Encapsulated Light-Emitting Diode Structure and Array Thereof

This invention relates to a light-emitting diode.

The light-emitting diodes known today produce, as is known, relatively small circular points of light.

It is an object of the invention to create a light-emitting diode which is suitable for achieving large and uniformly illuminated surfaces.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a light-emitting diode comprising a semi-conductor light-emitting diode member and a casing surrounding said semi-conductor light-emitting diode body and defining two flat outer opposite parallel sides and a curved outer surface connecting said two flat outer opposite parallel sides.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a light-emitting diode, characterised in that the casing has two flat outer side surfaces which run parallel to one another and are opposite and that the outer upper surface connecting said two outer surfaces is curved.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a light-emitting diode in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows several light-emitting diodes as shown in FIG. 1 in a series, and

FIG. 3 shows a number of light-emitting diodes as shown in FIG. 1 in a package or matrix arrangement.

Basically, the invention proposes a light-emitting diode having a casing with two flat outer side surfaces which run parallel to one another and are opposite, and an outer upper light-emitting surface which connects these two outer surfaces and which is curved.

Besides the two stated outer surfaces another two outer side surfaces are preferably present which also run parallel to one another. The width of these outer surfaces is smaller than the width of the two other outer side surfaces. The upper outer surface of the casing is preferably curved outwards. The curvature of the upper outer surface is selected so that the light source acts on the observer as an area of uniform brightness. This is achieved, for example, by a curvature which extends substantially only in one direction. Preferably, then, the curvature runs from one of the two narrow outer surfaces to the other narrow outer surface.

The ratio between the width of the outer surfaces is for example between 1:2 and 1:4. The casing of the light-emitting diode according to the invention preferably has a rectangular cross-section.

The casing of the light-emitting diode of the invention preferably consists of plastic. This plastic material preferably contains a colouring matter for improving the contrast ratio between light and dark. In order to improve the uniformity of illumination, a glass powder, for example, may be added to the plastic material.

The light-emitting diodes of the invention may be arranged adjacent and in series without gaps in any direction. Owing to appropriate arrangement of the diodes adjacent and in series, graduations of light-emitting diodes, for example, XY matrix arrangements and similar arrangements may be produced.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a light-emitting diode according to the invention. The semi-conductor member 1 of the light-emitting diode is arranged on a lead strip 2 according to FIG. 1, which may also be constructed as a reflector. The electrode located on the surface of the semi-conductor member 1 is contacted by a lead wire 3 to the lead strip 4.

The casing of the light-emitting diode of FIG. 1 consists of plastic and has a rectangular cross-section. Accordingly, the casing has two pairs of outer surfaces, 5 and 6, with the surfaces of each pair being parallel to one another. The upper outer light-emitting surface 7 is curved outwards and, in fact, such that it has the effect of a lens which brings about uniform illumination and makes an image of the light source in enlarged form. The curvature is present substantially only in one direction according to FIG. 1, and in fact the curvature is from one narrow outer surface 6 to the other narrow outer surface 6.

The plastic casing of the light-emitting diode is produced, for example, by casting or injection moulding. The plastic material, which consists for example of polycarbonate, is for example coloured in order to improve the contrast.

Moreover, the plastic material suitably contains glass powder in order to improve uniformity of illumination. The glass powder proportion amounts, for example, to 1 to 2%. The uniform illumination is further enhanced by a mixture of a scattering medium.

By means of appropriate smoothing of the outer surfaces, total reflection of light is achieved on the outer surfaces, which light passes from the inside of the casing to the outer surfaces. This effects acts positively, especially when several light-emitting diodes are arranged adjacent and in series according to FIGS. 2 and 3, since no light may pass over from the individual light-emitting diodes to adjacent light-emitting diodes. Therefore, the so-called "cross talk effect" between individual light-emitting diodes is prevented by means of the high smoothness of the outer surfaces of the casing. This means a further improvement in contrast.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the special advantage of the invention which consists in the fact that several light-emitting diodes may according to FIG. 2, be arranged adjacent and in series without gaps in a simple manner or, may according to FIG. 3, may be assembled to form a light-emitting package. In this manner large illuminated surfaces may be achieved which are uniformly illuminated. Triple colour assemblies, for example, are selected for graduation and matrix arrangement with the colours red, green and yellow.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modification changes and adaptations.