Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 8,104,944 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• 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
• Application Number:
  US12/858,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 362/606, 362/612, 362/613, 362/617, 362/619, 362/620, 362/623, 362/625, 362/626, 362/231, 362/603, 362/604, 362/812, 405/46
• US Class Current: 362/613
• 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 comprises a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and an input edge for receiving light from light sources optically coupled to a different location along the input edge. On or in at least one of the sides of the panel member is a pattern of individual optical deformities that are varied throughout the pattern and shaped or oriented throughout the pattern to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

Claims

1. An optical assembly comprising light sources and a light emitting panel member, the light emitting panel member comprising:

opposite sides, one of the sides comprising a light emitting surface area;

an input edge for receiving light from the light sources, each of the light sources being optically coupled to a different location along the input edge; and

a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member for producing a light output distribution from the light emitting surface area, the individual optical deformities being varied throughout the pattern and being shaped or oriented throughout the pattern preferentially to extract light propagating through the panel member in one direction over another direction to cause regions of high light intensity and low light intensity in the light output distribution from the light emitting surface area.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the light input edge is a first input edge;

the panel member additionally comprises a second input edge opposite or adjacent the first input edge; and

light sources of at least two different colors are optically coupled to the first and second input edges.

3. A general or decorative lighting assembly comprising the optical assembly of claim 1.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light sources are LEDs.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising a sloped surface and a curved surface.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising sloped surfaces.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising curved surfaces.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical deformities are quite small in relation to a length and width of the panel member.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitting surface area is curved or non-planar.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the light input edge is a first input edge;

the panel member additionally comprises a second input edge; and

a first one of the light sources is optically coupled to the first input edge, and a second one of the light sources is optically coupled to the second input edge substantially facing toward the first one of the light sources.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the light input edge is a first input edge;

the panel member additionally comprises a second input edge opposite the first input edge; and

one or more of the light sources are optically coupled to each of the input edges such that at least some of the light sources are substantially facing toward each other.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the light input edge is a first input edge;

the panel member additionally comprises a second input edge substantially facing toward the first input edge; and

different ones of the light sources are optically coupled to the first input edge and the second input edge substantially facing toward each other.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein different sets of the optical deformities each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to direct the light extracted in the regions of higher light intensity and lower light intensity in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

14. An optical assembly comprising light sources and a light emitting panel member, the light emitting panel member comprising:

opposite sides, one of the sides comprising a light emitting surface area;

an input edge for receiving light from the light sources, each of the light sources being optically coupled to a different location along the input edge and;

a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member for producing a light output distribution from the light emitting surface area, the individual optical deformities being varied throughout the pattern, different sets of the optical deformities each having at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member;

wherein the sets of optical deformities cause regions of high light intensity and low light intensity in the light output distribution from the light emitting surface area.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the light sources are LEDs.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising a sloped surface and a curved surface.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising curved surfaces.

18. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the optical deformities only have two surfaces, the two surfaces comprising sloped surfaces.

19. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the optical deformities are quite small in relation to a length and width of the panel member.

20. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the light emitting surface area is curved or non-planar.