Light emitting panel assemblies having LEDs of multiple colors

• US 7,178,965 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US11/013,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 362/240, 362/246, 362/231, 362/227, 362/230, 362/244, 362235-237, 362/362, 362/367, 362/620, 362/561, 405/64, 405/41, 405/81, 407/16, 406/09, 257/89, 257/88, 257/79, 257/90
• US Class Current: 362/620
• 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

Light emitting panel assemblies include a hollow light emitting panel member having a sheet, film or substrate attached or positioned against one or both sides thereof to produce a desired effect. A pattern of deformities or disruptions may be provided on or in the sheet, film or substrate to control the output ray angle distribution to suit a particular application.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having a light emitting surface, a hollow area containing a plurality of light sources, a transparent transition member associated with each light source, the transition member having reflective or refractive means exterior of the light sources to redirect a portion of the light from the light sources, at least one sheet, film or substrate having a plurality of optical deformities on or in at least one side of the one sheet, film or substrate, the at least one sheet, film or substrate being positioned in close proximity and generally parallel to the light emitting surface to further redirect the light to suit a particular application, and a liquid crystal display positioned in close proximity to the at least one sheet, film or substrate.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are the same color.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one sheet, film or substrate is made of a transparent light emitting material.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical deformities vary in at least one of density, opaqueness or translucence, shape, depth, color, area, index of refraction or type.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second sheet, film or substrate having a plurality of optical deformities on or in at least one side of the second sheet, film or substrate for further redirecting the light that has passed through the at least one sheet, film or substrate.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical deformities are molded, etched, stamped, thermoformed or hot stamped into or on one or more surfaces of the at least one film, sheet or substrate.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are optically coupled to the associated transition members.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are embedded, potted, bonded or molded into the associated transition members.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are different colors.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the light sources are different color LEDs.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the light sources are LEDs with multiple chips of different colors.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the transition member and the at least one sheet, film or substrate promote color mixing of the different color light sources to produce a desired light output color.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the desired color is white.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow area is formed by a recess or cavity in the panel member, and the transition member has at least one refractive surface exterior of the light sources that is shaped to redirect a portion of the light emitted by the light sources to promote mixing of the light in the hollow area.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the transition members are within the recess or cavity and the light sources are mounted within the transition members.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the light sources are optically coupled to one or more transition members within the recess or cavity.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the light sources are embedded, potted, bonded or molded into one or more transition members within the recess or cavity.

18. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the light sources are single colored light sources of different colors, and the light from the different colored light sources mixes within the hollow area exterior of the light sources to produce a desired color.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein at least some of the different colored light sources are LEDs.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein at least some of the different colored light sources are red, green and blue light sources, respectively.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the different colored light sources produce white light.

22. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the light sources are of at least two different colors, and the transition member has at least one reflective or refractive surface exterior of the light sources that is shaped to redirect a portion of the light the light sources to promote color mixing of the light from the different colored light sources in the hollow area exterior of the light sources to produce white light.

23. The assembly of claim 22 wherein at least some of the different colored light sources are red, green and blue LEDs, respectively.

24. The assembly of claim 22 wherein at least some of the different colored light sources are LEDs having multiple colored chips.

25. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the deformities are prismatic or lenticular elements extending across substantially the entire width or length of the sheet, film or substrate.

26. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the deformities are individual optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the sheet, film or substrate.

27. The assembly of claim 22 wherein at least the one reflective or refractive surface is faceted or curved.

28. The assembly of claim 22 wherein different reflective or refractive surfaces are associated with different ones of the light sources and are shaped to redirect a portion of the light from the different light sources to promote color mixing of the light from all of the light sources in the hollow area exterior of the light sources to produce white light.

29. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the light sources are contained within the transition member.

30. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the light sources are optically coupled to one or more transition members within the recess or cavity.

31. The assembly of claim 22 wherein the light sources are embedded, potted, bonded or molded into one or more transition members within the recess or cavity.