Patent ID: 6837606
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: G02B,H01K,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a light emitting device including a containment sleeve forming a housing for a light emitting element, the containment sleeve having a length greater than a width and having an opening extending axially through the containment sleeve, a light conducting element extending axially into the containment sleeve opening, an inner end of the light conducting element and an inner circumferential surface of the containment sleeve forming a recess for receiving the light emitting element and the inner end of the light conducting element forming a light receiving boundary surface whereby light generated by the light emitting element enters the light conducting element for passage along the light conducting element, the containment sleeve being of a similar material to the light conducting member; wherein the inner circumferential surface of the containment sleeve and an outer circumferential surface of the light conducting element have essentially identical traverse section shapes and dimensions in at least a region adjacent the light emitting element and the light emitting element is located directly adjacent to and spaced apart form the light receiving boundary surface of the light conducting element and conforms within the traverse section shape and dimensions of the inner circumferential surface of the containment sleeve and the outer circumferential surface of the light conducting element and the axial length of the containment sleeve and light conducting element, and wherein the light emitting element, the light conducting element and the containment sleeve in at least a region adjacent the light emitting element together form a unitary optically integrated unit, the unit being of essentially identical external traverse section shapes and dimensions; wherein the steps comprise: providing the light conducting element in the form of a longitudinal member with end faces and an outer surface apart form the end faces; inserting light conducting element into a containment sleeve of greater length than the light conducting element with a first end of the light conducting element at or near one end of the containment sleeve so as to leave a length of sleeve projecting beyond the opposite end of the light conducting element and so that the opposite end of the conducting element forms the light receiving boundary surface; forming, at least in part, a light input region by causing an inner surface of the containment sleeve to be contiguously juxtaposed with the outer surface of the light conducting element; causing the inner surface of the containment sleeve and the outer surface of the light conducting element which are contiguously juxtaposed to be join by a fusing operation; locating the light emitting element in the length of containment sleeve projecting beyond the opposite end of the light conducting element; deforming the containment sleeve so as to form together with the light input region of the light conducting element a containment for the light emitting element; and sealing the deformed length of containment sleeve to cause the containment to form a gas tight enclosure or the light emitting element.