Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 7,798,695 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rambus International Ltd (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US12/273,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20090073719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 362/612, 362/613, 362/617, 362/619, 362/625, 362/603, 362/606, 362/607
• US Class Current: 362/607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• 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 6/0068 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

Abstract

Light emitting assemblies include an optical conductor having at least one slot, cavity or hole in at least one side that defines at least one input surface for a light source having a light output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component. The optical conductor has a predetermined pattern of deformities that vary to cause a desired light output distribution to be emitted from a plurality of specific surface areas of the optical conductor.

Claims

1. A backlighting assembly comprising at least one light source, and an optical panel member having front and back sides and a greater cross-sectional width than thickness, at least one slot, cavity, or hole in at least one of the front and back sides that at least partially defines at least one input surface for receiving light from the light source, a predetermined pattern of deformities on or in a plurality of specific surface areas of at least one of the front and back sides configured to cause light to be emitted from the panel member, wherein the deformities vary to produce a desired light output distribution from the panel member to fit a particular application, and the at least one light source has a light output distribution that extends to a greater extent relative to the width of the panel member than the height thereof.

2. The assembly of claim 1 which includes multiple LED light sources.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a tray that holds or positions the panel member and acts as a back reflector for the panel member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one slot, cavity, or hole positions or locates the at least one light source relative to the panel member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least one hole, slot, cavity, post, or locating feature to position the panel member relative to a control button, light source or other component.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a transparent film, sheet or plate is attached or positioned in close proximity to the panel member to further improve the light output distribution to suit a particular application.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the transparent film, sheet or plate has at least one of paint, ink, coating, image and/or text thereon to further improve the light output distribution.

8. A light emitting panel assembly comprising a generally planar optical conductor having front and back sides, at least one cavity or hole in at least one of the front and back sides that forms a light input surface, and at least one LED light source having a greater width than height positioned in the cavity or hole, thereby directing light into the optical conductor, wherein the at least one light source is configured to generate light having an output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component, and wherein the optical conductor has a predetermined pattern of deformities that vary to cause a desired light distribution to be emitted from a plurality of specific surface areas of the optical conductor.

9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising reflective or refractive surfaces in close proximity to the at least one light source for maximizing or otherwise changing the light emitted from the at least one light source.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the optical conductor includes multiple layers made of at least some different materials having different indices of refraction.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the multiple layers are coating layers on the front side and/or back side of the optical conductor that reflect and/or refract at least some of the light within the optical conductor.

12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the optical conductor has at least one hole, slot, cavity, post, or locating feature to position the optical conductor relative to a control button, light source or other component.

13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein a transparent film, sheet or plate is attached or positioned in close proximity to the optical conductor to further improve the light output to fit a particular application.