Lightguide tile modules and modular lighting system
First Claim
1. ) A modular lightguide tile, used for creating extended modular lighting arrangements, comprising:
- a) A transparent or translucent substrate that functions primarily as light-guide (or “
light-pipe”
), said light guide substrate containing light-diffusing means to reflect/refract/diffuse light from below illumination sources out of one or more viewing faces of the tile, and said translucent substrate containing features to capture, disperse and/or direct light from the light sources described below. b) Illumination source(s) whose light output is coupled into the lightguide substrate where the light travels through the substrate via transmission and internal reflection. c) Electrical interconnection means to energize said light sources. d) Power source for energizing the light sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A modular illumination system includes light emitting tile modules, each module comprising a light guide substrate, at least one source of illumination optically coupled to a light guiding substrate and interconnection means to connect one light emitting tile module to another light emitting tile module. The interconnection means may include mechanical and/or electrical elements. A plurality of modules may be connected to create an extended continuous extended illuminating system without significant gaps or seams. In one embodiment, the light guiding substrate of one module extends over the source of illumination of an adjacent module. In a further embodiment, the light guiding substrate may be textured to create a patterned area with higher light extraction. In a further embodiment, the source of illumination may be included in a separate electrical member. The illumination sources may include LEDs directed into an edge of the light guiding substrate.
299 Citations
11 Claims
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1. ) A modular lightguide tile, used for creating extended modular lighting arrangements, comprising:
-
a) A transparent or translucent substrate that functions primarily as light-guide (or “
light-pipe”
), said light guide substrate containing light-diffusing means to reflect/refract/diffuse light from below illumination sources out of one or more viewing faces of the tile, and said translucent substrate containing features to capture, disperse and/or direct light from the light sources described below.b) Illumination source(s) whose light output is coupled into the lightguide substrate where the light travels through the substrate via transmission and internal reflection. c) Electrical interconnection means to energize said light sources. d) Power source for energizing the light sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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3. ) The modular lighting system of (1) above (described in body as “
- Method “
B”
) wherein electrical interconnection is accomplished by a separate part that distributes power to the light sources, said light sources being either integrally attached to each tile and having electrical connection points, and/or said LED'"'"'s being attached to a base power distribution means and optically coupled when the tile is installed onto the base.
- Method “
Specification