Light emitting, photovoltaic or other electronic apparatus and system
The present invention provides an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device comprised of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating apparatus comprising photovoltaic diodes, which may be created through a printing process, using a semiconductor or other substrate particle ink or suspension and using a lens particle ink or suspension. An exemplary apparatus comprises a base; at least one first conductor; a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor; at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and a plurality of lenses suspended in a polymer deposited or attached over the diodes. The lenses and the suspending polymer have different indices of refraction. In some embodiments, the lenses and diodes are substantially spherical, and have a ratio of mean diameters or lengths between about 10:1 and 2:1. The diodes may be LEDs or photovoltaic diodes, and in some embodiments, have a junction formed at least partially as a hemispherical shell or cap.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a base comprising a plurality of spaced-apart channels;
a plurality of first conductors coupled to the base, each first conductor in a corresponding channel of the plurality of spaced-apart channels;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the plurality of first conductors, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant;
a plurality of second conductors coupled to the plurality of diodes; and
a plurality of lenses having at least a first index of refraction, the plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer having at least a second, different index of refraction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, substantially faceted diodes, substantially rectangular diodes, substantially flat diodes, substantially elliptical diodes, and mixtures thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are substantially spherical, the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical, and wherein a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of diodes is substantially about five to one (5:1).
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are substantially spherical, the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical, and wherein a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the comparative size or spacing of the plurality of lenses provide a mode coupling to the plurality of diodes.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: semiconductor light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, encapsulated organic light emitting diodes, polymer light emitting diodes, photovoltaic diodes, and mixtures thereof.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes comprise one or more semiconductors selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of third conductors coupled to the plurality of second conductors.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a reflector or a refractor.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a Bragg reflector or a reflective plastic or polyester coating.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of conductive vias extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the plurality of first conductors.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises a conductive backplane coupled to the plurality of conductive vias and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of conductive vias comprise a plurality of substantially randomly distributed, substantially spherical conductors.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of insulators correspondingly coupled to each of the plurality of diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of insulators correspondingly coupled to each of the plurality of diodes and comprising a photoinitiator compound and a second polymer or resin.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base has a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and has a thickness of less than about two millimeters.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are substantially parallel.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are at least partially hemispherically-shaped and are disposed in an array.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels are at least partially parabolic.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of angled ridges.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart channels further comprise a plurality of integrally formed projections or supports.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of first conductors are coupled to the plurality of integrally formed projections or supports within the plurality of spaced-apart channels and the plurality of diodes are alloyed, or annealed, or chemically coupled to the plurality of first conductors.
26. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductors comprise a cured conductive ink or a cured conductive polymer.
27. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductors comprise at least one conductor, in a cured form, selected from the group consisting of: a silver conductive ink, a copper conductive ink, a gold conductive ink, an aluminum conductive ink, a tin conductive ink, a carbon conductive ink, a carbon nanotube polymer, a conductive polymer, and mixtures thereof.
28. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductors substantially comprise a sputtered, coated, vapor deposited or electroplated metal, metal alloy, or combination of metals.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the metal, metal alloy, or combination of metals comprise at least one metal selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, copper, silver, nickel, gold, and mixtures thereof.
30. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second conductors comprise an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media.
31. The apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the plurality of second conductors comprise at least one material or compound, suspended in a polymer, resin or other media, the material or compound selected from the group consisting of: carbon nanotubes, antimony tin oxide, indium tin oxide, polyethylene-dioxithiophene, and mixtures thereof.
32. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are coupled to or within the plurality of first conductors by abutment.
33. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are annealed or alloyed to or within the plurality of first conductors.
34. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are chemically coupled to or within the plurality of first conductors.
35. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standardized lighting socket.
36. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface compatible with an E12, E14, E26, E27, or GU-10 lighting standard.
37. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard Edison-type lighting socket.
38. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard fluorescent-type lighting socket.
39. An apparatus, comprising:
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and
a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer and coupled to the plurality of diodes.
40. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of lenses have at least a first index of refraction and the first polymer has at least a second, different index of refraction.
41. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of diodes are substantially spherical, the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical, and wherein a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
42. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
43. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: semiconductor light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, polymer light emitting diodes, photovoltaic diodes, and mixtures thereof.
44. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of diodes comprise one or more semiconductors selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
45. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
at least one third conductor coupled to the at least one second conductor.
46. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the base further comprises a reflector or a refractor.
47. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor.
48. The apparatus of claim 47 , wherein the base further comprises a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base.
49. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
50. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the base has a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and has a thickness of less than about two millimeters.
51. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.
52. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a cured conductive ink or a cured conductive polymer.
53. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a sputtered, coated, vapor deposited or electroplated metal, metal alloy, or combination of metals.
54. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive polymer.
55. The apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.
56. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standardized lighting socket.
57. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
an interface compatible with an E12, E14, E26, E27, or GU-10 lighting standard.
58. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard Edison-type lighting socket.
59. The apparatus of claim 39 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard fluorescent-type lighting socket.
60. A system, comprising:
an electrical or electronic interface;
a base having a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and having a thickness of less than about two millimeters;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and
a plurality of lenses.
61. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, substantially faceted diodes, substantially rectangular diodes, substantially flat diodes, substantially elliptical diodes, and mixtures thereof.
62. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of lenses are suspended in a first polymer, the plurality of lenses having at least a first index of refraction and the first polymer having at least a second, different index of refraction.
63. The system of claim 60 , wherein the comparative size or spacing of the plurality of lenses provide a mode coupling to the plurality of diodes.
64. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of lenses are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical, substantially hemispherical, substantially faceted, substantially elliptical, substantially oblong, substantially cubic, substantially prismatic, substantially trapezoidal, substantially triangular, substantially pyramidal, and mixtures thereof.
65. The system of claim 60 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
66. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: semiconductor light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, polymer light emitting diodes, encapsulated organic light emitting diodes, photovoltaic diodes, and mixtures thereof.
67. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of diodes comprise one or more semiconductors selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
68. The system of claim 60 , further comprising at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor.
69. The system of claim 68 , wherein the base further comprises a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base.
70. The system of claim 60 , further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
71. The system of claim 60 , wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.
72. The system of claim 60 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises at least one conductor selected from the group consisting of: a cured conductive ink, a cured conductive polymer, carbon nanotubes, a metal, a metal alloy, a combination of metals, and mixtures thereof.
73. The system of claim 60 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media.
74. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.
75. The system of claim 60 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
76. The system of claim 60 , wherein the interface is compatible with an E12, E14, E26, E27, or GU-10 lighting standard.
77. The system of claim 60 , wherein the interface is for insertion into a standard Edison-type lighting socket.
78. The system of claim 60 , wherein the interface is for insertion into a standard fluorescent-type lighting socket.
79. An apparatus, comprising:
a base having a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and having a thickness of less than about two millimeters;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes having a layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate having a second majority carrier or dopant;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and
a plurality of lenses or lens structure coupled to the plurality of diodes.
80. The apparatus of claim 79 , wherein a ratio of a mean diameter or length of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
81. The apparatus of claim 79 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
82. The apparatus of claim 79 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, substantially faceted diodes, substantially rectangular diodes, substantially flat diodes, substantially elliptical diodes, substantially irregular diodes, and mixtures thereof.
83. The apparatus of claim 79 , wherein the plurality of diodes comprise one or more semiconductors selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
84. The apparatus of claim 79 , further comprising:
at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor;
a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base; and
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
85. The apparatus of claim 79 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
86. The apparatus of claim 79 , further comprising:
an electrical or electronic interface.
87. An apparatus, comprising:
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and
a lens structure coupled to the plurality of diodes, the lens structure comprising a plurality of lenses and further having a plurality of indices of refraction, wherein a ratio of a mean diameter or length of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes of is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
88. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
89. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein the plurality of diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, substantially faceted diodes, substantially rectangular diodes, substantially flat diodes, substantially elliptical diodes, substantially irregular diodes, and mixtures thereof.
90. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes has a layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant.
91. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein the plurality of diodes comprise one or more semiconductors selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
92. The apparatus of claim 87 , further comprising:
at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor;
a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base; and
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
93. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
94. The apparatus of claim 87 , further comprising:
an electrical or electronic interface.
95. The apparatus of claim 87 , wherein the apparatus is flexible, or foldable, or creasable.