Multi-color illumination apparatus
First Claim
1. Multi-color illumination apparatus, comprising:
- substrate means having a generally planar surface for carrying foil leaf means defining a plurality of electrical circuit paths;
at least one first light diode (LED) means for emitting light of a first color in response to a first excitation voltage signal applied to the LED;
at least one second light emitting diode (LED) means for emitting light of a second color in response to a second excitation voltage signal applied to the LED;
said first and second LED'"'"'s defining an LED color pair;
reflective white masking means for covering said surface of said substrate means and having openings therethrough whereby the area of said substrate surface in registry with said openings in said white masking means is exposed;
one electrical circuit path of said plurality including a first plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and defining a first electrical circuit path for physically and electrically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of one LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair to one another and to said first electrical circuit path;
a second electrical circuit path of said plurality including a second plurality of foil leaf areas, a first portion of said plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said first plurality of foil leaf areas defining said first electrical circuit path, said first portion of said second plurality of foil leaf areas comprising said second electrical circuit path and being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair;
said second plurality of foil leaf areas including a second portion of foil leaf areas disposed generally oppositely said first portion and substantially in registry with said first plurality of foil leaf areas, said second portion of foil leaf areas being arranged in a spaced relation to one another and physically and eclectically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of a second LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair to one another and to said second electrical circuit path;
a third electrical circuit path of said plurality including a third plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said second portion of foil leaf areas and substantially in registry with said first portion of foil leaf areas of said second plurality of foil leaf areas, said third plurality of foil leaf areas being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair, andsaid one and second LED color pairs being located substantially in registry with said openings in said white masking means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-color illumination apparatus for use in backlighting a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a substrate having a plurality of circuit paths made of electrically conductive foil leaf wherein the circuit path'"'"'s configuration includes a number of tabs in a spaced relationship with one another and interleaved with tabs of an adjacent electrical circuit path. The tabs of one circuit path carry LED dies each of which produce a different color light with the anode of one and the cathode of the other connected to the tab. Leads connect the cathode of one and the anode of the other to the tabs of the adjacent circuit path. The second electrical circuit path also includes tabs in a spaced relationship with one another and located in registry with the tabs of the first electrical circuit path and also carry LED dies forming a second LED color pair. The second LED color pair is connected to tabs of a third electrical circuit which tabs are interleaved with the tabs of the second electrical circuit path. A light frame surrounds the outer peripheral marginal area of the substrate and diffuser tape covers the light frame and substrate below. A layer of reflective white ink covers the substrate surface and has openings in registry with the location of the LED color pairs.
228 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Multi-color illumination apparatus, comprising:
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substrate means having a generally planar surface for carrying foil leaf means defining a plurality of electrical circuit paths; at least one first light diode (LED) means for emitting light of a first color in response to a first excitation voltage signal applied to the LED; at least one second light emitting diode (LED) means for emitting light of a second color in response to a second excitation voltage signal applied to the LED; said first and second LED'"'"'s defining an LED color pair; reflective white masking means for covering said surface of said substrate means and having openings therethrough whereby the area of said substrate surface in registry with said openings in said white masking means is exposed; one electrical circuit path of said plurality including a first plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and defining a first electrical circuit path for physically and electrically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of one LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair to one another and to said first electrical circuit path; a second electrical circuit path of said plurality including a second plurality of foil leaf areas, a first portion of said plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said first plurality of foil leaf areas defining said first electrical circuit path, said first portion of said second plurality of foil leaf areas comprising said second electrical circuit path and being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair; said second plurality of foil leaf areas including a second portion of foil leaf areas disposed generally oppositely said first portion and substantially in registry with said first plurality of foil leaf areas, said second portion of foil leaf areas being arranged in a spaced relation to one another and physically and eclectically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of a second LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair to one another and to said second electrical circuit path; a third electrical circuit path of said plurality including a third plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said second portion of foil leaf areas and substantially in registry with said first portion of foil leaf areas of said second plurality of foil leaf areas, said third plurality of foil leaf areas being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair, and said one and second LED color pairs being located substantially in registry with said openings in said white masking means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A multi-color illumination apparatus for backlighting a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, said apparatus comprising:
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substrate means having a generally planar surface for carrying foil leaf means defining a plurality of electrical circuit paths; at least one first light diode (LED) means for emitting light of a first color in response to a first excitation voltage signal applied to the LED; at least one second light emitting diode (LED) means for emitting light of a second color in response to a second excitation voltage signal applied to the LED; said first and second LED'"'"'s defining an LED color pair; reflective white masking means for covering said surface of said substrate means and having openings therethrough whereby the area of said substrate surface in registry with said openings in said white masking means is exposed; one electrical circuit path of said plurality including a first plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and defining a first electrical circuit path for physically and electrically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of one LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair to one another and to said first electrical circuit path; a second electrical circuit path of said plurality including a second plurality of foil leaf areas, a first portion of said plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said first plurality of foil leaf areas defining said first electrical circuit path, said first portion of said second plurality of foil leaf areas comprising said second electrical circuit path and being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said one LED color pair; said second plurality of foil leaf areas including a second portion of foil leaf areas disposed generally oppositely said first portion and substantially in registry with said first plurality of foil leaf areas, said second portion of foil leaf areas being arranged in a spaced relation to one another and physically and electrically connecting the anode of said first or second LED of a second LED color pair and the cathode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair to one another and to said second electrical circuit path; a third electrical circuit path of said plurality including a third plurality of foil leaf areas arranged in a spaced relation to one another and one-for-one with said second portion of foil leaf areas and substantially in registry with said first portion of foil leaf areas of said second plurality of foil leaf areas, said third plurality of foil leaf areas being electrically connected to the cathode of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair and the anode of the other of said first or second LED of said second LED color pair; said one and second LED color pairs being located substantially in registry with said openings in said white masking means; means defining a light frame extending generally in a direction away from said substrate surface and located along the peripheral marginal area of said substrate, said light frame including an interior wall surface extending in a direction generally away from said substrate surface and toward the peripheral marginal area of said substrate to form an outwardly slanting surface whereby light from said reflective white masking means and said first and second LED color pairs incident on said interior wall surface is directed upwardly away from said substrate surface, and means for diffusing light emitted by said first and second LED color pairs, said diffusing means further comprising diffusion tape disposed opposite said substrate surface and in contact with an upper peripheral edge surface of said light frame. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification