# US 11,450,649 B2 · Illumination apparatus comprising passive optical nanostructures

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- Number: US 11,450,649 B2
- Document ID: US11450649B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/501,251
- Filed: 2021-10-14
- Published: 2022-03-24
- Granted: 2022-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-03
- Assignees: RealD Spark, LLC
- Applicants: RealD Spark, LLC
- Inventors: Michael G. Robinson; Graham J. Woodgate; Jonathan Harrold
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11450649B2

## CPC

- H10W 90/00: Package configurations
- F21V 3/00: Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses (with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506)
- F21V 7/0091: {using total internal reflection}
- F21V 9/30: Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source (shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40)
- G02B 6/004: {Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles}
- G02B 6/0055: {Reflecting element, sheet or layer}
- H10H 29/0363: {of optical field-shaping means}
- H10H 29/24: comprising multiple light-emitting semiconductor devices
- H10H 29/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses
- H10H 29/856: Reflecting means
- H10H 29/872: {Periodic patterns for optical field-shaping, e.g. photonic bandgap structures}
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses}
- G02B 2207/101: Nanooptics
- H10H 20/0363: {of optical field-shaping means}
- H10H 20/851: Wavelength conversion means
- H10H 20/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses
- H10H 20/856: Reflecting means
- H10H 20/872: {Periodic patterns for optical field-shaping, e.g. photonic bandgap structures}
- H10H 29/20: Assemblies of multiple devices comprising at least one light-emitting semiconductor device covered by group H10H20/00 (active-matrix LED displays H10H29/30)
- H10H 29/851: Wavelength conversion means
- H10H 29/8552: {Light absorbing arrangements, e.g. black matrix}
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

An illumination apparatus comprises a first substrate; an optical structure; an array of light emitting elements disposed between the first substrate and the optical structure and an array of passive optical nanostructures disposed between the first substrate and the optical structure. Each of the passive optical nanostructures are disposed on a respective one of the light emitting elements and each passive optical nanostructure comprises an air gap. Each passive optical nanostructure is disposed between its respective light emitting element and the optical structure, wherein each passive optical nanostructure is configured to receive light emitted by its respective light emitting element, pass the received light, and output the pass light towards the optical structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing an illumination apparatus, comprising:
mounting an array of light emitting elements on a substrate;
mounting a passive optical nanostructure on each of the light emitting elements, each passive optical nanostructure comprising an air gap; and
bonding an optical structure to the substrate such that each passive optical nanostructure is disposed between its respective light emitting element and the optical structure,
wherein each passive optical nanostructure comprises a plurality of spacers configured to separate its respective light emitting element from the optical structure, and
wherein a height of each of the plurality of spacers of each passive optical nanostructure is greater than a wavelength of the light emitted by the respective light emitting element.

### Claim 2

An illumination apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate;
an optical structure;
an array of light emitting elements disposed between the first substrate and the optical structure; and
an array of passive optical nanostructures disposed between the first substrate and the optical structure, each passive optical nanostructure being disposed on a respective one of the light emitting elements, each passive optical nanostructure comprising an air gap, and each passive optical nanostructure being disposed between its respective light emitting element and the optical structure,
wherein each passive optical nanostructure is configured to receive light emitted by its respective light emitting element, pass the received light therethrough, and output the passed light towards the optical structure,
wherein each passive optical nanostructure comprises a plurality of spacers configured to separate its respective light emitting element from the optical structure, and wherein a height of each of the plurality of spacers of each passive optical nanostructure is greater than a wavelength of the light emitted by the respective light emitting element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, wherein the air gap comprises air which fills the space in between the plurality of spacers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A backlight apparatus comprising the illumination apparatus of claim 2.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A display apparatus comprising the illumination apparatus of claim 2.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least some of the light emitted by each light emitting element undergoes total internal reflection at an interface with the air gap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, wherein the passive optical nanostructures are hydrophobic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical structure is a catadioptric optical structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an adhesive layer arranged to adhere the optical structure to the passive optical nanostructures.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a colour conversion layer disposed between each light emitting element and its respective passive optical nanostructure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The illumination apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitting elements are micro-LEDs with a maximum dimension which is less than 300 μm.