Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 20060028840A1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• 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 7,736,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/602
• 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 input surface for receiving light from at least one light source and a pattern of deformities that vary on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the panel member. At least a portion of the light input surface may have faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or a lens array in close proximity to each light source for maximizing or otherwise changing the light emitted from each light source.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising at least one light source and a light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface, and at least one light input surface for receiving light from the light source, the panel member having a pattern of deformities that vary on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the panel member, wherein at least a portion of the light input surface has a group of faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or a multiple lens array in close proximity to the light source for maximizing or otherwise changing the light emitted from the light source and entering the panel member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces change the light output ray angle distribution of the light source.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the light output ray angle distribution of the light source is changed by the reflective or refractive surfaces to a greater extent in a plane parallel to the light emitting surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1 which has at least two light sources.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein each light source has corresponding faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or a multiple lens array in close proximity to each light source.

6. The assembly of claim 4 further comprising a light transition area in which the light from multiple light sources mixes.

7. The assembly of claim 4 wherein at least two light sources are different colored light sources.

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

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities vary.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least one section that is hollow and filled with liquid, gas or air.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has multiple layers.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tray or substrate that holds or positions the panel member or the at least one light source.

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

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the sheet, film or substrate and the panel member are separated by an air gap or cavity.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the sheet, film or substrate has prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is embedded, potted, bonded, or molded into the panel member.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are flat, planar or curved.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light input surface is generally rectangular in shape.

20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are around and behind each light source.

21. A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least one light source and a light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface and at least one light input surface for receiving light from the light source, the panel member having a pattern of deformities that vary on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the panel member, and the light input surface having faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or a multiple lens array corresponding to each light source for maximizing the amount of light or otherwise changing the light emitted from each light source such that the light will enter the panel member at an acceptable angle.

22. The assembly of claim 21 having at least two light sources.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein each light source is positioned in close proximity to a group of the faceted reflective or refractive surfaces or multiple lens array.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein at least two of the light sources are different colored light sources.

25. The assembly of claim 21 further comprising a light transition area that is an integral extension of at least one end of the panel member.

26. The assembly of claim 25 wherein the light from multiple light sources mixes in the transition area.

27. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the light source is a LED.

28. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the deformities vary.

29. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the panel member has at least one section that is hollow and filled with liquid, gas, or air.

30. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the panel member has multiple layers.

31. The assembly of claim 21 further comprising a tray or substrate that holds or positions the panel member or the at least one light source.

32. The assembly of claim 21 further comprising a sheet, film or substrate with additional deformities positioned near the panel member to redirect the light emitted from the panel member in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the sheet, film or substrate and the panel member are separated by an air gap or cavity.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein the sheet, film or substrate has prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

35. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are flat, planar or curved.

36. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are prismatic or lenticular surfaces.

37. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the light input surface is generally rectangular in shape.

38. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces are around and behind each light source.

39. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces change the light output ray angle distribution of the light source.

40. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the reflective or refractive surfaces change the light output ray angle distribution of the light source to a greater extent in a plane substantially parallel to the light emitting surface.