Illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting in various colors

• US 7,264,367 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Original Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Inventors: Hulse, George R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US11/383,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20060198119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/231, 362/240, 362/242, 362/243, 362/246, 362/249, 362/251, 362/295, 362/394, 362/555, 362/558, 362/610, 362/612, 362/800, 362/27, 362/26
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• 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 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array

Abstract

An illumination device has a light source, a waveguide, and a light-transmitting medium. The light source emits light of a first color. The waveguide has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties. The light-transmitting medium is composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a pigment, and is positioned between the light source and the waveguide such that a portion of the light emitted by the light source passes around the light-transmitting medium and reaches the waveguide directly, and a portion of the emitted light is received by the light-transmitting medium. The pigment changes a portion of the received light to a light of a second color. The waveguide receives and mixes the light of the first color and the light of the second color, and emits light of a combined color.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a light source emitting light of a first color;

a waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties; and

a light-transmitting medium composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a pigment, said light-transmitting medium positioned between said light source and said waveguide such that a portion of said light emitted by said light source passes around said light-transmitting medium and reaches said waveguide directly and a portion of said light emitted by said light source is received by said light-transmitting medium, said pigment changing a portion of said light of said first color to a light of a second color, said light-transmitting medium emitting said light of said second color;

wherein said waveguide receives said light of said first color and said light of said second color, mixes said light via said light scattering and optical waveguide properties to create light of a combined color that is a combination of the first color and the second color, and emits said light of said combined color.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises a profiled rod having a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, wherein said light source extends along and is positioned adjacent said light-receiving surface and said light-transmitting transmitting medium, and is spaced a sufficient distance from said light-emitting surface to create an elongated and uniform light intensity pattern along said light-emitting surface.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, wherein said light source is a plurality of point light sources spaced a distance apart sufficient to permit the mapping of the light emitted by each point light source into the light-transmitting medium and the waveguide so as to create elongated and overlapping light intensity patterns along the light-emitting surface so that the light intensity pattern is uniform over the entire light-emitting surface.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein said point light sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

5. The illumination device of claim 4, and further comprising a housing extending substantially the length of said waveguide and containing said LEDs.

6. The illumination device of claim 5, wherein said housing generally comprises a pair of side walls that define a channel.

7. The illumination device of claim 6, wherein said side walls have internal surfaces, said internal surfaces reflecting light into said light-transmitting medium and said waveguide.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said pigment has non-photoluminescent properties.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said pigment is a fluorescent dye.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein said pigment is a phosphorescent dye.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, and further comprising a means for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said light source such that said light of said combined color varies with said varying intensity of said light emitted by said light source.

12. The illumination device of claim 11, wherein said means for varying the intensity of the light emitted by the light source is a control device controlling a waveform of a power signal to said light source, including the shape, duty cycle, amplitude, and frequency of the power signal waveform.

13. The illumination device of claim 12, wherein said waveform of the power signal to said light source is selected from the group consisting of:

square wave and sine wave.

14. An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprising:

a housing comprising a pair of side walls defining a channel;

a plurality of LEDs contained within said housing, said plurality of LEDs emitting light of a first color;

a waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, said waveguide positioned along said housing; and

a light-transmitting medium composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a pigment, said light-transmitting medium positioned between said plurality of LEDs and said waveguide such that a portion of said light emitted by said plurality of LEDs passes around said light-transmitting medium and reaches said waveguide directly, and a portion of said light emitted by said LEDs is received by said light-transmitting medium, said pigment changing a portion of said received light to a light of a second color, said light-transmitting medium emitting said light of said second color;

wherein said waveguide receives said light of said first color and said light of said second color, mixes said light via said light scattering and optical waveguide properties to create light of a combined color that is a combination of said first color and said second color, and emits said light of said combined color.

15. The illumination device of claim 14, wherein said waveguide comprises a profiled rod having a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, wherein said light source extends along and is positioned adjacent said light-receiving surface and said light-transmitting medium, and is spaced a sufficient distance from said light-emitting surface to create an elongated and uniform light intensity pattern along said light-emitting surface.

16. The illumination device of claim 15, wherein individual LEDs of said plurality of LEDs are spaced a distance apart sufficient to permit the mapping of the light emitted by each LED into the light-transmitting medium and the waveguide so as to create elongated and overlapping light intensity patterns along the light-emitting surface so that the light intensity pattern is uniform over the entire light-emitting surface.

17. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein said side walls have internal surfaces, said internal surfaces reflecting light into said light-transmitting medium and said waveguide.

18. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein said pigment has non-photoluminescent properties.

19. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein said pigment is a fluorescent dye.

20. The illumination device of claim 17, wherein said pigment is a phosphorescent dye.

21. The illumination device of claim 20, and further comprising a means for varying the intensity of the light emitted by said plurality of LEDs such that said light of said combined color varies with said varying intensity of said light source.

22. The illumination device of claim 21, wherein said means for varying the intensity of the light emitted by the light source is a control device controlling a waveform of a power signal to said light source, including the shape, duty cycle, amplitude, and frequency of the power signal waveform.

23. A method of operating an illumination device having a light source for emitting light of a first color, a waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties, and a light-transmitting medium composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a photoluminescent pigment, said light-transmitting medium positioned between said light source and said waveguide such that a portion of any light emitted by said light source will pass around said light-transmitting medium and reach said waveguide directly and a portion of any light emitted by said light source will be received by said light-transmitting medium, said method including the steps of:

increasing the intensity of light of said first color emitted by said light source, a portion of said emitted light being received by said light-transmitting medium and absorbed by said photoluminescent pigment, wherein said waveguide receives said light of a first color and emits a light substantially of said first color;

maintaining said intensity of said light source, said photoluminescent pigment converting said absorbed light to a light of a second color, said light-transmitting medium emitting said light of said second color, wherein said waveguide receives said light of said first color and said light of said second color, mixes said light via said light scattering and optical waveguide properties to create light of a combined color that is a combination of said light of said first color and said light of said second color, and emits said light of said combined color; and

reducing said intensity of said light source, said photoluminescent pigment continuing to emit said light of said second color, wherein said waveguide receives said light of said second color and emits light substantially of said second color.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

varying said intensity of said light emitted by said light source, such that said waveguide emits light having a color that varies with said varying intensity of said light emitted by said light source.