Illumination device for simulating neon of a predetermined design and method for making same
First Claim
1. An illumination device for simulating neon, comprising:
- a substantially rigid power control board having an upper surface;
a light source secured to and arranged on the upper surface of said control board in a predetermined design;
at least one sidewall secured to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of said rigid power control board, thereby forming a channel substantially enclosing the light source;
an essentially solid waveguide having a light-emitting surface and a light-receiving surface, said waveguide being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and said waveguide being formed in the predetermined design of said light source and secured within said channel adjacent said light source, such that light entering the light-receiving surface of said waveguide from the light source is directed along at least a portion of said waveguide and preferentially scattered into an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said waveguide; and
a light-transmitting material filling a portion of the volume of the channel between the power control board and the waveguide.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination device for simulating neon of a predetermined design includes a substantially rigid power control board, a light source, at least one sidewall, and a waveguide. Light entering the lower lateral surface of the waveguide from the adjacent light source is directed along at least a portion of the length of the waveguide before being emitted from the light-emitting lateral surface of the waveguide, resulting in an essentially uniform light intensity pattern over its entire light-emitting surface. The control board is preferably a printed circuit board, prepopulated with multiple point light sources which are electrically connected to one another and are secured to and arranged in a predetermined design on the control board.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An illumination device for simulating neon, comprising:
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a substantially rigid power control board having an upper surface; a light source secured to and arranged on the upper surface of said control board in a predetermined design; at least one sidewall secured to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of said rigid power control board, thereby forming a channel substantially enclosing the light source; an essentially solid waveguide having a light-emitting surface and a light-receiving surface, said waveguide being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and said waveguide being formed in the predetermined design of said light source and secured within said channel adjacent said light source, such that light entering the light-receiving surface of said waveguide from the light source is directed along at least a portion of said waveguide and preferentially scattered into an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said waveguide; and a light-transmitting material filling a portion of the volume of the channel between the power control board and the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An illumination device for simulating neon, comprising:
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a substantially rigid power control board having an upper surface; a light source secured to and arranged on the upper surface of said control board in a predetermined design; at least one sidewall secured to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of said rigid power control board, thereby forming a channel substantially enclosing the light source; and an essentially solid and elongated waveguide rod having a light-emitting surface and a light-receiving surface, said waveguide rod being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and said waveguide rod being formed in the predetermined design of said light source and secured within said channel adjacent said light source, such that light entering the light-receiving surface of said waveguide rod from the light source is directed along at least a portion of said waveguide rod and preferentially scattered into an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said waveguide rod. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An illumination device for simulating neon, comprising:
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a substantially rigid power control board having an upper surface; a light source secured to and arranged on the upper surface of said control board in a predetermined design of an alphanumeric character; at least one sidewall secured to and extending upwardly from the upper surface of said rigid power control board, thereby forming a channel substantially enclosing the light source; an essentially solid waveguide having a light-emitting surface and a light-receiving surface, said waveguide being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and said waveguide being formed in the predetermined design of said light source and secured within said channel adjacent said light source, such that light entering the light-receiving surface of said waveguide from the light source is directed along at least a portion of said waveguide and preferentially scattered into an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification