Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,004,611 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R., Coghlan, Gregory A., Ezell, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/688,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/26, 362/339, 362/330, 362/328, 362/603, 362/606, 362/612, 362/619, 362/617, 362/620, 362/625, 349/65
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• 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 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 : Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

Optical assembly includes a light emitter and a film through which light passes from the light emitter. The film has a uniform or variable pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in one or more surface areas of the film. The deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the film. At least some of the deformities may have two or more surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the film.

Claims

1. An optical assembly comprising at least a light emitter, a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light emitter for controlling an output ray angle distribution of light emitted from at least one surface area of the light emitter to suit a particular application, the deformities being quite small in relation to a width and length of the light emitter, at least some of the deformities having at least two surfaces that come together to form a ridge having a total length that is quite small in relation to the width and length of the light emitter, at least some of the deformities interlocking or intersecting other deformities, and additional deformities that are projections or depressions on or in the opposite side of the light emitter.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the additional deformities on or in the opposite side of the light emitter are quite small in relation to a width and length of the light emitter.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein only the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter have ridges.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the additional deformities on or in the opposite side of the light emitter have ridges.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the ridges of at least some of the deformities on different sides of the light emitter are in different directions.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ridges of substantially all of the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter are in the same direction.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter have a shape or pattern that reduces moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter are random to reduce moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter have angles that vary to direct light in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.

10. An optical assembly comprising at least a light emitter, a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light emitter for controlling an output ray angle distribution of light emitted from at least one surface area of the light emitter to suit a particular application, the deformities being quite small in relation to a width and length of the light emitter, at least some of the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter interlocking or intersecting other deformities, and additional deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in an opposite side of the light emitter.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the additional deformities on or in the opposite side of the light emitter are prismatic or lenticular.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the additional deformities on or in the opposite side of the light emitter are quite small in relation to a width and length of the light emitter.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter have a shape or pattern that reduces moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the deformities on or in the one side of the light emitter are random to reduce moiré

or other interference effects in association with a display.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein at least some of the deformities on or in the one side of said light emitter have angles that vary to direct light in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.