Transparent structure with controllable lighting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A configurable transparent structure comprising:
- a light source;
a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source; and
a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being operable in a first state, in which light emitted by the light source passes through the light extraction layer without scattering such that the light extraction layer appears substantially transparent, and a second state, in which a portion of the light emitted by the light source is scattered upon passing through the light extraction layer, such that the light extraction layer appears at least partially translucent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure involve a transparent structure. The structure may include at least one light source, a transparent light-carrying guide layer optically coupled with the at least one light source. The structure may include refractive layers where a light absorbing feature is operably associated with the light-carrying guide layer to absorb any light not internally reflected in the light guide layer, at least adjacent the light source.
-
Citations
45 Claims
-
1. A configurable transparent structure comprising:
-
a light source; a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source; and a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being operable in a first state, in which light emitted by the light source passes through the light extraction layer without scattering such that the light extraction layer appears substantially transparent, and a second state, in which a portion of the light emitted by the light source is scattered upon passing through the light extraction layer, such that the light extraction layer appears at least partially translucent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5)
-
-
3. A configurable transparent structure comprising:
-
a light source; a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source; and a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being transparent in a first state and being at least partially translucent in a second state, wherein the light extraction layer is adjacent to the transparent light-carrying layer, the transparent light-carrying layer has a first refractive index, and the light extraction layer has a second refractive index substantially equal to the first refractive index.
-
-
6. A configurable transparent structure comprising:
-
a light source; a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source; and a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being transparent in a first state and being at least partially translucent in a second state, wherein the light extraction layer is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer, and the first state and the second state of the light extraction layer are controlled by voltage across the light extraction layer.
-
-
7. A configurable transparent structure comprising:
-
a light source; a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source; a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being transparent in a first state and being at least partially translucent in a second state; and a switchable mirror layer optically coupled to a first side of the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being optically coupled to a second side of the transparent light-carrying layer opposite the first side of the transparent light-carrying layer, the switchable mirror layer being transparent in a first state and being reflective in a second state. - View Dependent Claims (8)
-
-
9. A method for operating a configurable transparent structure, the method comprising:
-
accessing a control signal to determine a mode in which the configurable transparent structure is to be operated; based on a determination that the configurable transparent structure is to be operated in a transparent mode, causing a light source of the configurable transparent structure to be inactive, the configurable transparent structure further comprising a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source, and a light extraction layer optically coupled with the transparent light-carrying layer, the light extraction layer being transparent in a first state and being at least partially translucent in a second state, and causing the light extraction layer to be in the first state; and based on a determination that the configurable transparent structure is to be operated in an internal diffusion mode; causing the light source of the configurable transparent structure to be active, and causing the light extraction layer to be in the second state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A structure comprising:
-
a light source; a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer; a transparent light-carrying layer optically coupled with the light source, the transparent light-carrying layer positioned between the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer with an index of refraction at a first boundary between the transparent light-carrying layer and the first transparent layer and at a second boundary between the transparent light-carrying layer and the second transparent layer being less than an index of refraction of the transparent light-carrying layer; and an optical guide positioned between the light source and the transparent light-carrying layer, the optical guide to provide photons from the light source for total internal reflection within the transparent light-carrying layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
Specification