LED Substrate Asymmetric Amorphous Regions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current light emitting devices face challenges in achieving high light extraction efficiency and reducing cracks in crystalline substrates during the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

A light emitting device structure featuring a crystalline substrate with projections and amorphous regions of varying depths on its side surfaces, combined with a laser scribing method that minimizes overlapping damage to reduce substrate cracking and enhance light extraction by using a stealth laser process to form amorphous regions without overlapping them.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional laser scribing is used to divide the substrate, then the substrate can be processed, but cracks occur in the crystalline substrate due to overlapping amorphous regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate processingVSAvoidsubstrate crack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by making the amorphous region depths asymmetric across different side surfaces of the substrate. Specifically, the first side surface has an amorphous region at a first depth, while the second side surface has an amorphous region at a second depth that is different from the first depth. This asymmetric design ensures that when laser beams intersect to form amorphous regions, the regions do not overlap, thereby preventing crack formation while maintaining effective substrate division and processing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Strength

If the substrate thickness is increased to improve mechanical strength, then crack resistance improves, but light extraction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate mechanical strengthVSAvoidlight extraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating localized amorphous regions with different depths at specific side surfaces of the substrate. Instead of uniformly treating the entire substrate, the invention selectively modifies local regions through laser irradiation to create amorphous zones that enhance light extraction efficiency at the boundaries where it matters most, while preserving the overall substrate thickness and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the thickness-efficiency tradeoff by introducing a depth dimension variation in the amorphous regions. By controlling the depth of amorphous regions differently at different side surfaces (first depth vs. second depth), the invention creates a three-dimensional structural variation that enhances light extraction without requiring a reduction in overall substrate thickness, thus maintaining mechanical strength while improving optical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If amorphous regions are formed at the same depth on all side surfaces, then the process is simple, but overlapping amorphous regions cause substrate damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidsubstrate damage from overlapping
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the contradiction between process simplicity and substrate damage prevention by introducing asymmetric amorphous region depths. Rather than using a simple uniform depth approach that causes overlapping damage, the invention employs different depths (first depth on first side surface, second depth on second side surface) that are specifically designed to prevent overlap. This asymmetric configuration adds some complexity to the process parameters but eliminates the harmful overlapping effect, achieving substrate integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 improves light extraction efficiency and reduces substrate cracking, allowing for the use of thicker substrates and increased lateral light emission, resulting in a more efficient light emitting device with improved manufacturing processes.

Implementation Method 1

a first laser beam is irradiated onto a first side surface of the substrate along a first direction to form a first amorphous region in the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

form a first amorphous region in the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transformation (crystalline to amorphous): Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

a light emitting structure layer comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the crystalline substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2398073B1Light emitting diode, light emitting diode package, and lighting system
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 LG INNOTEK CO LTD
  • EP2398073B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP2398073B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP2398073B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

Provided are a light emitting diode, a light emitting diode package, and a lighting system. The light emitting diode includes a crystalline substrate (10) having a plurality of side surfaces (11-14), a light emitting structure layer comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the substrate, and a first electrode on the first conductive type semiconductor layer and a second electrode on the second conductive type semiconductor layer. An amorphous region (11a,12a) is defined in a side surface of the substrate, and the amorphous regions of two sides (11,12) adjacent to each other have different depths from a top surface of the substrate.