Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20050111241A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• 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 7,178,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/617
• 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 hollow light emitting panel member having a sheet, film or substrate attached or positioned against one or both sides thereof to produce a desired effect. A pattern of deformities or disruptions may be provided on or in the sheet, film or substrate to control the output ray angle distribution to suit a particular application.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a hollow light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface, a plurality of light sources within the panel member, and a sheet, film or substrate positioned against the light emitting surface, the sheet, film or substrate having a pattern of deformities or disruptions to control the output ray angle distribution of the emitted light to suit a particular application.

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 of the LEDs is mixed within the panel member to produce a white light output distribution.

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

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow light emitting panel member is filled with air or other gas.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities or disruptions are prismatic or lenticular elements extending across substantially the entire width of the sheet, film or substrate

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities or disruptions are prismatic or lenticular elements extending across substantially the entire length of the sheet, film or substrate.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities or disruptions are individual optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the sheet, film or substrate.

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

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least some of the light sources are multiple colored LEDs.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein at least some of the light sources are LEDs with multiple colored chips.

7. The assembly of clam 1 wherein at least one surface of the hollow light emitting panel member has ridges or holes.

14. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a hollow air or other gas filled light emitting panel member in which colored light from multiple colored LEDs is mixed to produce a desired light output color, and a sheet, film or substrate attached or positioned against one or both sides of the panel member to produce a desired effect.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the multiple colored LEDs are comprised of red, blue and green LEDs.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein at least some of the light sources are LEDs with multiple colored chips.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the sheet, film or substrate has a pattern of deformities or disruptions to control the output ray angle distribution of the emitted light to suit a particular application.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the deformities or disruptions are prismatic or lenticular elements extending across substantially the entire width of the sheet, film or substrate.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the deformities or disruptions are prismatic or lenticular elements extending across substantially the entire length of the sheet, film or substrate.

20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the deformities or disruptions are individual optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the sheet, film or substrate.