The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 2016
Filed:
Feb. 09, 2013
Nthdegree Technologies Worldwide Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
The United States of America As Represented BY the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
William Johnstone Ray, Fountain Hills, AZ (US);
Mark D. Lowenthal, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Neil O. Shotton, Tempe, AZ (US);
Richard A. Blanchard, Los Altos Hills, CA (US);
Mark Allan Lewandowski, North Port, FL (US);
Kirk A. Fuller, Madison, AL (US);
Donald Odell Frazier, Huntsville, AL (US);
NthDegree Technologies Worldwide Inc, Tempe, AZ (US);
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.