Illumination device
First Claim
1. A device for providing illumination comprising:
- a panel having at least one rigid layer, the at least one rigid layer having at least one patterned electrical circuit thereon;
an array of illuminating units, each unit being formed by at least one rigid element and a portion of the at least one rigid layer, each unit including;
a rigid optical redirecting element secured to the at least one rigid layer for redirecting light out of the unit,a light source secured to the at least one rigid layer and sandwiched within the panel for converting electrical energy into light, andan electrical conductor in electrical communication with the light source to transmit electrical energy thereto, the electrical conductor being in thermal communication with the light source to receive thermal energy therefrom, the electrical conductor being a heat sink for the light source, the light source being cooled via conduction, a pattern of the electrical conductor defining a plurality of gaps;
the electrical conductor and the optical redirecting element of each unit being dimensioned and arranged within the unit such that the electrical conductor does not materially impede transmission of light generated by the light source from within the unit to out of the unit, light generated by the light source being redirected by the optical redirecting element toward at least one of the plurality of gaps, the redirected light diverging from the optical redirecting element, the diverging light subsequently passing through at least one of the plurality of gaps;
the electrical conductor being at least electrically and thermally interconnected with the patterned circuit to transmit electrical energy to the light source and to receive thermal energy from the light source for transmission away from the unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Device for providing comprising: A panel having rigid layer having a patterned electrical circuit thereon. An array of illuminating units, each unit being formed by at least one rigid element and a portion of the rigid layer; and including: a rigid optical dispersing element, a light source sandwiched within the panel for generating light from electrical energy, and an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor being the primary heat sink for the light source, the light source being primarily cooled via conduction. The electrical conductor and the optical dispersing element being dimensioned and arranged within the unit such that the electrical conductor does not materially impede transmission of light generated by the light source to the outside of the device. The electrical conductor transmitting electrical and thermal energy received from the light source away from the unit.
120 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for providing illumination comprising:
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a panel having at least one rigid layer, the at least one rigid layer having at least one patterned electrical circuit thereon; an array of illuminating units, each unit being formed by at least one rigid element and a portion of the at least one rigid layer, each unit including; a rigid optical redirecting element secured to the at least one rigid layer for redirecting light out of the unit, a light source secured to the at least one rigid layer and sandwiched within the panel for converting electrical energy into light, and an electrical conductor in electrical communication with the light source to transmit electrical energy thereto, the electrical conductor being in thermal communication with the light source to receive thermal energy therefrom, the electrical conductor being a heat sink for the light source, the light source being cooled via conduction, a pattern of the electrical conductor defining a plurality of gaps; the electrical conductor and the optical redirecting element of each unit being dimensioned and arranged within the unit such that the electrical conductor does not materially impede transmission of light generated by the light source from within the unit to out of the unit, light generated by the light source being redirected by the optical redirecting element toward at least one of the plurality of gaps, the redirected light diverging from the optical redirecting element, the diverging light subsequently passing through at least one of the plurality of gaps; the electrical conductor being at least electrically and thermally interconnected with the patterned circuit to transmit electrical energy to the light source and to receive thermal energy from the light source for transmission away from the unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for providing illumination comprising:
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a panel having a plurality of rigid layers bonded together; an array of illuminating units formed by the plurality of layers of the panel, each one of the array of illuminating units including; a series of optical dispersing elements associated with a first surface of one of the layers of the plurality of layers for dispersing light outside the unit; a series of optical redirecting elements associated with a second surface of one of the layers of the plurality of layers for redirecting light within the unit to the optical dispersing elements; a light source sandwiched between two of the layers of the plurality of layers for converting electrical energy into light; one of the layers of the plurality of layers having an electrical conductor in electrical communication with the light source to transmit electrical energy thereto, the electrical conductor being in thermal communication with the light source to receive thermal energy therefrom, the electrical conductor being a heat sink for the light source, the light source being cooled via conduction, a pattern of the electrical conductor defining a plurality of gaps; the electrical conductor, the series of optical dispersing elements and the series of optical redirecting elements being dimensioned and arranged within the unit such that the electrical conductor does not materially impede transmission of light generated by the light source within the unit to out of the unit, light generated by the light source being redirected by at least one of the series of optical redirecting elements toward at least one of the plurality of gaps, the redirected light diverging from the optical redirecting element, the diverging light subsequently passing through at least one of the plurality of gaps; one of the layers of the plurality of layers having a patterned circuit electrically and thermally interconnected with light source of at least some of the units to transmit electrical energy thereto and to receive thermal energy therefrom for transmission away from the units. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification