Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
  • G02B6/0058—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
  • G02B6/006—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0065—Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
  • G02B6/0013—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide
  • G02B6/0015—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
  • G02B6/002—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
  • G02B6/0021—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses

Definitions

• the present invention concerns an electric sign comprising a clear plexiglass sheet in which there are beams of light from a light source.
• the light is normally supplied to the plexiglass sheet from one or more of the sheet's sides; a bright background is established for the looped areas on the front of the sheet. This produces a certain visual effect on account of the contrast, but side illuminants are not expedient, particularly because they are visible and cannot easily be concealed.
• the objective of the present invention is to remedy these deficiencies and disadvantages in signs of the prior art. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention by the light source being inserted in the sheet in such a way that the light is mainly emitted from the centre plane of the sheet.
• the light source may comprise several light sources so that the brightness can be absolutely uniform throughout the sign.
• the light source is completely invisible, which increases the effect of the sign on account of its elegant appearance with no light chambers at the edges of the sheet.
• the light can be produced and the effect reinforced at any location on the sign.
• the sign can easily be manufactured.
• the sign according to the present invention can be manufactured and mounted much more cheaply.
• fig. 1 shows a segment of an electric sign from the front
• fig. 2 shows a section through the sign in the direction II-II on fig. 1,
• fig. 3 shows an example of an escape route sign from the front
• fig. 4 shows a section through the sign in the direction IV-IV on fig. 3.
• the sign consists of a plexiglass sheet 1 , which is a rigid material with very fine optical properties, including light conduction.
• the thickness of the sheet 1 may vary depending on the size of the sign, but will normally be between 10 and 20 mm.
• Blind holes 3 are drilled on the back of the sheet 1 at suitable locations to create cavity spaces into which light sources 4, in the form of low-voltage bulbs, are inserted in their sockets or electrical connections.
• the light source 4 is connected to a voltage source in standard fashion.
• the connection of the voltage source is of low-voltage type and can, therefore, be simple in the form of current- carrying film or wire.
• the sign may also be fitted with means of suspension (not shown) in the form of distance stays, suspension fittings or similar, which can fix the sheet in the desired position and at a suitable distance from the base sheet.
• the optical centre of the light sources 4 is in or near to the centre plane of the sheet. This ensures the best light distribution and effect.
• This covering may, naturally, be varied in size and form to create the desired sign.
• grooves 5 are also created in the form of a milled groove through the coating 2 and down into the sheet 1.
• This groove runs, in the example, around the letters, which causes the light to be produced as a powerful contrast or band of light, whereby the emission of light becomes very conspicuous on account of its direction outwards towards the viewers.
• Figs. 3 and 4 show an example of a sign in which this depression or groove 5 contributes to making the sign's characters tangible.
• the example illustrates an escape route arrow, which must both be visible and tangible.
• the arrow is formed by milling out a groove 5 through the coating 2 and the surface of the sheet.
• the arrow will light up brightly on account of the emission of light from the groove 5.
• other processing of the sheet in the form of bevels, abrasions and similar on the back or sides can contribute to producing various light effects.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8091523

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1998
  • 1998-05-28 WO PCT/DK1998/000218 patent/WO1999000625A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-05-28 EP EP98921376A patent/EP1030996A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-05-28 AU AU74259/98A patent/AU7425998A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events