Illumination panel

• US 10,243,510 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pixalux Innovations Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pixalux Innovations Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Matyear, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Junge, Kristina N
• Application Number:
  US14/729,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20150279251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2220/0077 Lighting for furniture, e.g. cupboards and racks
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/40 having particular optical properties light or UV resistant B32B2307/71
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/418 Refractive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/422 Luminescent, fluorescent, phosphorescent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0825 using IR radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0831 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0843 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0862 using microwave
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0887 using electron radiation, e.g. beta-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/12 Photovoltaic modules
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2479/00 Furniture upholstery B32B2601/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0084 Point bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/04 characterised by the partial melting of at least one layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 : Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/007 : Displays with power supply provided by solar cells or photocells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/30 : Electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 : Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 : Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An illumination panel includes a transparent structural core having two opposing surfaces, a matrix of light releasing dots substantially covering both the opposing surfaces, and a protective panel in abutting contact with each of the opposing surfaces whereby the dots are an adhesive for bonding the core to the protective panels and wherein the density or size of the dots increases across the illumination panel in a direction away from an illumination panel edge adjacent a light emitting element.

Claims

1. An illumination panel comprising a transparent structural core having two opposing surfaces, a matrix of light releasing dots substantially covering both said opposing surfaces, and a protective panel in abutting contact with each of said opposing surfaces whereby the matrix of dots includes a pigment of between 0.5 to 2.0 wt % and is configured as a light transmitting, refracting and reflecting medium as well as an adhesive for bonding the core to the protective panels so that the illumination panel operates as a structural element without a supporting edge frame, and wherein the density or size of the dots increases across the illumination panel in a direction away from an illumination panel edge adjacent a light emitting element.

2. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein a transparent or translucent protective panel is bonded to both sides of the core.

3. The illumination panel according to claim 1 wherein an outer layer is bonded to the protective panel.

4. The illumination panel according to claim 3, wherein the outer layer is paint, ink, a transfer, metal, glass, plastics, wood or wood veneer.

5. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the core is acrylic.

6. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the light releasing dots comprise a pressure sensitive adhesive.

7. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the protective panel is metal, timber, plastics or glass and can be translucent or reflective.

8. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the matrix of dots is applied to the transparent core by etching, painting, screen printing, printing or spraying, or transferred from or as part of a film.

9. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the matrix of dots is provided by ultrasonically welding the surface of the core to the protective panel.

10. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the matrix of dots is provided by induction, dielectric or microwave activation of a distributed receptor that bonds the surface of the core to the protective panel.

11. A method of manufacturing the illumination panel according to claim 1, including the step of curing the matrix of dots by UV light or infra-red heating or laser activation to bond the surface of the core to the protective panel.

12. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein a reflective protective panel is bonded to one side of the core with a transparent or translucent protective panel being bonded to the other side.

13. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein a light is positioned adjacent or on one or more edges of the panel.

14. The illumination panel according to claim 13, wherein the light releasing dots increase along the panel in density, size or combinations thereof across the panel in a direction away from the light source.

15. The illumination panel according to claim 13 wherein the lights comprise a plurality of LEDs secured to or embedded in one or more edges of the panel.

16. A cabinet having walls and shelves, some of the walls or shelves comprising illumination panels according to claim 1 with a light source adjacent or in one or more edges of each panel.

17. A shelf comprising an illumination panel according to claim 1 with a light source adjacent or in one or more edges of the panel.

18. A sign comprising an illumination panel according to claim 1 attached to a housing having a mounting flange adapted to be secured to one edge of the illumination panel and a light positioned adjacent or on one or more edges of the panel wherein the light is wired to the interior of the housing.

19. A method of producing an illumination panel according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a protective panel in abutting parallel contact with a transparent structural core and

establishing a matrix of light releasing dots by applying energy through the protective panel onto the surface of the core to adhere the protective panel to the core and provide light distribution across the transparent structural core.

20. A method of producing an illumination panel according to claim 19 wherein the energy applied is chosen from laser energy, ultrasonic energy, IR energy, and microwave or electron beam energy.

21. A method of producing an illumination panel according to claim 19 which includes the further step of raising the surface energy of a surface of the transparent structural core prior to placing a protective panel in abutting parallel contact with said surf ace surface.

22. A method of producing an illumination panel according to claim 19 which includes the further step of raising the surface energy of surface of the protective panel prior to placing the protective panel in abutting parallel contact with the transparent structural core.

23. A method of producing an illumination panel according to claim 19 further including the step of:

dispensing adhesive to form the matrix of light releasing dots on the surface of the core, and subsequently

applying UV energy to activate the matrix of light releasing dots.

24. The illumination panel according to claim 1 wherein solar film or solar cells are bonded to a surface of the protective panel.

25. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the pigment comprises a titanium dioxide based pigment.

26. The illumination panel according to claim 1, wherein the pigment comprises a white pigment.