Illumination system

• US 7,766,526 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iSky Panel Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iSky Panel Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Graham, Jeff, Dwyer, Daniel, Hildebrant, J. Boyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y
• Application Number:
  US11/854,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/554, 362/555, 362/583, 362/561, 362/565, 362/145, 362/153, 362/153.1, 362/351, 362/293, 362/321, 349/1, 349/5, 349/6, 349/119, 349/18, 349/61, 353/30, 353/84
• US Class Current: 362/554
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/0435 having connection means at the edges
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 9/045 being laminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/13 the light being emitted at the end of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

Disclosed is an illumination device. The device includes a light engine in an acoustic tile that introduces light into a plurality of optical fibers using an LED. In between the LED and the fiber ends, an LCD is used to modify the light introduced. To do this, the LCD is programmed to display petal-shaped sections which individually change in contrast to become more occluded and then more transparent. This creates an aesthetically pleasing effect resembling stars.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a body;

a housing including an LED;

liquid crystal display (LCD);

a plurality of fiber optic fibers, each of said fibers having a first end where said fibers are bundled, and a second end where said fibers are unbundled;

said first bundled end being received into said housing such that said first ends of said fibers are positioned to receive emissions from said LED through said LCD;

said LCD having a plurality of separately-controllable sections, each of said sections independently changing a light characteristic when illuminated enabling the selective illumination of each of a plurality of groups of said first ends of said plurality of fibers, each of said groups including one or more of said first ends;

each said second, unbundled ends of said fibers being spread apart from one another and used for a decorative lighting purpose in said illumination device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said member absorbs sound.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said member is an accoustical tile.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said unbundled second ends of said fibers are threaded throughout said member.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said member inlcudes upper and lower portions, and each of said plurality of fibers is spread out for placement in a seam area between said upper and lower portions and then poked through said lower portion to emit light from a lower exposed surface of said lower portion of said member.

6. An illumination system including a plurality of units, each unit comprising:

a body;

a light engine including an LED;

a liquid crystal display (LCD);

a plurality of fiber optic fibers, each of said fibers having a first end where said fibers are bundled, and a second end where said fibers are unbundled;

said first bundled end being received into said housing such that said first ends of said fibers are positioned to receive emissions from said LED through said LCD;

said LCD having a plurality of separately-controllable sections, each of said sections being capable of independently changing a light characteristic when illuminated enabling the selective illumination of each of a plurality of groups of said first ends of said plurality of fibers, each of said groups including one or more of said first ends;

each said second, unbundled ends of said fibers being spared apart from one another and used for a decorative lighting purpose in said illumination device, and an electrical connector arrangement enabling each unit to be electrically connected to a substantially identical second unit.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said electrical connector arrangement is a piggyback connector arrangement.