초록

A technique for controlling an atmosphere within an enclosure involves providing a getter within the atmosphere of the enclosure. An LED manufactured according to the technique may include a getter within an enclosed volume of the LED device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: providing a light-emitting diode (LED) material within a chamber of an LED assembly; providing a getter within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and is selected to have

What is claimed is: 1. A method comprising: providing a light-emitting diode (LED) material within a chamber of an LED assembly; providing a getter within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and is selected to have an affinity for oxygen; and controlling an atmosphere within the chamber of the LED assembly at least partially through the use of the getter, wherein the atmosphere is controlled to have less than about 100 ppm oxygen. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the getter, whereby oxygen is removed from the atmosphere within the LED assembly. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing a getter includes encapsulating the getter in the chamber of the LED assembly. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising enclosing the LED material within the chamber, wherein the chamber provides a controlled vacuum atmosphere having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 6. the method of claim 1, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 7. A device comprising: a reflector cup having an aperture; an LED coupled to the reflector cup; a getter material deposed at least partially within the aperture of the reflector cup, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and is selected to have an affinity for oxygen; and a cover for at least partially encapsulating the LED and the getter material in a non-reactive atmosphere, wherein the atmosphere is controlled to have less than about 100 ppm oxygen. 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the getter material does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 10. The device of claim 7 wherein the non-reactive atmosphere is at a pressure between 100 atmospheres and 10-3 torr. 11. The device of claim 7 wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes less than about 100 PPM water. 12. The device of claim 7 wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes a non-reactive gas selected from the group consisting of inert gasses and noble gasses. 13. The device of claim 7 wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 14. The device of claim 7 wherein the cover includes a dome. 15. The device of claim 7 wherein the cover includes a cylinder and a lens. 16. The device of claim 7 wherein the cover is translucent. 17. A device comprising: a reflector having a reflective surface; an LED coupled to the reflector; a cover for at least partially encapsulating the LED in a non-reactive atmosphere, wherein the atmosphere is controlled to have less than about 100 ppm oxygen; and a getter material comprising a thin film applied to the reflective surface in the chamber and selected to have an affinity for oxygen. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the getter material does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 19. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 17, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 20. A stabilized, white-light-emitting diode assembly comprising: a white-light-emitting diode; a getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and selected to have an affinity for oxygen; and a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and containing the white-light-emitting diode and the getter material, wherein the atmosphere is controlled to have less than about 100 ppm oxygen; and wherein, the white-light-emitting diode is free of any polymeric resin encapsulant. 21. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the light-emitting-diode comprises multilayers of luminescent materials in the InAlGaN family. 22. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10 -3 torr. 23. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 24. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the getter material comprises a drying material. 25. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the getter is a non-evaporable getter. 26. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 27. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the light-emitting diode is a phosphor-coated, blue-light-emitting diode that emits a spectrum of colors that combine to produce white light. 28. The white-light-emitting diode assembly of claim 20, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 29. A method of manufacturing a light-emitting diode assembly that emits a light having a stable intensity or wavelength, the method comprising creating a light-emitting diode assembly having (i) a light-emitting diode in a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and (ii) a getter that comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and is selected to have an affinity for oxygen; wherein the atmosphere is controlled to have less than about 100 ppm oxygen, and wherein the light-emitting diode is free of any encapsulant material that degrades during operation of the assembly and changes the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from the assembly; and obtaining a light from the assembly having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode encapsulated in a polymeric resin. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlled atmosphere has less than about 100 ppm water. 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the controlled atmosphere consists essentially of a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 34. The method of claim 29, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 35. The method of claim 29, wherein the creating further comprises adding a phosphor to the chamber to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting diode and re-emit the light as a desired visible color of light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode encapsulated in the material that degrades during operation of the assembly and changes the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from the assembly. 36. The method of claim 29, wherein the creating further comprises activating the getter material in the chamber for controlling the atmosphere in the chamber. 37. A method comprising: providing an LED material within a chamber of an LED assembly; providing a getter comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and within the chamber of the LED assembly; controlling an atmosphere within the chamber of the LED assembly at least partially through the use of the getter; and activating the getter, wherein the activating includes preselecting a getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 40. The method of claim 37, wherein the providing a getter includes encapsulating the getter in the chamber of the LED assembly. 41. The method of claim 37 further comprising enclosing the LED material within the chamber, wherein the chamber provides a controlled vacuum atmosphere having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 42. The method of claim 37, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 43. The method of claim 37, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 44. A device comprising: a reflector; an LED coupled to the reflector cup; an activated getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein the getter is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and a cover for at least partially encapsulating the LED and the getter material in a non-reactive atmosphere. 45. The device of claim 44, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter material at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 46. The device of claim 44, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 47. The device of claim 44, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 48. The device of claim 44, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 49. The device of claim 44, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere is at a pressure between 100 atmospheres and 10-3 torr. 50. The device of claim 44, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes less than about 100 ppm of oxygen or water. 