LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES

• US 20020141174A1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: PARKER, JEFFERY R., EZELL, ROBERT M., COGHLAN, GREGORY A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,712,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• 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 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• 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 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 : Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

Light emitting panel assemblies include a light emitting panel member having a uniform or variable pattern of light extracting deformities of well defined shapes in or on one or more surface areas of the light emitting panel member. The size and shape as well as the depth and angular orientation and position or location of the light extracting deformities may vary along the length and/or width of a panel surface area to obtain a desired light output distribution from the panel surface area. Also, at least some of the deformities may have planar surfaces in parallel spaced relation to a panel surface area. A focused light source may be insert molded or cast within a light transition area of the light emitting panel member to focus the light on an input surface of the light transition area with predetermined ray angles to fit a particular application. Molded supports may be provided on the panel member for supporting other parts or components in spaced relation therefrom. In another embodiment of the invention, an array of light sources may be mounted on a printed circuit board for directing light through a diffuser or lens mounted in spaced relation to the light sources for use in phototherapy treatment or the like.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having an input edge for receiving light from a light source, and a variable pattern of individual light extracting deformities on or in a panel surface of said panel member for producing a desired light output distribution from said panel member, each of said deformities having a well defined shape including a sloping first surface intersecting said panel surface for reflecting or refracting light rays impinging on said first surface, and a second surface extending between said first surface and said panel surface.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said first surface has a projected surface area on said panel surface that is substantially greater than any projected surface area of said second surface on said panel surface.

3. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said second surface is substantially perpendicular to said first surface.

4. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said deformities comprise depressions in said panel surface.

5. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said deformities comprise raised surfaces on said panel surface.

6. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said first surface of each of said deformities is substantially planar throughout its length.

7. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said second surface of each of said deformities is substantially curved in a transverse direction throughout its length.

8. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said deformities includes side walls extending between said first surface and said panel surface.

9. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of said deformities vary in size across a width of said panel surface.

10. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of said deformities vary in size along a length of said panel surface.

11. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the orientation of at least some of said deformities varies across a width of said panel surface.

12. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the orientation of at least some of said deformities varies along a length and width of said panel surface.

13. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said deformities are randomly spaced on said panel surface.

14. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of said deformities have rounded side walls.

15. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of said deformities have planar side walls.

16. The panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said panel member includes a light transition area which receives the light from a light source and distributes the light to a light input edge of said panel member.

17. The panel assembly of claim 16 wherein said light source is a focused light source.

18. The panel assembly of claim 17 wherein said light source comprises one or more LEDs.

19. The panel assembly of claim 16 wherein said light source is insert molded or cast within said light transition area.

20. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having oppositely facing panel surfaces and an input edge for receiving light from a light source, and a pattern of individual light extracting deformities on or in one of said panel surfaces for producing a desired light output distribution from said panel member, at least some of said deformities having planar surfaces in parallel spaced relation to said one panel surface.

21. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein said deformities comprise depressions in said one panel surface.

22. The panel assembly of claim 21 wherein said depressions are machined in said one panel surface.

23. The panel assembly of claim 21 wherein said depressions are milled in said one panel surface.

24. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein said deformities comprise projections on said one panel surface.

25. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein said deformities are molded in or on said one panel surface.

26. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein at least some of said deformities have rounded side walls.

27. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein at least some of said deformities have planar side walls.

28. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein said deformities have first surfaces extending between said planar surfaces and said one panel surface at an angle for reflecting or refracting light rays impinging on said first surfaces, and second surfaces extending between said planar surfaces and said one panel surface.

29. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein said first surfaces have a projected surface area on said one panel surface which is substantially greater than any projected surface area of said second surfaces on said one panel surface.

30. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein at least some of said first and second surfaces are planar.

31. The panel assembly of claim 30 wherein at least some of said first and second surfaces are rectangular in shape.

32. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein at least some of said first surfaces are triangular in shape.

33. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein at least some of said first surfaces have angled edges.

34. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein at least some of said first surfaces vary in width.

35. The panel assembly of claim 28 wherein at least some of said first surfaces vary in height or depth.

36. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein at least some of said deformities have planar side walls at opposite ends of said planar surfaces.

37. The panel assembly of claim 20 wherein at least some of said deformities have rounded side walls at opposite ends of said planar surfaces.

38. The panel assembly of claim 20 further comprising a focused light source for directing light to said input edge of said panel member.

39. The panel assembly of claim 38 wherein said light source is insert molded or cast in a light transition region adjacent said input edge of said panel member.

40. The panel assembly of claim 38 wherein said deformities are arranged in rows extending radially relative to said light source.

41. The panel assembly of claim 38 wherein said deformities are oriented to face said light source at different locations across the width of said panel member.

42. The panel assembly of claim 38 wherein said deformities are oriented to face said light source at different locations along the length of said panel member.

43. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a transparent panel member for receiving light through an input edge of said panel member, a pattern of individual light extracting deformities on or in one or more portions of said panel member, said one or more portions having opposite sides that are free of any reflective material whereby light is free to pass through said opposite sides, said deformities being shaped to cause more of the light that is received through said input edge of said panel member to be reflected or refracted out of one of said sides of said one or more portions than an other of said sides.

44. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said deformities are shaped to cause 60% or more of the light received through said input edge of said panel member to be reflected or refracted out of said one side of said panel member.

45. The panel assembly of claim 43 further comprising display means having a front face in close proximity to said one side of said panel member for receiving light emitted from said one side and reflecting the light back through said panel member for front lighting said display means.

46. The panel assembly of claim 45 wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display.

47. The panel assembly of claim 45 wherein said display means is signage.

48. The panel assembly of claim 45 wherein said deformities have planar surfaces in parallel spaced relation to said one side through which reflected light from said display means passes with minimal optical distortion.

49. The panel assembly of claim 48 wherein said display means comprises a liquid crystal display.

50. The panel assembly of claim 49 wherein said pattern of light extracting deformities is varied such that the spacing of said light extracting deformities does not match the pixel spacing of said liquid crystal display.

51. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein at least some of said deformities have rounded side walls for scattering of the light emitted from said one side of said panel member.

52. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said light extracting deformities vary in shape.

53. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said light extracting deformities vary in size.

54. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said light extracting deformities have different angle orientations.

55. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said light extracting deformities vary in spacing.

56. The panel assembly of claim 43 wherein said light extracting deformities have reflective/refractive surfaces of varying slope.

58. The panel assembly of claim 57 wherein said light source comprises one or more LEDs.

59. The panel assembly of claim 57 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of different colored LEDs which are selectively operable to produce a desired light output from said panel member.

60. The panel assembly of claim 57 wherein each of said deformities has a sloping first surface intersecting a surface of said panel member for reflecting or refracting light rays impinging on said first surface, and a second surface extending between said first surface and said panel surface.

61. The panel assembly of claim 57 wherein said first surface has a projected surface area on said panel surface which is substantially greater than any projected surface area of said second surface on said panel surface.

62. The panel assembly of claim 57 further comprising planar surfaces on at least some of said deformities in parallel spaced relation to said surface of said panel member.

57. A light emitting panel assembly for use in phototherapy treatment and the like comprising a light emitting panel member, a light transition area at one end of said panel member, a focused light source insert molded or cast in said light transition area, and a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in said panel member for producing a desired light output distribution from said panel member.

63. A light emitting panel assembly for use in phototherapy treatment and the like comprising a light emitting panel member including a pattern of light extracting deformities for producing a desired light output distribution from said panel member, and molded supports on said panel member for supporting or locating other parts or components.

64. The panel assembly of claim 63 wherein said other parts or components comprise a diffuser or lens supported by said molded supports in spaced relation from one or more light emitting surfaces on said panel member.

65. The panel assembly of claim 63 wherein each of said deformities has a uniformly sloping first surface intersecting a surface of said panel member for reflecting or refracting light rays impinging on said first surface, and a second surface extending between said first surface and said panel surface.

66. The panel assembly of claim 65 wherein said first surface has a projected surface area on said panel surface which is substantially greater than any projected surface area of said second surface on said panel surface.

67. The panel assembly of claim 63 further comprising a light transition area at one end of said panel member containing one or more light sources for supplying light to said panel member.

68. The panel assembly of claim 67 wherein said one or more light sources are insert molded or cast within said light transition area.

70. The panel assembly of claim 69 further comprising a base support for said printed circuit board, and a plurality of upstanding portions on said base support for supporting said transparent member in spaced relation from said printed circuit board and said light sources.

71. The panel assembly of claim 70 wherein an air gap is provided between said light sources and said transparent support member to facilitate dissipation of heat produced by said light sources.

72. The panel assembly of claim 69 wherein said printed circuit board and said transparent support member are substantially flat.

73. The panel assembly of claim 69 wherein said printed circuit board and said transparent support member are curved.

69. A light emitting panel assembly for use in phototherapy treatment and the like comprising a transparent member, and an array of light sources mounted on a printed circuit board in spaced relation from said transparent member for directing light through said transparent member.