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 substantially spherical or optically resonant diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor; at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a polymer attached or deposited over the diodes. The lenses and the suspending polymer have different indices of refraction. In some embodiments, the lenses and diodes 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially all of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes have a substantially hemispherical shell pn junction.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each diode of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes comprises a first part having a substantially hemispherical shell or capped pn junction and a second part having at least partially spheroid substrate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is substantially about five to one (5:1).
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical diodes.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical diodes comprise a semiconductor 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 a 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 lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
33. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes are annealed or alloyed to or within the plurality of first conductors.
34. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially spherical 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. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is flexible, or foldable, or creasable.
40. An apparatus, comprising:
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical diodes; and
a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes.
41. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and have at least a first index of refraction and the first polymer has at least a second, different index of refraction.
42. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
43. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
44. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of substantially spherical 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.
45. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes comprise a semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
46. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
at least one third conductor coupled to the at least one second conductor.
47. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the base further comprises a reflector or a refractor.
48. The apparatus of claim 40 , 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.
49. The apparatus of claim 48 , 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.
50. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
51. The apparatus of claim 40 , 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.
52. The apparatus of claim 40 , 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.
53. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a cured conductive ink or a cured conductive polymer.
54. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a sputtered, coated, vapor deposited or electroplated metal, metal alloy, or combination of metals.
55. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media.
56. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.
57. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
58. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standardized lighting socket.
59. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
an interface compatible with an E12, E14, E26, E27, or GU-10 lighting standard.
60. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard Edison-type lighting socket.
61. The apparatus of claim 40 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard fluorescent-type lighting socket.
62. The apparatus of claim 40 , wherein the apparatus is flexible, or foldable, or creasable.
63. 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 substantially optically resonant diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes; and
a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes, 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.
64. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, and mixtures thereof.
65. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of substantially optically resonant 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.
66. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the comparative size or spacing of the plurality of lenses provide a mode coupling to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes.
67. The apparatus of claim 63 , 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.
68. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.
69. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant 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.
70. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes comprise a semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.
71. The apparatus of claim 63 , 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.
72. The apparatus of claim 63 , 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.
73. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.
74. The apparatus of claim 63 , 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.
75. The apparatus of claim 63 , 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, a metal, a metal alloy, a combination of metals, and mixtures thereof.
76. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media.
77. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.
78. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.
79. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standardized lighting socket.
80. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
an interface compatible with an E12, E14, E26, E27, or GU-10 lighting standard.
81. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard Edison-type lighting socket.
82. The apparatus of claim 63 , further comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standard fluorescent-type lighting socket.
83. The apparatus of claim 63 , wherein the apparatus is flexible, or foldable, or creasable.
84. A system, comprising:
an interface for insertion into a standardized lighting socket;
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of substantially spherical diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, the plurality of substantially spherical diodes having a mean diameter greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns;
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes; and
a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes, the plurality of substantially spherical lenses having at least a first index of refraction and the polymer having at least a second, different index of refraction, wherein a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical lenses to the mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1).
85. An apparatus, comprising:
a base having a plurality of spaced-apart channels, each channel of the plurality of spaced-apart channels comprising a plurality of integrally formed projections;
a conductive backplane coupled to or integrally formed with the base;
a plurality of conductive vias within the base and coupled to the conductive backplane;
at least one first conductor coupled to the plurality of conductive vias and to the integrally formed projections;
a plurality of substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical 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 substantially spherical diodes; and
a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes.