Integrated illumination system

• US 20020159245A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumimove, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lumimove, Inc.
• Inventors: Kinlen, Patrick J., Murasko, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,048,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

Integrated illumination systems employing illumination devices formed onto substrates are described. According to one embodiment, the display system combines an electroluminescent lamp, a photocell, a power supply receiving energy from the photocell and discharging electrical energy to the EL lamp, and, optionally, a control switch to manage the intervals of electrical energy discharge to the EL lamp for illumination; the components of the d lay system combining to provide illumination for an object, such as a sign. According to another embodiment, a photocell, power supply and light emitting device are each formed onto a single substrate to form a totally self-contained, self-powered illuminating device. According to another embodiment, an electroluminescent lamp is provided to form an illuminated decal. The EL lamp may be configured to have a front illumination surface and a back mounting surface, with a decal backing attached to the back mounting surface. The decal backing is configured to be affixed to various objects, such as vehicles, to provide an illumination source thereon. Alternatively, a magnetic material may be affixed to the back mounting surface of the EL lamp to replace the decal backing.

Claims

1. A luminescent display system, comprising:

A first electroluminescent lamp having a front illumination surface and a back surface configured for attachment to a first surface of an object.

a photocell for generating an electrical energy from solar energy; and

a power supply connected to the photocell for receiving and storing the electrical energy from the photocell, and electrically connected to the first electroluminescent lamp for discharging the electrical energy to the lamp.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a control switch electrically connected to the power supply controlling discharge of the electrical energy from the power supply to the first electroluminescent lamp at certain intervals to control the illumination of the lamp.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control switch is a timer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control switch is a light sensor that controls discharge of electrical energy to the first electroluminescent lamp relative to ambient light conditions sensed in the environment.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the control switch is a strobe switch that allows intermittent discharge of electrical energy to the first electroluminescent lamp.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the back surface of the first electroluminescent lamp is attached to the object first surface using adhesives.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electroluminescent lamp is screen printed onto the first surface of the object.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the photocell is mounted to a second surface of the object.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a sign, a buoy, and a marker.

10. The s stem of claim 1, further comprising a transparent light reflective layer disposed on the front illumination surface of the first electroluminescent lamp for reflecting incident light independent of the illumination provided by the lamp.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electroluminescent lamp comprises a light emitting polymer layer disposed between two electrodes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electroluminescent lamp comprises a phosphor layer disposed between two electrodes.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electroluminescent lamp comprises:

a light-transmissive substrate layer forming the front illumination surface;

a transparent front electrode disposed on the substrate layer;

an

illumination layer disposed on the transparent front electrode layer;

a rear electrode disposed on the illumination layer and

a rear insulating layer disposed on the rear electrode and forming the back surface.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electroluminescent lamp comprises:

substrate layer forming the back surface;

rear electrode disposed on the substrate layer;

an illumination layer disposed on the rear electrode;

a transparent front electrode disposed on the illumination layer; and

a light-transmissive insulating layer disposed on the transparent front electrode and forming the front illumination surface.

15. The system of claim 1, further including control electronics for illuminating different sections of the first electroluminescent lamp at varying time intervals.

16. The system of claim 13, further including a second electroluminescent lamp electrically connected to the power supply, and wherein the control electronics illuminates the first electroluminescent lamp and the second electroluminescent lamp at varying time intervals.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the object comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a sign, a buoy, and a marker.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the transfer of electrical energy to the electroluminescent lamp through a control switch to control the transfer of electrical energy from the power supply to the electroluminescent lamp.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the control switch effects the illumination of a first portion of the object during a first time interval and effects the illumination of a second portion of the object during a second time interval.

22. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the battery and the light emitting device are both printed onto the surface of the assembly substrate.

23. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the light emitting device comprises a light emitting polymer layer disposed between first and second electrodes.

24. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the light emitting assembly is an electroluminescent lamp comprising:

a transparent front electrode printed on the back surface of the assembly substrate;

a light emitting layer printed on the transparent front electrode layer; and

a rear electrode printed on the light emitting layer.

25. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the light emitting layer comprises a light emitting polymer layer.

27. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the rechargeable power supply and the light emitting device are both printed onto the back surface of the assembly substrate.

28. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the power supply is a battery.

29. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the light emitting device comprises a light emitting polymer layer disposed between first and second electrodes.

30. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising a light-activated switch connected to the rechargeable power supply to vary discharging of the rechargeable power supply to the light emitting device in response to the level of ambient light detected.

31. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the light emitting device is an electroluminescent lamp comprising:

transparent front electrode printed on the back surface of the assembly substrate;

light emitting layer printed on the transparent front electrode layer; and

rear electrode printed on the light emitting layer.

32. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the light emitting layer comprises a light emitting polymer layer.

34. The decal of claim 31, wherein the object is a vehicle.

35. The decal of claim 31, wherein the electroluminescent lamp back surface is affixed to the decal backing first surface with an adhesive, and the decal backing second surface is affixed onto the object surface with an adhesive.

36. The decal of claim 31, further including leads attached to the electroluminescent lamp for electrically connecting the lamp to a power source on the object.

37. The decal of claim 31, further including a switch mechanism electrically connected to the leads for controlling the discharging of electrical energy from the power source to the electroluminescent lamp for illumination thereof.

38. The decal of claim 31, wherein the electroluminescent lamp comprises:

light-transmissive substrate;

transparent front electrode formed on the substrate;

light emitting layer formed on the transparent front electrode; and

rear electrode formed on the light emitting layer.

39. The decal of claim 31, wherein the electroluminescent lamp comprises:

a substrate;

a rear electrode formed on the substrate;

a light emitting layer formed on the rear electrode; and

a front electrode formed on the light emitting layer.

17. A method of illuminating an object, comprising:

receiving solar radiation into a photocell;

storing electrical energy generated by the photo cell in a power supply; and

transferring the electrical energy from the power supply to an electroluminescent lamp to illuminate an object coupled thereto.

21. An integrated light emitting assembly, comprising:

a light-transmissive assembly substrate;

a battery formed onto a surface of the substrate; and

a light emitting device electrically connected to the battery and formed o onto the substrate surface.

26. An integrated light emitting assembly, comprising

a light-transmissive assembly substrate having a front and a back surface;

a photocell formed onto the back surface of the substrate;

a rechargeable power supply formed onto the back surface of the substrate adjacent to the photocell and electrically connected to the photocell; and

a light emitting device electrically connected to the rechargeable power supply and formed onto the back surface of the substrate.

33. An illuminated decal, comprising:

an electroluminescent lamp having a front illumination surface and a back surface; and

a decal backing having a first surface configured for affixing the back surface of the electroluminescent lamp thereto, and a second surface opposite of the first surface configured for affixing the decal backing and lamp affixed thereto onto a surface of an object.

40. An illuminated decal, comprising:

an electroluminescent lamp having a front illumination surface and a back surface; and

a magnetic material attached to the back surface of the electroluminescent lamp and configured to affix the electroluminescent lamp to an object that is magnetically attracted to the magnetic material.

41. A method of affixing an illuminated decal to an object, comprising the steps of:

forming an electroluminescent lamp onto a light-transmissive substrate, the lamp having an front illumination surface and a back surface;

attaching the back surface of the electroluminescent lamp onto a first surface of a decal backing; and

affixing a second surface of the decal opposite of the first surface to an object using an adhesive.