Reflector Cup and Substrate Trough for LED Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoelectronic components with thin-film LED chips face challenges in achieving a defined emission angle and maximizing radiant power, as lateral radiation is not efficiently deflected towards the desired optical axis.
Innovation Solution
A component housing with a reflector cup and substrate trough design that minimizes gaps between the chip and the trough, combined with a reflector region and lens, effectively deflects and bundles radiation to achieve a narrow emission cone with uniform illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a thin-film LED chip is used to emit electromagnetic radiation, then the chip structure is compact and suitable for integration, but the emission angle is not well-defined and radiant power is reduced due to lateral radiation loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful lateral radiation (which would normally be lost) into useful forward-directed light by using a reflector cup with specifically shaped inner surface. The reflector captures radiation emitted at shallow angles and through the flanks, and redirects it toward the optical axis, transforming energy loss into useful radiant power.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector cup employs a curved inner surface (parabolic, hyperbolic, or elliptical geometry) to efficiently redirect radiation. The curvature is specifically designed to reflect rays from the LED chip at various angles into a concentrated beam along the optical axis, maximizing light collection and directional control.
2Volume of moving object
If a thin-film LED chip is used to emit electromagnetic radiation, then the chip structure is compact and suitable for integration, but the emission angle is not well-defined
Solution Approach 1:
The curved inner surface of the reflector cup (parabolic, hyperbolic, or elliptical) provides precise geometric control over light reflection angles. This curvature ensures that radiation from the entire chip surface, including lateral emission, is systematically redirected to achieve a well-defined emission cone with controlled half-aperture angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector cup is designed with position-dependent reflection properties - different zones of the reflector surface redirect radiation from different chip regions (top surface vs. flanks) into the desired emission pattern. The substrate trough also provides localized positioning to optimize the gap between chip and reflector.
3Device complexity
If lateral radiation is not deflected, then the chip structure remains simple, but the emission angle is wide and radiant power is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reflector cup and substrate into a single integrated component housing. This combination simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the functional separation between the reflector region (for light redirection) and the substrate trough (for chip positioning and gap control).
Solution Approach 2:
The curved inner surface of the reflector cup efficiently collects and redirects lateral radiation with minimal optical elements. The geometric shape alone provides the necessary light control functionality without requiring additional complex optical components.
4Device complexity
If lateral radiation is not deflected, then the housing structure remains simple, but the emission angle is not well-defined
Solution Approach 1:
The geometric curvature of the reflector cup inherently defines the emission angle through its optical properties. By selecting appropriate conic section geometries (parabolic, hyperbolic, elliptical), the half-aperture angle of the emission cone is precisely controlled without requiring additional optical elements or complex adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector cup design incorporates position-dependent reflection characteristics that systematically control the emission pattern. The substrate trough provides localized positioning to optimize the gap between chip and reflector, ensuring consistent emission angle definition across production batches.
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 solution enables a defined emission angle and high radiant power, suitable for applications like optical computer mice, light barriers, and multimedia data transmission in vehicles, by efficiently directing radiation from both the top and sides of the LED chip into a narrow, homogeneously illuminated field.
Implementation Method 1
a reflector region (51) with an inner surface whose cross section increases as viewed from the radiation emitting body (1) to a front side of the component housing (2), such that radiation coming from the layer sequence and striking the inner surface (53) is deflected specifically to a desired optical axis (3) of the component
Implementation Method 2
A component housing with a reflector cup and substrate trough design that minimizes gaps between the chip and the trough, combined with a reflector region and lens, effectively deflects and bundles radiation to achieve a narrow emission cone with uniform illumination
Data Source
AI summary
An optoelectronic component includes a component housing and a body comprising a carrier substrate and a radiation emitting layer sequence. In certain embodiments, the body is arranged in a reflector cup of the component housing and is electrically conductively connected to external electrical leads of the component housing. The component housing can also be further provided with a lens that produces a desired aperture angle for the radiation cone. Uses for the component are also described.