Patent · US Active

Light emitting diode and side emitting lens

US7378686B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
12References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 18, 2005
Grant dateMay 27, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S385/901
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention is an illumination system that incorporates a light emitting diode and a side-emitting light-recycling lens. The side-emitting light-recycling lens recycles part of the light internally generated by a light emitting diode back to the light emitting diode as externally incident light. The light emitting diode reflects a portion of the recycled light, thereby increasing the effective brightness of the light emitting diode. The light reflected by the light emitting diode is directed though the side-emitting light-recycling lens and exits the illumination system, thereby increasing the output brightness and efficiency of the illumination system. The light emitting diode reflects externally incident light with a reflectivity greater than 40 percent.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.