LED display

• US 6,491,412 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Everbrite LLC
• Original Assignee: Everbrite LLC
• Inventors: Bowman, Mark, Flaherty, Steve, Mohacsi, Ferenc
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, BAO Q
• Application Number:
  US09/608,895
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/800, 362/560, 362/247, 362/297, 362/298, 362/301, 362/812, 362/235, 362/244, 362/245, 362/246, 362/299, 362/346, 362/806, 362/240, 362/250, 362/252, 405/84, 405/63, 405/70, 405/83, 405/50, 405/44
• US Class Current: 362/241
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0409 Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency arrangements of reflectors G09F13/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An illuminated sign having an LED as a light source as claimed. A housing has a plurality of internal surfaces wherein at least one of the internal surfaces is a translucent surface. A reflective layer covers each of said internal surfaces except the translucent surface. At least one LED is positioned between the internal surfaces such that the illumination field of the LED is in a direction substantially opposite that of the translucent surface.

Claims

1. An illuminated sign comprising:

a housing having a plurality of internal surfaces, wherein at least one of said internal surfaces is a translucent surface and at least one of the remaining internal surfaces is a diffusely-reflective surface;

a transparent substrate disposed within said housing; and

at least one light emitting diode (LED) having an illumination field, said LED being positioned such that said illumination field is directed towards said diffusely-reflective surface, and said LED is interconnected with said transparent substrate.

2. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the LED is connected in circuit to a power source by wire wrapping, spot welding or soldering.

3. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LED protrudes through said transparent substrate.

4. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate is conformable into a plurality of designs thereby allowing the transparent substrate to accommodate the housing.

5. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate is subdivided into first and second segments, and wherein an orientation of said first segment is changeable with respect to an orientation of said second segment, thereby allowing the substrate to conform to the housing.

6. The sign as set forth in claim 5, wherein the segments of the transparent substrate are interconnected by pivotable rivets.

7. The sign as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a conductive tracing on said substrate electrically connected to the LED.

8. The sign as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a resistor between said at least one LED and a second LED.

9. The sign as set forth in claim 8, wherein the resistor is a trimmable resistor.

10. The sign as set forth in claim 8, wherein the conductive tracings are formed of conductive ink.

11. The sign as set forth in claim 8, wherein the conductive tracings are formed of an electrolessly plated metal.

12. The sign as set forth in claim 8, wherein the resistor is formed of carbon ink.

13. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one LED comprises at least two LEDs connected in at least one of series and parallel and said two LEDs are supported by connection wires.

14. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one LED comprises multiple LEDs positioned such that the illumination field of each LED is substantially the same.

15. The sign as set forth in claim 14, wherein said multiple LEDs are grouped in pixels, each said pixel comprising a red, blue, and green LED.

16. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diffusely reflective surface is stretched polyethylene.

17. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the diffusely reflective surface is flat finish paint.

18. The sign as set forth in claim 17, wherein the flat finish paint is titanium dioxide.

19. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the illumination field is in the range from about 5°

to about 60°

.

20. The sign as set forth in claim 19, wherein the illumination field is about 45°

.

21. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing is subdivided into housing segments and wherein at least some of the housing segments contain at least one LED.

34. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein said LED is positioned between said translucent surface and said diffusely reflective surface, and wherein said illumination field is in a direction substantially opposite said translucent surface.

36. The sign as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said internal surfaces other than said translucent surface is diffusely reflective, and wherein the transparent substrate is spaced from the translucent surface.

22. A method of illuminating a sign, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a housing having internal surfaces, wherein a first surface of the housing is translucent and at least one of said internal surfaces other than said translucent surface is diffusely reflective;

providing a transparent substrate;

interconnecting at least one LED to said transparent substrate, said at least one LED having an illumination field when active; and

placing said transparent substrate within said housing such that said illumination field is substantially in the direction of said diffusely reflective surface, said placing act including conforming the transparent substrate to accommodate the housing.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22, further comprising the act of providing a power source and a conductive tracing, and connecting said LED in circuit to said power source using the conductive tracing.

24. The method as set forth in claim 22, further providing a power source and wherein the LED is connected in circuit to the power source by wire wrapping, spot welding, or soldering.

25. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said LEDs are connected in at least one of parallel or series and are supported by connection wires.

26. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein multiple LEDs are positioned such that the illumination field of each LED is substantially the same.

27. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the reflective layer comprises stretched polyethylene.

28. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the reflective layer comprises a flat finish paint.

29. The method as set forth in claim 28, wherein the flat finish paint is titanium dioxide.

30. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the illumination field is in the range from about 5°

to about 60°

.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein the illumination field is about 45°

.

32. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the transparent substrate is subdivided into first and second segments, and wherein the method further comprises changing an orientation of said first segment with respect to an orientation of said second segment.

33. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the housing is subdivided into housing segments and at least one housing segment contains at least one LED.

35. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said illumination field is in a direction substantially opposite to said translucent surface.

37. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein said illumination field is substantially in the direction opposite of said translucent surface wherein said placing act includes spacing said transparent substrate from the translucent surface.