LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES

US 20110051458A1
Filed: 11/05/2010
Published: 03/03/2011
Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1995
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising:

a light emitting panel member and a light source, wherein;

the panel member has a light input surface and a light output area;

at least one surface of the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities for causing a portion of the light to be emitted from the light output area, wherein the pattern of deformities is formed by applying the deformities to the panel member and afterward permanently attaching the deformities to the panel member to become part of the assembly.

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Abstract

Light emitting panel assembly comprises a light emitting panel member and a light source. At least one surface of the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities formed by applying the deformities to the panel member and afterward permanently attaching the deformities to the panel member to become part of the assembly.

3 Citations

25 Claims

1. A light emitting panel assembly comprising:
- a light emitting panel member and a light source, wherein;
  
  the panel member has a light input surface and a light output area;
  
  at least one surface of the panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities for causing a portion of the light to be emitted from the light output area, wherein the pattern of deformities is formed by applying the deformities to the panel member and afterward permanently attaching the deformities to the panel member to become part of the assembly.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pattern of deformities is formed on a sheet or film which is used to apply the deformities to the panel member.
  - 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the sheet or film becomes a permanent part of the panel member.
  - 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel member has a light transition area positioned between the light input surface and the light output area.
  - 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the light transition area has faceted refractive surfaces associated with the light source that redirect the light entering the panel member.
  - 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pattern of deformities is a printed pattern, an ink-jet printed pattern, a painted pattern, an etched pattern, a machined pattern, a hot stamped pattern, a molded pattern, a stamped pattern, and/or a thermoformed pattern.
  - 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least two of the deformities have an index of refraction that is different from each other.
  - 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel member is curved.
  - 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the panel member is three-dimensionally curved.
  - 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel member is flexible.
  - 11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities are depressions.
  - 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities are raised surfaces.
  - 13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities vary in a characteristic chosen from the following group:
    - density, opaqueness, shape, depth, color, area and size.
  - 14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities vary along both a length and width of the panel member.
  - 15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities are of a size such that each of the deformities is nearly invisible to the human eye.
  - 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the size of each of the deformities is 0.006 square inch or less.
  - 17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities are colored in order to effect color correction in the panel member.
  - 18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities have a random placement pattern.
  - 19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities have shapes or a pattern with no specific angles.
  - 20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deformities are prisms or prismatic surfaces.
  - 21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel member has multiple light output areas.
  - 22. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel member is multiple layers.
  - 23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pattern of deformities is multiple layers.
  - 24. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED light source.
  - 25. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly is modular.

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Current Assignee
Innovative Display Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
Original Assignee
Jeffery R. Parker
Inventors
Parker, Jeffery R.

Granted Patent

US 8,142,063 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

362/608
CPC Class Codes

A61B 2090/309   using white LEDs

G02B 6/0018   Redirecting means on the su...

G02B 6/0021   for housing at least a part...

G02B 6/0028   Light guide, e.g. taper

G02B 6/0031   Reflecting element, sheet o...

G02B 6/0036   2-D arrangement of prisms, ...

G02B 6/0038   Linear indentations or groo...

G02B 6/0043   provided on the surface of ...

G02B 6/0068   Arrangements of plural sour...

H01H 2219/062   Light conductor

H01H 2221/07   transparent

Y10S 362/80   Light emitting diode

LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES

First Claim

3 Assignments

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Abstract

3 Citations

25 Claims

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LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES

First Claim

3 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

3 Citations

25 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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