51. The device of claim 44, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes a non-reactive gas selected from the group consisting of inert gasses and noble gasses. 52. The device of claim 44 wherein the non-reactive atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 53. The device of claim 44, wherein the aperture has an inverted truncated conical shape. 54. The device of claim 44 wherein the cover includes a dome. 55. The device of claim 44 wherein the cover includes a cylinder and a lens. 56. The device of claim 44 wherein the cover is translucent. 57. A stabilized, white-light-emitting diode assembly comprising: a white-light-emitting diode; an activated getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein (i) the getter material is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and containing the white-light-emitting diode and the getter material; wherein, the white-light-emitting diode is free of any polymeric resin encapsulant and emits a light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a white-light-emitting diode encapsulated in a such polymeric resin. 58. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter material at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 59. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 60. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 61. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the getter comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 62. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the light-emitting-diode comprises multilayers of luminescent materials in the InAlGaN family. 63. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 64. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 65. A stabilized, light-emitting-diode assembly having a desired visible color emission, comprising: a light-emitting diode having a primary emission of light that is received by a phosphor and re-emitted as a desired visible color of light; an activated getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and, wherein the getter material is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and containing the light-emitting diode, the phosphor, and the getter material; and wherein, the light-emitting diode and the phosphor are each free of any polymeric resin encapsulant, and each respectively emits a light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode or phosphor encapsulated in a polymeric resin. 66. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter material at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 67. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 68. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 69. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the getter comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 70. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the light-emitting diode is a white-light-emitting diode. 71. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the light-emitting diode is a phosphor-coated, blue-light-emitting diode that emits a spectrum of colors that combine to produce white light. 72. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the light-emitting-diode comprises multilayers of luminescent materials in the InAlGaN family. 73. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 74. The assembly of claim 65, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 75. A method of manufacturing a light-emitting diode assembly that emits a light having a stable intensity or wavelength, the method comprising creating a light-emitting diode assembly having a light-emitting diode in a chamber having an activated getter getter comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein the getter is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants, and wherein the light-emitting diode is free of any encapsulant material that degrades during operation of the assembly and changes the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from the assembly; and obtaining a light from the assembly having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode encapsulated in a polymeric resin. 76. The method of claim 75, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 77. The method of claim 75, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 78. The method of claim 75, wherein the creating further comprises adding a phosphor to the chamber to receive the light emitted by the light-emitting diode and re-emit the light as a desired visible color of light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode encapsulated in the material that degrades during operation of the assembly and changes the intensity or wavelength of light emitted from the assembly. 79. A method comprising: providing an LED material within a chamber of an LED assembly; introducing a metal alloy getter material within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter is not activated incidentally through operation of the LED assembly, comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, and does not interfere with the operation of the assembly; and controlling an atmosphere within the chamber of the LED assembly at least partially through the use of the getter. 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the getter is activated using a preselected getter activation process. 81. The method of claim 80, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 82. The method of claim 80, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 83. The method of claim 79, wherein the introducing includes encapsulating the getter in the chamber of the LED assembly. 84. The method of claim 79, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 85. The method of claim 79, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 86. The method of claim 79 further comprising forming the getter on an inner surface of a cylinder, wherein the cylinder at least partially defines the chamber of the LED assembly. 87. The method of claim 79 further comprising enclosing the LED material within the chamber, wherein the chamber provides a controlled vacuum atmosphere having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 88. A device comprising: a reflector; an LED coupled to the reflector; a metal alloy getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein the getter is not activated incidentally through operation of the LED assembly; and a cover for at least partially encapsulating the LED and the getter material in a non-reactive atmosphere. 89. The device of claim 88, wherein the getter is activated using a preselected getter activation process. 90. The device of claim 89, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 91. The device of claim 89, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 92. The device of claim 88, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 93. The device of claim 88, wherein the getter comprises ST 787, a Zr--CO-rare earth alloy. 94. The device of claim 88, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere is at a pressure between 100 atmospheres and 10-3 torr. 95. The device of claim 88, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes less than about 100 ppm of oxygen or water. 96. The device of claim 88, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere includes a non-reactive gas selected from the group consisting of inert gasses and noble gasses. 97. The device of claim 88, wherein the non-reactive atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 98. The device of claim 88, wherein the aperture has an inverted truncated conical shape. 99. The device of claim 88, wherein the cover includes a dome. 100. The device of claim 88, wherein the cover includes a cylinder and a lens. 101. The device of claim 88, wherein the cover is translucent. 102. A device comprising: a reflector cup having an aperture; an LED coupled to the reflector cup; a cover for at least partially encapsulating the LED in a non-reactive atmosphere; and a metal alloy getter material comprising a thin film a lied to a reflective surface in the chamber and deposed at least partially on the cover, wherein (i) the getter material is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and (ii) the getter material does not interfere with the operation of the LED assembly. 