Solid state illumination device

Abstract

A solid state illumination device includes a semiconductor light emitter mounted on a base and surrounded by sidewalls, e.g., in a circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular or other appropriate arrangement, to define a chamber. A top element, which may be reflective, may be coupled to the sidewalls to further define the chamber. The light produced by the semiconductor light emitter is emitted through the sidewalls of the chamber. The sidewalls and/or top element may include wavelength converting material, for example, as a plurality of dots on the surfaces. An adjustable wavelength converting element may be used within the chamber, with the adjustable wavelength converting element being configured to adjust the surface area that is exposed to the light emitted by the semiconductor light emitter in the chamber to alter an optical property of the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one semiconductor light emitter;   a base upon which the at least one semiconductor light emitter is mounted, the base comprising electrical connections for the at least one semiconductor light emitter and a heat spreader thermally coupled to the at least one semiconductor light emitter;   at least one sidewall surrounding the at least one semiconductor light emitter and coupled to the base, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a wavelength converting material; and   a reflective top element coupled to the at least one sidewall, wherein the base, the at least one sidewall and the reflective top element define a chamber that contains the at least one semiconductor light emitter, and wherein at least 70% of light that is emitted from the chamber is emitted from the at least one sidewall.