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Led illumination devicesLed illumination devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060187653, Led illumination devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims benefit under 35 USC Sections 119(e) and 120 to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/652,317 filed by Mark S. Olsson on Feb. 10, 2005. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to lighting, and more particularly, to illumination devices that use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a source of light. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Semiconductor LEDs have replaced conventional incandescent, fluorescent and halogen light sources in many applications due to their small size, reliability, relatively inexpensive cost, long life and compatibility with other solid state devices. In a conventional LED, an N-type gallium arsenide substrate that is properly doped and joined with a P-type anode will emit light in visible and infrared wavelengths under a forward bias. In general, the brightness of the light given off by an LED is contingent upon the number of photons that are released by the recombination of carriers inside the LED. The higher the forward bias voltage, the larger the current and the larger the number of carriers that recombine. Therefore, the brightness of an LED can be increased by increasing the forward voltage. However due to many limitations, including the ability to dissipate heat, conventional LEDs are only capable of producing about six to seven lumens. [0004] Recently a new type of LED has been developed for use as a flash in camera phones. The Luxeon.RTM. Flash LXCL-PWF1 and LXCL-PWF2 LEDs commercially available from Lumileds Lighting of San Jose, Calif., USA are capable of producing forty lumens at one ampere, and eighty lumens at one ampere, respectively. These surface mounted LEDs are only one millimeter in height and they have a very small footprint (2.0.times.1.6 mm or 3.2.times.1.6 mm, respectively). They are rated for 100,000 flashes at one ampere, and one hundred and sixty-eight hours of DC (flashlight/torch mode) at 350 milliamperes. [0005] While these new flash LEDs offer increased brightness over conventional LEDs they still suffer from problems associated with heat dissipation and inefficient distribution of light. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention an illumination device includes an LED and a lens element with a curved surface positioned opposite a light emitting surface of the LED. A quantity of transparent material joins the lens element and the light emitting surface of the LED. [0007] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention an illumination device includes at least one LED mounted on a substrate and having an exposed metal heat conduction surface. At least one aperture is formed in the substrate adjacent to the exposed metal heat conduction surface of the LED and a heat sink is mounted in the aperture. [0008] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention a method of fabricating an illumination device includes the steps of removing a top section of an optically transparent cover of a high intensity LED package and leaving a remaining lower section having a height dimension less than about twice a longest dimension of a light emitting surface of an LED in the LED package. The method further includes the step of mounting a lens element on top of the lower section, the lens element having a curved surface that faces the light emitting surface of the LED. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Throughout the drawing figures, like numerals refer to like parts. [0010] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 2 illustrates the light focusing properties of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [0012] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment in which the LED and the transparent element are surrounded by a metal face plate. [0013] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3 except that the transparent element is formed as a truncated ball lens. [0014] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment similar to that of FIG. 3 except that the face plate has a spherical ball support. [0015] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment with reflectors. [0016] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment with a thermal fluid. [0017] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment with an anodized Aluminum face plate. [0018] FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment with a thermal cup. [0019] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment with a steerable beam. Continue reading about Led illumination devices... Full patent description for Led illumination devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Led illumination devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Led illumination devices or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Led pool or spa light having unitary lens body Next Patent Application: Ambient lighting system Industry Class: Illumination ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Led illumination devices patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11398 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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