Flexible lighting device having unobtrusive conductive layers

A method of forming a lighting element, comprising:

• forming a first substrate;
• applying a first conductive element over the first substrate;
• applying a second conductive element over the first substrate;
• installing a light-emitting element over the first substrate such that a first contact of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the first conductive element and such that a second contact of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the second conductive element, the first and second contacts both being on a first surface of the light-emitting element;
• forming an affixing layer over the first substrate;
• and
• forming a transparent layer over the light-emitting element and the affixing layer such that the affixing layer affixes the transparent layer to the first substrate,
• wherein
• the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light such that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%,
• the light-emitting element is configured to emit light having a first narrow range of wavelengths between 10 nm and 100,000 nm from the second surface;
• and
• the first and second conductive layers are both at least partially transparent to visible light.

A lighting element, comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a first conductive element located over the first substrate;
• a second conductive element located over the first substrate;
• a light-emitting element having a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts both being on a first surface of the light-emitting element, the first contact being electrically connected to the first conductive element, the second contact being electrically connected to the second conductive element, and the first light-emitting element being configured to emit light having a first narrow range of wavelengths between 10 nm and 100,000 nm from a second surface opposite from the first surface;
• a transparent layer located adjacent to the second surface of the light-emitting element;
• and
• a transparent affixing layer located between the first substrate and the transparent layer, the transparent affixing layer being configured to affix the transparent layer to the first substrate,
• wherein
• the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light such that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%, and
• the first and second conductive layers are 300 μm or smaller in width.

A method of forming a lighting element, comprising:

• forming a first substrate;
• applying a first conductive element over the first substrate;
• applying a second conductive element over the first substrate;
• installing a light-emitting element over the first substrate such that a first contact of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the first conductive element and such that a second contact of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the second conductive element, the first and second contacts both being on a first surface of the light-emitting element;
• applying a transparent affixing layer over the first substrate;
• and
• applying a transparent layer over the light-emitting element and the transparent affixing layer such that the transparent affixing layer affixes the transparent layer to the first substrate,
• wherein
• the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light such that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%,
• the light-emitting element is configured to emit light having a first narrow range of wavelengths between 10 nm and 100,000 nm from the second surface, and
• the first and second conductive layers are 300 μm or smaller in width.

A lighting element, comprising:

• a first substrate;
• a first conductive element located on the first substrate;
• a second conductive element located on the first substrate;
• a light-emitting element having a first contact and a second contact, the first and second contacts both being on a first surface of the light-emitting element, the first contact being electrically connected to the first conductive element, the second contact being electrically connected to the second conductive element, and the light-emitting element being configured to emit light having a first narrow range of wavelengths between 10 nm and 100,000 nm from a second surface opposite the first surface;
• a transparent layer located adjacent to the second surface of the light-emitting element;
• a transparent affixing layer located between the first substrate and the transparent layer, the transparent affixing layer being configured to affix the transparent layer to the first substrate;
• and
• an opaque design feature formed over at least one of the first conductive element and the second conductive element, the opaque design at least partially obscuring at least one of the first conductive element and the second conductive element from above,
• wherein the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light such that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%.

A method of forming a lighting element, comprising:

• forming a first substrate;
• applying a first conductive element on the first substrate;
• applying a second conductive element on the first substrate;
• connecting a positive contact of a light-emitting element to the first conductive element through the first conductive connector, such that the first conductive connector electrically connects the first conductive element to the positive contact;
• connecting a negative contact of the light-emitting element to the second conductive element through the second conductive connector, such that the second conductive electrically connects the second conductive element to the negative contact;
• applying a transparent affixing layer over the first flexible substrate;
• applying a transparent layer over the light-emitting element and the transparent affixing layer such that the transparent affixing layer affixes the transparent layer to the first substrate;
• and
• applying an opaque design feature over at least one of the first conductive element and the second conductive element, the opaque design feature at least partially concealing at least one of the first conductive element and the second conductive element from above,
• wherein
• the transparent layer and the transparent affixing layer are both sufficiently transparent to visible light such that they will not decrease light transmittance below 70%,
• the positive and negative contacts are both on a first side of the light-emitting element, and
• the light-emitting element is configured to emit light in the selected wavelengths of light.