Substrate with indicia configured for optical coupling

• US 10,048,424 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminated Glazings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Luminated Glazings, LLC
• Inventors: Saccomanno, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US15/159,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

A first substrate includes indicium and a first surface configured for optically contacting a surface of a transparent substrate. When the first surface is placed in optical contact with the transparent substrate within which light is trapped by total internal reflection (TIR), light is extracted from the transparent substrate and illuminates a first indicium portion of the first substrate. The first substrate also includes a second indicium portion that is substantially not illuminated resulting from optical isolation elements within the first substrate. Both first and second indicium portions can be detected from a single point external to the first substrate and the transparent substrate.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface and a second opposing surface;

a member substrate having a first side, a second opposing side, a first indicium portion and a second indicium portion, both the first and second indicium portions formed on the second side, the first indicium portion and second indicium portion being connected differently to the transparent substrate;

a first light source configured to at least periodically couple light into the transparent substrate, such light being trapped by total internal reflection (TIR) between the first surface and the second surface of the transparent substrate;

the first indicium portion optically contacting the first surface of the transparent substrate, including through any intervening refractive media, to defeat the TIR and release light trapped in the transparent substrate and illuminate the first indicium portion and make it detectable from a point external to both the member substrate and the transparent substrate, and

at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure formed between the second indicium portion and the transparent substrate to reduce or eliminate the release of TIR light rays from the transparent substrate that illuminates the second indicium portion before illuminating the first indicium portion, the second indicium portion being detectable from the point external to both the member substrate and the transparent substrate when illuminated by a second light source external to both the member substrate and the transparent substrate.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising at least one TIR defeating feature, such TIR defeating feature being one or more surface features selected from at least one of a cling film, an electret film, a film connected to a front surface of the transparent substrate using electrostatic forces, and a film connected to the front surface of the transparent substrate using suction forces distributed across a surface of the film in at least one of a periodic and an aperiodic fashion.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the first indicium portion and the second indicium portion include one or more materials from at least one of an ink material, a dye material, a fluorescent material, a scattering material, a diffusing material, a lens shaped material, a material with a matte finished surface, a material with embedded voids, and a grazing incidence hologram.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the member substrate is held to the transparent substrate, at least in part, by one or more of mechanical fastening, chemical bonding, and forces induced by at least one of gravity, magnetism, surface tension, and suction.

5. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the member substrate comprises a polyester substrate wherein dye sublimation printing is used to imprint upon the polyester substrate.

6. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure comprises one or more air gaps formed by one or more preformed surface deformations of the member substrate such that the first indicium portion and the second indicium portion reside on the same side of the member substrate.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the member substrate comprises:

a first member substrate and a second member substrate, each having opposing first and second surfaces, wherein;

a first surface of the first member substrate is configured to optically contact the first surface of the transparent substrate, including through any intervening refractive media,

a second surface of the first member substrate, configured as a first indicium portion surface, is imparted with selectively placed ink dots,

a first surface of the second member substrate is in contact with the first indicium portion, and

a second surface of the second member substrate, configured as a second indicium portion surface, is imparted with the second indicium portion, wherein the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure comprises one or more air gaps that are formed adjacent the selectively placed ink dots of first indicium portion.

8. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure comprises one or more air gaps that are formed adjacent distributed adhesive elements on the first side of the member substrate.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the first light source is configured to at least periodically flash on-and-off at one or more frequencies higher than can be perceived by the human eye, communicating to one or more devices external to the illumination device.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the first light source emits light having one or more wavelengths inclusively from ultraviolet to infrared, the first light source comprising one or more of LEDs, laser diodes, optical fibers, fluorescent materials, and photoluminescent materials.

11. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein a graphical content of the first indicium portion is the same as a graphical content of the second indicium portion.

12. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein at least one characteristic of a graphical content of the first indicium portion is the different from characteristics of a graphical content of the second indicium portion.

13. The illumination device of claim 1, further including a third indicium portion defeating TIR including one or more of an ink material, a dye material, a fluorescent material, a scattering material, a diffusing material, a lens shaped material, a material with a matte finished surface, a material with embedded voids, and a grazing incidence hologram.

14. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising at least one TIR defeating feature located on the first side of the member substrate, the at least one TIR defeating feature comprises at least one of surface features on the first side of the member substrate and a couplant.

15. The illumination device of claim 14, wherein the at least one TIR defeating feature is a couplant selected from at least one of the first indicium portion, adhesive, adhesive dots, selectively placed adhesive dots, water, gel, grease, petroleum jelly, double-stick tape, sealant, oil, and coupling fluid.

16. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure comprises an air gap.

17. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the air gap is at least one of air gaps found at a roughened surface, air gaps defining surface deformations, air gaps between spacer elements, air gaps between selectively placed adhesive dots, air gaps between microstructures in microstructured adhesives, air gaps between selectively placed ink dots, air gaps between an areal density of distributed adhesive, air gaps between an areal density of distributed coupling materials, air gaps within a foamed material, and air gaps between walls in walled air cavities.

18. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure comprises one or more air gaps between walls in walled air cavities and are configured to form one or more apertures enabling imprinting of the first indicium portion through the one or more apertures on the second side of the member substrate.

19. The illumination device of claim 18 wherein the first indicium portion is in direct physical contact with the second indicium portion.

20. The illumination device of claim 1, configured for wireless communications.

21. The illumination device of claim 20, comprising a communicatively coupled remote device adapted for wireless communications, wherein the illumination device is configured to receive one or more commands from the remote device using wireless communications.

22. The illumination device of claim 21, wherein the remote device is further configured to control one or more of other sources of light and sound.

23. A system comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first refractive index and within which light from a first light source is at least periodically coupled into and trapped by total internal reflection (TIR) between a first surface and a second opposing surface of the transparent substrate; and

a member having a section imparted with a first indicium portion and a second indicium portion, each providing different illumination properties when the member is connected to the first surface of the transparent substrate, the section of the member comprising a member substrate including a first side and an second opposing side and at least one first indicium portion surface and at least one second indicium portion surface, wherein

the first indicium portion is imparted on the at least one first indicium portion surface connected to one of the first side and the second opposing side of the member substrate, wherein the first indicium portion is also connected through refractive media and is configured to optically contact the first surface of the transparent substrate, an optical contact between the first indicium portion and the first surface of the transparent substrate defeating the TIR and releasing at least some trapped light, thereby illuminating the first indicium portion such that the first indicium portion can be detected from a point external to both the member and the transparent substrate, and

the second indicium portion is imparted on the at least one second indicium portion surface connected to the opposing second side of the member substrate, a connection between the at least one second indicium portion and the opposing second side of the member substrate including at least one preconfigured optical isolation structure, each of the at least one preconfigured optical isolation structures including a medium of a refractive index lower than the first refractive index and configured to minimize released light from first illuminating the second indicium portion instead of first illuminating the first indicium portion, and

wherein the second indicium portion can be detected from a same point when illuminated by light cast from a second light source external to both the member and the transparent substrate.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising at least one computer, at least one communications link, and at least one light source controller, the at least one communications link configured to connect the at least one computer to the at least one light source controller to control an intensity versus time profile of light from a first source of light that is coupled into the transparent substrate.

25. An illumination system comprising:

a transparent substrate within which light from a first source of light is at least periodically coupled-into and then trapped by total internal reflection (TIR) between a first surface and a second opposing surface of the transparent substrate;

a mesh or netting configured with walled apertures, the mesh or netting having a first side and a second opposing side, wherein the first side of the mesh or netting is connected to the first surface of the transparent substrate;

a first indicium portion connected through refractive media and configured to optically contact the first surface of the transparent medium to defeat the TIR and release at least some trapped light, thereby illuminating the first indicium portion which can be detected from a point external to both the mesh or netting and the transparent substrate; and

a second indicium portion connected to the opposing second side of the mesh or netting and configured for detection from the same point when illuminated thereon by light cast from a second source of light external to both the mesh or netting and the transparent substrate.

26. The illumination system of claim 25 further comprising:

at least one computer and at least one communications link, the at least one communications link configured to connect the at least one computer to the first source of light such that the at least one computer can control light emissions from the first source of light.

27. A method of retrofitting a window pane to act as a light guide and cause it to emit illuminated indicium, comprising:

installing a coupling optic on one face of a window to couple light from a light source into the window such that at least some of the light travels through the window via total internal reflection (TIR), and

optically coupling to a face of the window a material comprising TIR defeating properties, wherein

light travelling through the window via TIR is emitted in the form of the illuminated indicia via the material comprising TIR defeating properties.