LIGHTING STRUCTURE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE, METHOD FOR MAKING SAME AND USES THEREOF

• US 20090114928A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Messere, Rino, Armand, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/88
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10559 Shape of the cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10788 containing ethylene vinylacetate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/268 on windscreens or windows B60Q1/302 takes precedence; lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for windows B60Q3/208
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/64 using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/52 : Encapsulations

Abstract

A luminous structure based on light-emitting diodes, which includes: a first dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a first electrode; a second dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a second electrode that faces the first electrode and lies in a different plane; at least a first light-emitting diode including a semiconductor chip including, on first and second opposed faces, first and second electrical contacts, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrical contact being electrically connected to the second electrode, and at least the first element at least partly transmitting radiation within the ultraviolet or in the visible.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A luminous structure based on light-emitting diodes, comprising:

a first dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a first electrode;

a second dielectric element with a substantially plane main face associated with a second electrode that faces the first electrode and lies in a different plane;

at least a first light-emitting diode (LED) including a semiconductor chip including on first and second opposed faces, first and second electrical contacts, the first electrical contact being electrically connected to the first electrode, the second electrical contact being electrically connected to the second electrode, and at least the first element at least partly transmitting radiation within the ultraviolet or in the visible.

44. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first electrical contact is electrically connected directly to the first electrode, and the second electrical contact is electrically connected directly to the second electrode.

45. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first electrical contact is in a form of at least one layer, and the second electrical contact is in a form of at least one layer.

46. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first LED is free of an envelope encapsulating the chip, and the first LED consists of the chip.

47. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first LED includes a partial protective envelope leaving the first and second contacts free.

48. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising current leads that are coupled to the first and second electrodes and that are in a form of screen-printed conducting strips.

49. A luminous structure according to claim 44, further comprising means for maintaining at least one of the direct connections between the first and second electrodes and the first and second electrical contacts, respectively.

50. A luminous structure according to claim 49, wherein the connection-maintaining means include means for applying controlled pressure on at least one of the main faces.

51. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising at least one elastic and/or flexible electrically conducting part placed between the first electrical contact and the first electrode to ensure that at least the first electrical connection is permanently maintained, and wherein the part is in a form of a spring or a flexible tab folded at least into two.

52. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes includes a conducting layer distributed over or substantially covering the associated main face.

53. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising a thin conducting metallic low-emissivity and/or solar-protection layer covered with one or more thin dielectric layers and inserted between dielectric layers, the thin conducting layer at least partly forming one of the first and second electrodes.

54. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a conducting grid made up of linear elements and substantially occupying the associated main face.

55. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises a conducting grid of conducting wires that are partially integrated into the associated main face.

56. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising at least a second LED, and wherein the second LED is in a reverse position with respect to the first LED.

57. A luminous structure according to claim 43, comprising a plurality of LEDs and means for driving the LEDs to emit radiation either permanently or intermittently, and either of a given color or of different colors, or to address the LEDs.

58. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein each of the first and second electrodes comprises a grid of conducting elements along a given orientation, the grids forming, in projection, a mesh.

59. A luminous structure according to claim 43, comprising a plurality of LEDs, and wherein the LEDs are assembled on one or more coplanar conducting supports, making up part of or forming one of the first or second electrodes and being thin and/or extending beyond the associated main face.

60. A luminous structure according to claim 43, comprising a plurality of first coplanar dielectric elements carrying first electrodes and with a plurality of first LEDs, the first dielectric elements being associated with a glass substrate.

61. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric elements comprises a glass element.

62. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric elements comprises a sheet of glass, or a sheet of clear or extra clear soda-lime-silica glass.

63. A luminous structure according to claim 43, which is essentially a mineral structure.

64. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric elements comprises a polymeric film, or a PET film.

65. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein at least one of the first and second dielectric elements includes an adhesive or a lamination interlayer.

66. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein a portion bounded by the first dielectric element and the second dielectric element forms an essentially laminated portion.

67. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first and second dielectric elements are kept a substantially constant distance apart and define an internal space filled with a dielectric and incorporating the first LED.

68. A luminous structure according to claim 67, wherein the internal space is under a low vacuum.

69. A luminous structure according to claim 67, wherein the dielectric comprises a resin.

70. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the first LED is placed in a through-hole of a solid third dielectric element inserted between the first and second dielectric elements.

71. A luminous structure according to claim 70, further comprising at least a second LED and placed in the hole.

72. A luminous structure according to claim 70, wherein the third dielectric element comprises a lamination interlayer.

73. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising at least one phosphor coating associated with one of the first and second dielectric elements, and wherein the radiation excites the phosphor.

74. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the chip emits via its two opposed faces.

75. A luminous structure according to claim 43, wherein the structure is substantially transparent outside a LED zone.

76. A luminous structure according to claim 43, further comprising a receiver diode that receives control signals for remotely controlling the first LED.

77. A luminous structure according to claim 43, forming an illuminating, decorative, architectural, display, or indicating glazing.

78. Application of the luminous structure according to claim 43 to a structure intended for buildings, or to an illuminating window or a building facade or structural glazing, or to photovoltaic glazing, or to transport vehicles, or to a rear window, side window or sun roof of a motor vehicle, or to any terrestrial, waterborne or airborne vehicle, to urban furniture, to a bus shelter, to a display for indicating or advertising panel, to a display cabinet, to a shop window or a shelf element, to an aquarium or a greenhouse, to interior furnishing, to a partition wall, to a mirror, to a screen for a display system of a computer, television or telephone type, to an electrically controllable system, to a backlighting device for a liquid-crystal screen, to a structure integrated into domestic electrical appliance, or to a refrigerator or kitchen shelf.

80. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure according to claim 43, comprising:

positioning the first electrical contact of the first LED directly on the first electrode or via a conducting adhesive and/or via an elastic and/or flexible electrically conducting part; and

positioning the second electrode directly on the second electrical contact or via a conducting adhesive for bringing the first and second electrical contacts into direct electrical connection with the first and second electrodes, respectively.

81. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure according to claim 80, further comprising creating a low vacuum in the structure containing the internal space.

82. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure according to claim 80, further comprising injecting a dielectric liquid resin under vacuum between the first and second electrodes, on either side of the chip.

83. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure according to claim 80, further comprising inserting the first LED into the through-hole of the third dielectric element.

84. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure according to claim 83, wherein the third dielectric element is to be a lamination interlayer, and wherein the inserting is carried out hot, or during a hot formation for producing the hole.

79. A plastic sheet, or a sheet of a thermoplastic of the PVB, EVA or PU type, or an polyethylene/acrylate copolymer or a polyolefin, having at least one hole passing through its thickness, the hole containing at least a first light-emitting diode, with a semiconductor chip having, on first and second opposed faces, first and second electrical contacts.