Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20050111238A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• 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:
  US11/014,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/610
• 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 at least one light transition area having one or more light sources associated therewith that emit light of multiple colors that are mixed within the light transition area to produce a substantially homogeneous light color distribution within the panel member. A pattern of relatively small individual optical elements on or in at least one of the panel surfaces cause a desired light output distribution to be emitted therefrom.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having opposite ends and sides and top and bottom panel surfaces and at least one light transition area, the length and width of the top and bottom surfaces being quite large in relation to the length and width of the opposite ends and sides, and one or more light sources associated with the light transition area that emits light of multiple colors that are mixed within the light transition area to produce a substantially homogeneous light color distribution within the panel member, the panel member having a pattern of individual light extracting deformities on or in at least one of the panel surfaces for causing a desired light output distribution to be emitted from at least one of the panel surfaces, the deformities being quite small in relation to the length and width of the panel surfaces, the deformities varying along at least one of the length and width of the panel surface to control the percentage of light emitted from the panel member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the light sources are multiple colored LEDs.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the multiple colored LEDs are comprised of red, blue and green LEDs.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the emitted light from the panel member is substantially a white light output distribution.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a single LED with multiple colored chips.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the light sources are LEDs with multiple colored chips.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the individual light extracting deformities have a well defined shape and are either depressions or raised surfaces in the panel member.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the individual light extracting deformities are prismatic or lenticular.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities are random in one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, position, placement, orientation, angle, pattern.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pattern of light extracting deformities is chosen to reduce moiré

or other interference effects.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the intensities of at least some of the light sources are varied to produce a colored light output distribution.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light transition area is hollow.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the light transition area is filled with air or other gas.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least two light transition areas.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light transition area is flat, tapered, curved or other shape.

11. The assembly of clam 1 wherein at least a portion of the light transition area is hollow.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the hollow portion of the light transition area is filled with air or other gas.

18. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having opposite ends and sides and top and bottom panel surfaces and at least one light transition area, the length and width of the top and bottom surfaces being quite large in relation to the length and width of the opposite ends and sides, and one or more light sources associated with the light transition area that emits light of multiple colors that are mixed within the light transition area to produce a substantially homogeneous light color distribution within the panel member, the panel member having a pattern of individual optical elements which are quite small in relation to the length and width of the panel surfaces, the optical elements being depressions or raised surfaces on or in at least one of the panel surfaces for causing a desired light output distribution to be emitted from at least one of the panel surfaces.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the optical elements are prismatic or lenticular.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the optical elements are random in one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, position, placement, orientation, angle, pattern.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the pattern of optical elements is chosen to reduce moiré

or other interference effects.

22. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the optical elements vary along at least one of the length and width of the panel surface to control the percentage of light emitted from the panel member.