103. The device of claim 102, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 104. The device of claim 102, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 105. The device of claim 102 wherein the cover includes a cylinder and a lens, and wherein the lens is substantially free of the getter material. 106. The assembly of claim 102, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 107. The device of claim 102, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 108. A stabilized, white-light-emitting diode assembly comprising: a white-light-emitting diode; a metal alloy getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein the getter material is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and containing the white-light-emitting diode and the getter material; wherein, the white-light-emitting diode is free of any polymeric resin encapsulant and emits a light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a white-light-emitting diode encapsulated in a such polymeric resin. 109. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 110. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 111. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 112. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 113. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the light-emitting-diode comprises multilayers of luminescent materials in the InAlGaN family. 114. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 115. The assembly of claim 108, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 116. A stabilized, light-emitting-diode assembly having a desired visible color emission, comprising: a light-emitting diode having a primary emission of light that is received by a phosphor and re-emitted as a desired visible color of light; a metal alloy getter material comprising a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber, wherein the getter material is activated using a preselected getter activation process that is not incidental to the operation of the LED assembly and is used at a desired time to make the getter effective at absorbing contaminants; and a chamber having a controlled atmosphere and containing the light-emitting diode, the phosphor, and the getter material; and wherein, the light-emitting diode and the phosphor are each free of any polymeric resin encapsulant, and each respectively emits a light having an intensity or wavelength that remains stable during a period of operation relative to the intensity or wavelength of light emitted during the period of operation from another assembly having a light-emitting diode or phosphor encapsulated in a polymeric resin. 117. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes heating the getter at about 350° C. for about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. 118. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the preselected getter activation process includes directing a laser beam to contact and heat the getter material. 119. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the getter does not interfere with the operation of the assembly. 120. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the getter material comprises ST 787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 121. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the light-emitting diode is a white-light-emitting diode. 122. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the light-emitting diode is a phosphor-coated, blue-light-emitting diode that emits a spectrum of colors that combine to produce white light. 123. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the light-emitting-diode comprises multilayers of luminescent materials in the InAlGaN family. 124. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the controlled atmosphere is a vacuum having a pressure of less than about 10-3 torr. 125. The assembly of claim 116, wherein the controlled atmosphere contains a non-reactive fluid or gas having a pressure ranging from about 10-3 torr to about 10 atmospheres. 126. A method comprising: providing a light-emitting diode (LED) material within a chamber of an LED assembly; introducing a getter within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and does not interfere with the operation of the LED assembly. 127. The method of claim 126, wherein the method further comprises providing a phosphor in the chamber, wherein the phosphor absorbs light from the LED material and causes the LED assembly to emit light of a desired wavelength. 128. The method of claim 127, wherein the providing a phosphor includes depositing the phosphor on the LED material. 129. The method of claim 127, wherein the LED assembly emits white light. 130. The method of claim 126, wherein the introducing includes depositing the getter using a process comprising sputtering the getter onto the reflective surface. 131. The method of claim 126, wherein the introducing includes depositing the getter using a process comprising evaporating the getter onto the reflective surface. 132. The method of claim 126, wherein the LED assembly includes a reflector cup comprising the reflective surface. 133. The method of claim 126, wherein the getter is selected to have an affinity for oxygen. 134. The method of claim 126, wherein the getter comprises ST787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 135. A light-emitting device comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED) material positioned within a chamber of an LED assembly; a getter positioned within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and does not interfere with the operation of the LED assembly. 136. The light-emitting device of claim 135 further comprising a phosphor positioned in the chamber, wherein the phosphor absorbs light from the LED material and causes the LED assembly to emit light of a desired wavelength. 137. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the phosphor is deposited on the LED material. 138. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the LED assembly emits white light. 139. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising sputtering the getter onto the reflective surface. 140. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising evaporating the getter onto the reflective surface. 141. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the LED assembly includes a reflector cup comprising the reflective surface. 142. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the getter is selected to have an affinity for oxygen. 143. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the getter comprises ST787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 144. The light-emitting device of claim 135, wherein the chamber has a controlled atmosphere comprising less than about 100 ppm oxygen. 145. A white-light-emitting device comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED) material positioned within a chamber of an LED assembly; a phosphor positioned in the chamber, wherein the phosphor absorbs light from the LED material and causes the LED assembly to emit a white light; and, a getter positioned within the chamber of the LED assembly, wherein the getter comprises a thin film applied to a reflective surface in the chamber and does not interfere with the operation of the LED assembly. 146. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the phosphor is deposited on the LED material. 147. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the getter comprises ST787, a Zr--Co-rare earth alloy. 148. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the LED assembly includes a reflector cup comprising the reflective surface. 149. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising sputtering the getter onto the reflective surface. 150. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising, wherein the getter is composed of a thin film produced using a process comprising evaporating the getter onto the reflective surface. 151. The white-light-emitting device of claim 145, wherein the chamber has a controlled atmosphere comprising less than about 100 ppm oxygen.