SOLID-STATE TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLIES WITH REMOTE CONVERTER MATERIAL FOR IMPROVED LIGHT EXTRACTION EFFICIENCY AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

Solid state transducer (“SST”) assemblies with remote converter material and improved light extraction efficiency and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SST assembly has a front side from which emissions exit the SST assembly and a back side opposite the front side. The SST assembly can include a support substrate having a forward-facing surface directed generally toward the front side of the SST assembly and an SST structure carried by the support substrate. The SST structure can be configured to generate SST emissions. The SST assembly can further include a converter material spaced apart from the SST structure. The forward-facing surface and the converter material can be configured such that at least a portion of the SST emissions that exit the SST assembly at the front side do not pass completely through the converter material.

Description

Claims

1. A solid-state transducer (SST) assembly having a front side from which emissions are configured to exit the SST assembly and a back side opposite the front side, the SST assembly comprising: a support substrate having a forward-facing surface and an opening from which the emissions are configured exit the SST assembly;an SST structure carried by the support substrate and configured to generate the emissions; anda wavelength converter material spaced apart from the SST structure, wherein the forward-facing surface and the wavelength converter material are configured such that at least a portion of the emissions that exit the SST assembly at the front side reflect from an outer surface of the wavelength converter material directly through the opening and do not pass completely through the thickness of the wavelength converter material .

2. The SST assembly of claim 1 wherein: the support substrate includes a flanged portion at an inner circumference of the support substrate, the flanged portion having a support surface carrying the SST structure, wherein the support surface and the SST structure face generally toward the back side of the SST structure;the forward-facing surface extends from the flanged portion toward the back side of the SST assembly, the forward-facing surface being shaped to direct the emissions through the opening;the forward-facing surface includes a reflective material;the wavelength converter material is on the reflective material at the forward-facing surface; andthe SST structure includes a first semiconductor material comprising N-type gallium nitride (N-GaN), a second semiconductor material comprising a P-type gallium nitride (P-GaN), and an active region comprising indium gallium nitride (InGaN), the active region being between the first and second semiconductor materials.

3. The SST assembly of claim 1 wherein: the SST structure faces generally toward the back side of the SST assembly;the forward-facing surface is positioned toward the back side of the SST assembly relative to the SST structure;the wavelength converter material is on the forward-facing surface; andthe SST assembly is configured such that the emissions initially travel generally toward the back side of the SST assembly where at least the portion of the emissions strike the outer surface of the wavelength converter material and reflect toward the front side to exit the SST assembly.

4. The SST assembly of claim 3 wherein the forward-facing surface has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape.

5. The SST assembly of claim 1 wherein: the support substrate includes a support surface that carries the SST structure and faces generally toward the front side of the SST assembly;the forward-facing surface is spaced laterally outward from the support surface and is angled toward the front side;the forward-facing surface comprises a reflective material;the converter material is on the reflective material of the forward-facing surface; andthe SST assembly further includes a cover feature on the SST structure, the cover feature being configured to direct at least the portion of the emissions generally toward the forward-facing surface.

6. The SST assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cover feature on the SST structure, the cover feature being shaped to direct the emissions generally toward the forward-facing surface.

7. The SST assembly of claim 6 wherein the cover feature comprises a first lobe configured to direct a first portion of the SST emissions laterally outward in a first direction and a second lobe configured to direct a second portion of the SST emissions laterally outward in a second direction different from the first direction.

8. The SST assembly of claim 1 wherein the wavelength converter material comprises a phosphorous material.

9. The SST assembly of claim 1 wherein the forward-facing surface is reflective, and wherein the wavelength converter material is conformal to the forward-facing surface.

10. The SST assembly of claim 9 wherein the forward-facing surface and the wavelength converter material are angled and/or curved toward the front side of the SST assembly.

11. A lighting system comprising: a solid-state transducer (SST) assembly having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, the SST assembly comprising: a support substrate having a forward-facing surface and an opening from which light is configured exit the SST assembly;an SST structure carried by the support substrate and configured to generate the light; anda wavelength converter material spaced apart from the SST structure, wherein the forward-facing surface and the wavelength converter material are configured such that at least a portion of the light that exits the SST assembly at the front side reflects from an outer surface of the wavelength converter material directly through the opening and does not pass completely through the thickness of the wavelength converter material; anda driver operably coupled to the SST assembly.

12. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the light emitted by the SST structure initially travels generally toward the back side of the SST assembly before being reflected toward the front side by the converter material and/or the forward-facing surface.

13. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein: the forward-facing surface comprises a reflective material; andthe converter material is on at least a portion of the reflective material.

14. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein: the SST structure faces generally toward the front side of the SST assembly; andthe forward-facing surface and the converter material are spaced laterally outward from the SST structure and is angled and/or curved toward the front side.

15. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the SST assembly further includes a cover feature on the SST structure, the cover feature being configured to direct at least a portion of the light emitted by the SST structure generally toward the forward-facing surface.