Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20050213322A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• 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 7,374,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• 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 assemblies include a light emitting panel member having at least one light source positioned, embedded, potted, bonded or otherwise mounted in a shaped slot, cavity, recess, opening or hole in the panel member. Deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member. At least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface in close proximity to the light source redirects some of the light to fit a particular application.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising a light emitting panel member, at least one light source positioned, embedded, potted, bonded or otherwise mounted in a shaped slot, cavity, recess, opening or hole in the panel member, the panel member having deformities on at least one surface that vary to cause light from the light source to be emitted from the panel member, and at least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface in close proximity to the at least one light source to redirect some of the light to fit a particular application.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one angled, faceted, or curved reflective or refractive surface is on at least one wall of the shaped slot, cavity, recess, opening or hole in the panel member to redirect a portion of the light in a predetermined manner.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface has a reflective or refractive material or coating covering a portion of the surface in close proximity to the at least one light source.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the panel member is hollow, solid, or has holes.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the panel member is hollow and filled with a liquid, gas or air.

6. The assembly of claim 1 which includes two or more light sources, and the light from the light sources is mixed in at least a portion of the panel member.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the light sources are multiple color light sources.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the light from the multiple color light sources is mixed in at least a portion of the panel member to produce white light.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the multiple color light sources are multiple color chips of at least one LED.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the light sources are different color light sources, and the at least one reflective or refractive surface facilitates better color mixing of the light within the panel member.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member includes at least some reflective or refractive surfaces that increase the overall efficiency of the assembly.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member includes at least some reflective or refractive surfaces that are multiple or three-dimensional surfaces in more than one plane to direct light rays into the panel member at a desired angle.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein at least some of the reflective or refractive surfaces are rotationally symmetric.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein at least some of the reflective or refractive surfaces are quadric surfaces.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member is modular in design.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a sheet, film or substrate with deformities is positioned in close proximity to the panel member to direct the light emitted from the panel member in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.