Abstract:
An LED package and a fabrication method therefor. The LED package includes first and second lead frames made of heat and electric conductors, each of the lead frames comprising a planar base and extensions extending in opposed directions and upward directions from the base. The package also includes a package body made of a resin and configured to surround the extensions of the first and second lead frames to fix the first and second lead frames while exposing underside surfaces of the first and second lead frames. The LED package further includes a light emitting diode chip disposed on an upper surface of the base of the first lead frame and electrically connected to the bases of the first and second lead frames, and a transparent encapsulant for encapsulating the light emitting diode chip.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2006-0034706 filed on Apr. 17, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) and, more particularly, to an LED package having a simple configuration with superior heat radiation efficiency, and a fabrication method thereof. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device for generating various colors of light in response to current application. The colors generated from the LED are determined by the chemical substances constituting the semiconductor of the LED. Such an LED has various merits such as a long lifetime, low power, excellent initial driving characteristics, high resistance for vibration and high tolerance for frequent power on/off compared to a light emitting device based on filament, and thus there has been a steadily increasing demand for the LEDs. 
         [0006]    LEDs are recently adopted as backlights for lighting devices and large sized Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), which require large outputs, and accordingly the LEDs used therefor require especially excellent heat radiation capacities. 
         [0007]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a conventional LED package mounted on a circuit board. 
         [0008]    First, referring to  FIG. 1 , the LED package  1  has a heat slug  3  for seating the LED chip  2  thereon while functioning as a heat guiding means. The LED chip  2  receives electricity from an external source (not shown) through a pair of wires  7  and a pair of terminals  8 . The upper part of the heat slug  3  including the LED chip  2  is encapsulated by an encapsulant  5  typically made of silicone, and a lens  6  is attached over the encapsulant  5 . A housing  4  is formed around the heat slug  3  by general molding to support the heat slug  3  and the terminals  8 . 
         [0009]    Such an LED package  1  of  FIG. 1  is mounted on a circuit board  10 , which is a heat sink, to construct an LED assembly as shown in  FIG. 2 . At this time, a heat conducting pad  9  such as solder is interposed between the heat slug  3  of the LED package  1  and a metal heat radiating plate (not shown) of the circuit board  10 , facilitating heat conductivity between them. In addition, the terminals  8  are also more stably connected to a circuit pattern (not shown) of the circuit board by the solder (not shown). 
         [0010]    As described above, the LED package  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the LED assembly with the LED package  1  mounted on the circuit board  10  are focused on effective discharge of the heat, i.e., heat radiation. That is, the LED package  1  has the heat sink, i.e., the heat slug  3  connected to the heat radiating plate of the circuit board  10  either directly or via the heat conducting pad  9  in order to absorb and discharge the heat generated from the LED chip  2 . This allows the heat generated from the LED chip  2  to be mostly discharged via the heat slug  3  into the circuit board  10 , and only a small amount of the heat to be discharged into the air through the surface of the LED package  1 , i.e., through the housing  4  or the lens  6 . 
         [0011]    However, this conventional heat radiation structure is complicated and requires many components. Therefore, it is difficult to automate the manufacturing process of the LED package with assembly of many components, thus increasing the manufacturing time and costs. 
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating another conventional LED package. 
         [0013]    The LED package shown in  FIG. 3  is suggested in “SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE,” U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0057144 (published on May 17, 2005). In this LED device or LED package, a cup-shaped reflecting frame  2  is installed on a surface of the substrate  1  with circuit patterns  3  and  6  formed thereon, and an LED chip  4  is mounted in the cup-shaped portion and electrically connected to the circuit pattern  3 . In the meantime, the reference numeral  7  represents phosphor, the reference numeral  8  represents diffuser and the reference numeral  9  represents resin. 
         [0014]    The LED package with the above described configuration requires a fewer number of components than that of  FIG. 1  and can be advantageously fabricated into a relatively simple configuration. However, the heat generated from the LED chip  4  is transferred to a circuit board  10  (not shown in  FIG. 3 , see  FIG. 2 ) via a heat radiation path H, thus resulting in low heat radiation efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art and therefore an aspect of the present invention is to provide an LED package which can achieve superior heat radiation efficiency with a simple configuration. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of fabricating an LED package which can achieve superior heat radiation efficiency. 
         [0017]    According to an aspect of the invention, the invention provides a light emitting diode package which includes: first and second lead frames made of heat and electric conductors, each of the lead frames comprising a planar base and extensions extending in opposed directions and upward directions from the base, the second lead frame having a smaller width than the first frame and arranged apart from the first frame at a predetermined interval; a package body made of a resin and configured to surround the extensions of the first and second lead frames to fix the first and second lead frames while exposing underside surfaces of the first and second lead frames; a light emitting diode chip disposed on an upper surface of the base of the first lead frame and electrically connected to the bases of the first and second lead frames; and a transparent encapsulant for encapsulating the light emitting diode chip. 
         [0018]    In the light emitting diode package according to the present invention, ends of the extensions are positioned at side portions of the package body. 
         [0019]    In the light emitting diode package according to the present invention, at least one of the extensions of the first lead frame extends out of the package body to form a terminal. 
         [0020]    In the light emitting diode package according to the present invention, the package body has a recess formed around the light emitting diode chip and a protrusion is formed in a predetermined width on an upper end of the recess. In this case, it is preferable that a portion of the transparent encapsulant fills the recess and another portion of the transparent encapsulant protrudes over the protrusion in a predetermined curvature. 
         [0021]    In the light emitting diode package according to the present invention, the underside surfaces of the bases of the first and second lead frames are coplanar with an underside surface of the package body. 
         [0022]    In the light emitting diode package according to the present invention, the first and second lead frames are arranged in parallel with each other. 
         [0023]    According to another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method of fabricating a light emitting diode package. The method includes:
       machining a plate made of a heat and electric conductor of a predetermined thickness into a frame structure, the frame structure comprising first and second lead frame parts each having a planar base and extensions extending in opposed directions from the base, the second lead frame part formed in a smaller width than the first lead frame part and arranged apart at a predetermined interval from the first lead frame part;   bending the extensions of the first and second lead frame parts in such a way that the bases are positioned lower than the extensions so that the extensions extend in upward directions from the bases;   injection-molding a resin to form a package body, the package body surrounding the extensions of the first and second lead frame parts adjacent to the bases and thereby fixing the first and second lead frame parts in such a way that at least a part of upper surfaces and bottom surfaces of the bases of the first and second lead frame parts are exposed from the package body and distal ends of the extensions of the first and second lead frame parts extend out of side portions of the package body;   disposing a light emitting diode chip on the exposed upper surface of the base of the first lead frame part and electrically connecting the light emitting diode chip with the first and second lead frame parts;   encapsulating the light emitting diode chip with a transparent encapsulant; and   cutting the extensions of the frame structure to obtain a light emitting diode package.       
 
         [0030]    In the method according to the present invention, the step of forming a package body includes forming a recess around the light emitting diode chip and a protrusion in a predetermined width on an upper end of the recess. In this case, it is preferable that the step of encapsulating includes dispensing the transparent encapsulant in such a way that a portion of the transparent encapsulant fills the recess and another portion of the transparent encapsulant protrudes over the protrusion in a predetermined curvature. 
         [0031]    In the method according to the present invention, the step of forming a package body includes forming the package body in such a way that the underside surfaces of the bases of the first and second frame parts are coplanar with an underside surface of the package body. 
         [0032]    In the method according to the present invention, the step of forming a frame structure comprises forming the first and second lead frame parts in parallel with each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a sectional perspective view illustrating a conventional LED package; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view illustrating the LED package of  FIG. 1  mounted on a circuit board; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view illustrating another conventional LED package; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating an LED package according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the LED package of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the LED package of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view cut along the line A-A of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view cut along the line B-B of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 7  illustrating the LED package with an encapsulant also functioning as a lens; 
           [0043]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are sectional views illustrating the LED package of  FIG. 9  mounted on a circuit board; 
           [0044]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 7  illustrating the LED package with an encapsulant and a lens; 
           [0045]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view illustrating an LED package according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view illustrating an LED package according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIGS. 15 to 19  are sectional views illustrating a stepwise method of fabricating an LED package according to the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view illustrating a first step of a method of fabricating an LED package according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view illustrating a first step of a method of fabricating an LED package according to further another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0050]      FIG. 22  is a sectional view illustrating an LED package according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0051]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0052]    An LED package according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
         [0053]    The LED package  100  according to this embodiment includes a pair of metal lead frames  110  and  120  and an insular package body  130  surrounding the lead frames  110  and  120 . 
         [0054]    The first lead frame  110  includes a planar base  112  and a pair of extensions  114  extending from opposed ends of the base  112 . It is preferable that the base  112  is provided in an area as large as possible so that it has a large contact area as possible with a circuit board (see  FIG. 10 ) described later, which is a heat sink. The extensions  114  are formed in a smaller width than the base  112 , and are surrounded by the package body  130  to secure the lead frame  110  to the package body  130 . Of course, the extensions  114  can be formed in the same width as the base  112 , which is preferable when the package body  130  described later has a satisfactory level of strength. 
         [0055]    The second lead frame  120  is formed in parallel with and at a predetermined interval from the first lead frame  110 , and includes a base  122  and a pair of extensions  124 . The base  122  and the extensions  124  are formed in the same width, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0056]    Here, the extensions  114  and  124  are illustrated in the drawing as extending out of the package body  130 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. The end surfaces of the extensions  114  and  124  can be coplanar with the side surface of the package body  130 . 
         [0057]    The configurations of the first and second lead frames  110  and  120  can be more clearly understood with reference to  FIG. 16 . That is, the first and second lead frames  110  and  120  are obtained by cutting the extensions  114   b  and  124   b  of a frame structure  102   b  in  FIG. 16  in a suitable length. 
         [0058]    The package body  130  is injection-molded around the lead frame  110  and  120  to surround the lead frames  110  and  120 . At this time, the package body  130  has a recess or a cup-shaped part  132  formed therein to expose central portions of the bases  112  and  122  of the lead frames  110  and  120 . This cup part  132  is the space for mounting the LED chip  140 . An annular protrusion  134  is formed on an upper part of the cup part  132 , and has a predetermined width W. 
         [0059]    The package body  130  is formed in such a way that the underside surfaces of the bases  112  and  122  of the first and second lead frames  110  and  120  are exposed. That is, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the underside surfaces of the bases  112  and  122  are exposed through an underside surface of the package body  130 . 
         [0060]    The LED chip  140  is seated on an upper surface of the base  112  of the first lead frame  110  and electrically connected to the base  122  of the second lead frame  120  by a wire  142 . 
         [0061]    The illustrated LED chip  140  is a so-called vertical structure LED chip. With this LED chip, the positive and negative electrodes are formed on upper and lower surfaces, respectively. As illustrated, in a case where the upper surface is the positive electrode connected to the base by the wire  142 , the LED chip is electrically connected by the negative electrode in the lower surface thereof to the base  112  of the first lead frame  110 . Alternatively, in the case of a horizontal structure LED chip with both electrodes formed on the same surface thereof, the LED chip can be electrically connected to the base  112  of the first lead frame  110  using another wire (not illustrated). 
         [0062]    As the LED chip  140  is seated on the base  112  to be electrically connected to the bases  112  and  122 , the base  112  serves a function of transferring the heat generated from the LED chip  140  to the circuit board  160  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) described later and a function of an electric connector for supplying electricity to the LED chip  140 . 
