Flexible three dimensional display assembly for electric vehicles
AssigneeLumileds LLC
InventorsBarbara Roswitha Mülders, Udo Karbowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible three dimensional display assembly is provided. The flexible display assembly includes electrically interconnected light emitting elements, a flexible lattice fixture and a display bezel. The light emitting elements are electrically interconnected by a system of conductors. The light emitting elements are coupled to the flexible lattice fixture by an arrangement of structurally interconnected framing cells that receive pairs of the light emitting elements. The flexible lattice fixture is secured to the substrate of the display bezel such that the pairs of light emitting elements are maintained in optical alignment with corresponding pairs of apertures of the display bezel.
Claims20
A display assembly comprising:
- a flexible lattice defined by a plurality of structurally interconnected framing cells, each framing cell configured to receive at least one light emitting element such that the plurality of framing cells distribute light emitting elements over the flexible lattice in a first arrangement of light emitting elements;
- and
- a display bezel providing an arrangement of apertures corresponding to the first arrangement of light emitting elements,
- the flexible lattice and the display bezel configured to be interconnected so as to maintain the light emitting elements in optical alignment with the apertures when the display assembly is disposed on a curved surface of a vehicle.
A method of forming a flexible display suitable for disposing upon a curved surface of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- forming a flexible lattice fixture comprising an arrangement of structurally interconnected framing cells, each framing cell comprising walls defining opposing first and second edges, each of the first edges defining a recessed portion;
- disposing at least one light emitting element of a plurality of electrically interconnected light emitting elements within each of the plurality of structurally interconnected framing cells;
- coupling the arrangement of light emitting elements to the flexible lattice structure to form a lighting subassembly;
- and
- disposing portions of conductors electrically interconnecting the light emitting elements into the recessed portion of the corresponding framing cell.
A lighting fixture for installation on a curved outer surface of a vehicle, the lighting fixture comprising:
- a flexible lattice support frame comprising plurality of structurally interconnected framing cells, each framing cell defining an opening for receiving at least one light emitting element;
- and
- a plurality of light emitting elements electrically interconnected by a plurality of conductors, each of the light emitting elements disposed within a corresponding one of the framing cells,
- each light emitting element configured with a lip portion that engages edges on one side of a corresponding framing cell when the light emitting element is disposed in the framing cell, so that the light emitting element is maintained in optical alignment with a corresponding aperture of a display bezel when edges on the opposing side of the corresponding framing cell rest on the curved surface of the vehicle.
A method of forming a flexible lattice lighting fixture comprising:
- molding a flexible lattice structure comprising a plurality of structurally interconnected framing cells, each framing cell comprising walls defining opposing first and second edges, each of the first edges defining a recessed portion;
- forming a wire frame defining linearly extending conductors in a shape generally conforming to the shape of the flexible lattice structure;
- and
- coupling the wire frame to the flexible lattice structure so that leads of the linearly extending conductors contact light emitting elements disposed within corresponding framing cells so that conductors comprising the wire frame distribute power to a plurality of the structurally interconnected framing cells,
- including terminal end portions extending into each framing cell so as to contact terminals of a light emitting element when a light emitting element is coupled to the framing cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.