Patent ID: 7652301
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: G02F,H01L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a side emitting, non-lasing light emitting diode (LED), the LED having a plurality of light emitting sidewalls, each light emitting sidewall having a top and a bottom, the LED having a reflector formed over and covering its top surface such that the LED does not emit light from its top surface and emits light from its light emitting sidewalls without the use of a side-emitting lens, the LED having anode and cathode electrodes formed on its bottom surface; and a transparent optical element, each of the light emitting sidewalls of the LED being optically coupled to the optical element, the optical element having a light receiving entrance that is adjacent to the light emitting sidewalls of the LED, the optical element having a bottom edge, wherein light directed below the bottom edge of the optical element does not enter the optical element; wherein the bottom edge of the optical element is positioned at or below bottom edges of the light emitting sidewalls; the apparatus further comprising: a substrate on which the LED is mounted; and a first silicone portion formed over the substrate and around the LED, a top surface of the first silicone portion having a curved share, the curved share sloping upward toward the LED and terminating below the light emitting sidewalls of the LED, the first silicone portion having a first index of refraction; wherein the optical element comprising a second silicone portion formed over and abutting the tor surface of the first silicone portion, the second silicone portion having a second index of refraction higher than the first index of refraction such that there is total internal reflection of LED light at an interface of the first silicone portion and the second silicone portion.