Abstract: Solid state lamp or bulb structures are disclosed that can provide an essentially omnidirectional emission pattern from directional emitting light sources, such as forward emitting light sources. The present invention is also directed to lamp structures using active elements to assist in thermal management of the lamp structures and in some embodiments to reduce the convective thermal resistance around certain of the lamp elements to increase the natural heat convection away from the lamp. Some embodiments include integral fans or other active elements such as diaphragm-pump type active cooling elements, that move air over the surfaces of a heat sink, while other embodiments comprise internal fans or other active elements that can draw air internal to the lamp. The movement of the air over these surfaces can agitate otherwise stagnant air to decrease the convective thermal resistance and increasing the ability of the lamp to dissipate heat generated during operation.

Abstract: Light emitting devices include a light emitting diode (“LED”) and a recipient luminophoric medium that is configured to down-convert at least some of the light emitted by the LED. In some embodiments, the recipient luminophoric medium includes a first broad-spectrum luminescent material and a narrow-spectrum luminescent material. The broad-spectrum luminescent material may down-convert radiation emitted by the LED to radiation having a peak wavelength in the red color range. The narrow-spectrum luminescent material may also down-convert radiation emitted by the LED into the cyan, green or red color range.

Abstract: Circuits for preventing power drawn by a load from exceeding a threshold are provided. A first circuit monitors power supplied to the load and disables a power supply if a threshold is exceeded. A second circuit disconnects the load from the power supply if the threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: An LED lamp or bulb is disclosed that comprises a light source, a heat sink structure and an optical cavity. The optical cavity comprises a phosphor carrier having a conversions material and arranged over an opening to the cavity. The phosphor carrier comprises a thermally conductive transparent material and is thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. An LED based light source is mounted in the optical cavity remote to the phosphor carrier with light from the light source passing through the phosphor carrier. A diffuser dome is included that is mounted over the optical cavity, with light from the optical cavity passing through the diffuser dome. The properties of the diffuser, such as geometry, scattering properties of the scattering layer, surface roughness or smoothness, and spatial distribution of the scattering layer properties may be used to control various lamp properties such as color uniformity and light intensity distribution as a function of viewing angle.

Abstract: A keypad circuit provides a signal corresponding to an actuation of a button. A query is presented to confirm intent to place an apparatus in a low-power state in response to the signal. The apparatus assumes a low-power state in response to a confirmation. The apparatus is also configured to assume an active state from a low-power state in response to the signal. Point-of-sale terminals and other apparatus can be controlled and operated accordingly.

Abstract: Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substrate free light emitting diode (LED), includes arranging LED dies on a tape to form an LED wafer assembly, molding an encapsulation structure over at least one of the LED dies on a first side of the LED wafer assembly, removing the tape, forming a dielectric layer on a second side of the LED wafer assembly, forming an oversized contact region on the dielectric layer to form a virtual LED wafer assembly, and singulating the virtual LED wafer assembly into predetermined regions including at least one LED. The tape can be a carrier tape or a saw tape. Several LED dies can also be electrically coupled before the virtual LED wafer assembly is singulated into predetermined regions including at the electrically coupled LED dies.

Abstract: LED lamps or bulbs are disclosed that comprise a light source, a heat sink structure and a remote phosphor carrier having at least one conversion material. The phosphor carrier can be remote to the light sources and mounted to the heat sink. The phosphor carrier can have a three-dimensional shape and comprise a thermally conductive transparent material and a phosphor layer, with an LED based light source mounted to the heat sink such that light passes through the phosphor carrier. The phosphor carrier converts at least some of the LED light, with some embodiments emitting a white light combination of LED and phosphor light. The phosphors in the phosphor carriers can operate at a lower temperature to have greater phosphor conversion efficiency and reduced heat related damage. The lamps or bulbs can also comprise a diffuser over the phosphor carrier to distribute light and conceal the phosphor carrier.

Abstract: A wide beam angle (diffuse) luminaire with an efficient multi-source radiative emitter array. Embodiments of the luminaire utilize one or more LEDs disposed around a perimeter of a protective casing. The LEDs are angled to emit into an internal cavity defined by the inner surface of the casing. The placement of the LEDs around the perimeter of the device reduces self-blocking and facilitates heat transfer from the LEDs through the casing or another heat sink and into the ambient. Light impinges on the inner surface and is redirected as useful emission. A diffuse reflective coating may be deposited on the inner surface to mix the light before it is emitted.

