Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,374,305 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• 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): Choi; Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/133,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20050213322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/800, 362/27, 362/310, 362/235, 362/299, 362/300, 362/302, 362/606, 362/612, 362/600, 405/44, 405/46
• US Class Current: 362/26
• 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 member having at least one light source positioned, embedded, potted, bonded or otherwise mounted in a shaped slot, cavity, recess, opening or hole in the panel member. Deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member. At least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface in close proximity to the light source redirects some of the light to fit a particular application.

Claims

1. A light emitting assembly comprising a solid light emitting panel member having a greater width than thickness and two or more separate parts or modular components each having opposite sides and side edges and end edges, at least one of the edges of the parts or components facing each other in axial or transverse alignment with each other and in close proximity to one another, at least one light source positioned, embedded, potted, bonded or otherwise mounted in a cavity, recess, opening or hole in at least one of the parts or components, the cavity, recess, opening or hole or protrusion having at least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface that redirects at least some of the light within the panel member, and a pattern of deformities on or in at least one of the sides of at least one of the parts or components that vary to cause light from the light source that is internally reflected within the panel member to be emitted from the panel member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the angled, faceted or curved surface extends around opposite side portions of the light source.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the angled, faceted or curved surface is spaced inwardly from the side edges and end edges of the one part or component.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the one part or component is received in a correspondingly shaped cavity or recess in another part or component.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the end edges and side edges of the one part or component are in close proximity to and in axial or transverse alignment with end and side edges of the cavity or recess in the another part or component.

6. The assembly of claim 1 which includes two or more multiple color light sources, wherein the light from the light sources is mixed in at least the one part or component.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the light from the multiple color light sources is mixed to produce white light.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a sheet or film with deformities on or in at least one side of the sheet or film is positioned in closely spaced overlying relation to one side of the panel member with a gap therebetween to direct the light emitted from the panel member in different directions to produce a desired light output distribution or effect.