Light emitting panel assemblies

• US 8,459,858 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rambus Delaware LLC (Rambus Inc.)
• Inventors: McCollum, Timothy A., Parker, Jeffery R., Ezell, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SEMBER, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US13/313,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20120081924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 362/603, 362/604, 362/606, 362/612, 362/613, 362/617, 362/619, 362/620, 362/623, 362/625, 362/626, 362/231, 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

An optical assembly comprises light sources and a light emitting panel member having an input edge to which each of the light sources is optically coupled at a different location along the input edge. Different sets of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the same direction 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 for propagating the light through the panel member in one direction, 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 creating 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 within the pattern each having at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the one direction through the panel member in respective different directions for viewing from respective different angles through the one of the sides of the panel member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the individual optical deformities are varied throughout the pattern to create different light output distributions from different regions of the light emitting surface area of the panel member.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the individual optical deformities that create at least one of the light output distributions are varied to create a design/image output distribution.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the design/image output distribution is in the form or shape of text, graphics, logo or image.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the light output distributions is relatively large in relation to another of the light output distributions.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the individual optical deformities that create the another of the light output distributions are varied to create another design/image output distribution that is different from the design/image light output distribution of the at least one of the light output distributions.

7. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one of the light output distributions is relatively small in relation to another of the light output distributions.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the individual optical deformities that create the another of the light output distributions are varied to create another design/image output distribution that is different from the design/image light output distribution of the at least one of the light output distributions.

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

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

11. 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 creating a generally uniform field of light output distribution from the light emitting surface area except in one or more different regions within the generally uniform field of light output distribution where

the individual optical deformities are varied throughout the pattern to create one or more different light output distributions from the one or more different regions of the light emitting surface area; and

wherein the individual optical deformities that create the one or more different light output distributions are varied to create a design/image output distribution in the one or more different regions.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 11, wherein one of the different light output distributions is relatively large in relation to another of the different light output distributions.

13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the individual optical deformities in two or more different regions are varied to create two or more different design/image output distributions.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the light sources comprise LEDs.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical deformities are quite small in relation to a length and width of the panel member.