Luminaire for light extraction from a flat light source

• US 20040119402A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Shiang, Joseph John, Turner, Larry Gene, Schaepkens, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,952,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/854 comprising scattering means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/856 comprising reflective means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A shaped light extraction luminaire to gather light from an organic light emitting diode (OLED). Specifically, an inverted and truncated pyramid structure having a recessed area configured to receive an OLED is provided. The luminaire is structured to increase the light emission of the OLED by capturing light emissions that would typically be lost by absorption within the OLED. The luminaire includes angled sides having a reflective material disposed thereon. The luminaire increases the light output of the OLED such that it may be implemented in area lighting applications. Further, an array comprising a plurality of recessed areas and a plurality of angled sides for each of the recessed areas may be implemented.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a front surface;

a recessed portion comprising an interface surface having a first width (W1) extending generally in a first plane at a base of the recessed portion, the interface surface being generally parallel with the front surface, wherein the recessed portion is configured to receive an organic light emitting diode (OLED); and

a plurality of sides contiguous with one another, at least partially surrounding the recessed portion and extending between the interface surface and the front surface at an acute angle (σ

) with respect to the interface surface, each of the sides having a length and wherein a projection of the length of the sides into a second plane generally parallel with the first plane of the interface surface has a second width (W2), and wherein the angled sides are configured to reflect light transmitted from the recessed portion towards the front surface.

2. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, comprising polydimethyl silicone (PDMS).

3. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recessed portion comprises a depth (D) that is approximately equal to the thickness of a transparent substrate of the organic light emitting diode that the recessed portion is configured to receive.

4. The luminarie, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the depth (D) is in the range of approximately 0.025-5.0 mm.

5. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises a metal layer.

6. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises a mirrored layer.

7. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises scattering particles.

8. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides has a diffuse reflectivity of at least 0.95.

9. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front surface comprises a total width that is equal to the first width (W1) plus two times the second width (W2).

10. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the luminaire comprises a thickness (T) and wherein the angle (σ

) is equal to the arctangent of the thickness (T) divided by the second width (W2).

11. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interface surface comprises a first width (W1) in the range of approximately 25-150 mm.

12. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the angled sides comprise a second width (W2) in the range of approximately 5-110 mm.

13. The luminiare, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the acute angle (σ

) is between 15° and

35°

.

14. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sides comprises four sides forming a generally rectangular outer perimeter of the front surface.

15. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a light scattering layer disposed on the front surface.

16. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a color conversion layer disposed on one of the front surface and the interface surface.

17. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front surface comprises a textured surface having a plurality of jagged features configured to provide directional scattering of light transmitted from the recessed portion.

18. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a hardcoating layer disposed on the front surface and configured to provide resistance to scratching.

19. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the hardcoating layer comprises light scattering particles.

20. The luminaire, as set forth in claim 1, comprising a hardcoating layer disposed about the entire surface of the luminaire.

21. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) comprising:

a first electrode;

one or more organic layers disposed on the first electrode and configured to emit visible light;

a second electrode disposed on the one or more organic layers and having a first width (W1); and

a transparent substrate disposed on the second electrode, wherein the substrate comprises;

a front surface;

an interface surface optically coupled to the second electrode and having a width equal to the first width (W1), wherein the interface surface is generally parallel to the front surface; and

a plurality of sides contiguous with one another, at least partially surrounding the interface surface and extending between the interface surface and the front surface at an acute angle (σ

) with respect to the interface surface, each of the sides having a length and wherein a projection of the length of the sides into a plane generally parallel with the interface surface has a second width (W2), and wherein the angled sides are configured to reflect visible light emitted from the one or more organic layers towards the front surface.

22. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the first electrode comprises a metal.

23. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the second electrode comprises a transparent conductive oxide (TCO).

24. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises a metal layer.

25. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises a mirrored layer.

26. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides comprises scattering particles.

27. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides has a diffuse reflectivity of at least 0.95.

28. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the front surface comprises a total width that is equal to the first width (W1) plus two times the second width (W2).

29. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the substrate comprises a thickness (T) and wherein the angle (σ

) is equal to the arctangent of the thickness (T) divided by the second width (W2).

30. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the interface surface comprises a first width (W1) in the range of approximately 25-150 mm.

31. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the angled sides comprise a second width (W2) in the range of approximately 5-110 mm.

32. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the acute angle (σ

) is between 15° and

35°

.

33. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the plurality of sides comprises four sides forming a generally rectangular outer perimeter of the front surface.

34. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, comprising a light scattering layer disposed on the front surface of the substrate.

35. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, comprising a color conversion layer disposed on one of the front surface and the interface surface.

36. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, wherein the front surface comprises a textured surface having a plurality of jagged features configured to provide directional scattering of light emitted from the one or more organic layers.

37. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 21, comprising a hardcoating layer disposed on the front surface and configured to provide resistance to scratching.

38. The organic light emitting diode (OLED), as set forth in claim 37, wherein the hardcoating layer comprises light scattering particles.

39. An array comprising:

a front surface;

a plurality of recessed portions, each of the plurality of recessed portions comprising an interface surface having a first width (W1) extending generally in a first plane at a base of the recessed portion, the interface surface being generally parallel with the front surface, wherein each of the plurality of recessed portions is configured to receive a respective organic light emitting diode (OLED); and

a plurality of sides at least partially surrounding each of the recessed portions and extending between the interface surface and the front surface at an acute angle (σ

) with respect to the interface surface, each of the sides having a length and wherein a projection of the length of the sides into a second plane generally parallel with the first plane of the interface surface has a second width (W2), and wherein the angled sides are configured to reflect light transmitted from the recessed portion towards the front surface.

40. The array, as set forth in claim 39, comprising polydimethyl silicone (PDMS).

41. The array, as set forth in claim 39, wherein each recessed portion comprises a depth (D) that is approximately equal to the thickness of a transparent substrate of the respective organic light emitting diode that the recessed portion is configured to receive.

42. The array, as set forth in claim 39, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides has a diffuse reflectivity of at least 0.95.

43. The array, as set forth in claim 39, wherein the array comprises a thickness (T) and wherein the angle (σ

) is equal to the arctangent of the thickness (T) divided by the second width (W2).

44. The array, as set forth in claim 39, wherein the acute angle (σ

) is between 15° and

35°

.

45. The array, as set forth in claim 39, comprising a light scattering layer disposed on the front surface.

46. The array, as set forth in claim 39, comprising a color conversion layer disposed on one of the front surface and each of the plurality of interface surfaces.

47. The array, as set forth in claim 39, wherein the front surface comprises a textured surface having a plurality of jagged features configured to provide directional scattering of light transmitted from the recessed portion.

48. The array, as set forth in claim 39, comprising a hardcoating layer disposed on the front surface and configured to provide resistance to scratching.

49. An area lighting system comprising:

a transparent substrate comprising;

a front surface;

a plurality of recessed portions, each of the plurality of recessed portions comprising an interface surface having a first width (W1) extending generally in a first plane at a base of the recessed portion, the interface surface being generally parallel with the front surface; and

a plurality of sides at least partially surrounding each of the recessed portions and extending between the interface surface and the front surface at an acute angle (σ

) with respect to the interface surface, each of the sides having a length and wherein a projection of the length of the sides into a second plane generally parallel with the first plane of the interface surface has a second width (W2), and wherein the angled sides are configured to reflect light transmitted from the recessed portion towards the front surface; and

a plurality of organic light emitting diodes (OLED), each of the plurality of organic light emitting diodes disposed in a respective one of the plurality of recessed portions and comprising;

a first electrode optically coupled to the interface surface;

one or more organic layers disposed on the first electrode and configured to emit visible light; and

a second electrode disposed on the one or more organic layers.

50. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 49, wherein each of the plurality of angled sides has a diffuse reflectivity of at least 0.95.

51. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, wherein the substrate comprises a thickness (T) and wherein the angle (σ

) is equal to the arctangent of the thickness (T) divided by the second width (W2).

52. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, comprising a light scattering layer disposed on the front surface of the substrate.

53. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, comprising a color conversion layer disposed on one of the front surface and the interface surface.

54. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, wherein the front surface comprises a textured surface having a plurality of jagged features configured to provide directional scattering of light emitted from the one or more organic layers.

55. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, comprising a hardcoating layer disposed on the front surface and configured to provide resistance to scratching.

56. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 55, wherein the hardcoating layer comprises light scattering particles.

57. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, wherein the first electrode comprises a transparent conductive oxide (TCO).

58. The area lighting system, as set forth in claim 50, wherein the second electrode comprises a metal layer.