Lighting element with a light emitting diode

• US 7,186,012 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diehl Aviation Laupheim GmbH
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE), Diehl Luftfahrt Electronik GmbH
• Inventors: Kohlmeier-Beckmann, Carsten, Schevardo, Dirk-Achim
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/888,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/581, 362/267, 362/310, 362/470, 362/147, 362/365, 362/612, 362/615, 362/620, 362/619, 362/153, 362/804, 362/153.1, 200/314
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/43 General lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0038 Illumination systems for cabins as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/02 of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting element has a light emitting diode that is installed in a light carrier. The lighting element has a light guide element that is optically coupled to the light emitting diode and the light guide element has a smaller light exit surface than the light emitting diode. With a plurality of such lighting elements it is possible to embody an effect lighting configuration for example in an aircraft cabin.

Claims

1. A lighting element, comprising:

a light emitting diode being releasably fixed in a light carrier and defining a closed space above said light emitting diode, said light emitting diode having a light-emitting surface;

a light guide element installed in the light carrier and optically coupled to said light emitting diode, said light guide element having a light exit surface being smaller than said light-emitting surface of said light emitting diode and being flush a surface of the light carrier, said light guide element having a recess formed therein being shaped for plugging-in said light emitting diode with a large part of said light-emitting surface of said light emitting diode being enclosed by said light guide element; and

said light emitting diode and said light guide element defining an air gap therebetween.

2. The lighting element according to claim 1, wherein said light exit surface of said light guide element is at least one of flat and roughened.

3. The lighting element according to claim 1, further comprising silicone cast around said light emitting diode.

4. The lighting element according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve installed in said light carrier, said light emitting diode and said light guide element are held in said sleeve.

5. The lighting element according to claim 4, wherein said sleeve is glued in the light carrier and has passages formed therein through which excess adhesive can escape to an exterior of the light carrier.

6. The lighting element according to claim 1, wherein the light carrier is a ceiling or wall of an aircraft cabin, said light emitting diode emits white light.

7. The lighting element according to claim 1, wherein the lighting element is part of a lighting configuration.

8. A lighting element, comprising:

a light emitting diode to be installed in a light carrier;

a light guide element optically coupled to said light emitting diode, said light guide element having a smaller light exit surface than said light emitting diode;

a sleeve having an end face and being installed in the light carrier, said light emitting diode and said light guide element being held in said sleeve; and

said light exit surface of said light guide element, said end face of said sleeve and a surface of the light carrier being flush.