ILLUMINATION TILES AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20080205078A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rambus International Ltd (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Luminus Devices Incorporated (Sanan Optoelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Erchak, Alexei A., Joffe, Michael A., Doyle, David, Hoepfner, Christian, Karlicek, Robert F., Taraschi, Gianni
• Application Number:
  US11/757,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20080205078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133628 with cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/36 Airflow channels, e.g. constructional arrangements facilitating the flow of air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Illumination assemblies, components, and related methods are described. A plurality of illumination tiles may be arranged in a two-dimensional array. In one embodiment, an illumination tile comprises at least one solid state light-emitting device and a light guide including an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the solid state light-emitting device, and a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge, wherein the solid state light-emitting device is disposed under the top emission surface. In another embodiment, an illumination tile comprises at least one solid state light-emitting device and a light guide including a light input portion including an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the light-emitting device and a top surface, and a light extraction portion including a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge, wherein the top surface of the light input portion is offset vertically from the top emission surface of the light extraction portion.

Claims

1. An illumination tile comprising:

at least one solid state light-emitting device; and

a light guide comprising

an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the solid state light-emitting device, and

a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge,

wherein the solid state light-emitting device is disposed under the top emission surface.

2. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the light guide further comprises one or more reflective edges configured to prevent a substantial portion of light from escaping the light guide.

3. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein a portion of the light guide overhangs the solid state light-emitting device.

4. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the top emission surface is substantially perpendicular to the edge that receives light from the solid state light emitting-device.

5. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the top emission surface is not perpendicular to the edge that receives light from the solid state light emitting-device.

6. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the illumination tile is configured such that the light output across the top surface is substantially uniform.

7. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the light guide further comprises scattering features configured and arranged according to a varying density such that the light output across the top surface is substantially uniform.

8. The illumination tile of claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is configured to serve as at least part of a display backlight unit

9. An illumination tile comprising:

at least one solid state light-emitting device; and

a light guide comprising

a light input portion including an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the light-emitting device and a top surface, and

a light extraction portion including a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge,

wherein the top surface of the light input portion is offset vertically from the top emission surface of the light extraction portion.

10. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the top surface of the light input portion is substantially parallel to the top emission surface of the light extraction portion.

11. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the top surface of the light input portion is not parallel to the top emission surface of the light extraction portion.

12. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the light input portion includes a light homogenization region.

13. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the light output across the top emission surface of the light extraction portion is substantially uniform.

14. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the light extraction portion further comprises scattering features configured and arranged according to a varying density such that the light output across the top surface is substantially uniform.

15. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the light input portion is constructed and arranged to redirect a substantial portion of the received light from the light-emitting device.

16. The illumination tile of claim 15, wherein the light input portion includes a reflective region that is constructed and arranged to redirect the substantial portion of the received light from the light-emitting device.

17. The illumination tile of claim 16, wherein the reflective region is constructed and arranged to also transmit a portion of the received light from the light-emitting device.

18. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein solid-state light emitting device is an LED.

19. The illumination tile of claim 15, wherein the first portion redirects the light by at least 45 degrees.

20. The illumination tile of claim 15, wherein the top emission surface of the light extraction portion is substantially perpendicular to a propagation direction of light emitted by the at least one light-emitting device.

21. The illumination tile of claim 20, wherein the propagation direction of the redirected light is substantially parallel to the top emission surface of the light extraction portion.

22. The illumination tile of claim 9, wherein the illumination tile is configured to serve as at least part of a display backlight unit.

23. A method of forming an illumination tile, the method comprising:

providing at least one solid state light-emitting device; and

providing a light guide comprising

an edge constructed and arranged to receive light from the solid state light-emitting device,

a top emission surface constructed and arranged to emit light received by the edge, wherein

the solid state light-emitting device is disposed under the top emission surface.