Illumination device having remotely powered lightguide

• US 8,864,362 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sherman, Audrey A., Schaffer, Kevin R., Meis, Michael A., Widagdo, Soemantri
• Primary Examiner(s): BRUCE, DAVID VERNON
• Application Number:
  US13/501,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20120201049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 362/602, 362/605, 362/630, 362/565, 362/571, 362/104
• US Class Current: 362/630
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 19/00 Electric power supply circuits specially adapted for use in electronic time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

An illumination device is disclosed, having a lightguide optically coupled to a light source and a transducer for supplying power to the light source by converting energy received from a remote transmitter. Energy received from a remote transmitter can comprise radiofrequency waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet light, sunlight, sound waves or heat.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising

a light source,

a lightguide optically coupled to the light source, and

a transducer configured to power the light source by converting energy received from a remote transmitter;

wherein the lightguide is viscoelastic.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises radiofrequency waves.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises microwaves.

4. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises infrared radiation.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises one or more of visible light, ultraviolet light, and/or infrared radiation.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises sound waves.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the energy comprises heat.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a piezoelectric material.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a pyroelectric material.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a receiving antenna for receiving radiofrequency waves, and the remote transmitter comprises a transmitting antenna for transmitting radiofrequency waves.

11. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a solar cell.

12. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a first transducer, and the remote transmitter is a second transducer.

13. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer receives energy by induction.

14. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises transparent conductor, transparent polymer, metal, conductive metal, conductive polymer, or a combination thereof.

15. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lightguide is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

16. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising an extractor optically coupled to the lightguide.

17. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the extractor comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

18. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the extractor comprises a watch or clock.

19. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the extractor comprises a sign or marking.

20. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the extractor comprises an indicator light.

21. The illumination device of claim 16, wherein the extractor comprises a bandage or dressing.

22. A method of providing illumination, comprising:

providing the illumination device of claim 1, and

transmitting energy from the remote transmitter to the transducer such that power is supplied to the light source.