U.S. patent application number 13/526231 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-13 for solid state light emitter with pumped nanophosphors for producing high cri white light.
This patent application is currently assigned to ABL IP Holding LLC. Invention is credited to Jack C. Rains, JR., David P. Ramer.
Application Number | 20120313130 13/526231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42933670 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120313130 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ramer; David P. ; et
al. |
December 13, 2012 |
SOLID STATE LIGHT EMITTER WITH PUMPED NANOPHOSPHORS FOR PRODUCING
HIGH CRI WHITE LIGHT
Abstract
A solid state white light emitting device includes a
semiconductor chip producing near ultraviolet (UV) energy. The
device may include a reflector forming and optical integrating
cavity. Phosphors, such as doped semiconductor nanophosphors,
within the chip packaging of the semiconductor device itself, are
excitable by the near UV energy. However the re-emitted light from
the phosphors have different spectral characteristics outside the
absorption ranges of the phosphors, which reduces or eliminates
re-absorption. The emitter produces output light that is at least
substantially white and has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or
higher. The white light output of the emitter may exhibit color
temperature in a range along the black body curve.
Inventors: |
Ramer; David P.; (Reston,
VA) ; Rains, JR.; Jack C.; (Herndon, VA) |
Assignee: |
ABL IP Holding LLC
Conyers
GA
|
Family ID: |
42933670 |
Appl. No.: |
13/526231 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12629599 |
Dec 2, 2009 |
8217406 |
|
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13526231 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
257/98 ;
257/E33.061 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 33/502
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/98 ;
257/E33.061 |
International
Class: |
H01L 33/50 20100101
H01L033/50 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A solid state light emitting device, comprising: a
semiconductor chip for producing electromagnetic energy in a range
of 380-420 nm; a package enclosing the semiconductor chip and
configured to allow emission of light as an output of the device;
and a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors within the
package enclosing the semiconductor chip, each of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors: including nanocrystals formed of
semiconductor materials which are doped with an impurity, being of
a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy in the range
of 380-420 nm for re-emitting visible light of a different spectrum
having substantially no overlap with absorption spectra of the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors, and for together producing
visible light in the output of the device when the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors are excited by electromagnetic energy
from the semiconductor chip, wherein: (a) the visible light output
produced during the excitation of the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors is at least substantially white; (b) the visible
light output produced during the excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75
or higher; and (c) the visible light output produced during the
excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color
temperature in one of the following ranges: 2,725.+-.145.degree.
Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin; 3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin;
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin; 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin;
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin; 5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and
6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin.
21. A solid state light emitting device, comprising: a
semiconductor chip for producing electromagnetic energy in a range
of 380-420 nm; a package enclosing the semiconductor chip and
configured to allow emission of light as an output of the device;
and a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors within the
package enclosing the semiconductor chip, each of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors: including nanocrystals formed of
semiconductor materials which are doped with an impurity, being of
a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy in the range
of 380-420 nm for re-emitting visible light of a different spectrum
having substantially no overlap with absorption spectra of the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors, and for together producing
visible light in the output of the device when the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors are excited by electromagnetic energy
from the semiconductor chip, wherein: (a) the visible light output
produced during the excitation of the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors is at least substantially white; (b) the visible
light output produced during the excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75
or higher; and (c) the visible light output produced during the
excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color
temperature in one of the following ranges: 2,725.+-.145.degree.
Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin; 3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin;
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin; 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin;
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin; 5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and
6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin, and wherein the plurality of doped
semiconductor nanophosphors comprises: a doped semiconductor
nanophosphor of a type excited in response to electromagnetic
energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting orange light; a
doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type excited in response to
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting
blue light; and a doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type
excited in response to electromagnetic energy in the range of
380-420 nm for re-emitting green light.
22. The solid state light emitting device of claim 21, wherein the
plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors further comprises a
doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type excited in response to
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting
yellowish-green or greenish-yellow light.
23. The solid state light emitting device of claim 21, wherein the
visible light output produced during the excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors has a CRI of at least 80.
24. A solid state light emitting device, comprising: a
semiconductor chip for producing electromagnetic energy in a range
of 380-420 nm; a package enclosing the semiconductor chip and
configured to allow emission of light as an output of the device;
and a plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors within the
package enclosing the semiconductor chip, each of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors: including nanocrystals formed of
semiconductor materials which are doped with an impurity, being of
a type excited in response to electromagnetic energy in the range
of 380-420 nm for re-emitting visible light of a different spectrum
having substantially no overlap with absorption spectra of the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors, and for together producing
visible light in the output of the device when the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors are excited by electromagnetic energy
from the semiconductor chip, wherein: (a) the visible light output
produced during the excitation of the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors is at least substantially white; (b) the visible
light output produced during the excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75
or higher; and (c) the visible light output produced during the
excitation of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors has a color
temperature in one of the following ranges: 2,725.+-.145.degree.
Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin; 3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin;
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin; 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin;
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin; 5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and
6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin, and wherein the plurality of doped
semiconductor nanophosphors comprises: a doped semiconductor
nanophosphor of a type excited in response to electromagnetic
energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting red light; a
doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type excited in response to
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting
green light; and a doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type
excited in response to electromagnetic energy in the range of
380-420 nm for re-emitting blue light.
25. The solid state light emitting device of claim 24, wherein the
plurality of doped semiconductor nanophosphors further comprises a
doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type excited in response to
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting
yellow light.
26. The light fixture of claim 25, wherein the visible light output
produced during the excitation of the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors has a CRI of at least 88.
27. The solid state light emitting device of claim 20, wherein the
semiconductor chip is configured for producing electromagnetic
energy of 405 nm.
28. The solid state light emitting device of claim 20, further
comprising: at least one reflective surface within the package
forming an optical integrating cavity; wherein the semiconductor
chip is positioned and oriented so that at least substantially all
direct emissions from the semiconductor chip reflect at least once
within the cavity.
29. The solid state light emitting device of claim 28, wherein the
at least one reflective surface is diffusely reflective.
30. The solid state light emitting device of claim 28, further
comprising: a light transmissive solid filling at least a
substantial portion of the optical integrating cavity; wherein: a
surface of the light transmissive solid forms an optical aperture
of the optical integrating cavity.
31. A solid state light emitting device, comprising: a
semiconductor chip for producing electromagnetic energy in a range
of 380-420 nm; a package enclosing the semiconductor chip; at least
one reflective surface forming an optical integrating cavity within
the package, wherein the semiconductor chip is positioned and
oriented so that at least substantially all direct emissions from
the semiconductor chip reflect at least once within the cavity; a
light transmissive solid filling at least a substantial portion of
the optical integrating cavity, wherein a surface of the light
transmissive solid forms an optical aperture of the optical
integrating cavity to allow emission of light from the cavity for a
light output of the device; and a plurality of phosphors, each of
the phosphors being of a type excited in response to
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting
visible light of a different spectrum having substantially no
overlap with absorption spectra of the phosphors, for together
producing visible light in the light output of the device when the
phosphors are excited by electromagnetic energy from the
semiconductor chip, wherein: (a) the visible light output produced
during the excitation of the phosphors is at least substantially
white; and (b) the visible light output produced during the
excitation of the phosphors has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75
or higher.
32. The solid state light emitting device of claim 31, wherein the
phosphors in the device comprise a plurality of doped semiconductor
nanophosphors.
33. The solid state light emitting device of claim 32, wherein
emissions of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors cause the
visible light output of the device to have a color temperature in
one of the following ranges: 2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin;
3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin; 3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin;
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin; 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin;
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin; 5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and
6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to solid state devices
constructed to produce perceptible white light of a desirable color
or spectral characteristic, for example for general lighting
applications, using energy in a range of 380-420 nm to pump
phosphors, e.g. doped semiconductor nanophosphors, for converting
such energy into visible white light, with a color rendering index
(CRI) of 75 or higher and/or with a color temperature in one of
several specific disclosed regions along the black body curve which
provide a desirable quality of white light particularly for general
lighting applications and the like.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As costs of energy increase along with concerns about global
warming due to consumption of fossil fuels to generate energy,
there is an every increasing need for more efficient lighting
technologies. These demands, coupled with rapid improvements in
semiconductors and related manufacturing technologies, are driving
a trend in the lighting industry toward the use of light emitting
diodes (LEDs) or other solid state light sources to produce light
for general lighting applications, as replacements for incandescent
lighting and eventually as replacements for other older less
efficient light sources.
[0003] The actual solid state light sources, however, produce light
of specific limited spectral characteristics. To obtain white light
of a desired characteristic and/or other desirable light colors,
one approach uses sources that produce light of two or more
different colors or wavelengths and one or more optical processing
elements to combine or mix the light of the various wavelengths to
produce the desired characteristic in the output light. In recent
years, techniques have also been developed to shift or enhance the
characteristics of light generated by solid state sources using
phosphors, including for generating white light using LEDs.
Phosphor based techniques for generating white light from LEDs,
currently favored by LED manufacturers, include UV or Blue LED
pumped phosphors. In addition to traditional phosphors,
semiconductor nanophosphors have been used more recently. The
phosphor materials may be provided as part of the LED package (on
or in close proximity to the actual semiconductor chip), or the
phosphor materials may be provided remotely (e.g. on or in
association with a macro optical processing element such as a
diffuser or reflector outside the LED package).
[0004] Although these solid state lighting technologies have
advanced considerably in recent years, there is still room for
further improvement. For example, there is always a need for
techniques to still further improve efficiency of solid state
lighting fixtures or systems, to reduce energy consumption. Also,
for general lighting applications, it is desirable to provide light
outputs of acceptable characteristics (e.g. white light of a
desired color temperature and/or color rendering index).
SUMMARY
[0005] From a first perspective teachings herein provide further
improvements over the existing technologies using a near ultra
violet emitter chip and phosphors, e.g. doped semiconductor
nanophosphors, for providing light that is at least substantially
white, has a high CRI and/or exhibits a desirable color temperature
characteristic.
[0006] An exemplary solid state light emitting device might include
a semiconductor chip and a plurality of doped semiconductor
nanophosphors within the package enclosing the semiconductor chip.
The semiconductor chip is of a type for producing near UV
electromagnetic energy, specifically in a range of 380-420 nm. Each
of the doped semiconductor nanophosphors within the device is of a
type excited in response to near UV electromagnetic energy in the
range of 380-420 nm. Each of the remote doped semiconductor
nanophosphors is of a type for re-emitting visible light of a
different spectrum outside (having substantially no overlap with)
the absorption spectra of the semiconductor nanophosphors. When
excited by near UV electromagnetic energy from the semiconductor
chip, the doped semiconductor nanophosphors together produce
visible light in the output of the device. The resulting visible
light output is at least substantially white and has a color
rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher. In this example, the visible
light output produced during the near UV excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors also exhibits a color temperature in
one of the following ranges along the black body curve:
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin;
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin; 3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin;
4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; 5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin;
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and 6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin.
[0007] In a specific example, the semiconductor chip is configured
for producing electromagnetic energy of 405 nm. The phosphors
within the device package include a doped semiconductor
nanophosphor of a type excited for re-emitting orange light, a
doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type for re-emitting blue
light, and a doped semiconductor nanophosphor of a type for
re-emitting green light. In such a case, the visible light output
produced during the near UV excitation of the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors has a CRI of at least 80. A doped semiconductor
nanophosphor of a type for re-emitting yellowish-green or
greenish-yellow light may be added to further increase the CRI.
[0008] In another example, the remote doped semiconductor
nanophosphors include red, green, blue and yellow emitting
nanophosphors, excited in response to near UV electromagnetic
energy in the range of 380-420 nm. In such a case, the visible
light output produced during the near UV excitation of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors has a CRI of at least 88.
[0009] The near UV pumping of doped semiconductor nanophosphors
provides a relatively efficient mechanism to produce the desired
white light output. The selection of the parameters of the UV
energy for pumping the phosphors, and the selection of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors to emit light having CRI in the
specified range and color temperature in one of the particular
ranges provides white light that is highly useful, desirable and
acceptable, particularly for many general lighting
applications.
[0010] The near UV semiconductor and the semiconductor
nanophosphors may be utilized in any of a wide range of device
designs, including those known for LED type devices.
[0011] In a new example disclosed in the detailed description and
drawings, a solid state light emitting device of the type discussed
herein also includes at least one diffusely reflective surface
within the package forming an optical integrating cavity. The
semiconductor chip is positioned and oriented so that at least
substantially all direct emissions from the semiconductor chip
reflect at least once within the cavity.
[0012] The optical integrating cavity may be filled with a light
transmissive solid. A surface of the light transmissive solid forms
an optical aperture of the optical integrating cavity as the output
of the device. The nanophosphors may be deployed within the package
in a variety of different ways, for example, in or on the
reflective surface. However, in the illustrated example having the
cavity, the doped semiconductor nanophosphors are embedded or
otherwise contained in the light transmissive solid. The
semiconductor chip is positioned and oriented relative to the light
transmissive solid so that any near UV electromagnetic energy
reaching the surface of the light transmissive solid directly from
the semiconductor chip impacts the surface at a sufficiently small
angle as to be reflected back into the optical integrating cavity
by total internal reflection at the surface of the light
transmissive solid.
[0013] From a somewhat different perspective, the drawings and
detailed description also disclose a solid state light emitting
device that includes a semiconductor chip, a package enclosing the
semiconductor chip, a reflective surface within the package and a
light transmissive solid. Again, the chip is of a type or structure
that produces near UV electromagnetic energy, specifically in a
range of 380-420 nm. The reflective surface within the package
forms an optical integrating cavity. The semiconductor chip is
positioned and oriented so that at least substantially all direct
emissions from the semiconductor chip reflect at least once within
the cavity. The light transmissive solid fills at least a
substantial portion of the optical integrating cavity. A surface of
the light transmissive solid forms an optical aperture of the
optical integrating cavity to allow emission of light for an output
of the device. This type of device also includes phosphors. Each of
the phosphors is of a type excited in response to near UV
electromagnetic energy in the range of 380-420 nm. Each of the
phosphors is of a type for re-emitting visible light of a different
spectral characteristic outside (having substantially no overlap
with) the absorption spectra of the phosphors. When excited by near
UV electromagnetic energy from the semiconductor chip, the
phosphors together produce visible light in the output of the
device. That visible light output is at least substantially white,
and that visible light output has a color rendering index (CRI) of
75 or higher.
[0014] In an exemplary implementation of such a solid state device,
the phosphors are doped semiconductor nanophosphors as in the
earlier examples. With the doped semiconductor nanophosphors, the
device may be configured such that the white light output of the
solid state light emitting device exhibits color temperature in one
of the following specific ranges along the black body curve:
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin;
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin; 3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin;
4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; 5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin;
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and 6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin. The
reflective surface may be diffusely reflective.
[0015] Additional advantages and novel features will be set forth
in part in the description which follows, and in part will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the
following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by
production or operation of the examples. The advantages of the
present teachings may be realized and attained by practice or use
of various aspects of the methodologies, instrumentalities and
combinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in
accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by
way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to
the same or similar elements.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a
light-emitting diode (LED) type solid state device, which uses a
near UV semiconductor LED chip and doped semiconductor
nanophosphors within the package enclosing the semiconductor chip
to produce white light of the characteristics discussed herein.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a table showing the color temperature ranges and
corresponding nominal color temperatures.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a color chart showing the black body curve and
tolerance quadrangles along that curve for chromaticities
corresponding to the desired color temperature ranges.
[0020] FIGS. 4A and 4B are tables showing the chromaticity
specifications for the nominal values and CIE color temperature
(CCT) ranges.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a graph of absorption and emission spectra of a
number of doped semiconductor nanophosphors.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a graph of emission spectra of three of the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors, selected for use in an exemplary solid
state light emitting device, as well as the spectrum of the white
light produced by combining the spectral emissions from those three
nanophosphors.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a graph of emission spectra of four doped
semiconductor nanophosphors, in this case, for red, green, blue and
yellow emissions, as the spectrum of the white light produced by
combining the spectral emissions from those four phosphors.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a simplified cross-sectional view of another
structure for a light-emitting diode (LED) type lighting device,
here incorporating a solid-filled optical integrating cavity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] In the following detailed description, numerous specific
details are set forth by way of examples in order to provide a
thorough understanding of the relevant teachings. However, it
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present
teachings may be practiced without such details. In other
instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and/or
circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without
detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the
present teachings.
[0026] The various solid state devices disclosed herein provide
efficient generation and output of visible white light of
characteristics that are highly desirable in general lighting
applications and the like, using energy in a range of 380-420 nm to
pump phosphors, such as doped semiconductor nanophosphors, for
converting such energy into high quality visible white light. Such
a device includes a semiconductor chip that produces
electromagnetic energy in a range of 380-420 nm, which is a portion
of the "near ultraviolet" or "near UV" part of the electromagnetic
energy spectrum. Several examples use a near UV LED type
semiconductor chip rated to produce electromagnetic energy at 405
nm.
[0027] Phosphors, doped semiconductor nanophosphors in several
specific examples, are positioned in the chip packaging of the
device for excitation by the near UV energy emitted by the chip.
When the phosphors are pumped or excited, the combined light output
of the solid state device is at least substantially white and has a
color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher. Although sometimes
referred to below simply as white light for convenience, the light
output is "at least substantially" white in that it appears as
visible white light to a human observer, although it may not be
truly white in the electromagnetic sense in that it may exhibit
some spikes or peaks and/or valleys or gaps across the relevant
portion of the visible spectrum.
[0028] In the examples using the doped semiconductor nanophosphors,
the output light of the device exhibits color temperature in one of
the four following specific ranges along the black body curve:
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin;
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin; 3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin;
4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; 5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin;
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and 6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin. High
CRI white light of a color temperature in each of these particular
ranges, for example, is highly useful, desirable and acceptable for
many general lighting applications. General lighting applications
include, for example, illumination of spaces or areas to be
inhabited by people or of objects in or around such areas. Of
course, the white light emitting solid state devices may be used in
a variety of other light emission applications.
[0029] Before discussing structural examples, it may be helpful to
discuss the types of phosphors of interest here. Semiconductor
nanophosphors are nano-scale crystals or "nanocrystals" formed of
semiconductor materials, which exhibit phosphorescent light
emission in response to excitation by electromagnetic energy of an
appropriate input spectrum (excitation or absorption spectrum).
Examples of such nanophosphors include quantum dots (q-dots) formed
of semiconductor materials. Like other phosphors, quantum dots and
other semiconductor nanophosphors absorb light of one wavelength
band and re-emit light at a different band of wavelengths. However,
unlike conventional phosphors, optical properties of the
semiconductor nanophosphors can be more easily tailored, for
example, as a function of the size of the nanocrystals. In this
way, for example, it is possible to adjust the absorption spectrum
and/or the emission spectrum of the semiconductor nanophosphors by
controlling crystal formation during the manufacturing process so
as to change the size of the nanocrystals. For example,
nanocrystals of the same material, but with different sizes, can
absorb and/or emit light of different colors. For at least some
semiconductor nanophosphor materials, the larger the nanocrystals,
the redder the spectrum of re-emitted light; whereas smaller
nanocrystals produce a bluer spectrum of re-emitted light.
[0030] Doped semiconductor nanophosphors are somewhat similar in
that they are nanocrystals formed of semiconductor materials.
However, this later type of semiconductor phosphors are doped, for
example, with a transition metal or a rare earth metal. The doped
semiconductor nanophosphors used in the exemplary solid state light
emitting devices discussed herein are configured to convert energy
in the near UV range of 380-420 nm into wavelengths of light, which
together result in high CRI visible white light emission.
[0031] Semiconductor nanophosphors, including doped semiconductor
nanocrystal phosphors, may be grown by a number of techniques. For
example, colloidal nanocrystals are solution-grown, although
non-colloidal techniques are possible.
[0032] In practice, a material containing or otherwise including
doped semiconductor nanophosphors, of the type discussed in the
examples herein, would contain several different types of doped
semiconductor nanocrystals sized and/or doped so as to be excited
by the near UV light energy. The different types of nanocrystals
(e.g. semiconductor material, crystal size and/or doping
properties) in the mixture are selected by their emission spectra,
so that together the excited nanophosphors provide the high CRI
white light of a rated color temperature when all are excited by
the near UV light energy. Relative proportions in the mixture may
also be chosen to help produce the desired output spectrum. The
doped semiconductor nanophosphors exhibit a relatively large Stokes
shift, from lower wavelength absorption spectra to higher
wavelength emission spectra. In our examples, each of the phosphors
is of a type excited in response to near UV electromagnetic energy
in the range of 380-420 nm for re-emitting visible light of a
different spectral characteristic, and each of the phosphor
emission spectra has little or no overlap with absorption spectra
of the phosphors. Because of the sizes of the shifts, the emissions
are substantially free of any overlap with the absorption spectra
of the phosphors, and re-absorption of light emitted by the
phosphors can be reduced or eliminated, even in applications that
use a mixture of a number of such phosphors to stack the emission
spectra thereof so as to provide a desired spectral characteristic
in the combined light output.
[0033] Reference now is made in detail to the examples illustrated
in the accompanying drawings and discussed below. FIG. 1
illustrates an example of a visible white light type LED device, in
cross section, by way of a first example 11 of a solid state device
of the type discussed herein. The structural configuration of the
solid state device 11 shown in FIG. 1 is presented here by way of
example only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
device may utilize any device structure.
[0034] In the example, the solid state device 11 includes a
semiconductor chip, comprising two or more semiconductor layers 13,
15 forming the actual LED. In our first example, the semiconductor
layers 13, 15 of the chip are mounted on an internal reflective cup
17, formed as an extension of a first electrode, e.g. the cathode
19. The cathode 19 and an anode 21 provide electrical connections
to layers of the semiconductor chip within the packaging for the
device 11. When appropriate current is supplied through the cathode
19 and the anode 21 to the LED chip layers 15 and 13, the chip
emits electromagnetic energy. In the example, an epoxy dome 23 (or
similar transmissive part) of the enclosure allows for emission of
the electromagnetic energy from the device 11 in the desired
direction.
[0035] The chip structure shown is given by way of a simple
example, only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
device 11 can utilize any semiconductor chip structure, where the
chip is configured as a source of 380-420 nm near UV range
electromagnetic energy, for example, having substantial energy
emissions in that range such as a predominant peak at or about 405
nm. The simplified example shows a LED type semiconductor chip
formed of two layers 13, 15. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that actual chips may have a different number of device
layers. Of note for our purposes, however, the LED type
semiconductor chip is constructed so as to emit electromagnetic
energy of a wavelength in the near UV range, in this case in the
380-420 nm range. By way of a specific example, we will assume that
the layers 13, 15 of the LED chip are configured so that the LED
emits electromagnetic energy with a main emission peak at 405
nm.
[0036] Semiconductor devices such as the light emitting device
formed by layers 13, 15 exhibit emission spectra having a
relatively narrow peak at a predominant wavelength, although some
such devices may have a number of peaks in their emission spectra.
Such devices may be rated with respect to the intended wavelength
of the predominant peak, although there is some variation or
tolerance around the rated value, from chip to chip due to
manufacturing tolerances. The semiconductor chip in the solid state
device 11 will have a predominant wavelength in the 380-420 nm
range. For example, the chip in the example of FIG. 1 is rated for
a 405 nm output, which means that it has a predominant peak in its
emission spectra at or about 405 nm (within the manufacturer's
tolerance range of that rated wavelength value). Examples of
devices 11, however, may use chips that have additional peaks in
their emission spectra.
[0037] In this simple example, the near UV solid state device 11
also includes a housing 25. The epoxy may substantially encapsulate
the chip. The housing and the light transmissive dome 23 together
form the package enclosing the LED chip, in this example.
Typically, the housing 25 is metal, e.g. to provide good heat
conductivity so as to facilitate dissipation of heat generated
during operation of the LED. Internal reflectors, such as the
reflective cup 17, direct energy in the desired direction and
reduce internal losses.
[0038] The solid state light emitting device 11 also incorporates
an appropriately formulated nanophosphor material within the device
package itself, to enable the device 11 to produce the desired
white light. The nanophosphor material includes a number of
different types of doped semiconductor nanophosphors. The doped
semiconductor nanophosphors are all excited by near UV light,
however, the emission spectra of the different doped semiconductor
nanophosphors are different. Each type of nanophosphors re-emits
visible light of a different spectral characteristic, and each of
the phosphor emission spectra has little or no overlap with
excitation or absorption ranges of the nanophosphors. Particular
doped semiconductor nanophosphors are chosen, in the specific
examples, so that the resultant combined light output through the
exposed surface of the dome 23 is white light having a CRI of 75 or
higher and having a color temperature in a specific one of the four
ranges recited above. Specific combinations of emission spectra of
appropriate doped semiconductor nanophosphors will be discussed in
more detail, later, with regard to FIGS. 5-7.
[0039] The doped semiconductor nanophosphors could be at various
locations and formed in various ways within the package of the
solid state device 11. For example, the phosphors could be part of
or coated on a reflective material of the cup 17. In the
illustrated example, however, the mix of doped semiconductor
nanophosphors is located across the optical output of the solid
state device 11, as shown at 27 in the drawing. The nanophosphors
27 for example could be in a coating over the outside of an epoxy
dome, or the phosphor particles could be doped or otherwise
embedded in a portion (as shown) or all of the epoxy forming the
dome 23 itself. At least some semiconductor nanophosphors degrade
in the presence of oxygen, reducing the useful life of the
nanophosphors. Hence, it may be desirable to use materials and
construct the device 11 so as to effectively encapsulate the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors 27 in a manner that blocks out oxygen,
to prolong useful life of the phosphors.
[0040] When the phosphors 27 are pumped by near UV light from the
LED chip, the combined light output of the solid state device 11 is
at least substantially white and has a color rendering index (CRI)
of 75 or higher. As shown in the table in FIG. 2, the white output
light of the device 11 exhibits color temperature in one of the
four following specific ranges along the black body curve:
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin;
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin; 3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin;
4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; 5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin;
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and 6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin. These
ranges correspond to nominal color temperature values shown in the
table. The nominal color temperature values represent the rated or
advertised color temperatures as would apply to particular lighting
fixture or system products having an output color temperature
within the corresponding ranges.
[0041] The color temperature ranges fall along the black body
curve. FIG. 3 shows the outline of the CIE 1931 color chart, and
the curve across a portion of the chart represents a section of the
black body curve that includes the desired CIE color temperature
(CCT) ranges. The light may also vary somewhat in terms of
chromaticity from the coordinates on the black body curve. The
quadrangles shown in the drawing represent the range of
chromaticity for each nominal CCT value. Each quadrangle is defined
by the range of CCT and the distance from the black body curve. The
table in FIG. 4A provides a chromaticity specification for each of
the first four color temperature ranges. The table in FIG. 4B
provides a chromaticity specification for each of the other four
color temperature ranges. The x, y coordinates define the center
points on the black body curve and the vertices of the tolerance
quadrangles diagrammatically illustrated in the color chart of FIG.
3.
[0042] The solid state light emitting device 11 could use a variety
of different combinations of doped semiconductor nanophosphors to
produce such an output. Examples of suitable materials, having the
phosphor(s) in a silicone medium, are available from NN Labs of
Fayetteville, Ark.
[0043] Doped semiconductor nanophosphors exhibit a large Stokes
shift, that is to say from a short-wavelength range of absorbed
energy up to a fairly well separated longer-wavelength range of
emitted light. FIG. 5 shows the absorption and emission spectra of
three examples of doped semiconductor nanophosphors. Each line of
the graph also includes an approximation of the emission spectra of
the 405 nm LED chip, to help illustrate the relationship of the 405
nm LED emissions to the absorption spectra of the exemplary doped
semiconductor nanophosphors. The illustrated spectra are not drawn
precisely to scale but in a manner to provide a teaching example to
illustrate our discussion here.
[0044] The top line (a) of the graph shows the absorption and
emission spectra for an orange emitting doped semiconductor
nanophosphor. The absorption spectrum for this first phosphor
includes the 380-420 nm near UV range, but that absorption spectrum
drops substantially to 0 before reaching 450 nm. As noted, the
phosphor exhibits a large Stokes shift from the short wavelength(s)
of absorbed light to the longer wavelengths of re-emitted light.
The emission spectrum of this first phosphor has a fairly broad
peak in the wavelength region humans perceive as orange. Of note,
the emission spectrum of this first phosphor is well above the
illustrated absorption spectra of the other doped semiconductor
nanophosphors and well above its own absorption spectrum. As a
result, orange emissions from the first doped semiconductor
nanophosphor would not re-excite that phosphor and would not excite
the other doped semiconductor nanophosphors if mixed together.
Stated another way, the orange phosphor emissions would be subject
to little or no phosphor re-absorption, even in mixtures containing
one or more of the other doped semiconductor nanophosphors.
[0045] The next line (b) of the graph of FIG. 5 shows the
absorption and emission spectra for a green emitting doped
nanocrystal doped semiconductor nanophosphor. The absorption
spectrum for this second phosphor includes the 380-420 nm near UV
range, but that absorption spectrum drops substantially to 0 a
little below 450 nm. This phosphor also exhibits a large Stokes
shift from the short wavelength(s) of absorbed light to the longer
wavelengths of re-emitted light. The emission spectrum of this
second phosphor has a broad peak in the wavelength region humans
perceive as green. Again, the emission spectrum of the phosphor is
well above the illustrated absorption spectra of the other doped
semiconductor nanophosphors and well above its own absorption
spectrum. As a result, green emissions from the second doped
semiconductor nanophosphor would not re-excite that phosphor and
would not excite the other doped semiconductor nanophosphors if
mixed together. Stated another way, the green phosphor emissions
also should be subject to little or no phosphor re-absorption, even
in mixtures containing one or more of the other doped semiconductor
nanophosphors.
[0046] The bottom line (c) of the graph of FIG. 5 shows the
absorption and emission spectra for a blue emitting doped
semiconductor nanophosphor. The absorption spectrum for this third
phosphor includes the 380-420 nm near UV range, but that absorption
spectrum drops substantially to 0 between 400 and 450 nm. This
phosphor also exhibits a large Stokes shift from the short
wavelength(s) of absorbed light to the longer wavelengths of
re-emitted light. The emission spectrum of this third phosphor has
a broad peak in the wavelength region humans perceive as blue. The
main peak of the emission spectrum of the phosphor is well above
the illustrated absorption spectra of the other doped semiconductor
nanophosphors and well above its own absorption spectrum. In the
case of the blue example, there is just a small amount of emissions
in the region of the phosphor absorption spectra. As a result, blue
emissions from the third doped semiconductor nanophosphor would not
re-excite that phosphor and the other doped semiconductor
nanophosphors at most a minimal amount. As in the other phosphor
examples of FIG. 5, the blue phosphor emissions would be subject to
relatively little phosphor re-absorption, even in mixtures
containing one or more of the other doped semiconductor
nanophosphors.
[0047] Examples of suitable orange, green and blue emitting doped
semiconductor nanophosphors of the types generally described above
relative to FIG. 3 are available from NN Labs of Fayetteville,
Ark.
[0048] As explained above, the large Stokes shift results in
negligible re-absorption of the visible light emitted by doped
semiconductor nanophosphors. This allows the stacking of multiple
phosphors. It becomes practical to select and mix two, three or
more such phosphors in a manner that produces a particular desired
spectral characteristic in the combined light output generated by
the phosphor emissions.
[0049] FIG. 6 graphically depicts emission spectra of three of the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors selected for use in an exemplary
solid state light emitting device as well as the spectrum of the
white light produced by summing or combining the spectral emissions
from those three phosphors. For convenience, the emission spectrum
of the LED has been omitted from FIG. 6, on the assumption that a
high percentage of the 405 nm light from the LED is absorbed by the
phosphors. Although the actual output emissions from the device 11
may include some near UV light from the LED, the contribution
thereof if any to the sum in the output spectrum should be
relatively small.
[0050] Although other combinations are possible based on the
phosphors discussed above relative to FIG. 5 or based on other
semiconductor nanocrystal phosphors, the example of FIG. 6
represents emissions of blue, green and orange phosphors. The
emission spectra of the blue, green and orange emitting doped
semiconductor nanophosphors are similar to those of the
corresponding color emissions shown in FIG. 5. Light is additive.
Where the solid state device 11 includes the blue, green and orange
emitting doped semiconductor nanophosphors as shown for example at
27 in FIG. 1, the addition of the blue, green and orange emissions
produce a combined spectrum as approximated by the top or `Sum`
curve in the graph of FIG. 6.
[0051] It is possible to add one or more additional nanophosphors,
e.g. a fourth, fifth, etc., to the mixture to further improve the
CRI. For example, to improve the CRI of the nanophosphor mix of
FIGS. 5 and 6, a doped semiconductor nanophosphor might be added to
the mix with a broad emissions spectrum that is yellowish-green or
greenish-yellow, that is to say with a peak of the phosphor
emissions somewhere in the range of 540-570 nm, say at 555 nm.
[0052] Other mixtures also are possible, with two, three or more
doped semiconductor nanophosphors. The example of FIG. 7 uses red,
green and blue emitting semiconductor nanophosphors, as well as a
yellow fourth doped semiconductor nanophosphor. Although not shown,
the absorption spectra would be similar to those of the three
nanophosphors discussed above relative to FIG. 5. For example, each
absorption spectrum would include at least a portion of the 380-420
nm near UV range. All four phosphors would exhibit a large Stokes
shift from the short wavelength(s) of absorbed light to the longer
wavelengths of re-emitted light, and thus their emissions spectra
have little or not overlap with the absorption spectra.
[0053] In this example (FIG. 7), the blue nanophosphor exhibits an
emission peak at or around 484, nm, the green nanophosphor exhibits
an emission peak at or around 516 nm, the yellow nanophosphor
exhibits an emission peak at or around 580, and the red
nanophosphor exhibits an emission peak at or around 610 nm. The
addition of these blue, green, red and yellow phosphor emissions
produces a combined spectrum as approximated by the top or `Sum`
curve in the graph of FIG. 7. The `Sum` curve in the graph
represents a resultant white light output having a color
temperature of 2600.degree. Kelvin (within the 2,725.+-.145.degree.
Kelvin range), where that white output light also would have a CRI
of 88 (higher than 75).
[0054] Various mixtures of doped semiconductor nanophosphors will
produce white light emissions from solid state devices 11 that
exhibit CRI of 75 or higher. For an intended device specification,
a particular mixture of phosphors is chosen so that the light
output of the device exhibits color temperature in one of the
following specific ranges along the black body curve:
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin; 3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin;
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin; 3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin;
4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; 5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin;
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; and 6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin. In
the example shown in FIG. 6, the `Sum` curve in the graph produced
by the mixture of blue, green and orange emitting doped
semiconductor nanophosphors would result in a white light output
having a color temperature of 2800.degree. Kelvin (within the
2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin). That white output light also would
have a CRI of 80 (higher than 75).
[0055] Returning to FIG. 1, assume that the phosphors at 27 in the
device 11 include the blue, green and orange emitting doped
semiconductor nanophosphors discussed above relative to FIGS. 2 and
3. As discussed earlier, the semiconductor LED chip formed by
layers 13 and 15 is rated to emit near UV electromagnetic energy of
a wavelength in the 380-420 nm range, such as 405 nm in the
illustrated example, which is within the excitation spectrum of
each of the three included phosphors in the mixture shown at 27.
When excited, that combination of doped semiconductor nanophosphors
re-emits the various wavelengths of visible light represented by
the blue, green and orange lines in the graph of FIG. 6.
Combination or addition thereof in the device output produces
"white" light, which for purposes of our discussion herein is light
that is at least substantially white light. The white light
emission from the solid state device 11 exhibits a CRI of 75 or
higher (80 in the specific example of FIG. 6). Also, the light
output of the device 11 exhibits color temperature of 2800.degree.
Kelvin, that is to say within the 2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin
range. Other combinations of doped semiconductor nanophosphors can
be used in a device 11 to produce the high CRI white light in the
3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin, 3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin,
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin, 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin,
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin, 5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin, and
6,530.+-.510.degree. Kelvin ranges.
[0056] Hence, the solid state device 11 is a white light type
device, even though internally the semiconductor chip is a near UV
LED. The light output of the solid state device 11 is high quality
white light suitable for general lighting applications and the
like. Of course, the white light from the source 11 may be used in
many other applications. Depending on the particular application,
the white light solid state device 11 may be used directly as a
white light source, or the device 11 can be combined with an
appropriate external optic (reflector, diffuser, lens, prism, etc.,
not shown) to form a light fixture or the like.
[0057] The structure of the solid state device shown in FIG. 1 is
given by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that the near UV semiconductor chip and the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors may be implemented in any of a wide
range of device designs, including many structures known for LED
type devices that have previously incorporated semiconductor
nanophosphors or other types of phosphors. A particularly
advantageous approach to the device design, however, would include
at least one diffusely reflective surface within the package
forming an optical integrating cavity. The semiconductor chip would
be positioned and oriented so that at least substantially all
direct emissions from the semiconductor chip reflect at least once
within the cavity. Emissions from the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors within the device also would be reflected and
integrated within the cavity.
[0058] To fully appreciate this further enhancement and its
advantages, it may be helpful to discuss a simplified example, such
as represented in cross-section in FIG. 8. In the example, the
solid state device 41 includes a semiconductor chip 42, comprising
by way of a simple example the two semiconductor layers 43, 45. The
two or more semiconductor layers form the actual emitter, in this
case a LED. The chip 42 is similar to that formed by the exemplary
layers 13 and 15 in the device 11 of FIG. 1. A single chip 42 is
shown for simplicity, although the device 41 could include one or
more additional semiconductor chips. Again, the LED type
semiconductor chip 42 is constructed so as to emit electromagnetic
energy of a wavelength in the near UV range, in this case in the
380-420 nm range. By way of a specific example, we will assume that
the layers of the LED chip 42 are configured so that the LED emits
electromagnetic energy with a main emission peak at 405 nm.
[0059] The semiconductor chip 42 is mounted on an internal
reflective cup, in this case formed by a region of the metal
housing member 47 (including a mask 57, as discussed more later).
The metal housing 47 also dissipates heat generated by the chip 42
during its operation. In this example, we have assumed that the
metal housing (heat slug) 47 of the solid state white light emitter
device 41 is conductive and provides the connection lead to the
layer 43, otherwise, connection leads to various layers of the chip
have been omitted, for ease of illustration and discussion. Of
course, a variety of other configurations for mounting the chip and
providing electrical connections and heat dissipation may be
used.
[0060] In this example, the orientation of the chip relative to the
optical output of the device 41 is quite different from that of the
device 11 of FIG. 1. The configuration of the device in FIG. aims
the emissions from the chip toward the optical output of the device
11 as much as possible and minimizes reflections within the device.
The structure of the device 41 positions and orients the chip so
that direct emissions through the optical output are minimal or
eliminated and light directly emitted from the chip excites
phosphors and/or reflects one or more times within the device.
[0061] The chip housing member 47 is configured to form a volume,
and there is a reflector 49 at the surface of the member 47 forming
that volume. The reflector 49 may be formed in a number of
different ways, for example, by polishing and/or etching the
surface, or by coating the surface with an appropriately reflective
material. Preferably, the reflector 49 is diffusely reflective with
respect to the wavelengths involved in operation of the device 41.
The reflector 49 forms a reflective volume within the device 41
forming an optical cavity 51.
[0062] The cavity 51 may have various shapes. Examples having
shapes corresponding to a portion or segment of a sphere or
cylinder are preferred for ease of illustration and/or because
curved surfaces provide better efficiencies than other shapes that
include more edges and corners which tend to trap light. Those
skilled in the art will understand, however, that the volume of the
cavity of the device 41 may have any shape providing adequate
reflections within the volume/cavity 51 for a particular lighting
application.
[0063] For purposes of further discussion, we will assume that the
material forming the reflector 49 is diffusely reflective. It is
desirable that the cavity surface or surfaces have a highly
efficient reflective characteristic, e.g. a reflectivity equal to
or greater than 90%, e.g. approximately 97-99% reflective, with
respect to energy in at least the visible and near-ultraviolet
portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
[0064] In the solid state device 41, the volume of the optical
integrating cavity 51 is filled by a light transmissive solid
material 53. The material forming the light transmissive solid 53
may be similar to that of the epoxy dome 23 in the earlier example,
although other materials may be used here to fill the cavity. The
chip housing member 47 and the light transmissive solid 53 together
form the package enclosing the LED chip 42 and the reflector 49, in
this example. The light transmissive solid 53 may be transparent or
somewhat diffuse (milky or translucent).
[0065] The light transmissive solid 53 fills the cavity volume and
thus has a contoured outer surface that closely conforms to the
inner surface of the reflector 49. The light transmissive solid 53
also has an optical aperture surface 55. Although there may be
other elements forming the optic of the device 41, in the example,
the surface 55 which forms an optical aperture for passage of light
out of the cavity 51 also serves as the optical output of the solid
state device 41. The surface 55 may be convex or concave, or have
other contours, but in the example, the surface 55 is flat.
[0066] The optical aperture at surface 55 in this example
approximates a circle, although other shapes are possible. One or
more additional elements (not shown) may be provided at or coupled
to the aperture 55, such as a deflector, diffuser or filter. If a
filter is provided, for example, the filter at the aperture 55
might allow passage of visible light but block UV emissions from
the cavity 51. The optical aperture surface may be transparent, or
that surface may have a somewhat roughened or etched texture.
[0067] The semiconductor chip 42 is positioned and oriented
relative to the light transmissive solid 53 so that any near UV
electromagnetic energy reaching the aperture surface 55 of the
light transmissive solid 53 directly from the chip 42 impacts the
surface 55 at a sufficiently small angle as to be reflected back
into the optical integrating cavity 55 by total internal reflection
at the surface of the light transmissive solid 53.
[0068] Although it may not be necessary in all implementations,
depending on the precise location and orientation, the exemplary
device 41 also includes a mask 57 having a reflective surface
facing into the optical integrating cavity 51, which somewhat
reduces the area of the solid surface forming the light
transmissive output passage (optical aperture) shown at 55. As
noted, the surface of the mask 57 that faces into the optical
integrating volume 51 (faces upward in the illustrated orientation)
is reflective. That surface may be diffusely reflective, much like
the surface of the reflector 49, or that mask surface may be
specular, quasi specular or semi-specular.
[0069] Due to the total internal reflection of the solid surface
forming the optical aperture 55, the mask 57 can be relatively
small in that it only needs to extend far enough out so as to block
direct view of the LED through the aperture 55 and to reflect those
few direct emissions of the LED that might otherwise still impact
the surface 55 at too high or large an angle for total internal
reflection. In this way, the combination of total internal
reflection of the aperture surface 55 of the solid 53 together with
the reflective mask 57 reflects all or at least substantially all
of the direct emissions from the LED, that otherwise would miss the
surface of the reflector 49, back into the optical integrating
volume 51. Stated another way, a person viewing the device 41
during emissive operation would not perceive the near UV LED chip
42 as a visible individual point light source. Instead, virtually
all light input to the volume of the cavity 51 from the
semiconductor chip 42 will diffusely reflect one or more times from
the surface of the reflector 49 before emergence through the
aperture at the surface 55 of the solid 53. Since the surface of
the reflector 49 provides diffuse reflectivity, the volume 51 acts
as an optical integrating cavity so that the aperture surface 55
forms an optical aperture providing a substantially uniform virtual
source output distribution of integrated light (e.g. substantially
Lambertian) across the area of the aperture surface.
