Light emitting flat panel with embedded light guides yielding controlled light extraction for general lighting luminaire

A device that provides illumination from a remote light source via a transporting light pipe by injecting light flux into at least one edge of the light emitting panel from the edge that is perpendicular the small end of the embedded light guides.

• (a) That the light flux is injected parallel to the light guides.
• (b) The light flux is injected via a tapered light pipe area optically attached or part of the base panel material. That this tapered light injection area is of sufficient length to preserve the light source radiant flux density over the area of the light injecting edge of the light panel. The tapered light pipe injector provides angular averaging of the input light flux and provides a method of traversing the input light flux from the transporting light pipe while maintaining the etendue from the transporting light pipe.
• (c) The tapered light pipe injector is an integral part of the light panel system as it provides a coupling area to provide a uniform light flux from a light supply pipe of one shape and size attached to a light source and the light panel of another shape and size.
• (d) The tapered light pipe injector has one end that is the shape and size of the light flux transporting light pipe and the other end that is the shape of the light panel.
• (e) The tapered light pipe injector area organizes the light flux in a uniform manner across its coupling area and eliminates high light intensity areas (“hot spots”) at the light input end of the light panel.
• (f) The tapered light pipe injector may be bent over a radius of 10 times its ½ thickness or greater.

The luminaire is specifically designed to provide general or task lighting in any application that would normally use a fluorescent, filament or arc type light bulb without the inherent limitations of usual light sources such as space requirements, heat generation, environmental temperature, moisture sensitivity, possible explosive ignition and/or crush or explosion due to hypo or hyper baric pressures.

• (a) The ambient operating moisture, chemical and/or temperatures of the luminairs are only limited by the properties of the base plastic or glass materials used.
• (b) No heat is generated from the luminaire and can be used in explosive environments.
• (c) The luminaire is fashioned from a solid plastic or glass panel and is unaffected by operating pressures. The luminaire could operate in extreme hypo and hyper baric conditions without exploding or crushing.
• (d) The luminaire can be fashioned to fit into existing or new “T” grid drop ceilings for use in residential or commercial office lighting.
• (e) The luminaire could be permanently sealed into place in clean room air plenums and do not require removal for servicing as there are serviceable parts.
• (f) The luminaire has no replaceable parts and is ideally suited for areas that are inaccessible or where access would create a problem such as back lit billboards. The light emitting surface can be manufactured in very large sections and would be ideally suited for any large exterior back lit signage. The emitting surface could be etched, painted, silk screened or laminated with normal signage materials.

The light source is remote from the subject luminaire.

• (a) The heat generated from the light source could be discarded to lower air conditioning requirements or recycled to provide heat for other uses.
• (b) Access to the interior of the light emitting panel is not required for maintenance.
• (c) The light emitting panel can be used in explosive atmospheres.
• (d) The light panel can be used in caustic atmospheres.
• (e) The light emitting panel is unaffected by atmospheric or ambient pressure or pressure changes.