Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20030123246A1
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R.
• Application Number:
  US10/324,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20030123246A1
• 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 pattern of individual deformities of well defined surfaces and shapes that are projections or depressions on or in one or both sides of the light guide. The deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide, and may vary or be random in size, shape or geometry, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and/or type for controlling the light output distribution to suit a particular application.

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, the deformities being 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.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the characteristics of the deformities is randomly varied to reduce moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

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

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the additional deformities are prismatic or lenticular.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the additional optical elements are at random in at least one of the following characteristics:

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

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

8. 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 surfaces and well defined shapes 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, the deformities varying 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.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein at least one of the characteristics of the deformities is varied to reduce moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein additional deformities that are projections or depressions are on or in the other side of the light guide.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the additional deformities are prismatic or lenticular.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the additional deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

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

14. The assembly of claim 8 wherein at least some of the deformities overlap, interlock, or intersect other deformities.