[0070] To this point we have focused on the structure and optical
aspects of the solid state light emitter 41. However, like the
device 11 in the earlier example, the device 41 includes phosphors,
such as doped semiconductor nanophosphors, for converting the near
UV energy from the chip 42 into visible white light, with a color
rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher. By using one of the mixtures
of doped semiconductor nanophosphors, like those in the earlier
examples, the white output light may exhibit a color temperature in
one of the several specific ranges along the black body curve.
Again, it may be desirable to use materials and construct the
device 11 so as to effectively encapsulate the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors in a manner that blocks out oxygen, to prolong useful
life of the phosphors.
[0071] The phosphors may be embodied in the device 41 in any of a
variety of ways deemed advantageous or convenient. For example, the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors could be doped or otherwise
embedded in the material of the reflector 49. Alternatively, the
phosphors could be applied as a coating between the surface of the
reflector 49 and the matching contoured surface of the light
transmissive solid 53. Another approach might be to place the
phosphors on or around the semiconductor chip 42. Yet another
approach might be to coat the doped semiconductor nanophosphors on
the surface 55, although that would not take the best advantage of
the integrating property of the cavity 51. In the example of FIG.
8, it is assumed that the solid state light emitting device 41
includes doped semiconductor nanophosphors that are doped or
otherwise embedded in the light transmissive solid 53. The
phosphors may be fairly widely dispersed throughout the solid 53 to
minimize visible discoloration caused by the phosphors when the
device is off. In the example of FIG. 8, the semiconductor chip 42
emits 405 nm near UV energy mostly toward the inner surface of
reflector 49. 405 nm emitted from the chip 42 in other directions
is reflected by the inner surface of the mask 57 or total internal
reflection at the optical aperture surface 55 towards the inner
surface of reflector 49. As the 405 nm light from the chip 42 and
from the mask 57 and the surface 55 passes through the light
transmissive solid 53, it excites the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors in the solid 53. Any 405 nm light that has not yet
excited a phosphor reflects from the diffusely reflective surface
of the reflector 49 back through the solid 53 and may excite the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors in the solid 53 on the second or
subsequent pass. Light produced by the phosphor excitations, is
emitted in all directions within the cavity 51. Much of that light
is also reflected one or more times from the inner surface of
reflector 49, the inner surface of the mask 57 and the total
internal reflection at the surface 55. At least some of those
reflections, particularly those off the inner surface of reflector
49, are diffuse reflections. In this way, the cavity 51 integrates
the light produced by the various phosphor emissions into a highly
integrated light for output via the optical aperture at surface 55
(when reaching the surface at a steep enough angle to overcome the
total internal reflection).
[0072] This optical integration by diffuse reflection within the
cavity 51 integrates the light produced by the nano-phosphor
excitation to form integrated light of the desired characteristics
at the optical aperture 55 providing a substantially uniform output
distribution of integrated light (e.g. substantially Lambertian)
across the area of the aperture. As in the earlier examples, the
particular doped semiconductor nanophosphors in the device 41
result in a light output that is at least substantially white and
has a color rendering index (CRI) of 75 or higher. The white light
output of the solid state device 41 through optical aperture 55
exhibits color temperature in one of the specified ranges along the
black body curve. The doped semiconductor nanophosphors may be
selected and mixed to stack the emissions spectra thereof so that
the white light output through optical aperture 55 exhibits color
temperature of 2,725.+-.145.degree. Kelvin. Alternatively, the
doped semiconductor nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to
stack the emissions spectra thereof so that the white light output
through optical aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of
3,045.+-.175.degree. Kelvin. As yet another alternative, the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to stack the
emissions spectra thereof so that the white light output through
optical aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of
3,465.+-.245.degree. Kelvin. As a further alternative, the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to stack the
emissions spectra thereof so that the white light output through
optical aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of and
3,985.+-.275.degree. Kelvin. The doped semiconductor nanophosphors
may be selected and mixed to stack the emissions spectra thereof so
that the white light output through optical aperture 55 exhibits
color temperature of 4,503.+-.243.degree. Kelvin; or the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to stack the
emissions spectra thereof so that the white light output through
optical aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of
5,028.+-.283.degree. Kelvin. As yet further alternatives, the doped
semiconductor nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to stack the
emissions spectra thereof so that the white light output through
optical aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of
5,665.+-.355.degree. Kelvin; or the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors may be selected and mixed to stack the emissions
spectra thereof so that the white light output through optical
aperture 55 exhibits color temperature of 6,530.+-.510.degree.
Kelvin.
[0073] The effective optical aperture at 55 forms a virtual source
of white light from the solid state device 41. The integration
tends to form a relatively Lambertian distribution across the
virtual source, in this case, the full area of the optical aperture
at surface 55. Depending of design constraints of the device
manufacture/market place, the aperture area may be relatively wide
without exposing the chip as an intense visible point source within
the device. When the device is observed in operation, the virtual
source at 55 appears to have substantially infinite depth of the
integrated light. The optical integration sufficiently mixes the
light so that the light output exhibits a relatively low
maximum-to-minimum intensity ratio across that optical aperture 55.
In virtual source examples discussed herein, the virtual source
light output exhibits a maximum-to-minimum ratio of 2 to 1 or less
over substantially the entire optical output area.
[0074] Nano-phosphors, including the doped semiconductor
nanophosphors used herein, produce relatively uniform repeatable
emission spectra. Thus, having chosen an appropriate phosphor
mixture to produce light of the desired CRI and color temperature,
the solid state devices using that nano-phosphor may consistently
produce white light having the CRI in the same range and color
temperature in the same range with less humanly perceptible
variation between devices as has been experienced with prior LED
devices and the like.
[0075] While the foregoing has described what are considered to be
the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various
modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter
disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples,
and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications,
only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by
the following claims to claim any and all applications,
modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the
present teachings.
* * * * *