# US 2013/0146905 A1 · Light Emitting, Photovoltaic Or Other Electronic Apparatus and System

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- Number: US 2013/0146905 A1
- Document ID: US20130146905A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/763,642
- Filed: 2013-02-09
- Published: 2013-06-13
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-31
- Assignees: Nthdegree Technologies Worldwide Inc.; Space Administration; U.S. Government as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
- Inventors: William Johnstone Ray; Mark D. Lowenthal; Neil O. Shotton; Richard A. Blanchard; Mark Allan Lewandowski; Kirk A. Fuller; Donald Odell Frazier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130146905A1

## CPC

- H10K 77/10: Substrates, e.g. flexible substrates
- B82Y 20/00: Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- H10F 10/14: Photovoltaic cells having only PN homojunction potential barriers
- H10F 19/20: comprising photovoltaic cells in arrays in or on a single semiconductor substrate, the photovoltaic cells having planar junctions (having multiple thin-film photovoltaic cells deposited on the same substrate H10F19/31)
- H10F 19/50: Integrated devices comprising at least one photovoltaic cell and other types of semiconductor or solid-state components (H10F19/75 takes precedence)
- H10F 19/90: Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers (between thin-film photovoltaic cells on a single substrate H10F19/35)
- H10F 19/902: {for series or parallel connection of photovoltaic cells}
- H10F 19/904: {characterised by the shapes of the structures}
- H10F 19/906: {characterised by the materials of the structures}
- H10F 77/12: Active materials
- H10F 77/122: comprising only Group IV materials
- H10F 77/124: comprising only Group III-V materials, e.g. GaAs
- H10F 77/1246: {III-V nitrides, e.g. GaN}
- H10F 77/14: Shape of semiconductor bodies; Shapes, relative sizes or dispositions of semiconductor regions within semiconductor bodies
- H10F 77/147: {Shapes of bodies}
- H10F 77/484: {Refractive light-concentrating means, e.g. lenses}
- H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection}
- H10H 20/80: Constructional details
- H10H 20/813: having a plurality of light-emitting regions, e.g. multi-junction LEDs or light-emitting devices having photoluminescent regions within the bodies
- H10H 20/819: characterised by their shape, e.g. curved or truncated substrates
- H10H 20/824: comprising only Group III-V materials, e.g. GaP
- H10H 20/825: containing nitrogen, e.g. GaN
- H10H 20/826: comprising only Group IV materials
- H10H 20/855: Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses
- H10H 20/856: Reflecting means
- H10H 20/857: Interconnections, e.g. lead-frames, bond wires or solder balls
- H10H 29/142: {Two-dimensional arrangements, e.g. asymmetric LED layout}
- H10K 30/87: Light-trapping means
- H10K 50/858: comprising refractive means, e.g. lenses
- H10P 95/00: Generic processes or apparatus for manufacture or treatments not covered by the other groups of this subclass
- H10W 90/00: Package configurations
- H10K 50/852: comprising a resonant cavity structure, e.g. Bragg reflector pair
- H10K 50/856: comprising reflective means
- H10K 59/17: Passive-matrix OLED displays
- H10K 2102/331: {Nanoparticles used in non-emissive layers, e.g. in packaging layer}
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- Y02E 10/544: Solar cells from Group III-V materials
- Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells
- Y02E 10/549: Organic PV cells
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
- H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic apparatus, such as a lighting device comprised of light emitting diodes (LEDs) or a power generating apparatus comprising photovoltaic diodes, which may be created through a printing process, using a semiconductor or other substrate particle ink or suspension and using a lens particle ink or suspension. An exemplary apparatus comprises a base; at least one first conductor; a plurality of substantially spherical or optically resonant diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor; at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and a plurality of substantially spherical lenses suspended in a polymer attached or deposited over the diodes. The lenses and the suspending polymer have different indices of refraction. In some embodiments, the lenses and diodes have a ratio of mean diameters or lengths between about 10:1 and 2:1. The diodes may be LEDs or photovoltaic diodes, and in some embodiments, have a junction formed at least partially as a hemispherical shell or cap.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of substantially spherical diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant; and
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a lens structure optically coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and have at least a first index of refraction and the first polymer has at least a second, different index of refraction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and a ratio of a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical lenses to a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is between about ten to one (10:1) and two to one (2:1)

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lenses are substantially spherical and a mean diameter of the plurality of substantially spherical diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes are selected from the group consisting of: semiconductor light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, encapsulated organic light emitting diodes, polymer light emitting diodes, photovoltaic diodes, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes comprise a semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one third conductor coupled to the at least one second conductor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a reflector or a refractor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the base further comprises a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of substantially spherical diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and has a thickness of less than about two millimeters.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a cured conductive ink or a cured conductive polymer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first conductor comprises a sputtered, coated, vapor deposited or electroplated metal, metal alloy, or combination of metals.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substantially spherical diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.

### Claim 21

An apparatus, comprising:
a base;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant; and
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
a lens structure optically coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the lens structure provides a mode coupling to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
a plurality of lenses suspended in a first polymer and coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes, the plurality of lenses having at least a first index of refraction and the first polymer having at least a second, different index of refraction.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of lenses are selected from the group consisting of substantially spherical, substantially hemispherical, substantially faceted, substantially elliptical, substantially oblong, substantially cubic, substantially prismatic, substantially trapezoidal, substantially triangular, substantially pyramidal, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the plurality of lenses comprise borosilicate glass or polystyrene latex.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes are selected from the group consisting of: substantially spherical diodes, substantially toroidal diodes, substantially cylindrical diodes, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a mean diameter or length of the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes is greater than about twenty (20) microns and less than about forty (40) microns.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes are selected from the group consisting of: semiconductor light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, encapsulated organic light emitting diodes, polymer light emitting diodes, photovoltaic diodes, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes comprise a semiconductor selected from the group consisting of: gallium nitride, gallium arsenide, silicon, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising at least one conductive via extending between a first side and a second side of the base and correspondingly coupled at the first side to the at least one first conductor.

### Claim 32 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the base further comprises a conductive backplane coupled to the at least one conductive via and coupled to or integrated with the second side of the base.

### Claim 33 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
at least one insulator coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes and comprising a plurality of inorganic dielectric particles suspended with a photoinitiator compound in a second polymer or resin.

### Claim 34 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the base has a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and has a thickness of less than about two millimeters.

### Claim 35 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the base comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, wood, plastic, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 36 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one first conductor comprises at least one conductor selected from the group consisting of: a cured conductive ink, a cured conductive polymer, a metal, a metal alloy, a combination of metals, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 37 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive conductor or conductive compound suspended in a polymer, resin or other media

### Claim 38 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes are annealed, or alloyed, or chemically coupled to or within the at least one first conductor.

### Claim 39 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus is flexible, or foldable, or creasable.

### Claim 40

An apparatus, comprising:
a base having a substantially flat overall form factor with or without surface features and a thickness of less than about two millimeters;
at least one first conductor coupled to the base;
a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor, wherein about fifteen percent to fifty-five percent of a surface of each diode of substantially all of the plurality of diodes has a penetration layer or region having a first majority carrier or dopant and the remaining diode substrate has a second majority carrier or dopant;
at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of substantially optically resonant diodes; and
a lens structure optically coupled to the plurality of diodes.