LED Arrays with Light-Altering Material for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LED arrays face challenges in providing good contrast between activated and deactivated LEDs due to omnidirectional emissions, leading to crosstalk and optical losses, which impair resolution and brightness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light-altering material, such as nanoparticles, nanowires, or mesowires, between LED chips on a submount to improve contrast by reflecting, refracting, or absorbing light, thereby reducing crosstalk and enhancing illumination characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If LEDs are spaced closely together in an LED array, then the array appears as a uniform emission area when all LEDs are activated, but when some LEDs are turned off, it becomes challenging to provide good contrast between LEDs in an on-state relative to LEDs in an off-state due to omnidirectional emissions causing crosstalk and light spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces light-altering materials (reflective, absorptive, or refractive) as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent LED chips. These materials mediate the optical interaction between LEDs by reflecting light away from adjacent chips, absorbing stray light, or refracting light paths, thereby reducing crosstalk and improving contrast between active and inactive LEDs while maintaining close spacing for uniform emission appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different optical properties locally by placing specific light-altering materials in specific positions between LED chips. Each gap between LEDs receives tailored optical treatment (reflective, absorptive, or refractive characteristics) to optimally control light propagation in that local region, enabling precise control over crosstalk and contrast without affecting the overall uniform emission pattern
2Measurement precision
If light-altering materials are placed between LED chips to reduce crosstalk and improve contrast, then contrast and brightness are improved, but this may result in undesirable non-illuminated or 'dark' zones between adjacent LEDs and may also impair brightness of aggregate emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes parameters of light-altering materials including material composition, thickness, optical density, and geometric configuration to balance contrast improvement with maintenance of aggregate brightness. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves sufficient crosstalk reduction without creating excessive dark zones or significantly reducing overall emission intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies light-altering materials with controlled coverage and intensity - using partial action where the materials are positioned to affect only the necessary portions of light paths between LEDs, and excessive action where stronger optical effects are applied locally at critical gaps to achieve contrast improvement without requiring uniform application across all LED interfaces, thereby minimizing impact on aggregate brightness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The use of light-altering materials between LED chips in LED arrays improves contrast and brightness by minimizing crosstalk, allowing for better resolution and uniform emission patterns, even when some LEDs are turned off.
Implementation Method 1
The light-altering material may include at least one or more of a light-reflective material and a light-absorbing material
Implementation Method 2
The light-altering material may include at least one or more of a light-reflective material and a light-absorbing material
Data Source
AI summary
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), LED arrays, and related devices are disclosed. An LED device includes a first LED chip and a second LED chip mounted on a submount with a light-altering material in between. The light-altering material may include at least one of a light-reflective material and/or a light-absorbing material. Individual wavelength conversion elements may be arranged on each of the first and second LED chips. The light-altering material may improve the contrast between the first and second LED chips as well as between the individual wavelength conversion elements. The light-altering material may include at least one of nanoparticles, nanowires, mesowires, or combinations thereof. LED devices may include submounts in modular configurations where LED chips may be mounted on adjacent submounts to form an LED array.