Luminous display element with a light coupled into a light conducting housing

• US 6,173,517 B1
• Filed: 03/06/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OPTO System GmbH
• Original Assignee: OSA Elektronik GmbH (Havells India Limited)
• Inventors: Eibner, Wolfgang, Albrecht, Wolf, Illner, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hewitt, James M
• Application Number:
  US09/036,382
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 405/50, 405/47, 405/44, 362/800, 362/240, 362/216, 362/812
• US Class Current: 40/544
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0422 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/145 curved reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A luminous display element having a light line positioned within a light-housing. The light line includes a series of SMD-LED-components arranged on a carrier material. On either end of the carrier material are connection elements which allow the carrier material to connect to other lights. The light-housing has a non-rectangular cross-section, and its length is multiple times its height. Depending upon the desired form of illumination, the light line can be arranged either within the light-housing, or outside the light-housing and extend along its longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A luminous display element comprising:

a light line comprising a series of SMD-LED-components arranged on a carrier material, said carrier material having electric connection elements; and

an elongated light-conducting housing having a longitudinal axis extending along a length, wherein said light line is disposed within said light-conducting housing and extends along the longitudinal axis of the housing, the light-conducting housing has a recess for receiving the carrier material and comprises a reflector and a matching transparent cover having a substantially t-shaped cross-section, said light-conducting housing has at least one transparent surface serving as a light entry and exit surface, wherein any remaining surfaces on the light-conducting housing are designed as light reflecting.

2. The display element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflector and said matching transparent cover are coupled together to form a rectangular cross-section, said light line being arranged on a surface of the reflector, and wherein the connection between the reflector and the light-conducting housing is designed to conduct light.

3. The display element as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a separate light-conducting housing designed as a light bar that conducts light and that is disposed on a light exit surface of the light-conducting housing wherein said light line conducts light out of said light-conducting housing and into said separate light-conducting housing.