Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20040165372A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,160,015 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 two or more inserts, components or parts that may be supported by a structural member. A pattern of light extracting deformities may be on or in one or more of the inserts, components or parts for providing a desired light output distribution.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member for receiving light from a light source, the panel member having at least one light emitting surface, two or more separate parts or modular components, and a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one or more of the parts or components for providing a desired light output distribution from the light emitting surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a structural member for supporting the parts or modular components.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the structural member comprises a tray for receipt of the parts or modular components.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the tray provides a back reflector for the panel member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a film overlying at least a portion of one side of the panel member to change the light emitted from the panel member in a predetermined manner.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, position, placement, density, height, depth, angle and orientation.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some light from the light source travels from at least one of the parts or components to another of the parts or components.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a fluorescent lamp.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises two or more light emitting diodes.

10. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a modular light emitting panel member having one or more light sources and two or more light output areas, and a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in the panel member that vary in size, shape, position, placement, density, height, depth, angle or orientation for providing a desired light output distribution from the light output areas.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a structural support for supporting the panel member.

12. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface, the light emitting panel member being made of more than one modular component, and at least one light source for each modular component.

13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a tray for supporting the modular components.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the tray acts as a reflector for the panel member.

15. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member for receiving light from a light source, the panel member being formed of two or more inserts, components or parts, a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one or more of the inserts, components or parts for providing a desired light output distribution, and a structural member for holding, positioning or supporting the inserts, components or parts.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein at least two of the inserts, components or parts are shaped to mate with one another.

17. The assembly of claim 16 further comprising a reflector between at least one mating surface between two of the inserts, components or parts.

18. The assembly of claim 15 further comprising at least one film or substrate in close proximity to at least one side of the panel member to change the light emitted from the panel member in a predetermined manner.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the film or substrate has deformities on or in at least one surface of the film or substrate.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the deformities on or in the film or substrate have prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

21. The assembly of claim 15 wherein at least one single piece of film or substrate overlies two or more inserts, components or parts of the panel member.

22. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the structural member comprises a tray.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the tray acts as a reflector for the panel member.

24. The assembly of claim 15 wherein at least some light travels from at least one of the inserts, components or parts to another of the inserts, components or parts.

25. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, position, placement, density, height, depth, angle and orientation.

26. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface and a light transition area, the panel assembly including two or more components or parts that make up at least one of the light emitting surface, the light transition area, and the panel member.

27. The assembly of claim 26 further comprising a structural member for holding, positioning or supporting the components or parts.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the structural member acts as a reflector.

29. The assembly of claim 26 wherein at least some light travels from at least one of the components or parts to another of the components or parts.

30. The assembly of claim 26 further comprising one or more light emitting diodes for supplying light to the light transition area.

31. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the light emitting diodes are multicolored light emitting diodes that provide different colored light that is mixed in the light transition area to produce a desired colored light output distribution from the light emitting surface.

34. The assembly of claim 30 wherein the structural member comprises a tray that receives the parts or components.

32. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having one or more light emitting surfaces, the light emitting panel member being made of multiple parts or modular components supported by a structural member.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the structural member acts as a reflector for one or more of the parts or components.