         [0063]    The LED package  100  according to the present invention further includes a transparent encapsulant  150  shown in  FIG. 9 . The encapsulant  150  is obtained by pouring a resin into the cup part  132  to form a convex shape and curing the resin. That is, the encapsulant  150  not only encapsulates the LED chip  140  and the wires  142  but also functions as a lens that guides the light emitted from the LED chip  140  to the outside in a desired beam angle. 
         [0064]    At this time, the height h of the portion of the encapsulant  150  that functions as the lens is determined according to the width W of the protrusion  134  and the viscosity and amount of the resin making up the encapsulant  150 . For example, the width W of the protrusion  134  and the viscosity and amount of the encapsulant  150  can be adjusted to form the encapsulant  150  in a predetermined curvature with a desired height h. 
         [0065]    The resin of the encapsulant  150  is preferably a transparent elastomer of gel type, for example, silicone. The silicone is less susceptible to changes incurred by the light of a short wavelength, such as yellowing, and has a high refractive index, thus possessing superior optical properties. In addition, unlike epoxy, it maintains a gel or elastomer state even after it is cured, thus protecting the LED chip  140  more stably from the stress by the heat, vibrations and external impacts. For the transparent encapsulant  150 , phosphor and/or diffuser may be dispersed in the elastomer. 
         [0066]    Now, the heat radiation operation of the LED package  100  will be examined with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
         [0067]    The LED package  100  is mounted on a circuit board  160  shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The illustrated circuit board  160  is composed of a metal substrate  162 , an insulation film  164  formed on a surface of the metal substrate  162  and conductive patterns  166  formed on surfaces of the insulation film  164 . When the LED package  100  according to the present invention is mounted on such a circuit board  160 , the LED package  100  is positioned such that the bases  112  and  122  of the first and second lead frames  110  and  120  come in contact with the conductive patterns  166 , and are then solder-bonded. This allows the solder  170  to integrate the bases  112  and  122  of the first and second lead frames  110  and  120  with the conductive patterns  166 , thereby mounting the surface-mounted LED package  100  onto the circuit board  160 . Here, the bases  112  and  122  of the lead frames  110  and  120  are connected to an external power source (not shown) via the conductive patterns  166 , thereby providing power to the LED chip  140 . 
         [0068]    Then, when a voltage is applied, the LED chip  140  generates light together with heat. Referring to  FIG. 10 , the heat H generated is discharged into the metal substrate  162  through the lead frame base  112  underneath the LED chip  140 . Such a heat radiation path is shorter in length compared to those in the prior art shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , thus increasing the heat radiation efficiency. 
         [0069]    In the meantime, referring to  FIG. 11 , the heat generated from the LED chip  140  is diffused and radiated through the lead frame base  112 . That is, a portion of the heat H 1  is transferred directly downward to the circuit board  160  while another portion of the heat H 2  spreads along the base  112  and is transferred to the circuit board  160 . In the meantime, other portion of the heat H 3  spreads along the base  112  and is transferred to the extension  114 . As the base  112  is formed in a relatively large area, the heat generated from the LED chip  140  is transferred to the circuit board  160  via a large area. In addition, it can be appreciated that the extensions  114  also contribute to the enhancement of the spreading efficiency of the heat. 
         [0070]    The LED package  100 - 1  shown in  FIG. 12  has the same configuration as  FIG. 10 and 11  except for the feature that the encapsulant  150  in  FIGS. 10 and 11  is substituted by an ecapsulant  150 - 1  and a lens  154 . The lens  154  can be made of various transparent materials, guiding the light emitted from the LED chip  140  to the outside in a desired beam angle. In  FIG. 12 , the lens  154  is fabricated separately and then attached to the encapsulant  150 - 1  and the protrusion  134  by an adhesive layer  152 . Alternatively, the lens can be formed on upper surfaces of the encapsulant  150 - 1  and the protrusion  134  by transfer molding, etc. 
