LED illuminated image display
DCFirst Claim
1. An illuminated image display comprising at least one thin, integral solid panel of light transmitting material having a front image display surface, a rear surface opposite thereto and edge surfaces between said front and rear surfaces, wherein at least one light emitting diode (LED) is embedded in an edge of said panel, such that light from the at least one light emitting diode (LED/directly impinges on and is directly diffused through the light transmitting material and wherein a portion of the front image display surface of the panel, has its refractory parameters locally disrupted, in a controlled manner, wherein the refractory parameters are locally disrupted by etching of the display surface and wherein different parts of a desired non-random image are made to be perceptibly illuminated by varying light intensity by variation in at least one of etching depth and spacing between etchings, said etchings being configured to be in the shape of the non-random image, to change the refraction of at least one portion of the front panel surface whereby intensity of directly impinging light emitting diode (LED) light transmitted therethrough is made to vary, whereby the non-random image of a pre-determined specific configurational appearance is perceptible.
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Abstract
An LED illuminated image display comprised of one or more thin, integral panels of light transmitting material (e.g., clear or translucent plastic or glass), with each panel having at least one LED imbedded in an edge thereof. Light from the LED(s) directly impinges on and is diffused through the light transmitting material and to a surface of the panel, having its refractory parameters locally disrupted, such as by being scratched or integrally etched with an image rendering. The disruption, such as by etching, with depth and spacing control, is effected to change the refraction of a portion of the panel surface whereby intensity of directly impinging LED light transmitted therethrough is made to vary, whereby an image such as of an art rendering is perceptible. Combination of panels, utilizing switching timers provides for animation displays.
101 Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An illuminated image display comprising at least one thin, integral solid panel of light transmitting material having a front image display surface, a rear surface opposite thereto and edge surfaces between said front and rear surfaces, wherein at least one light emitting diode (LED) is embedded in an edge of said panel, such that light from the at least one light emitting diode (LED/directly impinges on and is directly diffused through the light transmitting material and wherein a portion of the front image display surface of the panel, has its refractory parameters locally disrupted, in a controlled manner, wherein the refractory parameters are locally disrupted by etching of the display surface and wherein different parts of a desired non-random image are made to be perceptibly illuminated by varying light intensity by variation in at least one of etching depth and spacing between etchings, said etchings being configured to be in the shape of the non-random image, to change the refraction of at least one portion of the front panel surface whereby intensity of directly impinging light emitting diode (LED) light transmitted therethrough is made to vary, whereby the non-random image of a pre-determined specific configurational appearance is perceptible.
Specification