Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,195,389 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Issued: 03/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delaware Display Group LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R., Ezell, Robert M., Coghlan, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/619,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/545, 362/800, 362/608, 362/609, 362/610, 362/612, 362/613, 362/617, 362/618, 362/624, 362/606, 362/607, 362/619
• 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

Light emitting panel assemblies include a light emitting panel member having a uniform or variable pattern of light extracting deformities of well defined shapes in or on one or more surface areas of the light emitting panel member. The size and shape as well as the depth and angular orientation and position or location of the light extracting deformities may vary along the length and/or width of a panel surface area to obtain a desired light output distribution from the panel surface area. Also, at least some of the deformities may have planar surfaces in parallel spaced relation to a panel surface area. A focused light source may be insert molded or cast within a light transition area of the light emitting panel member to focus the light on an input surface of the light transition area with predetermined ray angles to fit a particular application. Molded supports may be provided on the panel member for supporting other parts or components in spaced relation therefrom. In another embodiment of the invention, an array of light sources may be mounted on a printed circuit board for directing light through a diffuser or lens mounted in spaced relation to the light sources for use in phototherapy treatment or the like.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having at least one input edge, at least one light source optically coupled to a portion of the width of the input edge, and a pattern of individual light extracting deformities on or in at least one panel surface of the panel member for producing a desired light output from the panel member, each of the deformities having a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of the panel surface and also having a well defined shape, a majority of the deformities at different locations across the width and length of the panel surface having at least one light extracting surface that is angled at different orientations relative to the input edge depending on the location of the deformities on the panel surface to face the portion of the input edge to which the light source is optically coupled, wherein a plurality of light sources are optically coupled to different portions of the width of the input edge, and at least one light extracting surface of different ones of the majority of the deformities at different locations across the width of the panel surface is angled at different orientations relative to the input edge to face different portions of the input edge to which the different light sources are optically coupled.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the majority of the deformities are arranged in radial rows in a radial pattern across the width and length of the panel surface with the light extracting surface of the deformities in each radial row in radial alignment with different portions of the input edge to which the different light sources are optically coupled.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light extracting surface of at least some of the deformities is curved.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light extracting surface of at least some of the deformities is planar.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein substantially all of the deformities across the width and length of the panel member have at least the one light extracting surface that is oriented to face the different portions of the input edge to which the different light sources are optically coupled.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deformities have two or more intersecting surfaces that intersect the panel surface and intersect each other, at least one of the intersecting surfaces of the deformities comprising the light extracting surface of the deformities that is oriented to face the different portions of the input edge to which the different light sources are optically coupled.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the intersection of the intersecting surfaces of the deformities forms a ridge.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the light extracting surface of at least some of the deformities is planar.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the light extracting surface of at least some of the deformities is curved.