         [0071]      FIG. 13  illustrates an LED package according to another embodiment of the present invention in a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 7 . The LED package  100 - 2  according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the aforedescribed LED package  100 ,  100 - 1 , except for the feature that the opposed portions of the underside surfaces of the bases  112 - 2  and  122 - 2  of the first and second lead frames  110 - 2  and  120 - 2  are chamfered to form sloping surfaces  113  and  123 . 
         [0072]    Such sloping surfaces  113  and  123  lengthen and complicate the path through which external impurities and moisture may eventually reach the chip  140 . In addition, the sloping surfaces  113  and  123  are surrounded by the resin of the package body  130 , enhancing the bonding and sealing qualities between the lead frame bases  112 - 2  and  122 - 2  and the package body  130 . 
         [0073]    In the meantime, the sloping surfaces  113  and  123  can be formed in only one portion of the bases  112 - 2  and  122 - 2  of the first and second lead frames  110 - 2  and  120 - 2 , for example, only in a portion adjacent to the LED chip  140 . 
         [0074]      FIG. 14  illustrates an LED package according to further another embodiment of the present invention in a sectional view corresponding to  FIG. 7 . The LED package  100 - 3  according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the aforedescribed LED package  100 ,  100 - 1 ,  100 - 2 , except for the feature that steps  115  and  125  are formed in opposed portions of the bases  112 - 3  and  122 - 3  of the first and second lead frames  110 - 3  and  120 - 3 . 
         [0075]    Like the sloping surfaces  113  and  123 , these steps  115  and  125  lengthen and complicate the path through which the external impurities and moisture may eventually reach the chip  140 . In addition, the steps  115  and  125  are surrounded by the resin of the package body  130 , enhancing the bonding and sealing qualities between the lead frame bases  112 - 3  and  122 - 3  and the package body  130 . 
         [0076]    In the meantime, the steps  115  and  125  can be formed only in one portion of the bases  112 - 3  and  122 - 3  of the first and second lead frames  110 - 3  and  120 - 3 , for example, only in a portion adjacent to the LED chip  140 , depending on the needs. 
         [0077]    Now, a method of fabricating an LED package  100  according to the present invention will be explained in a stepwise manner with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 19 . 
         [0078]    First, a metal plate or a sheet metal of a predetermined thickness is prepared and made into a preliminary frame structure  102   a  shown in  FIG. 15  via punching or blanking. The preliminary frame structure  102   a  includes a peripheral portion  104  and a first lead frame part  110   a  and a second lead frame part  120   a  formed in the inner side of the peripheral portion  104 . The first lead frame part  110   a  is to be the first lead frame  110  and the second lead frame part  120   a  is to be the second lead frame  120  described hereinabove after the frame structure  102   a  undergoes the following fabrication steps described later. 
         [0079]    The first lead frame part  110   a  is composed of a base  112  of a relatively larger area and a pair of extensions  114   a  extended from opposed ends of the base  112  to the peripheral portion  104 . The second lead frame part  120   a  is formed at a predetermined interval from the first lead frame part  110   a , in the shape of a narrow strip and has opposed ends connected to the peripheral portion  104 . 
         [0080]    In addition, holes H are formed in the corners of the frame structure  102 . The holes H are used to fix or guide the frame structure  102   a.    
         [0081]    The frame structure  102   a  shown in  FIG. 15  is bent via pressing, etc. to obtain a frame structure  102   b  shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0082]    As a result, the extensions  114   b  of the first lead frame part  110   b  are bent in a shape that is identical to the one shown in  FIG. 8 . The only difference is that the extensions  114   b  in the step shown in  FIG. 16  are still connected to the frame structure  102   b  whereas the extensions  114  shown in  FIG. 8  are independently separated. 
         [0083]    In addition, the second lead frame part  120   b  are bent in such a way that a base  122  is formed in the middle with the extensions  124   b  formed at opposed ends from the base  122 . 
         [0084]    Then, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the frame structure  102   b  is disposed in a mold M and a resin is injected into the mold M to form a package body  130  as shown in  FIG. 18 . The shape of the package body  130  is identical to the one shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8 . 
