Luminous structure comprising at least one light-emitting diode, its manufacture and its applications

• US 7,834,548 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Jousse, Didier, Nugue, Jean-Clement
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Vip
• Application Number:
  US12/159,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 313/498, 313/506
• US Class Current: 313/506
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10541 comprising a light source or a light guide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• 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 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A luminous structure includes at least one light-emitting diode emitting radiation within the ultraviolet or the visible spectrum, a substantially planar glass element having main faces and an edge around a periphery of the main faces. The glass element includes a hole housing the diode, and a metallic element connected to the diode and coupled with said glass element for removing heat. The metallic element is chosen from an electrical connection element or a holding element for keeping the diode in said hole. The invention also relates to the manufacture of this luminous structure and to its applications.

Claims

1. A luminous structure comprising:

at least one light-emitting diode of emitting radiation within the ultraviolet (UV) or the visible spectrum;

a substantially planar glass element having upper and lower main faces and an edge around a periphery of the upper and lower main faces, the glass element having a hole on one of the main faces or a side wall thereof housing the diode; and

a metallic element connected to the diode and coupled with said glass element for removing heat, said metallic element electrically connecting the diode and the glass element and holding the diode in said hole, wherein

the metallic element contacts at least one of the main faces or the edge or the side wall of the glass element forming the hole.

2. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a functional element having one or more layers or one or more wires is inserted between the glass element and the metallic element.

3. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element is incorporated into the hole or flush with the hole.

4. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element is a piece with a T-shaped, E-shaped or L-shaped cross section or a two-part piece of L-shaped cross section.

5. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element is a holding element and is self-blocking in the hole having a retaining profile.

6. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element is a holding element and includes a spring in contact with the diode.

7. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the hole is in the edge and the metallic element comprises three substantially planar portions:

two main portions in contact with the main faces; and

a side portion in contact with a part of the edge,

said holding element gripping the edge or the two main portions being provided with tabs that engage in notches made on the main faces.

8. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic element is covered by an electrically insulating and thermally conducting element placed beneath a metal foil.

9. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole has a width of 2 mm or more.

10. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hole receives the metallic element.

11. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of diodes supplied with current or with voltage.

12. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first and second electrodes in contact with the metallic element, the electrodes placed respectively on the same main face, or on both main faces, or in the bottom of the hole and outside the hole.

13. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes is chosen from a transparent conducting array or a conducting, transparent, layer optionally covered with one or more thin or leaky dielectric layers.

14. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode or a power supply member being an ink jet track with metal (nano) particles or being screen-printed.

15. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diode is chosen from one or more of the following diodes:

a diode with electrical contacts on opposing faces of the chip or on the same face of the chip or a side-emitting diode;

a diode with a focusing lens or a diode comprising an unencapsulated chip;

a diode having a main emission direction being perpendicular or oblique, or a diode having two main emission directions that are oblique with respect to the emitting face of the chip, giving a batwing shape, or a diode having only two oblique main emission directions; and

a diode for guiding in the edge or for direct emission via one or both faces or via the hole.

16. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of diodes and means for driving the diode so as to emit the radiation either permanently or intermittently, with a given color or different colors.

17. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 12, wherein the structure is movable, so as to form a glass door, and

the structure includes a plurality of diodes aligned in the hole forming a groove and formed in the main face provided with the first and second electrodes, and means for driving the diodes so as to emit the radiation intermittently, depending on a position of the door, by a break in the power supply.

18. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first conducting, substantially parallel tracks connected to a common power supply member;

a plurality of second conducting, substantially parallel, tracks alternating with the first conducting tracks and supplied via another common power supply member; and

a plurality of forming grooves each inserted between first and second tracks forming first and second electrodes, the grooves housing diodes and metallic elements serving as electrical connection and holding elements.

19. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass element is made of a clear soda-lime-silica glass.

20. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one edge part is reflecting.

21. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mineral diffusing layer associated with one of the main faces, the mineral diffusing layer being a luminous face.

22. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass element is a lightguide and the lightguide is monolithic.

23. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a laminated glazing unit formed from one of a chosen mineral guide, a glass sheet, a diffusing lamination interlayer and a glass back pane.

24. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure forms an illuminating, decorative, architectural or indicating glazing.

25. A process for manufacturing the luminous structure having a diode as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:

machining of the hole; and

deposition of a conducting layer forming two electrodes on one of the main faces.

26. The process for manufacturing the luminous structure as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a step of toughening the glass element.

27. The process for manufacturing the luminous structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the machining gives the hole a retaining profile.

28. The process for manufacturing the luminous structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the machining of the hole forms a bore for housing said metallic element.

29. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the piece has a thickness of 0.2 mm or less.

30. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrically insulating and thermally conducting element comprises a silicone including mineral fibers.

31. The luminous structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein the hole receives one or more electrodes or a power supply member.