# US 10,767,838 B2 · Lighting unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,838 B2 - Document ID: US10767838B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/028,339 - Filed: 2013-09-16 - Published: 2014-04-10 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-18 - Assignees: Würth Elektronik Gmbh & Co. KG - Applicants: Würth Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Jan Kostelnik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767838B2 ## CPC - F21V 14/003: {by interposition of elements with electrically controlled variable light transmissivity, e.g. liquid crystal elements or electrochromic devices} - B60Q 3/14: lighting through the surface to be illuminated - B60Q 3/20: for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments (lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60Q 3/54: Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners - B60Q 3/78: for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges - F21K 9/61: using light guides - F21V 23/0442: {activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors} - F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person} - H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector - F21W 2106/00: Interior vehicle lighting devices - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - H03K 2217/960785: with illumination - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract A lighting unit includes a board, which supports a lamp and an electronic circuit for activating the lamp. The lamp includes one or more LEDs. The lighting unit further includes a decorative layer, which is applied directly to a surface of the board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a lighting unit, the method comprising: providing a printed circuit board supporting a lamp and an electronic circuit configured to activate the lamp; and applying by at least one of inkjet printing and screen printing a decorative layer directly on a surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the electronic circuit is provided with contact elements arranged on the surface of the printed circuit board and configured to contact an electrochromic layer, wherein the electrochromic layer is applied extending over the lamp, wherein the electrochromic layer can be brought into a first transparent state or a second translucent state by activation by the electronic circuit, wherein light emitted from the lamp only passes through the first transparent state of the electrochromic layer, and wherein the electrochromic layer is configured to hide the lamp until the lamp is activated; wherein applying the decorative layer further comprises applying the decorative layer over the electrochromic layer extending over the lamp and reducing saturation of the portion of the decorative layer in the region extending over the lamp. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer applied comprises one or more inks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp forms a layer on aportion of the surface of the printed circuit board and wherein the decorative layer is applied to the layer formed by the lamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp includes one or more light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein applying the decorative layer comprises printing the decorative layer including the one or more light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) on to the surface, thereby providing the lamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp protrudes from the surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the applied decorative layer covers the lamp and has a leveling effect, such that a surface of the decorative layer is smooth and continuous. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp is recessed in the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board has a radiation opening for the outlet of radiation of the lamp, and the decorative layer covers the radiation opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is provided with a sensor for outputting a sensor signal, wherein the electronic circuit is designed to switch on or switch off or to regulate the luminosity of the lamp in response to the sensor signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is provided with a sensor, and wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor including at least one of an inductive proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, and an optical proximity sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is provided with a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal in response to detecting a proximity of a user, wherein the state of the electrochromic layer is brought into the transparent state by means of the sensor signal when the lamp is switched on. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the surface of the printed circuit board is on at least one of a component side and a solder side of said printed circuit board. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is provided with a plurality of electronic components, wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic components is embedded in the printed circuit board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is integrated into at least one of a screen, a flap, a panel, and a worktop of a piece of furniture. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is integrated into a panel of a motor vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is provided with a sensor, and wherein the sensor is embedded in the printed circuit board and is covered by the applied decorative layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing saturation of the portion of the decorative layer in the region extending over the lamp increases radiation permeability in the region extending over the lamp. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein reducing saturation of the portion of the decorative layer in the bridging region extending over the lamp increases radiation permeability in the bridging region extending over the lamp. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein light emitted from the lamp passes only through the bridging region.