         [0085]    Thereafter, an LED chip  140  is disposed and electrically connected on the base  112  of the first lead frame part  110   b  inside a recess  132  of the package body  130  while electrically connected to the base  122  of the second lead frame part  120   b  by a wire  142 . The LED chip  140  is illustrated as a vertical structure but it can be a horizontal structure. In this case, the LED chip is electrically connected to the base  112  of the first lead frame part lob by the wire. 
         [0086]    Then, a resin is poured into the recess  132  to form a convex shape and cured to obtain an encapsulant  150  shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the extensions  114   b  and  124   b  are cut along the cutting line LT to complete an LED package  100 . Of course, cutting can be done prior to forming the encapsulant  150 . 
         [0087]    The method explained with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 19  is to obtain the LED package  100  shown in  FIG. 9 , which can be modified to obtain the LED package  100 - 1  shown in  FIG. 12 . That is, the resin can be poured in the recess  132  to form a planar surface to obtain a planar encapsulant  150 - 1  with a lens  154  bonded on the encapsulant  150 - 1 , thereby completing the LED package  100 - 1  shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0088]    In addition, the frame structure  102   b  can be modified to obtain the packages  100 - 2  and  100 - 3  shown in  FIG. 13  or  14 . 
         [0089]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 20 , when preparing the frame structure  102   b , the sloping surfaces  123  are formed in a length direction in opposed portions of the bottom surface of the base  122 - 2 . The steps shown in  FIGS. 17 to 19  can be implemented on this frame structure  102  to obtain the package  100 - 2  shown in  FIG. 13 . In  FIG. 20 , the opposed sloping surfaces in the underside surface of the base  122 - 2  are omitted in the drawing for convenience, but the shape of the sloping surfaces is identical to the one shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0090]    In addition, instead of the sloping surfaces  123 , the steps  115  and  125  can be formed as shown in  FIG. 14 , to obtain the package  100 - 3  shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0091]    A plurality of LED packages can be fabricated simultaneously using a frame array sheet  1002  shown in  FIG. 21 . 
         [0092]    This frame array sheet  1002  is obtained by punching or blanking a metal plate or a sheet metal of a predetermined thickness. In the frame array sheet  1002 , a plurality of frame structure regions  1102  are formed, which correspond to a plurality of the frame structure shown in  FIG. 15 . Therefore, the frame array sheet  1002  is composed of a plurality of frame structures  102   a  shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0093]    The frame structure regions  1102  are defined, respectively, by the peripheral portions  1004  and middle portions  1104  of the frame array sheet  1002 , and the middle portions  1104  can be omitted in the frame array sheet  1002  if necessary. In addition, holes H are formed in the peripheral portions  1004  and the middle portions  1104  to fix or guide the frame array sheet  1002 . 
         [0094]    Using the frame array sheet  1002  allows manufacturing a plurality of LED packages  100  simultaneously. 
         [0095]    An LED package  100 - 4  according to further another embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 22 . 
         [0096]    In the LED package  100 - 4 , the extension  114 - 4  can be extended out of the package body  130  to form a terminal  8  as in the prior art shown in  FIG. 2 . In this case, the first lead frame base  112  can only serve the function of transferring heat or can also serve the function of electric connection together with the extension  114 - 4 , which is the terminal. In the meantime, both of the extensions  114 - 4  can extend out of the package body  140  to form terminals. 
         [0097]    The LED package  100 - 4  with this configuration can also be fabricated easily by the method shown in  FIGS. 15 to 19 . 
         [0098]    In addition, although not illustrated, the extensions  124  of the LED package  100  shown in  FIGS. 4 to 8  can also extend out of the package body  130  to form terminals. 
         [0099]    The present invention as stated hereinabove allows an LED package with a simple configuration which can achieve superior heat radiation efficiency. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for easily fabricating an LED package which can achieve superior heat radiation efficiency. 
         [0100]    While the present invention has been shown and described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.