Light emitting, photovoltaic or other electronic apparatus and system

US8395568B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc · US
• The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• William Johnstone Ray · Fountain Hills, US
• Mark David Lowenthal · Gilbert, US
• Neil O. Shotton · Tempe, US
• Richard A. Blanchard · Los Altos, US
• Mark Allan Lewandowski · North Port, US
• Kirk A. Fuller · Madison, US
• Donald Odell Frazier · Huntsville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2009
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2013
• Expiry date: May 1, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Micro-structural and nano-technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

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.