OLED assembly and luminaire with removable diffuser

• US 8,884,502 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Aurongzeb, Deeder, Knapp, Thomas Alexander, Boyle, Olivia
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Sikha
• Application Number:
  US13/189,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 313498-512, 313/110, 313/116
• US Class Current: 313/110
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/002 Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/146 Frameless shades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/002 with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function F21V17/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/10 characterised by specific fastening means or way of fastening F21V17/02 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3031 Two-side emission, e.g. transparent OLEDs [TOLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/854 comprising scattering means
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/877 comprising scattering means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An OLED assembly comprises a base and a planar OLED device mounted on the base. A planar light diffuser sheet is removably attached relative to the base and OLED device. A releasable attachment mechanism is operably configured between the light diffuser sheet and the base. The light diffuser sheet is oriented relative to the OLED device so as to provide a selected diffusive property to light emitted from the OLED device. The light diffuser sheet is removable from the base upon release of the attachment mechanism and can be substituted with a different light diffuser sheet. A luminaire may incorporate the OLED assembly, wherein the luminaire has fixture in which the OLED assembly is received.

Claims

1. An OLED assembly, comprising:

a base;

an OLED device comprising a plurality of OLED elements mounted on said base;

a flexible light diffuser sheet removably attached relative to said base and said OLED device;

a releasable attachment mechanism operably configured between said light diffuser sheet and said base, said releasable attachment mechanism comprising at least one fastener; and

wherein said light diffuser sheet is oriented relative to said OLED device so as to provide a selected diffusive property to light emitted from said OLED device, said light diffuser sheet removable from said base upon release of said attachment mechanism and substitutable with a different light diffuser sheet having different diffusive properties.

2. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said base comprises electrical contacts that mate with corresponding contacts in a luminaire fixture.

3. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is a generally inflexible member such that said OLED assembly maintains a final formed shape without external support.

4. The OLED assembly of claim 3, wherein said base is formed into a three-dimensional shape, said OLED device and light diffuser sheet being flexible members that conform to said three-dimensional shape.

5. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is a flexible, conformable member that is bendable into a three-dimensional shape, said OLED device and said light diffuser sheet being flexible members that conform with said base.

6. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises a plurality of releasable fasteners that extend through aligned holes in said light diffuser sheet and said base.

7. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said attachment mechanism comprises adjustable spacers to change a gap distance between said light diffuser sheet and said OLED device so as to vary the diffusive properties of said light diffuser sheet.

8. The OLED assembly of claim 1, wherein said OLED device comprises a plurality of OLED elements separated by visually distinct boundaries, said light diffuser sheet having diffusive properties such that said boundaries are less visually distinct when viewed through said light diffuser sheet.

9. The OLED assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional said light diffuser sheet having different diffusive properties, said additional light diffuser sheet attachable to said base.

10. An OLED luminaire, comprising:

a fixture;

an OLED assembly receivable in said fixture, said OLED assembly further comprising;

a base;

an OLED device comprising a plurality of OLED elements mounted on said base;

a flexible light diffuser sheet removably attached relative to said base and said OLED device;

a releasable attachment mechanism operably configured between said light diffuser sheet and said base, said releasable attachment mechanism comprising at least one fastener; and

wherein said light diffuser sheet is oriented relative to said OLED device so as to provide a selected diffusive property to light emitted from said OLED device, said light diffuser sheet removable from said base upon release of said attachment mechanism and substitutable with a different light diffuser sheet having different diffusive properties.

11. The OLED luminaire of claim 10, wherein said OLED assembly is a flexible, conformable member that is bendable from a flat, planar configuration into a three-dimensional shape on said fixture.

12. The OLED luminaire of claim 10, wherein said diffuser sheet comprises diffusive properties that achieve any one or combination of desired reduction in angular light variation, light direction, or CCT modification.

13. The OLED luminaire of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of said OLED assemblies connected in series at hinged connections such that said OLED assemblies are variably angularly positionable relative to each other.

14. The OLED luminaire of claim 13, wherein at least two of said OLED assemblies have different light diffusive properties.

15. The OLED luminaire of claim 10, wherein said OLED assembly comprises a plurality of diffuser sheets arranged in a three-dimensional array on said fixture, said diffuser sheets removable and replaceable in said three-dimensional array with diffuser sheets having different light diffusive properties.

16. The OLED luminaire of claim 15, wherein said three-dimensional array is a pyramidal structure having at least two said diffuser sheets extending from said base and meeting at an apex of said pyramidal structure.

17. The OLED luminaire of claim 16, further comprising a vertically oriented planar OLED device extending from said base towards said apex.

18. The OLED luminaire of claim 15, wherein said three-dimensional array is a multi-sided, box-type structure wherein multiple said diffuser sheets extend from said fixture around a perimeter of said OLED device.