System and method for mixing light emitted from an array having different color light emitting diodes

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a light source includes providing a substrate with electronic circuitry to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs); coupling a plurality of LEDs to the electronic circuitry on the substrate, the LEDs with more than one color types; and attaching a mixing barrel around the plurality of LEDs over the substrate, the mixing barrel with a reflective internal wall.

1 . A point light source comprising:
 a substrate with electronic circuitry to color tune light emitting diodes (LEDs);   a plurality of LEDs on the substrate coupled to the electronic circuitry, the LEDs with more than one color types; and   a mixing barrel around the plurality of LEDs, the mixing barrel with a reflective internal wall.   
     
     
         2 . The point light source of  claim 1 , further comprising a diffuser placed on the mixing barrel over an exit aperture of the mixing barrel; 
     
     
         3 . The point light source of  claim 2 , wherein the diffuser placed over the mixing barrel is dome-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The point light source of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing barrel has a smaller exit aperture away from the plurality of LEDs than a source aperture around the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         5 . The point light source of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing barrel is conformal around the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . A point light source comprising:
 an electronic circuitry to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs);   a plurality of LEDs coupled to the electronic circuitry, the LEDs with more than one color types;   a light pipe over the plurality of LEDs to provide total internal reflection of light rays from the plurality of LEDs for light ray angles larger than a critical angle with respect to a normal vector of a surface of the light pipe; and   a reflective wall around the plurality of LEDs and around at least part of the light pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The point light source of  claim 6 , further comprising a diffuser optically coupled and bonded to the light pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The point light source of  claim 6 , further comprising a diffuser over the light pipe with an air gap therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the light pipe has a straight edge along a pipe axis of the light pipe and with rippled patterned edges perpendicular to the pipe axis. 
     
     
         10 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the electronic circuitry includes a color sensor within the reflective wall for detecting a color profile from the plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         11 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the electronic circuitry includes a memory storage to store a color model of the plurality of LEDs, the color model defining control signal to achieve a particular color mixed from the plurality of LEDs at a certain temperature. 
     
     
         12 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method of manufacturing a light source comprising:
 providing a substrate with electronic circuitry to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs);   coupling a plurality of LEDs to the electronic circuitry on the substrate, the LEDs with more than one color types; and   placing a light pipe on the plurality of LEDs to provide total internal reflection of light rays from the plurality of LEDs for a particular range of light ray angles.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising attaching a mixing barrel around the plurality of LEDs over the substrate, the mixing barrel with a reflective internal wall. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising patterning the light pipe by removing parts of the light pipe. 
     
     
         38 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The point light source of  claim 6 , further comprising a diffuser that is an integral surface of the light pipe. 
     
     
         51 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of LEDs is optically bonded to the light pipe via a silicone gel. 
     
     
         52 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the reflective wall is a coating on an exterior surface of the light pipe. 
     
     
         53 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the reflective wall is a chamber with a reflective inner surface around the light pipe, the chamber separated from the light pipe. 
     
     
         54 . The point light source of  claim 6 , wherein the light pipe has a different source aperture size around the plurality of LEDs than an exit aperture size on an opposite end of the light pipe thereacross. 
     
     
         55 . The point light source of  claim 6 , further comprising a substrate with a reflective surface; wherein the plurality of LEDs is on the reflective surface. 
     
     
         56 . The point light source of  claim 6 , further comprising a low angle reflector around the plurality of the LEDs and around the light pipe, wherein a reflector angle of the low angle reflector ensures total internal reflection within the light pipe