Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,780,329 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2009
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rambus International Ltd (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R., Ezell, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/429,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20090207632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 362/606, 362/612, 362/613, 362/617, 362619-620, 362/623, 362/625, 362/626, 362/231
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0013 Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide coupling light into light guides in general G02B6/42
• 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: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1804 Achieving homogeneous illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

Optical assembly includes a light emitting panel member having at least one light input area for receiving light from two or more different colored light sources. A pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one surface area of the panel member contains at least two different configurations of optical deformities to promote color mixing within the panel member and cause light of a preferred color to be emitted therefrom.

Claims

1. An optical assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one light input edge for receiving light from at least two different colored light sources, and a pattern of a plurality of individual optical deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in one of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the optical deformities on or in the one surface are quite small in relation to a width of the one surface, and wherein the pattern of optical deformities on or in the one surface contains at least two different configurations of optical deformities to promote the mixing of color from the different colored light sources within the panel member and to cause light of a preferred color to be emitted from at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the panel member and wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in at least one of the following characteristics:

shape, angle or index of refraction.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in shape.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in angle.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in index of refraction.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light sources are different colored LEDs.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the optical deformities have more than one surface that redirects light.

8. An optical assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one light input edge for receiving light from at least two different colored light sources, and a pattern of a plurality of individual optical deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the optical deformities on or in the at least one surface are quite small in relation to a width of the at least one surface, wherein the pattern of optical deformities on or in the at least one surface contains at least two different configurations of optical deformities to promote the mixing of color from the different colored light sources within the panel member and to cause light of a preferred color to be emitted from at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the panel member and wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in at least one of the following characteristics:

shape, angle or index of refraction.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in shape.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in angle.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the different configurations of optical deformities differ in index of refraction.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the light sources are different colored LEDs.

13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the optical deformities vary in at least one of the following characteristics:

size, shape, placement, index of refraction, density, angle, depth, height and type.

14. The assembly of claim 8 wherein at least some of the optical deformities have more than one surface that redirects light.