Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,354,184 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (Global Lighting Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffrey R.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/133,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 362/613, 362/610, 362/612, 362615-618, 362/620, 362/628, 362/607, 362/624, 362/626
• US Class Current: 362/607
• 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 assemblies include a panel member having two or more light sources, and at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned in close proximity to the panel member with an air gap or cavity therebetween. Deformities on at least one surface of the panel member cause light from the light sources that mixes in the panel member to emit from the panel member. The air gap or cavity and the film, sheet, plate or substrate improve the uniformity of the light output distribution from the assembly.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising a multilayer light emitting panel member having at least one solid light conducting or transmitting layer and at least one hollow light conducting or transmitting layer, two or more light sources positioned in at least one slot, cavity, recess or opening in the solid light conducting or transmitting layer, the solid light conducting or transmitting layer having deformities on or in at least one surface of the solid light conducting or transmitting layer to cause light from the light sources that mixes in the solid light conducting or transmitting layer to be emitted into the hollow light conducting or transmitting layer for further mixing of the light in the hollow light conducting or transmitting layer, and at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned in close proximity to the panel member to direct the light emitted from the hollow light conducting or transmitting layer in different directions to produce a desired output distribution or effect.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the two or more light sources are different color light sources.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the two or more light sources are LEDs.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the LEDs have multiple color chips.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the hollow light conducting or transmitting layer provides additional control of the light in order to improve color mixing and uniformity of the light output distribution from the panel member.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the film, sheet, plate or substrate is a diffuser, colored film, label or display, transparent overlay, reflector, or multilayered.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the film, sheet, plate or substrate has deformities that control the light output ray angle distribution from the assembly to fit a particular application.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the deformities of the film, sheet, plate or substrate are at least one of depressions or raised surfaces, prismatic surfaces, paints, inks or coatings, random, or complex in shape.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the deformities of the film, sheet, plate or substrate vary.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the hollow light conducting or transmitting layer and the film, sheet, plate or substrate provide additional control of light in order to accomplish at least one of the following:

improve uniformity of the light output distribution, reduce moiré

or other interference effects, change the light output ray angle distribution to fit a particular application, provide additional mixing of light, or improve color uniformity of the light output distribution.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member is modular in design.