ILLUMINATION DEVICE

• US 20090251917A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Shipman, Rebecca A., Wedell, Jacquelyn A., Lee, Nicholas A., Stych, Dean J., Meis, Michael A., Liu, Junkang J., Wollner, Mark R., Henson, Gordon D.
• Application Number:
  US12/375,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20090251917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/543
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/208 Sun roofs; Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to illumination devices, and particularly directed to illumination devices which utilize thin light sources or edge-lit sources in combination with a light turning plate. The illumination devices may be used in a broad range of applications, and are particularly suited for the interior lighting of vehicles.

Claims

1. An illumination device for the interior lighting of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one light source,

b. at least one light management device comprising a front light guide having at least one light input face through which light from the source can be supplied to the light guide, a light directing face, and a light output face opposite the light directing face, the light output face having a light extraction layer thereon, the light extraction layer having a light exit face and containing buried reflective facets that extract supplied light from the light guide through the light output face, and

c. a cover operatively adapted to form a portion of the interior surface a vehicle.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the cover has a metallic appearance.

3. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the cover is made of a material selected from the group consisting of mirror film, a fabric material, a textile material, a leather material, a polymer material, a faux wood grain, and leather.

4. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light guide is wedge-shaped.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the light guide is curved about a longitudinal or lateral axis.

6. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the illumination device contains at least two light management devices.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the illumination device includes a mirror film.

8. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is substantially flat.

9. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is flat.

10. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is curved.

11. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light input face is a substantially straight edge.

12. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light input face is a straight edge.

13. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light input face has a curved shape.

14. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light input face has a circular shape.

15. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein the light input face has a circuitous shape.

16. The illumination device of claim 1 wherein said illumination device is substantially thinner than it is either wide or long.

34. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an optical fiber.

17. An illumination device for the interior or exterior lighting of a vehicle, comprising:

a. at least one light source,

b. at least one light management device comprising a light guide having at least one light input face through which light from the source can be supplied to the light guide, a light directing face, and a light output face opposite the light directing face, the light output face having a light extraction layer thereon, the light extraction layer having a light exit face and containing buried reflective facets that extract supplied light from the light guide through the light exit face, and

c. a cover operatively adapted to form a portion of the interior or exterior surface a vehicle.

18. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein the cover has a metallic appearance.

19. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein the cover is made of a material selected from the group consisting of:

a mirror film, a fabric material, a textile material, a leather material, a polymer material, a faux wood grain, and leather.

35. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein the cover comprises an optical fiber.

20. A vehicle glazing, comprising:

a. at least one light source,

b. a first light management device comprising a front light guide having at least one light input face through which light from the source can be supplied to the light guide, a light directing face, and a light output face opposite the light directing face, the light output face having a light extraction layer thereon, the light extraction layer having a light exit face and containing buried reflective facets that extract supplied light from the light guide through the light exit face, and

c. a second light management device.

21. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the glazing forms at least part of the sunroof of a vehicle.

22. The vehicle glazing of claim 21 wherein the light output face of the light guide is positioned to project light into the vehicle.

23. The vehicle glazing of claim 20 wherein the second light management device is a brightness enhancement film (BEF).

24. The vehicle glazing of claim 20 wherein the glazing is at least partially transparent when the light source is turned off.

25. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the glazing is at least partially translucent when the light source is turned off.

26. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is substantially flat.

27. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is flat.

28. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light exit face of the light extraction layer is curved.

29. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light input face is a substantially straight edge.

30. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light input face is a straight edge.

31. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light input face has a curved shape.

32. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light guide is substantially planar.

33. The vehicle glazing of claim 20, wherein the light guide is curved about a longitudinal or lateral axis.