360 Degree Viewable Light Emitting Apparatus

• US 20110103050A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barco Incorporated (Barco NV)
• Original Assignee: Barco Incorporated (Barco NV)
• Inventors: Hochman, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US12/787,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20110103050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/24 of ribbon or tape form, e.g. LED tapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards

Abstract

A light emitting apparatus and method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The light emitting apparatus includes a plurality of printed circuit boards connected to one another, a light emitting element disposed on and electrically connected to each printed circuit board, and at least one connector disposed between the printed circuit boards. The method of manufacturing the light emitting apparatus includes disposing a light emitting element on a plurality of printed circuit boards, arranging planar surfaces of the plurality of printed circuit boards substantially opposite, and connecting the plurality of printed circuit boards to one another.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board has a first edge;

a second printed circuit board;

at least a first connector, coupling to and extending between the first and second printed circuit boards; and

a light emitting element positioned on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the first printed circuit board,

wherein a shortest distance between the first connector to the first edge is less than a shortest distance between the light emitting element to the edge.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second printed circuit boards are arranged in a column, the second printed circuit board is above the light emitting element and the first printed circuit board, and the first connector extends transverse to surfaces of the first and second printed circuit boards.

3. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a wire, extending between the first and second printed circuit boards and coupling to electrical traces of the first and second printed circuit boards.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a wire, coupling to electrical traces of the first and second printed circuit boards and routed between the first and second printed circuit boards adjacent to the first connector.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises an electrically conductive portion that facilitates an electrical connection between electrical traces of the first and second printed circuit boards.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first connector comprises at least a rigid nonelectrically conductive portion that does not pass electricity between the first and second printed circuit boards.

7. The device of claim 1 comprising:

an audio output element positioned on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the first printed circuit board.

8. The device of claim 1 comprising:

an optical diffuser material substantially encompassing the first printed circuit board with the light emitting element and second printed circuit board.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material has a circular cross section.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material has a polygonal cross section.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material has an oval cross section.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material has a rectangular cross section.

13. The device of claim 1 comprising:

an optically diffusing gel material encapsulating the first printed circuit board with the light emitting element and second printed circuit board, wherein the at least a first connector is flexible.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein optically diffusing gel material has a circular cross section.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the optically diffusing gel material has a polygonal cross section.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the optically diffusing gel material has an oval cross section.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the optically diffusing gel material has a rectangular cross section.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the optically diffusing gel material comprises a flexible polymer.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the first connector is a wire.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the optically diffusing gel material fills a space between the first and second printed circuit boards.

21. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material comprises a rigid polymer.

22. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material comprises a flexible polymer.

23. The device of claim 8 wherein the optical diffuser material comprises silicon dioxide.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitting element comprises a first light emitting diode emitting light of a first color and a second light emitting diode emitting light of a second color.

25. A device comprising:

a first printed circuit board, wherein the first printed circuit board has a first edge;

a second printed circuit board;

at least a first connector, coupling to and extending between the first and second printed circuit boards; and

a first light emitting element coupled to and positioned on the first connector, wherein the first and second printed circuit board are arranged in a column, and the light emitting element is between the first and second printed circuit boards.

26. The device of claim 25 comprising:

a second light emitting element positioned on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the first printed circuit board,

wherein a shortest distance between the first connector to the first edge is less than a shortest distance between the first light emitting element to the edge.

27. The device of claim 25 comprising:

an audio output element positioned on the first printed circuit board and electrically coupled to the first printed circuit board.

28. A method of making a light emitting apparatus comprising:

providing a first module, the first module comprising a first light emitting element, a first PCB, and at least a first connector;

providing a mold to shape the light emitting apparatus;

inserting the first module into the mold; and

after inserting the first module into the mold, inserting a diffusion material into the mold, the diffusion material being arranged to come into contact with the first module.

29. The method of claim 28 comprising:

removing the mold after a first time period.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the diffusion material comprises a silicone material.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the diffusion material substantially fills the mold.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

providing a second module, the second module comprising a second light emitting element, a second PCB, and at least a second connector;

inserting the second module into the mold; and

after inserting the second module into the mold, inserting a diffusion material into the mold, the diffusion material being arranged to come into contact with the second module.