Illumination device for simulating neon lighting through use of fluorescent dyes

• US 7,011,421 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminii Purchaser, LLC
• Original Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Inventors: Hulse, George R., Eriksson, Eric Olav, Cleaver, Mark J., Dominick, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/455,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 362/293, 362/231, 362/219, 362/235, 362/84, 362/800, 362/260, 257/98, 313/501, 313/503, 313/502, 313/512, 313/506
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/30 of light guides doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre

Abstract

An illumination device simulates neon lighting and allows for emission of light in colors that cannot ordinarily be achieved by use of LEDs alone through the incorporation of a light color conversion system into the illumination device. This light color conversion system comprises an intermediate light-transmitting medium tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes. Light emitted from the light source of the illumination device is directed into the intermediate light-transmitting medium and interacts with the fluorescent dyes contained therein. This light is partially absorbed by each of the fluorescent dyes of the intermediate light-transmitting medium, and a lower-energy light is then emitted from each of the fluorescent dyes and into the light-receiving surface of the waveguide. Thus, selection of appropriate combinations of dyes results in various colors being emitted from the illumination device.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a light source emitting light of a predetermined first hue;

a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length and positioned adjacent said light source, said member being composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties so as to preferentially scatter light along the length of said rod-like member; and

an intermediate member generally composed of a matrix of light-transmitting material and one or more light-fluorescing dyes, said intermediate member including a light-receiving surface for receiving light emitted from said light source and a light-emitting surface for emitting light into said rod-like member, each of said light-fluorescing dyes emitting light of a predetermined wavelength following absorption of light from said light source, wherein a collective light ultimately emitted from said rod-like member is of a second hue with a substantially uniform intensity along the length of said rod-like member.

2. The illumination device as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined hue of said light source is blue.

3. The illumination device as recited in claim 2, wherein said second hue is substantially white.

4. The illumination device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second hue is substantially white.

5. The illumination device as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

6. The illumination device as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a housing extending substantially the predetermined length of said rod-like member and housing said light source and associated electrical accessories.

7. The illumination device as recited in claim 6, wherein said housing generally comprises a pair of side walls that define an open-ended channel, said light source being received and housed in said open-ended channel.

8. The illumination device as recited in claim 7, and further comprising one or more collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said side walls, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said intermediate member.

9. The illumination device as recited in claim 7, wherein external surfaces of said side walls are provided with a light-absorbing material.

10. The illumination device as recited in claim 6, and further comprising one or more light collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said housing, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said intermediate member.

11. The illumination device as recited in claim 1, wherein the matrix of light-transmitting material is polyurethane.

12. An illumination device, comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting diodes emitting light of a predetermined first color; and

a light color conversion system, including

a light-receiving surface positioned adjacent said light-emitting diodes,

a light-emitting surface, and

one or more fluorescent dyes, each of said dyes emitting light of one or more predetermined wavelengths following absorption of light from said light-emitting diodes and from other of said fluorescent dyes, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system is perceived as having a color different than the predetermined first color of light emitted by said light-emitting diodes; and

a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member being positioned adjacent the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system.

13. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein the predetermined first color is blue.

14. The illumination device as recited in claim 13, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system is perceived as white light by an observer.

15. The illumination device as recited in claim 13, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system has color coordinates within the white region defined by the CIE Chromaticity diagram.

16. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system is perceived as white light by an observer.

17. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said light color conversion system has color coordinates within the white region defined by the CIE Chromaticity diagram.

18. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein said substantially rod-like member is composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, resulting in an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member along said predetermined length.

19. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, and further comprising a housing extending substantially the predetermined length of said rod-like member and housing said plurality of light-emitting diodes and associated electrical accessories.

20. The illumination device as recited in claim 19, wherein said housing generally comprises a pair of side walls that define an open-ended channel, said plurality of light-emitting diodes being received and housed in said open-ended channel.

21. The illumination device as recited in claim 20, and further comprising one or more collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said side walls, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said light color conversion system.

22. The illumination device as recited in claim 20, wherein external surfaces of said side walls are provided with a light-absorbing material.

23. The illumination device as recited in claim 19, and further comprising one or more light collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said housing, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said light color conversion system.

24. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein the light color conversion system is substantially composed of polyurethane.

25. The illumination device as recited in claim 12, wherein the light color conversion system is comprised of a plurality of light-transmitting fluorescent layers.

26. An illumination device, comprising:

a light source;

an intermediate light-transmitting medium extending along and positioned adjacent said light source, said intermediate light-transmitting medium being tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes; and

a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, said member being composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member being positioned adjacent said intermediate light-transmitting medium;

wherein light emitted from said light source and having a first perceived color is partially absorbed by the predetermined combination of fluorescent dyes of said intermediate light-transmitting medium, such that light transmitted through said intermediate light-transmitting medium to the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member has a second perceived color resulting from a collective light of multiple wavelengths; and

wherein the optical and light scattering properties of said rod-like member result in an elongated light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member along said predetermined length.

27. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

28. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, wherein the first perceived color is blue.

29. The illumination device as recited in claim 28, wherein the second perceived color is white.

30. The illumination device as recited in claim 28, wherein the second perceived color has color coordinates within the white region defined by the CIE Chromaticity diagram.

31. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, wherein the second perceived color is white.

32. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, wherein the second perceived color has color coordinates within the white region defined by the CIE Chromaticity diagram.

33. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, and further comprising a housing extending substantially the predetermined length of said rod-like member, said housing including a pair of side walls that define an open-ended channel, said light source being received and housed in said open-ended channel.

34. The illumination device as recited in claim 33, and further comprising one or more light collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said housing, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said intermediate light-transmitting medium.

35. The illumination device as recited in claim 33, wherein external surfaces of said housing are provided with a light-absorbing material.

36. The illumination device as recited in claim 26, wherein the intermediate light-transmitting medium is comprised of a plurality of light-transmitting fluorescent layers.

37. The illumination device as recited in claim 36, wherein each light-transmitting fluorescent layer is tinted with a separate and predetermined combination of one or more of the fluorescent dyes.

38. An illumination device, comprising:

a light source;

an intermediate light-transmitting medium extending along and positioned adjacent said light source, said intermediate light-transmitting medium being tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes; and

a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, said member being composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and the light-receiving surface of said member being positioned adjacent said intermediate light-transmitting medium;

wherein light of a predetermined wavelength is emitted from said light source and is partially absorbed by the predetermined combination of dyes of said intermediate light-transmitting medium and causes each of said dyes to emit light of a particular wavelength, such that light transmitted through said intermediate light-transmitting medium to the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member is a collective light of multiple wavelengths; and

wherein the optical and light scattering properties of said rod-like member result in an elongated light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member along said predetermined length.

39. The illumination device as recited in claim 38, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

40. The illumination device as recited in claim 38, wherein the collective light of multiple wavelengths is perceived as white light by an observer.

41. The illumination device as recited in claim 38, and further comprising a housing extending substantially the predetermined length of said rod-like member, said housing including a pair of side walls that define an open-ended channel, said light source being received and housed in said open-ended channel.

42. The illumination device as recited in claim 41, and further comprising one or more light collection surfaces provided on internal surfaces of said housing, said light collection surfaces collecting and reflecting light into said intermediate light-transmitting medium.

43. The illumination device as recited in claim 42, wherein external surfaces of said housing are provided with a light-absorbing material.

44. A method of constructing an illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising the steps of:

providing a light source;

positioning a light-transmitting medium adjacent said light source, said light-transmitting medium being tinted with one or more fluorescent dyes, such that when light of a predetermined wavelength is emitted from said light source and is partially absorbed by the dyes of said light-transmitting medium, each of said dyes emit light of a particular wavelength, such that light emitted from said light-transmitting medium is a collective light of multiple wavelengths;

positioning a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface adjacent said light-transmitting medium, such that when the collective light of multiple wavelengths is transmitted through said light-transmitting medium to the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member, an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern is perceived on the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member along said predetermined length.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, wherein said substantially rod-like member is composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties.

46. An illumination device, comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting diodes emitting light of a predetermined first color; and

a light color conversion system, including

a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member being positioned adjacent said light-emitting diodes,

one or more fluorescent dyes contained in said substantially rod-like member, each of said dyes emitting light of one or more predetermined wavelengths following absorption of light from said light-emitting diodes and from other of said fluorescent dyes, wherein light observed along the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member is perceived as having a color different than the predetermined first color of light emitted by said light-emitting diodes.

47. The illumination device as recited in claim 46, wherein said substantially rod-like member is composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, resulting in an elongated and substantially uniform light intensity pattern on the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member along said predetermined length.