Abstract:
A light source that has improved light mixing. The light source uses a nanolens layer in conjunction with an LED light source to enhance the mixing of the colored light emitting from the LED light source.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Not applicable.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention relates in general to a light-emitting diode light source, and is specifically a light-emitting diode light source that comprises a nanolens layer in association with an encapsulated light emitting diode chip to improve light mixing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Light-emitting diodes generally emit light in a specific color or range of wavelengths. To produce a white light, it is usually necessary to combine or mix the light from plural LEDs which emit different colors, for example, red, green and blue. Initially, light mixing was accomplished by placing LEDs of different colors next to each other such that the light emitted by each LED would mix with the light from the others. A common structure associated with such mixing is a light guide  
         [0004]     This approach has several drawbacks including poor color mixing, uneven light intensity, and the presence of dark regions near the edges of the light guide plate.  
         [0005]     Several techniques have been made to improve the light mixing needed to produce which light. One is the insertion of the LEDs into a mixing cavity within the light guide. Another is the use of a light diffusor to mix the colors. While these techniques have resulted in slightly better color mixing, there remains a need for further improvement.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An embodiment of the invention is a novel light emitting diode light source having an associated nanolens structure. The nanolens allows for improved mixing of the light generated by the light-emitting diodes contained within the light source. Light mixing may be further enhanced through the use of a diffusant layer within the light source and/or reflectors placed adjacent to the diodes.  
         [0007]     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-section of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of a third embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a fourth embodiment of the invention with its associated light guide. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, light emitting diode chips  10  are attached to a substrate  11  and at least partially encapsulated with an encapsulant  12 . Depending on the nature of the encapsulant  12 , a casing  13  may be used to support the encapsulant  12 . Associated with the upper surface  14  of the encapsulant  12  is a nanolens layer  15 . The nanolens layer is designed to redirect light generated by chips  11  causing mixing of the light. The mixing may occur in a number of regions including within the nanolens layer  15 , within the encapsulant  12 , within a space between the light source and a light guide, or any combination of these regions.  
         [0014]     The nanolens layer  15  may be formed by nano imprinting the surface of the encapsulant  12  to produce the desired structures, or it may comprise a separate layer of material which has been shaped to have the desired structure. This separate nanolens layer will typically be prepared from a transparent polymeric material. Where the nanolens layer is formed separately, an adhesion promoter may be used to ensure binding to the encapsulant layer. The surface of the nanolens layer  15  will have multiple light directing structures  16  which redirects the light, causing mixing of the light. While these structures may be dome shaped or hemispherical as shown in  FIG. 1 , any shape which redirects and/or focuses light may be used. For example, a frustoconical shape may be employed.  
         [0015]     The encapsulant used in the practice of the invention should be optically clear and protect the light-emitting diode chips from the environment. In one embodiment, epoxy resins are used as the encapsulant, however, other materials, such as silicones may be used.  
         [0016]     In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , another light-directing layer is used to mix the light. Diffusant  20  is located between the encapsulant  12  and the nanolens layer  15 . Diffusant  20  further enhances the light mixing. In this embodiment, the light is first mixed by the diffusant layer  20  and then further mixed by the nanolens layer  15 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the diffusant comprises another nanolens array that comprises a lens for each diode chip  10 . Note that the lens array may comprise more or fewer lens than the number of diode chips. Further note that other diffusing structures may be used.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows yet another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, reflectors  30  are placed adjacent to the light emitting diode chips  10  to further enhance the mixing of the light. In this embodiment the light is first mixed by the reflectors in the encapsulant layer  12  and then by nanolens layer  15 . An optional diffusant layer  20  like that described above may also be employed to further mix the light. Note that the reflectors may have other shapes.  
         [0018]     Still another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, light directing structures are provided on both the outer surface  40  and inner surface  41  of the nanolens layer  15 . The shape of the light directing structures on the inner and outer surfaces may be the same or different. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , dome shaped structures  42  are provided on the outer surface  40  while saw tooth structures  43  are provided on the inner surface. In this embodiment, the light directing structure on the outer surface of the nanolens should be capable of directing the mixed light into a light guide  44 .  
         [0019]     As with the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a diffusant layer and/or reflectors may be employed in this embodiment to further enhance light mixing.  
         [0020]     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.