Solid state lighting devices having improved color uniformity and associated methods

Abstract

Solid state lighting (SSL) devices and methods of manufacturing SSL devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SSL device comprises a support having a surface and a solid state emitter (SSE) at the surface of the support. The SSE can emit a first light propagating along a plurality of first vectors. The SSL device can further include a converter material over at least a portion of the SSE. The converter material can emit a second light propagating along a plurality of second vectors. Additionally, the SSL device can include a lens over the SSE and the converter material. The lens can include a plurality of diffusion features that change the direction of the first light and the second light such that the first and second lights blend together as they exit the lens. The SSL device can emit a substantially uniform color of light.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A solid state lighting (SSL) device, comprising:
 a support having a surface and a center line axis projecting normal to the surface;   a solid state emitter (SSE) at the surface of the support, the SSE emitting a first light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of first vectors, each first vector having a corresponding first emission angle relative to the center line axis;   a converter material over the SSE, the converter material emitting a second light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of second vectors, each second vector having a corresponding second emission angle relative to the center line axis; and   a lens over the SSE and the converter material, the lens having a plurality of diffusion features configured to redirect the second light along a plurality of third vectors when exiting the lens, each third vector having a corresponding third emission angle relative to the center line axis less than the second emission angle of the corresponding one of the second vectors.   
     
     
         3 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the second light propagating along the plurality of third vectors intersects with the first light propagating along the plurality of first vectors. 
     
     
         4 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the diffusion features are symmetrical relative to the center line axis. 
     
     
         5 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the diffusion features comprise at least one of concentric shoulders, steps, or ridges formed on an exterior surface of the lens. 
     
     
         6 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the lens is sufficiently large relative to the SSE such that the SSE functions effectively as a point source. 
     
     
         7 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the lens has a generally circular base portion at the surface of the support and a stepped dome-like shape. 
     
     
         8 . The SSL device of  claim 2 , wherein the lens has a generally rectangular base portion at the surface of the support and a stepped pyramid-like shape. 
     
     
         9 . A solid state lighting (SSL) device, comprising:
 a support having a surface and a center line axis projecting normal to the surface;   a plurality of solid state emitters (SSEs) arranged in an array at the surface of the support, each SSE emitting a first light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of first vectors, each first vector having a corresponding first emission angle relative to the center line axis;   a converter material over at least a portion of the plurality of SSEs, the converter material emitting a second light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of second vectors, each second vector having a corresponding second emission angle relative to the center line axis; and   a lens over the plurality of SSEs and the converter material, the lens having a plurality of diffusion features configured to redirect the second light along a plurality of third vectors when exiting the lens, each third vector having a corresponding third emission angle relative to the center line axis less than the second emission angle of the corresponding one of the second vectors.   
     
     
         10 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein the diffusion features comprise multiple groups of depressions, individual groups of depressions forming concentric circles on an exterior surface of the lens. 
     
     
         11 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein the diffusion features comprise concentric grooves on an exterior surface of the lens. 
     
     
         12 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 at least one SSE of the plurality has a first footprint at the surface of the support; and   the converter material over the at least one SSE has a second footprint same as the first footprint.   
     
     
         13 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein the converter material is a single layer over the portion of the plurality of SSEs. 
     
     
         14 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of SSEs includes an exposed portion uncovered by the converter material at a peripheral portion of the SSL device. 
     
     
         15 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein the lens has a hemispherical shape, and is sufficiently large enough such that the SSEs act effectively as point sources. 
     
     
         16 . The SSL device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the plurality of SSEs is arranged in a rectangular array across the surface of the support; and   the lens has a generally rectangular base portion at the surface of the support corresponding to the rectangular array of the plurality of SSEs.   
     
     
         17 . A solid state lighting (SSL) device, comprising:
 a support having a surface and a center line axis projecting normal to the surface;   a solid state emitter (SSE) at the surface of the support, the SSE emitting a first light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of first vectors, each first vector having a corresponding first angle relative to the center line axis; and   a lens over the SSE, the lens including:
 a converter material emitting a second light propagating away from the surface along a plurality of second vectors, each second vector having a corresponding second emission angle relative to the center line axis; and 
 a plurality of diffusion features configured to redirect the second light along a plurality of third vectors when exiting the lens, each third vector having a corresponding third emission angle relative to the center line axis less than the second emission angle of the corresponding one of the second vectors. 
   
     
     
         18 . The SSL device of  claim 17 , wherein the converter material is distributed throughout the lens. 
     
     
         19 . The SSL device of  claim 17 , wherein the converter material is localized in a central portion of the lens such that the first light emitted from the SSE at a peripheral portion of the lens is not altered by the converter material. 
     
     
         20 . The SSL device of  claim 17 , wherein the converter material is localized in a peripheral portion of the lens such that the first light emitted from the SSE at a central portion of the lens is not altered by the converter material. 
     
     
         21 . The SSL device of  claim 17 , wherein the converter material is a first converter material localized in a first region of the lens, and the lens includes a second converter material localized in a second region of the lens, the second converter material emitting a third light different than the first light and the second light.