Display device comprising a three-dimensional light distributing body

• US 8,506,131 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Original Assignee: EGO Elektro-Gerã¤Tebau GmbH (EGO Blanc und Fischer & Company GmbH)
• Inventors: Fluhrer, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Hines, Anne
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIAZ, JOSE
• Application Number:
  US12/790,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 362255-256, 362279-281, 362290-292, 36231101-31115, 362/317, 362326-340, 362/351, 362/355, 362360-361
• US Class Current: 362/311.06
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A display device comprises a support, on which there are arranged LED and a light distributing body above the luminous means with a direction of light emission away from the support and the LED. The light distributing body is a three-dimensional body with a light entrance side facing towards the LED and a light exiting side facing away from the LED. The light distributing body consists of transparent material and the light entrance side is shaped to optimise uniform light distribution from the LED to the light exit side, which may take the form of a diffuser.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a support and luminous means arranged on said support, the luminous means comprises a surface mount light emitting diode (LED); and

a light distributor as a separate component that is provided above said luminous means with a direction of light emission away from said support and away from said luminous means, said light distributor comprising a three-dimensional light distributing body with a light entrance side facing towards said luminous means and a light exiting side facing away from said luminous means, wherein said light distributing body comprises a transparent material and said light entrance side is shaped to optimize a uniform light distribution from said luminous means to said light exiting side,

wherein the light distributing body is provided above said surface mount LED,

wherein said light entrance side comprises a double S shape in side section, with its highest point over a centre point of said luminous means or said light-emitting area thereof, and

wherein a maximum height difference between a lowest point and said highest point of said light entrance side amounts to less than 0.2 mm.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light exiting side comprises a diffuser by machining said light exiting side or a diffuser layer is applied to said light exiting side.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein said light exiting side is configured as said diffuser by roughening said light exiting side by machining said light exiting side.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein said roughening has a micro-roughness with a peak-to-valley height of 3 μ

m to 10 μ

m.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light distributing body comprises a transmittance for light of said luminous means of at least 95%.

6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein said light distributing body comprises uncoloured material made of plastics.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent light distributing body contains scattering particles for improving light distribution.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light distributing body is of one-part and one-piece construction, said entire light distributor being of one-part and one-piece construction and consisting of just said light distributing body.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light entrance side comprises a smooth surface.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light entrance side comprises a width or lateral extent of at most 3 mm.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said profiling of said light entrance side varies uniformly and is rounded.

12. The display device according to claims 1, wherein said profiling of said light entrance side is symmetrical relative to said center point.

13. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said gradient of said profile of said light entrance side varies less in an outer region than in a ring around said center point.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light entrance side with said profiling forms a major part of said side of said light distributing body facing towards said luminous means.

16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said light exiting side is flat.

17. The display device according to claim 16, wherein said light exiting side is perpendicular to an axis of symmetry of said light entrance side.

18. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light exiting side forms the majority of the side of the light distributing body facing away from the luminous means.

19. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of luminous means are arranged on said support and one light distributor is provided for each luminous means, a plurality of light distributors being integrally constructed as a component.

20. The display device according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of light distributor is integrally constructed as a component produced together by plastics injection moulding.

15. A display device comprising:

a support and luminous means arranged on said support, the luminous means comprises a surface mount light emitting diode (LED); and

a light distributor as a separate component that is provided above said luminous means with a direction of light emission away from said support and away from said luminous means, said light distributor comprising a three-dimensional light distributing body with a light entrance side facing towards said luminous means and a light exiting side facing away from said luminous means, wherein said light distributing body comprises a transparent material and said light entrance side is shaped to optimize a uniform light distribution from said luminous means to said light exiting side,

wherein the light distributing body is provided above said surface mount LED, and

wherein said light entrance side is arranged at most 0.5 mm above said luminous means.