Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20030123245A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Coghlan, Jeffery R. Parker, Robert M. Ezell
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R., Ezell, Robert M., Coghlan, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,226,196 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 guide having a uniform or variable pattern of individual deformities of well defined shapes that are projections or depressions on or in one or more surface areas of the light guide. The deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide. At least some of the deformities may have two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light guide having a greater cross-sectional width and length than thickness and at least one input edge for receiving light from a light source, and a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light guide for producing a desired light output from the light guide, the deformities being quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide, at least some of the deformities having two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide, the ridge of at least some of the deformities having ends that intersect the light guide or other deformities where the ridge ends.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the surfaces of at least some of the deformities are multi-segment, curved or flat.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities are out of alignment with one another.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein both ends of the ridges of at least some of the deformities intersect the light guide.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein both ends of the ridges of at least some of the deformities intersect other deformities.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities only have two surfaces.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein one of the surfaces of at least some of the deformities is flat and the other surface is curved.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein both of the surfaces of at least some of the deformities are curved.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics for controlling an output ray angle distribution or uniformity of the light emitted by the light guide to serve a particular application:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities are random in at least one of the following characteristics for controlling an output ray angle distribution or uniformity of the light emitted by the light guide to suit a particular application:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light guide has multiple layers.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light guide has a coating.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein additional deformities that are projections or depressions are on or in the other side of the light guide.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the additional deformities are prismatic or lenticular.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein only the deformities on or in the one side of the light guide have ridges.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein at least some of the deformities on or in both sides of the light guide have ridges.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities on different sides of the light guide are in different directions.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of substantially all of the deformities are in the same direction.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities overlap, interlock or intersect other deformities.

20. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light guide having a greater cross-sectional width and length than thickness and at least one input edge for receiving light from a light source, and a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light guide for producing a desired light output from the light guide, the deformities being quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide, at least some of the deformities having two or more surfaces or groups of surfaces that intersect to form ridges that are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide for redirecting light through an associated display with low loss, the ridges of at least some of the deformities having ends that intersect the light guide or other deformities where the ridges end.