METHODS OF MANUFACTURING ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. An illumination system comprising:
- a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge;
a first light source configured to emit light having a first color into the first edge;
a second light source configured to emit light having a second color into the second edge;
a third light source configured to emit light having a third color into the third edge;
a first light turning feature disposed on the first side, the first light turning feature having a first facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the first facet being aligned to turn more light input from the first light source than light input from the second light source or third light source;
a second light turning feature disposed on the first side, the second light turning feature having a second facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the second facet being aligned to turn more light input from the second light source than light input from the third light source or first light source; and
a third light turning feature disposed on the first side, the third light turning feature having a third facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the third facet being aligned to turn more light input from the third light source than light input from the second light source or first light source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Illumination systems and methods of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, an illumination system includes a plurality of light sources configured to emit light into a light panel and a plurality of light turning features disposed on the light panel configured to turn light out of the light panel. The light sources can be configured to emit different colors of light than one another and the light turning features can be arranged such that a first light turning feature turns more light having a first color than any other color of light and such that a second light turning feature turns more light having a second color than any other color of light. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an illumination system includes providing a light panel and positioning a luminance altering element on the light panel such that a luminance characteristic of the panel changes.
28 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An illumination system comprising:
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a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge; a first light source configured to emit light having a first color into the first edge; a second light source configured to emit light having a second color into the second edge; a third light source configured to emit light having a third color into the third edge; a first light turning feature disposed on the first side, the first light turning feature having a first facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the first facet being aligned to turn more light input from the first light source than light input from the second light source or third light source; a second light turning feature disposed on the first side, the second light turning feature having a second facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the second facet being aligned to turn more light input from the second light source than light input from the third light source or first light source; and a third light turning feature disposed on the first side, the third light turning feature having a third facet configured to turn light toward the second side of the light panel so that so that at least a portion of the turned light exits the second side of the light panel, the third facet being aligned to turn more light input from the third light source than light input from the second light source or first light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An illumination system comprising:
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a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion; a first light source configured to emit light having a first color into the first edge portion; a second light source configured to emit light having a second color into the second edge portion; a third light source configured to emit light having a third color into the third edge portion; and a first pixel configured to turn light input into the light panel from the first light source, second light source, and third light source into the light panel toward the second side, the pixel comprising a first light turning feature comprising a first facet aligned to turn light input from the first light source, a second light turning feature comprising a second facet aligned to turn light input from the second light source, and a third light turning feature comprising a third facet aligned to turn light input from the third light source. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An illumination system comprising:
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a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge portion, a second edge portion, and a third edge portion; first means for generating light having a first color, the first light generating means being configured to emit light into the first edge portion; second means for generating light having a second color, the second light generating means being configured to emit light into the second edge portion; third means for generating light having a third color, the third light generating means being configured to emit light into the third edge portion; and pixel means configured to turn light input into the light panel from the first light generating means, second light generating means, and third light generating means toward the second side, the pixel means comprising first light turning means aligned to turn light input from the first light generating means, second light turning means aligned to turn light input from the second light generating means, and third light turning means aligned to turn light input from the third light generating means.
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27. A method of manufacturing a illumination system, the method comprising:
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providing a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge; positioning a first light source configured to emit light having a first color near the first edge of the light panel and aligned to provide light into the light panel through the first edge; positioning a second light source configured to emit light having a second color near the second edge of the light panel and aligned to provide light into the light panel through the second edge; positioning a third light source configured to emit light having a third color near the third edge of the light panel and aligned to provide light into the light panel through the third edge; positioning a first prismatic block on the first surface such that a first facet of the first prismatic block is aligned to turn light emitted by the first light source toward the second surface; positioning a second prismatic block on the first surface such that a second facet of the second prismatic block is aligned to turn light emitted by the second light source toward the second surface; and positioning a third prismatic block on the first surface such that a third facet of the third prismatic block is aligned to turn light emitted by the third light source toward the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of manufacturing a illumination system, the method comprising:
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providing a light panel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first edge, and a second edge, the light panel having a first luminance characteristic; and positioning a first luminance altering element on the first surface and a second luminance altering element on the first surface such that the light panel has a second luminance characteristic, wherein the second luminance characteristic is different than the first luminance characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification