled to a first lens having a first viewing angle, and a second LED optically coupled to a second lens having a second viewing angle. The second viewing angle is greater than the first viewing angle. A first control signal line coupled to the first LED allows selectively activating the first LED. A second control signal line coupled to the second LED activates the second LED.

Abstract: Illumination apparatus includes a support structure, at least one light emitting element, and a heat sink thermally coupled to the light emitting element. The light emitting element and heat sink are moveable in relation to the support structure. An actuator system moves the at least one light emitting element and the heat sink with respect to the support structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, apparatus is provided with at least one solid-state light emitter, at least one fiber optic light guide, at least one photosensor, and a control system. Each of the at least one fiber optic light guide has a first end that is independently positionable with respect to the solid-state light emitter(s) to receive the light emitted by the solid-state light emitter(s). Each photosensor is positioned to receive light emitted from a second end of one of the light guides. The control system is operably associated with the solid-state light emitter(s) and the photosensor(s) to regulate the light output of the light emitter(s) in accordance with measurements received from the photosensor(s).