IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,480,723
Granted Patent B2
US 11,480,723 · App. 17/475,030 · Granted Oct 25, 2022

μ-LED, μ-LED device, display and method for the same

Inventors: Peter Brick (Regensburg, DE); Jean-Jacques Drolet (Obertraubling, DE); Hubert Halbritter (Dietfurt Toeging, DE); Laura Kreiner (Regensburg, DE); Thomas Schwarz (Regensburg, DE); Tilman Ruegheimer (Regensburg, DE); Frank Singer (Regenstauf, DE)
Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbH
G02B6/0031G02B27/0172H01L25/0753G02B6/0076G02B2027/0147
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,480,723
App. No.
17/475,030
Granted
Oct 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to various aspects of a μ-LED or a μ-LED array for augmented reality or lighting applications, in particular in the automotive field. The μ-LED is characterized by particularly small dimensions in the range of a few μm.

Claims (40)

1. A light guide arrangement, comprising:

a μ-display; and

a projection optics;

wherein the μ-display comprises a matrix with pixels for emission of visible light and wherein each pixel comprises several μ-LEDs with spectrally different light emission;

wherein each pixel is assigned a separate collimation optics preceding the projection optics; and

wherein the collimation optics are configured in such a way that enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel are generated in the beam path in front of the projection optics.

2. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel generated by the collimation optics overlap each other over at least 70%, 80% or 90% of their intermediate image area.

3. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate images of the μ-LEDs are virtual intermediate images.

4. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the collimation optics is arranged between the μ-LEDs of each pixel and the projection optics.

5. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the μ-LEDs of each pixel occupy not more than 30%, or not more than 15% or not more than 10% of a pixel area.

6. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the μ-LEDs are configured as color converted μ-LEDs or as VCSELs or as edge-emitting laser diodes and optionally have illuminated optical waveguide end pieces.

7. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the collimation optics are designed such that a total area of the overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of a respective pixel corresponds to at least 70%, 80%, or 90% of a pixel area.

8. The light guide arrangement according to claim, 1 wherein the collimation optics comprise a holographic optical element (HOE) and/or a refractive optical element (ROE) and/or a diffractive optical element (DOE).

9. The light guide arrangement according to claim, 1 wherein radiation emitted by the projection optics is directed directly or indirectly onto a display.

10. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by horizontally arranged microrods having an active zone.

11. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by at least one antenna slit structure having an active area arranged in a rectangular opening with dimension in the range of half a wavelength.

12. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel are each formed by a pair of emitting elements with a converter material arranged therebetween.

13. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the μ-LEDs of at least one pixel each comprise quantum well intermixing in an edge region of an active layer of the μ-LED.

14. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the matrix comprises a light-shaping structure arranged at least partially in a semiconductor material of the μ-LEDs of the pixels.

15. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive unit arranged in a substrate, including current drivers or current sources, wherein the μ-display is arranged on the substrate and the pixels are electrically connected to the current drivers or the current sources.

16. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix each have a microlens arranged above the μ-LEDs.

17. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which a plurality of pixels of the matrix comprises a reflecting structure surrounding one or more pixels of the plurality of pixels, which surrounds the μ-LEDs of the pixel.

18. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which at least some of the pixels of the matrix comprise a redundant μ-LED.

19. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the matrix comprises a plurality of μ-LED base modules or a μ-display.

20. The light guide arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the pixels of the array comprise an optoelectronic device or a μ-LED array.

21. A projection unit including a light guide arrangement according to claim 1 configured to produce an image in an augmented reality display unit, a virtual reality display unit and/or on a head-up display.

22. A light guide arrangement comprising:

a pixel array, in particular for a display in polar coordinates, which:

has a plurality of light emitting devices, μ-LEDs, μ-LED arrays or μ-LED modules

which are arranged in at least one line starting from a starting point on an axis through the starting point, wherein

the plurality of pixel elements have a height and a variable width such that the width of the pixel elements substantially increases from the starting point;

or comprising

a μ-display and a projection optics, wherein the μ-display comprises a matrix with pixels for emission of visible light and wherein each pixel comprises several μ-LEDs with spectrally different light emission; and wherein each pixel is assigned a separate collimation optics preceding the projection optics,

wherein the collimation optics are configured in such a way that enlarged and overlapping intermediate images of the μ-LEDs of the respective pixel are generated in the beam path in front of the projection optics;

or comprising:

a light-emitting device comprising at least two light-emitting elements, including μ-LEDs, which emit light of two different colors;

an elongated first light guide to guide light of a first color and having an output part;

an elongated second light guide to guide light of a second color and having an output portion;

a first coupling element disposed adjacent to the first light guide and configured to reflect the light of the first color into the elongated first light guide; and

a second coupling element disposed adjacent to the second light guide and configured to reflect the light of the second color into the elongated second light guide.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2022
From: BRICK, PETER; DROLET, JEAN-JACQUES; HALBRITTER, HUBERT; KREINER, LAURA; SCHWARZ, THOMAS; RUEGHEIMER, TILMAN; SINGER, FRANK
To: OSRAM OPTO SEMICONDUCTORS GMBH
Reel/Frame 060523/0774 →
Priority Claims (6)
DK PA201970059 · Jan 29, 2019 · national
DE 102019113793.4 · May 23, 2019 · national
DE 102019116312.9 · Jun 14, 2019 · national
DE 102019118082.1 · Jul 4, 2019 · national
DE 102019118085.6 · Jul 4, 2019 · national
DE 102019130934.4 · Nov 15, 2019 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17039422 · Sep 30, 2020
Continuation PCTEP2020052191 · Jan 29, 2020
Related Publication 20210405277A1 · Dec 30, 2021