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US 10,591,660 B2Granted
Wide-area solid-state illumination devices and systems
AssigneeS.V.V. Technology Innovations, Inc.
InventorsSergiy Vasylyev, Mykola Masalitin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wide-area solid-state illumination devices and systems employing a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having at least one broad-area surface patterned with light scattering surface microstructures such as microdots of a non-absorbing UV curable ink. Light is input into the thin and flexible sheet using a number of compact solid-state light sources, such as LEDs, optically coupled to one or more edges or to one or two of the broad-area surfaces defining the thin and flexible sheet. Each surface microstructure forms a semi-opaque layer that extracts light from the thin and flexible sheet and causes light emission from both opposing broad-area surfaces of the sheet.
Claims70
An illumination system, comprising:
- a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface, an opposing second broad-area surface, a first edge, and an opposing second edge;
- a first plurality of compact solid-state sources optically coupled to the first edge;
- a first plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in said first broad-area surface and distributed over the first broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern with variable spacing between individual light extraction features;
- and
- a highly reflective surface disposed adjacent to the first broad-area surface;
- wherein the thin and flexible sheet is configured for guiding light received on the first edge toward the second edge using optical transmission and a total internal reflection,
- wherein each of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a non-absorbing light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the first broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a first portion of the extracted light is directed out and away from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a second portion of the extracted light is directed back into the thin and flexible sheet at an angle permitting the second portion of the extracted light to exit from the thin and flexible sheet through the second broad-area surface, and
- wherein both the first and second broad-area surfaces are configured for outputting light from the thin and flexible sheet.
7 more elements
An illumination system, comprising:
- a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface, an opposing second broad-area surface, a first edge, and an opposing second edge;
- a first plurality of compact solid-state sources optically coupled to the first edge;
- a first plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in said first broad-area surface and distributed over the first broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern with variable spacing between individual light extraction features;
- and
- a second plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in the second broad-area surface,
- wherein at least one of the second plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the second broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein the thin and flexible sheet is configured for guiding light received on the first edge toward the second edge using optical transmission and a total internal reflection,
- wherein each of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a non-absorbing light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the first broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a first portion of the extracted light is directed out and away from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a second portion of the extracted light is directed back into the thin and flexible sheet at an angle permitting the second portion of the extracted light to exit from the thin and flexible sheet through the second broad-area surface, and
- wherein both the first and second broad-area surfaces are configured for outputting light from the thin and flexible sheet.
8 more elements
An illumination system, comprising:
- a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface, an opposing second broad-area surface, a first edge, and an opposing second edge;
- a first plurality of compact solid-state sources optically coupled to the first edge;
- and
- a first plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in said first broad-area surface and distributed over the first broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern with variable spacing between individual light extraction features,
- wherein the thin and flexible sheet is configured for guiding light received on the first edge toward the second edge using optical transmission and a total internal reflection,
- wherein each of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a non-absorbing light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the first broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a first portion of the extracted light is directed out and away from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a second portion of the extracted light is directed back into the thin and flexible sheet at an angle permitting the second portion of the extracted light to exit from the thin and flexible sheet through the second broad-area surface,
- wherein both the first and second broad-area surfaces are configured for outputting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein the two-dimensional pattern has a plurality of patterned areas alternating with a plurality of separation areas being substantially free from the light extraction features, and wherein at least one of the separation areas is configured as a continuous strip or band having a width that is at least 10 times greater than a prevalent spacing distance between the light extraction features in an adjacent patterned area.
7 more elements
An illumination system, comprising:
- a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface, an opposing second broad-area surface, a first edge, and an opposing second edge;
- a first plurality of compact solid-state sources optically coupled to the first edge;
- and
- a first plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in said first broad-area surface and distributed over the first broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern with variable spacing between individual light extraction features;
- wherein the thin and flexible sheet is configured for guiding light received on the first edge toward the second edge using optical transmission and a total internal reflection,
- wherein each of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a non-absorbing light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the first broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a first portion of the extracted light is directed out and away from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a second portion of the extracted light is directed back into the thin and flexible sheet at an angle permitting the second portion of the extracted light to exit from the thin and flexible sheet through the second broad-area surface,
- wherein both the first and second broad-area surfaces are configured for outputting light from the thin and flexible sheet, and
- wherein pairs of at least some adjacent ones of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features are disposed in contact with each other.
7 more elements
An illumination system, comprising:
- a thin and flexible sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface, an opposing second broad-area surface, a first edge, and an opposing second edge;
- a first plurality of compact solid-state sources optically coupled to the first edge;
- and
- a first plurality of discrete light extraction features formed in said first broad-area surface and distributed over the first broad-area surface according to a predetermined two-dimensional pattern with variable spacing between individual light extraction features;
- wherein the thin and flexible sheet is configured for guiding light received on the first edge toward the second edge using optical transmission and a total internal reflection,
- wherein each of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features comprises a semi-opaque layer of a non-absorbing light scattering material disposed in optical contact with the first broad-area surface and configured for extracting light from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a first portion of the extracted light is directed out and away from the thin and flexible sheet,
- wherein a second portion of the extracted light is directed back into the thin and flexible sheet at an angle permitting the second portion of the extracted light to exit from the thin and flexible sheet through the second broad-area surface,
- wherein both the first and second broad-area surfaces are configured for outputting light from the thin and flexible sheet, and
- wherein pairs of at least some adjacent ones of the first plurality of discrete light extraction features substantially overlap with one another.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.