Abstract: A light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a substrate, a plurality of dies and a transparent layer of encapsulant. The substrate includes an insulating layer having top and bottom surfaces, the top surface having a first metal patterned layer thereon, and the bottom surface having a second metal patterned layer thereon. The first metal patterned layer has a plurality of die mounting areas thereon, and the second metal patterned layer includes a first contact layer that underlies the die mounting area, the die mounting area and the first contact layer being connected by metal lined vias at each of the die mounting areas. The transparent encapsulant covers the plurality of dies and is bonded to the first metal patterned layer and the top surface of the insulating layer.

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 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, 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 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 LED based light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a plurality of LEDs, an LED carrier, and a cover. The LED carrier includes a metallic core having a top surface bonded to a circuit layer having mounting pads for each of the LEDs and a connector that provides connections to circuit conductors connected to the mounting pads. The cover is bonded to the LED carrier and includes a first opening positioned to allow light from the LEDs to leave the cover and a second opening that provides access to the connector. An encapsulant system covers each of the LEDs with a layer of encapsulant material. The encapsulant system bonds the cover to the LED carrier and can provide optical processing of the light from the LEDs.

Abstract: A flexible circuit that includes mounted electrical components, where bonding wires providing an electrical connection to the electrical components are aligned perpendicularly to the primary plane in which the flexible circuit bends and multiple redundant vias for electrical and thermal connections. The flexible circuit may include an array of light emitting diodes “(LEDs”) that are positioned length-wise in a flexile LED strip as well as flexible printed circuits having a plurality of electrical components attached thereto, where the electrical components may include LEDs. Methods of improving the reliability and thermal dissipation of a flexible circuit and producing a flexible circuit with re-aligned bonding wires and multiple vias for electrical and thermal connections are also provided.

Abstract: An LED Device Having a Top Surface Heat Dissipator is provided. The LED Device Having a Top Surface Heat Dissipator includes a substrate body, and a light emitting diode over the substrate body. The LED Device Having a Top Surface Heat Dissipator also has an electrically and thermally conductive heat dissipator over the substrate body. A method of dissipating heat from an LED device is also provided.

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 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 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 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 an LED that is covered by a layer containing a phosphor is disclosed. The LED emits light in a first wavelength band. The phosphor containing layer includes particles that contain a phosphor having the formula Dy3A5O12, where A is at least one of the elements aluminum, gallium, indium, magnesium or silicon. The layer is positioned to receive a portion of the light from the LED and convert the light to light in a second wavelength band. The phosphor may be doped with Ce. Eu, and Tb, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for emitting and detecting light uses a light emitting device, e.g., a light emitting diode, to emit light and to detect incident light. As an example, the system and method may be used in a digital camera, a camera phone or an illuminated device, such as a liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: The invention provides a signal lamp utilizing clustered light emitting devices and method of making the same. The invention provides a signal lamp that includes a housing having an opening and including a substrate located opposite the opening, a lens disposed within the opening, and a plurality of clusters with each of the clusters comprising a plurality of light emitting devices. The clusters are disposed on the substrate to illuminate respective cluster illumination areas on the lens. Each of the cluster illumination areas has a circumference and a center. The circumference of each of the cluster illumination areas intersects the center of at least one other of the cluster illumination areas. An optical cover can be disposed over the opening.

Abstract: A light source having an LED that is covered by a layer containing a phosphor is disclosed. The LED emits light in a first wavelength band. The phosphor containing layer includes particles that contain a phosphor having the formula Dy3A5O12, where A is at least one of the elements aluminum, gallium, indium, magnesium or silicon. The layer is positioned to receive a portion of the light from the LED and convert the light to light in a second wavelength band. The phosphor may be doped with Ce. Eu, and Tb, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a signal lamp utilizing clustered light emitting devices and method of making the same. The invention provides a signal lamp that includes a housing having an opening and including a substrate located opposite the opening, a lens disposed within the opening, and a plurality of clusters with each of the clusters comprising a plurality of light emitting devices. The clusters are disposed on the substrate to illuminate respective cluster illumination areas on the lens. Each of the cluster illumination areas has a circumference and a center. The circumference of each of the cluster illumination areas intersects the center of at least one other of the cluster illumination areas. An optical cover can be disposed over the opening.