White-LED luminous signalling device

• US 6,486,790 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: Farina, Silvia, Repetto, Piermario, Perlo, Piero, Pullini, Daniele, Lambertini, Vito
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/717,024
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.45, 340/815.56, 340/815.65, 340/330, 340/332, 340/321, 356/601, 359/707, 362/800, 362/812
• US Class Current: 340/815.45
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A luminous signalling device comprises a body made of transparent synthetic material, basically in the form of a plate having two larger faces set opposite one another, at least one of which carries an image. A plurality of LED devices of the SMD type which emit white light is coupled externally to at least one of the walls that define the peripheral edge of the aforesaid plate body. The arrangement is such that the rays of white light coming out of the LED devices undergo multiple total reflections within the plate body, which thus functions as a light guide. In areas corresponding to selected areas of the image, the face of the plate body is made up of diffusing optical elements designed to diffuse outwards the rays of light that are incident on said areas within the body.

Claims

1. A luminous signalling device comprising:

a body made of transparent synthetic material, basically in the form of a plate having two larger faces set opposite to one another, at least one of which bears an image, two end walls, and two longitudinal walls;

a plurality of LED devices, part of which designed to emit white light, and part of which designed to emit green light, externally coupled to at least one of said end walls or said longitudinal walls, the arrangement being such that the rays of white light coming out of said LED devices undergo multiple total reflections within the plate body, which thus functions as a light guide; and

a distribution of diffusing, diffractive optical elements formed on the face bearing the image in areas corresponding to selected areas of the image designed to diffuse outwards the rays of light that are incident on said areas from within the plate.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said body is made of a material chosen from between polymethyl methacrylate and polycarbonate.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein each LED device comprises a LED that emits blue light associated to an epoxy-resin matrix englobing multicolour phosphors.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said LED devices have a light-emission cone with a 60°

×

30°

divergence.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said LED devices are applied to the plate body by means of a layer of glue.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said diffusing optical elements are diffractive or refractive lenses.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said diffusing optical elements are formed by moulding or pressing (for example by injection moulding or hot pressing) on the face of the plate body of the device.

8. A device according to claim 1, in which said image presents a lighter-coloured shape on a darker background, and wherein said diffusing optical elements are formed in areas corresponding to the light-coloured shape.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein it comprises diffusing optical elements also in areas corresponding to the dark background of the image.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided with the image on both larger faces.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein it presents the image on a single face and is provided with a reflecting coating on the opposite face.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein it is provided with LEDs on a single wall of the body, or on two opposite walls of the body, or on all four walls of the body, and moreover has a reflecting coating on the walls of the body that are without LEDs.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the aforesaid image is obtained by means of silk-screen printing.

14. A luminous signalling device comprising a panel bearing an image, said panel being formed with diffusing prisms in areas corresponding to selected areas of the image, and a plurality of white-light emitting LEDs supported in such a way that they diffuse the corresponding cones of light on said selected areas of the image, said diffusing prisms having a solid angle of light diffusion, the central axis of which is inclined with respect to an axis normal to the panel.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein in front of each LED device is set a means, consisting of a lens, a prism, or a reflector, for shaping the beam emitted.