Lighting elements including light emitting diodes, microprism sheet, reflector, and diffusing agent

• US 6,330,111 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Greenberg, Michael Perry
• Original Assignee: Edward Greenberg Kenneth J. Myers
• Inventors: Myers, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THONG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/640,024
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 359/599, 359/707, 359/831-837, 349/56-71, 362/29, 362/31, 362/237, 362/241, 362/247, 362/197, 385/133, 385/901
• US Class Current: 359/599
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/005 using microprisms
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

Lighting elements employing multiple light emitting diodes and a diffusive agent such as a microprism sheet, a gas, or a gel, include a video monitor, a light bulb, a neon tube replacement, and a large area compound light panel. Each of the lighting elements may include light emitting diodes of different colors to provide color lighting effects.

Claims

1. A lighting element, comprising:

a reflector;

a diffusive agent;

a plurality of small discrete light sources arranged in a plurality of rows, each row including a plurality of said small discrete light sources,

wherein each of said small discrete light sources is positioned between the reflector and the diffusive agent, said diffusive agent being arranged to diffuse light from said small discrete light sources in order to provide a uniform, wide area lighting effect.

2. A lighting element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the small discrete light sources are light emitting diodes.

3. A lighting element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diffusive agent is a microprism sheet.

4. A lighting element as claimed in claim 3, wherein said light emitting diodes have different colors.

5. A lighting element as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light emitting diodes are arranged as pixels and connected to a video color input to form a video display screen.

6. A lighting element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said diffusive agent is a diffusive agent selected form the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, and a gel.

7. A lighting element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light emitting diodes are arranged as pixels and connected to a video input.

8. A lighting element as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light emitting diodes have different colors and are connected to a video color input to form a video display screen.

9. A lighting element as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lighting element is positioned in a housing resembling a housing of a light bulb.

10. A lighting element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting element is positioned in a housing resembling a housing of a light bulb.

11. A lighting element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lighting element is formed into one of a plurality of tubes, and said plurality of tubes are positioned with a second diffuser to form a large area light panel or tile.

12. A lighting element as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second diffuser is a microprism sheet.