OLED lighting apparatus

• US 6,819,036 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Cok, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Vip
• Application Number:
  US10/156,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 313/498, 313/512, 313/318.01, 313/318.07, 313/318.09, 313/3
• US Class Current: 313/318.01
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7076 for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/205 secured to structure or printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED

Abstract

Lighting apparatus includes: a solid state area illumination light source having, a substrate, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited upon the substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer, an encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer, and first and second conductors located on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source; and a socket for removably receiving and holding the light source and having first electrical contacts for making electrical connection to the first and second conductors of the light source, and second electrical contacts for making electrical connection to an external power source.

Claims

1. Lighting apparatus, comprising:

a) a solid state area illumination light source having,

i) a substrate;

ii) an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited upon the substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer;

iii) an encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer; and

iv) first and second conductors located on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source; and

b) a socket for removably receiving and holding the light source and having first electrical contacts for making direct physical and electrical connection to the first and second conductors of the light source, and second electrical contacts for making electrical connection to an external power source.

2. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate defines a body portion and one or more tab portions;

the first and second conductors being located on the tab portion(s) and wherein the socket defines an aperture for receiving the tab.

3. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the substrate defines tabs that are located at opposite edges of the substrate.

4. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second conductors are located at opposite edges of the substrate.

5. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 2, wherein the tab portion of the substrate defines an orientation feature and the aperture defines a complementary orientation feature.

6. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second conductors are located at one or more edges of the substrate.

7. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source emits light from one side of the substrate and the first and second conductors are located on an opposite side of the substrate.

8. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is rigid and planar.

9. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is a coated layer.

10. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is a hermetically sealed cover plate.

11. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the OLED layer is continuous over the substrate.

12. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source operates on standard power selected from the group consisting of 110 volt AC, 220 volt AC, 24 volt DC, 12 volt DC, and 6 volt DC.

13. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is transparent and the light source emits light through the substrate.

14. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 13, wherein the transparent substrate includes a light diffusing surface.

15. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the encapsulating cover is transparent and the light source emits light through the encapsulating cover.

16. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 15, wherein the transparent cover includes a light diffusing surface.

17. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is flexible.

18. The lighting apparatus claimed claim 1, further comprising a transparent or translucent housing enclosing the light source.

19. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a converter connected between the first and second electrical contacts for converting power from the external power source to a form useable by the OLED layer.

20. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 19, wherein the converter is located in the socket.

21. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 19, wherein the converter converts AC line voltage to a voltage useable by the OLED layer.

22. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket includes a power switch to control power to the first and second conductors.

23. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket includes a brightness control unit.

24. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 23, wherein the brightness control unit includes a variable resistive switch.

25. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 24, wherein the variable resistive switch is operated by a rotating ring located on the socket.

26. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket is adapted to be received by and make electrical contact with a standard light socket.

27. The lighting apparatus claimed in claim 1, further comprising third electrical contacts for making contact with the first and second conductors when the tab portion is inserted into the aperture of the socket in a different orientation.

28. A solid state area illumination light source having,

a) a substrate;

b) an organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited upon the substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer;

c) an encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer; and

d) first and second conductors located on the substrate and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source; and

e) wherein the substrate defines a body portion and one or more tab portions adapted to be received by a socket having electrical contacts connected to an external power source;

the first and second conductors being located on the tab portion(s) for making direct physical and electrical contact with the electrical contacts in the socket.

29. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the substrate defines tabs that are located at opposite edges of the substrate.

30. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the first and second conductors are located at one or more edges of the substrate.

31. The light source claimed in claim 30, wherein the first and second conductors are located at opposite edges of the substrate.

32. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the light source emits light from one side of the substrate and the first and second conductors are located on an opposite side of the substrate.

33. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the substrate is rigid and planar.

34. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the cover is a coated layer.

35. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the cover is a hermetically sealed cover plate.

36. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the OLED layer is continuous over the substrate.

37. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the light source operates on standard power selected from the group consisting of 110 volt AC, 220 volt AC, 24 volt DC, 12 volt DC, and 6 volt DC.

38. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the substrate is transparent and the light source emits light through the substrate.

39. The light source claimed in claim 38, wherein the transparent substrate includes a light diffusing surface.

40. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the encapsulating cover is transparent and the light source emits light through the encapsulating cover.

41. The light source claimed in claim 40, wherein the transparent cover includes a light diffusing surface.

42. The light source claimed in claim 28, wherein the substrate is flexible.

43. The light source claimed claim 28, further comprising a transparent or translucent housing enclosing the light source.

44. The light source claimed in claim 29, wherein the tab portion of the substrate defines an orientation feature and the aperture defines a complementary orientation feature.

45. The light source claimed in claim 28, further comprising third electrical contacts for making contact with the first and second conductors when the tab portion is inserted into the aperture of the socket in a different orientation.