# US 2021/0280758 A1 · Light sources utilizing segmented leds to compensate for manufacturing variations in the light output of individual segmented leds

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- Number: US 2021/0280758 A1
- Document ID: US20210280758A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/206,047
- Filed: 2021-03-18
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-26
- Assignees: Bridgelux, Inc.
- Applicants: Bridgelux, Inc.
- Inventors: Ghulam HASNAIN; Syn-Yem HU; Steven D. LESTER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210280758A1

## CPC

- H10H 20/857: Interconnections, e.g. lead-frames, bond wires or solder balls
- H05B 33/10: Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of electroluminescent light sources
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/46: having LEDs disposed in parallel lines
- H05B 45/48: having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
- H05B 45/54: in a series array of LEDs
- H05B 47/185: via power line carrier transmission
- H10W 90/00: Package configurations
- H10H 20/0364: {of interconnections}
- H10H 29/14: comprising multiple light-emitting semiconductor components
- H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H10W: GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10

## Abstract

A light source and method for making the same are disclosed. The light source includes a plurality of Segmented LEDs connected in parallel to a power bus and a controller. The power bus accepts a variable number of Segmented LEDs. The controller receives AC power and provides a power signal on the power bus. Each Segmented LED is characterized by a driving voltage that is greater than 3 times the driving voltage of a conventional LED fabricated in the same material system as the Segmented LED. The number of Segmented LEDs in the light source is chosen to compensate for variations in the light output of individual Segmented LEDs introduced by the manufacturing process. In another aspect of the invention, the number of Segmented LEDs connected to the power bus can be altered after the light source is assembled.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

A light source comprising:
a substrate having first and second power rails; and
a plurality of segmented LEDs connected between the first and second power rails,
wherein each segmented LED is configured to generate light when a power signal is applied to the first and second power rails,
wherein each segmented LED comprises a three-layer LED structure disposed on the substrate that includes an n-layer, an active layer on the n-layer, and a p-layer on the active layer, and
wherein each segmented LED is separated by an isolation trench that extends through the n-layer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The light source of claim 16, wherein the plurality of segmented LEDs are provided by a single LED die that is divided into N segments serially connected to each other, with N being >1, and each segmented LED comprises a size that is 1/N times a size of a single junction LED fabricated in a same material as the segmented LED.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The light source of claim 17, wherein N is between 2 and 100.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The light source of claim 16, wherein each segmented LED requires a driving voltage that is 3 times greater than a driving voltage of a single junction LED in order to generate the light at a predetermined intensity.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The light source of claim 19, wherein each segmented LED requires a current that is N times smaller than a current required by the single junction LED to generate the light at the predetermined intensity.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The light source of claim 19, wherein each segmented LED requires the driving voltage to be greater than 9.6 volts.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The light source of claim 16, wherein each segmented LED is configured to generate light at an intensity that is less than 10% of a total light intensity generated by the light source.

### Claim 23 (depends on 16)

The light source of claim 16, further comprising a power bus configured to power a variable number of the plurality of segmented LED, with the power bus including at least one breakable link that is configured to permanently disconnect at least one respective segmented LED from the power bus when said link is broken.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The light source of claim 23, wherein the power bus comprises the first and second power rails, and the light source further comprises a controller configured to receive AC power and provide the power signal to the power bus comprising the first and second power rails in response to receiving the AC power.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The light source of claim 16, wherein a first portion of the plurality of segmented LEDs are arranged in a first orientation and a second portion of the plurality of segmented LEDs are arranged in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.

### Claim 26

A light source comprising:
a substrate having first and second power conductors; and
a plurality of segmented LEDs connected between the first and second power conductors,
wherein each segmented LED is configured to generate light when a power signal is applied to the first and second power conductors,
wherein each segmented LED comprises a three-layer LED structure disposed on the substrate that includes an n-layer, an active layer on the n-layer, and a p-layer on the active layer, and
wherein each segmented LED is separated by an isolation trench that extends through the n-layer.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, wherein the first and second power conductors are first and second power rails constructed to accommodate the plurality of segmented LEDs.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, wherein the plurality of segmented LEDs are provided by a single LED die that is divided into N segments serially connected to each other, with N being >1, and each segmented LED comprises a size that is 1/N times a size of a single junction LED fabricated in a same material as the segmented LED.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The light source of claim 28, wherein N is between 2 and 100.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, wherein each segmented LED requires a driving voltage that is 3 times greater than a driving voltage of a single junction LED in order to generate the light at a predetermined intensity.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The light source of claim 30, wherein each segmented LED requires a current that is N times smaller than a current required by the single junction LED to generate the light at the predetermined intensity.

### Claim 32 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, wherein each segmented LED is configured to generate light at an intensity that is less than 10% of a total light intensity generated by the light source.

### Claim 33 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, further comprising a power bus configured to power a variable number of the plurality of segmented LED, with the power bus including at least one breakable link that is configured to permanently disconnect at least one respective segmented LED from the power bus when said link is broken.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The light source of claim 33, wherein the power bus comprises the first and second power rails, and the light source further comprises a controller configured to receive AC power and provide the power signal to the power bus comprising the first and second power rails in response to receiving the AC power.

### Claim 35 (depends on 26)

The light source of claim 26, wherein a first portion of the plurality of segmented LEDs are arranged in a first orientation and a second portion of the plurality of segmented LEDs are arranged in a second orientation opposite the first orientation.