Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,434,974 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• 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:
  US11/378,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/800, 362/27, 362/619, 362/613, 362/612, 362/620, 362/608, 362/609, 362/621, 362/600, 362/632, 362/634, 362/26
• US Class Current: 362/612
• 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 assembly includes a light emitting panel member received in a cavity or recess in a tray or housing. The panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface of the panel member to cause light received from at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface of the panel member to be emitted from a light emitting surface of the panel member. The tray or housing acts as an end edge and/or side edge reflector for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through the end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member for causing additional light to be emitted from the panel member.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least a light emitting panel member having a light entrance surface and a light emitting surface, at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface, and a tray or housing having a cavity or recess in which the panel member is entirely received, wherein the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and the tray or housing includes end walls and side walls that act as end edge reflectors and side edge reflectors for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through an end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member and toward the pattern of light extracting deformities for causing additional light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, wherein the tray or housing provides structural support to the panel member and has posts, tabs, or other structural features that provide a mount for mounting of the assembly into a larger assembly or device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray or housing includes a bottom wall that acts as a back reflector for the panel member.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray or housing provides a support for supporting and/or positioning a film near the panel member.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the film is at least one of a diffuser and a brightness enhancing film.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a film positioned near the light emitting surface of the panel member for changing the output ray angle distribution of the emitted light to fit a particular application.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light entrance surface is faceted to alter the light output distribution of the LED as the light enters the panel member.

7. A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least a light emitting panel member having a light entrance surface and a light emitting surface, at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface, and a tray or housing having a cavity or recess in which the panel member is entirely received, wherein the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and the tray or housing includes end walls and side walls that act as end edge reflectors and side edge reflectors for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through an end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member and toward the pattern of light extracting deformities for causing additional light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, wherein the tray or housing has posts, tabs or other structural features that provide a mount or structural support for at least one other part or component, and the tray or housing provides structural support to the panel member.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the other part or component is a liquid crystal display.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the other part or component is a printed circuit.

10. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the film is at least one of a diffuser and a brightness enhancing film.

11. The assembly of claim 7 further comprising a film positioned near the light emitting surface of the panel member for changing the output ray angle distribution of the emitted light to fit a particular application.

12. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the light entrance surface is faceted to alter the light output distribution of the LED as the light enters the panel member.

13. A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least a light emitting panel member having a light entrance surface and a light emitting surface, at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface, and a tray or housing having a cavity or recess in which the panel member is entirely received, wherein the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and the tray or housing includes end walls and side walls that act as end edge reflectors and side edge reflectors for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through an end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member and toward the pattern of light extracting deformities for causing additional light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and an additional component overlaying the panel member, the panel member having at least one of a tab, hole, cavity, or protrusion that positions the tray or housing relative to the panel member.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the tray or housing includes at least one of a recess or cavity for positioning the panel member entirely within the recess or cavity.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the additional component is a display panel.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the additional component is a film or substrate.

17. A light emitting panel assembly comprising at least a light emitting panel member having a light entrance surface and a light emitting surface, at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface, and a tray or housing having a cavity or recess in which the panel member is entirely received, wherein the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface to cause light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and the tray or housing includes end walls and side walls that act as end edge reflectors and side edge reflectors for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through an end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member and toward the pattern of light extracting deformities for causing additional light to be emitted from the light emitting surface of the panel member, and an additional component overlying the panel member, the panel member having at least one of a tab, hole, cavity or protrusion that positions the additional component relative to the panel member, wherein the at least one of a tab, hole, cavity, or protrusion holds the additional component away from the panel member to create an air gap between the panel member and the additional component.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the protrusion is molded into the panel member and extends outward therefrom.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the protrusion comprises a post extending outward from the panel member.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the additional component is a film or substrate.

21. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the light source is positioned relative to the panel member by the at least one of a tab, hole, cavity, or protrusion.

22. The assembly of claim 21 wherein the light source has a tab and the panel member has a recess to receive the tab of the light source.

23. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the tray includes at least one of a recess or cavity for positioning the panel member entirely within the recess or cavity.

24. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the additional component is a display panel.