Light emitting devices

• US 10,509,156 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excellence Optoelectronics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Excellence Optoelectronics Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Yu-Chu, Yu, Ching-Tan, Chen, Pin-Chu, Yang, Sheng-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Snyder, Zachary J
• Application Number:
  US15/587,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20180188438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/00 Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/141 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/31 Optical layout thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 : for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 : Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 : provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• 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 6/0055 : Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 : Light emitting diode [LED]

Abstract

The present invention discloses a light emitting device. The device may include a printed circuit board, a reflective layer formed on the printed circuit board, a light guide layer formed on the reflective layer, and one or more light sources provided on one or more sides of the light guide layer to allow light to enter the light guide layer from the one or more sides, wherein the light guide layer may be bent with one or more curves, and wherein one surface of the light guide layer may be formed with a plurality of microstructures so as to achieve the best lighting effect and to increase luminance uniformity.

Claims

1. A light emitting device, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a reflection layer formed on said printed circuit board;

a light guide layer formed on said reflection layer; and

one or more light sources provided on one or more sides of said light guide layer to allow light to enter said light guide layer from said one or more sides,

wherein said light guide layer is bendable into curves of different sizes;

wherein a plurality of microstructures is configured on said bendable light guide layer; and

wherein the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one round surface disposed on a large curve is more than the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one flat surface disposed on said large curve, whereas the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one round surface disposed on a small curve is less than the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one flat surface disposed on said small curve.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of microstructures has a protruding or concave shape.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of microstructures has more than one three-dimensional shape.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a diffusion layer formed on said light guide layer.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a light cover element provided between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The device of claim 4, further comprising an air layer formed between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a carrier for carrying said printed circuit board, said reflection layer, said light guide layer and said one or more light sources.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said side of said light guide layer from which light enters has a concave shape.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle body.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is installed in an object emitting directional light.

12. The device of claim 4, further comprising a light enhancement layer formed on said diffusion layer.

13. The device of claim 4, further comprising a deflection layer formed on said diffusion layer.

14. A light emitting device, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a reflection layer formed on said printed circuit board;

a light guide layer formed on said reflection layer;

one or more light sources provided on one or more sides of said light guide layer to allow light to enter said light guide layer from said one or more sides; and

a bendable microstructure layer formed above or below said light guide layer,

wherein said bendable microstructure layer has a plurality of microstructures on a surface thereof, each of said microstructures has a first shape or a second shape assembled next to each other on said surface based on an overall shape of said bendable microstructure layer,

wherein said first shape has at least one curved surface and said second shape has at least one flat surface; and

wherein the number of said microstructure with said first shape is disposed more in some portion of said bendable microstructure layer than the number of said microstructure with said second shape is disposed in said portion, whereas the number of said microstructure with said first shape is disposed less in the other portion of said bendable microstructure layer than the number of said microstructure with said second shape is disposed in said other portion.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said bendable microstructure layer is affixed on a top surface or a bottom surface of said light guide layer.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of microstructures has a protruding or concave shape.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein said plurality of microstructures has more than one three-dimensional shape.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising a diffusion layer formed on said light guide layer.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a light cover element provided between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein said one or more light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising an air layer formed between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer.

22. The device of claim 14, further comprising a carrier for carrying said printed circuit board, said reflection layer, said one or more light sources, said bendable microstructure layer and said light guide layer.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein said side of said light guide layer from which light enters has a concave shape.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein said device is installed in a motor vehicle body.

25. The device of claim 14, wherein said device is installed in an object emitting directional light.

26. The device of claim 18, further comprising a light enhancement layer formed on said diffusion layer.

27. The device of claim 18, further comprising a deflection layer formed on said diffusion layer.

28. A vehicular light emitting device, comprising:

a printed circuit board electrically coupled to a vehicle body;

a reflection layer formed on said printed circuit board;

a light guide layer formed on said reflection layer;

one or more light sources provided on one or more sides of said light guide layer to allow light to enter said light guide layer from said one or more sides; and

a protective housing connecting said vehicle body to cover said printed circuit board, said reflection layer, said one or more light sources, and said light guide layer,

wherein said light guide layer is bendable into curves of different sizes;

wherein a plurality of microstructures is configured on said bendable light guide layer; and

wherein, depending on the size of said curves, the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one round surface disposed thereon is different than the number of said plurality of microstructure with at least one flat surface so as to produce axially outgoing light in relation to said vehicular body.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein each of said plurality of microstructures has a protruding or concave shape.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein said plurality of microstructures has more than one three-dimensional shape.

31. The device of claim 28, further comprising a diffusion layer formed on said light guide layer and covered within said protective housing.

32. The device of claim 31, further comprising a light cover element provided between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer and covered within said protective housing.

33. The device of claim 28, wherein said one or more light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

34. The device of claim 31, further comprising an air layer formed between said light guide layer and said diffusion layer.

35. The device of claim 28, further comprising a carrier for carrying said printed circuit board, said reflection layer, said light guide layer and said one or more light sources.

36. The device of claim 28, wherein said side of light guide layer from which light enters has a concave shape.

37. The device of claim 31, further comprising a light enhancement layer formed on said diffusion layer.

38. The device of claim 31, further comprising a deflection layer formed on said diffusion layer.