Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 8,123,393 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• 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:
  US13/112,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 284 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362606-609, 362/612, 362/613, 362617-627, 362/634, 362/231
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• 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: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 : Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

Light emitting assembly comprises a light transition member and a light source mounted or positioned within the light transition member. A transparent light emitting panel member conducts light received from the light source. On or in one or more surfaces of the panel member is a pattern of light extracting deformities. A cavity or recess in the panel member is shaped to receive the light transition member to facilitate placement of the light source in a modular manner.

Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising:

a light transition member;

a light source mounted or positioned within the light transition member;

a transparent light emitting panel member for receiving light from the light source and conducting the light within the panel member, the panel member having a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one or more surfaces of the panel member,

the panel member having a cavity or recess shaped to receive the light transition member to facilitate the easy placement of the light source in a modular manner, and the panel member having a light emitting surface that is in the same plane as at least one surface of the light transition member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member completely surrounds an entire edge perimeter of the transition member.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is embedded, bonded, cast, insert molded, or epoxied in the transition member.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transition member comprises a faceted surface associated with the light source that redirects the light entering the light emitting panel member.

5. The assembly of claim 4 additionally comprising a reflector on the faceted surface.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cavity or recess comprises a curved reflective or refractive surface to redirect light in a predetermined manner.

7. The assembly of claim 6 additionally comprising a reflector on the curved surface.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is an LED light source.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the LED light source comprises LED chips of different colors.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitting panel member additionally comprises edges, and the light extracting deformities are in at least one light output area of the light emitting panel member inset from at least one of the edges of the panel member.

11. The assembly of claim 10, additionally comprising a tray having a cavity or recess in which at least the panel member is received.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein at least one of the light output areas is inset from the tray.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the tray acts as at least one of an edge reflector and a back reflector.

14. The assembly of claim 1, additionally comprising a tray having a cavity or recess in which at least the panel member is received.