Abstract: A lighting device capable of generating warm or neutral white light using blue light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”), red LEDs, and/or luminescent material that responds to blue LED emission is disclosed. The lighting device includes multiple first solid-state light-emitting structures (“SLSs”), second SLSs, and balancing resistor element. The first SLS such as a string of blue LED dies connected in series is able to convert electrical energy to blue optical light, which is partially turned into longer wavelength emission by the luminescent material. The second SLS such as a red LED die is configured to convert electrical energy to red optical light, wherein the second SLSs are connected in series. While the first SLSs and second SLSs are coupled in parallel, the balancing resistor element provides load balance for current redistribution between the first and second SLSs in response to fluctuation of operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substrate free light emitting diode (LED), includes arranging LED dies on a tape to form an LED wafer assembly, molding an encapsulation structure over at least one of the LED dies on a first side of the LED wafer assembly, removing the tape, forming a dielectric layer on a second side of the LED wafer assembly, forming an oversized contact region on the dielectric layer to form a virtual LED wafer assembly, and singulating the virtual LED wafer assembly into predetermined regions including at least one LED. The tape can be a carrier tape or a saw tape. Several LED dies can also be electrically coupled before the virtual LED wafer assembly is singulated into predetermined regions including at the electrically coupled LED dies.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies comprise a plurality of Light Emitting Diode (LED) dies arranged and attached to common substrate to form an LED array having a desired optimum packing density. The LED dies are wired to one another and are attached to landing pads on the substrate for receiving power from an external electrical source via an interconnect device. The assembly comprises a lens structure, wherein each LED die comprises an optical lens disposed thereover that is configured to promote optimal light transmission. Each optical lens has a diameter that is between about 1.5 to 3 times the size of a respective LED die, and is shaped in the form of a hemisphere. Fillet segments are integral with and interposed between the adjacent optical lenses, and provide sufficient space between adjacent optical lenses so that the diameters of adjacent optical lenses do not intersect with one another.

Abstract: Standardized photon building blocks are packaged in molded interconnect structures to form a variety of LED array products. No electrical conductors pass between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate upon which LED dies are mounted. Microdots of highly reflective material are jetted onto the top surface. Landing pads on the top surface of the substrate are attached to contact pads disposed on the underside of a lip of the interconnect structure. In a solder reflow process, the photon building blocks self-align within the interconnect structure. Conductors in the interconnect structure are electrically coupled to the LED dies in the photon building blocks through the contact pads and landing pads. Compression molding is used to form lenses over the LED dies and leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the landing pads. The flash layer laterally above the landing pads is removed by blasting particles at the flash layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a substrate free light emitting diode (LED), includes arranging LED dies on a tape to form an LED wafer assembly, molding an encapsulation structure over at least one of the LED dies on a first side of the LED wafer assembly, removing the tape, forming a dielectric layer on a second side of the LED wafer assembly, forming an oversized contact region on the dielectric layer to form a virtual LED wafer assembly, and singulating the virtual LED wafer assembly into predetermined regions including at least one LED. The tape can be a carrier tape or a saw tape. Several LED dies can also be electrically coupled before the virtual LED wafer assembly is singulated into predetermined regions including at the electrically coupled LED dies.

Abstract: Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Standardized photon building blocks are packaged in molded interconnect structures to form a variety of LED array products. No electrical conductors pass between the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate upon which LED dies are mounted. Microdots of highly reflective material are jetted onto the top surface. Landing pads on the top surface of the substrate are attached to contact pads disposed on the underside of a lip of the interconnect structure. In a solder reflow process, the photon building blocks self-align within the interconnect structure. Conductors in the interconnect structure are electrically coupled to the LED dies in the photon building blocks through the contact pads and landing pads. Compression molding is used to form lenses over the LED dies and leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the landing pads. The flash layer laterally above the landing pads is removed by blasting particles at the flash layer.

Abstract: An LED lamp or bulb is disclosed that comprises a light source, a heat sink structure and a remote phosphor carrier having at least one conversion material. The phosphor carrier can be remote to the light sources and mounted to the heat sink so that heat from the phosphor carrier spreads into the heat sink. The phosphor carrier can have a three-dimensional shape, and can comprise a thermally conductive transparent material and a phosphor layer, with an LED based light source mounted to the heat sink such that light from the light source passes through the phosphor carrier. At least some of the LED light is converted by the phosphor carrier, with some lamp embodiments emitting a white light combination of LED and phosphor light. The phosphors in the phosphor carriers can be arranged to operate at a lower temperature to thereby operate at greater phosphor conversion efficiency and with reduced heat related damage to the phosphor.

Abstract: LED based lamps and bulbs are disclosed that comprise a pedestal having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the pedestal at least partially comprises a thermally conductive material. A heat sink structure is included with the pedestal thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. A remote phosphor is arranged in relation to the LEDs so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the remote phosphor and is converted to a different wavelength of light. Some lamp or bulb embodiments can emit a white light combination of light from the LEDs and the remote phosphor. These can include LEDs emitting blue light with the remote phosphor having a material that absorbs blue light and emits yellow or green light. A diffuser can be included to diffuse the emitting light into the desired pattern, such as omnidirectional.

Abstract: Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.

Abstract: Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.