Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,357,553 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• 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): Sember; Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US11/133,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 362/608, 362/609, 362/612, 362/613, 362/615, 362/621, 362/622, 362/231, 362/800, 362/235, 362/249, 362/329, 362/330, 362/346, 362/297, 362/606, 362/618, 362/619
• US Class Current: 362/609
• 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 light emitting panel assembly having a light transition area for receiving light from at least one light source, and at least one angled or curved reflective or refractive surface at the junction between the transition area and the panel member that causes at least some of the light in the transition area to reflect or refract. A pattern of light extracting deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member in a desired light output distribution.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising at least one light source, a light emitting panel member having a light transition area for receiving light from the light source, the panel member having a light emitting surface which is in the same plane as at least one surface of the transition area, and at least one angled or curved reflective or refractive surface at a junction between the transition area and the panel member that causes at least some of the light in the transition area to reflect or refract, the panel member having a pattern of light extracting deformities on at least one surface of the panel member that vary to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface in a desired light output distribution.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member and the transition area are one solid waveguide.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the panel member, the transition area, or the junction is hollow and filled with a liquid, gas or air.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the panel member, the transition area, or the junction has holes.

5. The assembly of claim 1 which is modular in design.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member is multi-layered.

7. The assembly of claim 1 which includes at least two light sources.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein light from multiple light sources mixes in at least a portion of the assembly.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one angled or curved surface aids in mixing the light from the multiple light sources.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the multiple light sources are different color light sources.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein different colors of light are mixed to produce a desired color light output distribution.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein different colors of light are mixed to produce a substantially white light output distribution.

13. The assembly of claim 1 which includes multiple light sources of different intensities.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a single LED with multicolored chips.

15. The assembly of claim 1 which includes multiple light sources that are different color LEDs.

16. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tray of substrate that holds or positions the panel member, transition area and junction.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one light source is positioned at an angle relative to the panel member.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one reflective or refractive surface is part of the transition area or the panel member.

19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one reflective or refractive surface is part of a slot, cavity, recess or hole for locating the at least one light source.