ORGANIC LIGHT EMITTING DIODE PRODUCTS

• US 20100046210A1
• Filed: 08/18/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plextronics Incorporated (Rhodia Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Plextronics Incorporated (Rhodia Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Glenn, Pattison, Lisa, Mathai, Matthew, Scott, Eli J., Storch, Mark, Hammond, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 8,215,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/147
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/006 with means for hanging lighting fixtures or other appliances to the framework of the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/241 with the slabs, panels, sheets or the like positioned on the upperside of the horizontal flanges of the supporting construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/27 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with two fittings for each light source, e.g. for substitution of fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0064 Health, life-saving or fire-fighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/10 on concave supports or substrates, e.g. on the inner side of bowl-shaped supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/80 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/805 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/18 Tiled displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/221 Static displays, e.g. displaying permanent logos
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/60 OLEDs integrated with inorganic light-sensitive elements, e.g. with inorganic solar cells or inorganic photodiodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices can be spatially distributed to form various lighting systems and luminaires. The lighting systems can be configured to readily replace conventional light bulbs or tubular fluorescent lamps. A networked lighting system including a plurality of OLED devices can have a variable light field based on a feedback.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a mount; and

a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices disposed on the mount,

wherein the mount is configured to be removably coupled to a receptor.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mount is configured to be removably coupled to the receptor both mechanically and electrically.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of OLED devices disposed on the mount are configured to be coupled to the mount both mechanically and electrically.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the receptor comprises a conventional receptor for a conventional light bulb or a conventional tubular fluorescent lamp.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mount has a shape of a conventional light bulb or a conventional tubular fluorescent lamp.

6. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mount is flexible.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the mount comprises a rail, and wherein at least one of the plurality of OLED devices is slidably coupled to the rail.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of OLED devices emit light of different spectra, and wherein a mixed light output of the lighting system is substantially white.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of OLED devices are configured to be individually controlled by a controller to tune a color, an intensity, or a spatial distribution of light emitted by the lighting system.

10. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one coupler configured to couple at least one of the plurality of OLED devices to the mount electrically, mechanically, or both electrically and mechanically.

11. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply, wherein the plurality of OLED devices is configured to be electrically coupled to the power supply through the mount.

12. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to control activation levels of one or more of the plurality of OLED devices; and

a sensor configured to provide a feedback to the controller.

13. A lighting system comprising a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices, wherein the plurality of OLED devices are arranged in a spatial distribution such that a light output from the lighting system is concentrated in a predetermined region.

14. The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a mount, wherein the mount comprises one of a substantially parabolic, a spherical, a polyhedral, or an oval shaped surface, wherein the plurality of OLED devices are disposed on the surface, wherein at least some of the OLED devices have light emitting sides, wherein the light emitting side can be a top, a bottom or an edge of the OLED device, and wherein the light emitting sides face inwards from the surface thereby causing a concentration of light in a predetermined region.

15. The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a mount, wherein the mount comprises at least one rail, and wherein at least some of the plurality of OLED devices are slidably coupled to the at least one rail.

16. The lighting system of claim 13, further comprising a reflective surface configured to modify the light output.

17. A lighting system comprising a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices, wherein the plurality of OLED devices form visually-discernible patterns.

18. The lighting system of claim 17, wherein the patterns comprise at least one of a logo, a character, or a dynamic pattern.

19. The lighting system of claim 17, wherein a mixed light output of the lighting system is substantially uniform and has a substantially white color.

20. A lighting system comprising:

a mount;

a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices disposed on the mount; and

an arm coupled to the mount.

21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the mount is configured to rotate or move about an axis of the arm.

22. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the mount is substantially transparent.

23. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the mount is substantially cube shaped.

24. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of OLED devices are coupled to an external power supply through the arm.

25. A lighting system for an imaging application, comprising:

a flexible mount; and

a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices disposed on the flexible mount,

wherein a spatial distribution of the plurality of OLED devices on the flexible mount is variable by varying a shape of the flexible mount, and

wherein a characteristic of the projected light field is variable by varying the spatial distribution of the plurality of OLED devices.

26. The lighting system of claim 25, wherein the flexible mount comprises a reflective surface.

27. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices,

wherein the plurality of OLED devices are configured to be selectively activated based on an input, and

wherein the input comprises one or more of an ambient light, a person'"'"'s position, an ambient temperature, a user input, a season, or a time.

28. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of OLED devices are configured to be selectively activated to different activation levels thereby generating a light field with a varying color, brightness, or spatial distribution.

29. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein at least some of the OLED devices are modular, replaceable devices.

30. The lighting system of claim 27, further comprising a mount, wherein at least some of the plurality of OLED devices are mechanically and electrically coupled to the mount.

31. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein at least some of the OLED devices are configured to be coupled to each other electrically, mechanically, or both electrically and mechanically through couplers.

32. The lighting system of claim 27, wherein at least some of the OLED devices are mechanically and electrically coupled to each other through couplers, wherein at least some of the couplers comprise metal inserts configured to form electrical contacts.

33. A method comprising:

arranging a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices in a spatial distribution; and

selectively activating the plurality of OLED devices to different activation levels based on an input to generate a variable light field,

wherein the input comprises one or more of an ambient light, a person'"'"'s position, an ambient temperature, a user input, a season, or a time.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein arranging a plurality of OLED devices in a spatial distribution comprises mechanically, electrically, or mechanically and electrically coupling the plurality of OLED devices to a mount.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein arranging a plurality of OLED devices in a spatial distribution comprises mechanically, electrically, or electrically and mechanically coupling at least some of the plurality of OLED devices to each other thereby forming a mosaic.

36. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of OLED devices; and

a mount,

wherein the mount comprises a frame configured to receive at least one of the plurality of OLED devices, and

wherein the frame is configured to provide an electrical connection between the mount and at least one of the plurality of OLED devices.

37. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the frame is configured to be free-standing, mounted on a wall, or mounted on a ceiling.

38. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the frame further comprises a backing.

39. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the at least some of the plurality of OLED devices are configured to be removably received by the frame.

40. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of OLED devices comprises an active region with a plurality of light emitters.

41. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the electrical connection between the mount and the at least one of the plurality of OLED devices is made by indentations or protrusions in the mount coupled to complementary indentations or protrusions in the OLED device.

42. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of conductive paths, and wherein the conductive paths are configured to supply drive conditions to the OLED devices received by the frame.

43. The lighting system of claim 36, further comprising a controller configured to control the drive conditions supplied by the plurality of conductive paths.

44. The lighting system of claim 36, wherein the frame is flexible.