Illumination device for simulation of neon lighting

• US 7,188,970 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminii Purchaser, LLC
• Original Assignee: iLight Technologies Incorporated (Luminii, LLC)
• Inventors: Hulse, George R., Eriksson, Eric Olav, Cleaver, Mark Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember; Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US11/155,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/554, 362/582, 362/219, 362/235, 362/800, 362/249, 362/267, 362/310, 362/361, 362/307, 362/355, 385/901
• US Class Current: 362/219
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/26 of rope form, e.g. LED lighting ropes, or of tubular form
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprises a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface, an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of the rod-like member at a fixed distance from the light emitting surface, and a housing for said elongated light source. The housing includes opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that the housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into the rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by the rod-like member so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface;

an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said rod-like member at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and

a housing for said elongated light source, said housing including opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that said housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said rod-like member so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, in which said elongated light source is a multiplicity of point light sources.

3. The illumination device of claim 2, in which said point light sources are light emitting diodes.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, in which said rod-like member is composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties.

5. An illumination device, comprising:

an essentially solid, leaky waveguide rod having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface;

an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said waveguide rod at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and

opposing and substantially parallel side walls positioned on either side of said light source, each having internally light reflecting surfaces that serve to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said waveguide rod, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said waveguide rod so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.

6. The illumination device of claim 5, in which said elongated light source is a multiplicity of point light sources.

7. The illumination device of claim 6, in which said point light sources are light emitting diodes.

8. An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:

a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface;

an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said rod-like member at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and

a housing for said elongated light source, said housing including opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that said housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said rod-like member into a light intensity pattern that is perceived as being substantially uniform over the curved light emitting surface irrespective of viewing angle so as to simulate neon lighting.

9. The illumination device of claim 8, in which said elongated light source is a multiplicity of point light sources.

10. The illumination device of claim 9, in which said point light sources are light emitting diodes.

11. The illumination device of claim 8, in which said rod-like member is composed of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties.