Patent ID: 7293908
Filing Date: 2007-11-13
Classification: G02F,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An side-emitting illumination system, comprising: a light emitting diode having a first reflector surrounding said light emitting diode; a second reflector separated from and opposing said first reflector and said light emitting diode and said second reflector having an edge; an output aperture formed by said first reflector and by said edge of said second reflector; a supporting means which holds and separates said second reflector from said first reflector; wherein said active region of said light emitting diode emits internally generated light through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer when a voltage is applied between said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode; wherein said internally generated light emitted through said output surface of said first doped semiconductor layer is directed to said second reflector or is directed through said output aperture; wherein said internally generated light reflected by said second reflector is redirected through said output aperture or is redirected to said first reflector or is recycled back to said light emitting diode as externally incident light; and wherein a portion of said externally incident light recycled back to said light emitting diode is reflected by said first reflecting electrode and said second reflecting electrode of said light emitting diode, thereby increasing the effective brightness of said light emitting diode, and is directed through said output aperture, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of said side-emitting illumination system.