Creeled, Inc.

Cree Gmbh

Steven Wuester

Michael Check

Peter Scott Andrews

Seth Joseph Balkey

David Suich

Justin White

Daniel E Stasiw

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly contact structures of LED chips for improved current injection are disclosed. Exemplary LED chips include an n-contact structure that forms part of a cathode connection. N-contact structures are provided that form a grid structure that is electrically coupled at an n-type layer across the LED chip so that current is coupled to and spread along the n-type layer. N-contact structures are provided that reside along streets formed between active LED structure mesas. N-contact structures are provided that are embedded within one or more layers of an LED chip, including reflective layers and/or dielectric layers. By providing such n-contact structures along the n-type layer, increased contact between the n-type layer and the n-contact structure may promote improved current spreading and/or current injection while also providing increased thermal spreading in LED chips. Additionally, increased edge profiles of active LED structure mesas may provide increased light extraction.

Contact structures of LED chips for current injection

Lumiphoric materials and corresponding light-emitting devices, and more particularly localized surface plasmon resonance for enhanced photoluminescence of lumiphoric materials are disclosed. Plasmonic materials are disclosed that are configured to induce localized surface plasmon resonance and excite a corresponding localized surface plasmon enhanced electric field in response to incident light. An increase in photoluminescence of lumiphoric materials may be realized when the lumiphoric materials are arranged within the localized surface plasmon enhanced electric field. Plasmonic materials are disclosed that include various arrangements of nanoparticles and/or patterned structures with corresponding dielectric materials that are collectively arranged in close proximity to lumiphoric materials.

Localized surface plasmon resonance for enhanced photoluminescence of lumiphoric materials

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and more particularly edge structures for light shaping in LED chips are disclosed. Edge structures may include a repeating pattern of features that is formed along one or more mesa sidewalls of active LED structure mesas. Such active LED structure mesas may include a p-type layer, an active layer, and at least a portion of an n-type layer. Features of the repeating pattern may be configured with a size and/or shape to promote redirection of laterally propagating light from the active layer at the mesa sidewalls. In this manner, light that may otherwise escape the LED chip at the mesa sidewalls may be redirected toward an intended emission direction for the LED chip. Certain aspects include reflective structures that are provided on the active LED structures mesas and are further arranged to extend past the active LED structure mesas to cover the repeating pattern of features.

Edge structures for light shaping in light-emitting diode chips

Pixelated-LED chips and related methods are disclosed. A pixelated-LED chip includes an active layer with independently electrically accessible active layer portions arranged on or over a light-transmissive substrate. The active layer portions are configured to illuminate different light-transmissive substrate portions to form pixels. Various enhancements may beneficially provide increased contrast (i.e., reduced cross-talk between pixels) and/or promote inter-pixel illumination homogeneity, without unduly restricting light utilization efficiency. In some aspects, an underfill material with improved surface coverage is provided between adjacent pixels of a pixelated-LED chip. The underfill material may be arranged to cover all lateral surfaces between the adjacent pixels. In some aspects, discontinuous substrate portions are formed before application of underfill materials. In some aspects, a wetting layer is provided to improve wicking or flow of underfill materials during various fabrication steps. Other technical benefits may additionally or alternatively be achieved.

Pixelated-LED chips and chip array devices, and fabrication methods

Solid-state lighting devices including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and more particularly LED chip structures with electrical overstress protection are disclosed. LED chip structures are disclosed that include built-in electrical overstress protection. An exemplary LED chip may include an active LED structure that is arranged as a primary light-emitting structure and a separate active LED structure that is arranged as an electrical overstress protection structure. The electrical overstress protection structure may be electrically connected in reverse relative to the primary light-emitting structure. In this manner, under normal operating conditions, forward current will flow through the primary light-emitting structure to generate desired light emissions, and during an electrical overstress event, reverse current may flow through the electrical overstress protection structure, thereby protecting the light-emitting structure from damage.

Growing community of inventors

Wake Forest, NC, United States of America

Steven Wuester