Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/20—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts
  • G09F13/22—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising with luminescent surfaces or parts electroluminescent

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of double-sided luminous signs, that is to say luminous signs having at least one luminous pattern which is visible on both sides of the sign. It finds more particularly its application to the realization of outdoor luminous signs called "flag", such as for example, but not exclusively, pharmacy crosses.
• luminous signs of the pharmacy cross type or equivalent, are intended to be fixed on an external support (wall or equivalent), being oriented perpendicularly to this support and being positioned substantially in a vertical plane.
• These luminous signs comprise light sources which form at least one luminous pattern, said pattern to be visible on both sides of the sign.
• double-sided light sign it is usual to implement, as light sources, neon tubes that form the visible pattern on both sides of the sign.
• a double-sided luminous sign with neon tubes, of the pharmacy cross type is described, for example, in French patent applications FR 2 765 996 and FR 2 776 810.
• the double-sided illuminated signs with neon tubes have the following main drawbacks.
• Neon tubes are relatively heavy and bulky and therefore detrimental to limit the thickness reduction and weight reduction of the luminous sign. Neon tubes also contain toxic products, which complicates the recycling of signs. Objectives of the invention
• the main object of the present invention is to provide a new double-sided light sign which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of neon tube signs.
• the invention aims to provide a double-sided light sign ultra thin and low weight.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a new double-sided light sign whose manufacture is simple and can easily be industrialized.
• the invention thus has as its first object a double-sided luminous sign, that is to say having at least one visible light pattern on each of the two faces of the sign.
• the luminous sign comprises at least one light module or an assembly of at least two light modules, each luminous module comprising:
• a set of SMD diodes (“Surface Mount Component"), which are arranged to form at least one light pattern, and which are welded to the surface of the corresponding mounting face of the support plate.
• the invention also has for another object the aforementioned light module as such for double-sided light sign.
• Another object of the invention is an assembly of at least two aforementioned light modules, in which the two support plates of the modules are positioned side by side in the same plane.
• a light module of the invention comprises the following additional and optional features, taken separately or, where appropriate, in combination: the light patterns on the two faces of the support plate are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the faces of the the plaque support; more particularly, but not necessarily, the light patterns on both sides of the support plate may be identical;
• the sign of the invention constitutes a light pharmacy cross, and more particularly comprises an assembly of five light modules arranged in the form of a cross: a central light module and four light modules positioned on the periphery of the central module and respectively forming the four branches of the cross.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double-sided, ultra-thin, light pharmacy cross, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the pharmacy cross of FIG. 1
• FIG. 3 is a side view of the pharmacy cross of FIG.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of one of the light modules of the pharmacy cross FIG. 1 intended to form one of the branches of the pharmacy cross,
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the light module of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of the central light module of the pharmacy cross FIG. 1;
• FIG. 7 is a side view of the light module of FIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 is a perspective representation of the assembly in cross shape of the central module of Figure 6 and four peripheral modules of Figure 4.
• FIGS. 1 to 3 show a light pharmacy cross, it being recalled that the invention is not limited to this particular type of flag sign, but may be applied to make any type of double-sided thin light sign comprising at least one light pattern that is visible on both sides of the sign.
• the double-sided light pharmacy cross 1 comprises an assembly of several fine light modules 2,
• the sign 1 also comprises a transparent or translucent protective cover 4, inside which is housed the above assembly of modules 2,2 ', and which is preferably waterproof.
• This cowling 4 is for example of plastic material of plexiglass type, or glass.
• each light module 2 or 2 comprises a rigid support plate 20 of very small thickness.
• This support plate 20 has two opposite faces 20a and 20b said mounting faces.
• On each of the two mounting faces 20a, 20b of the support plate 20 is mounted a set of SMD LEDs ("Surface Mounted Component").
• the SMD diodes mounted on the mounting face 20a are referenced 21a and the SMD diodes mounted on the mounting face 20b are referenced 21b.
• SMD diodes 21a and 21b the diodes which are sold by Agilent Technologies, under the references "HSMx-A10x-xxxx PLCC-2", and whose emission angle can advantageously reach 120 °.
• Each SMD diode 21a, 21b is in a known manner welded to the surface of the mounting face 20a, 21b corresponding thereto, that is to say on the surface of the mounting face 20a for the diodes 21a and on the surface of the mounting face 20b for the diodes 21b.
• the mounting face 20a (respectively 20b) of the support plate 20 comprises a printed electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) which makes it possible to connect the diodes 21a (respectively 21b) to power supply means and means electronic control of the ignition of the diodes.
• the diodes 21a (respectively 21b) are soldered to the printed circuit of this mounting face 20a (respectively 20b).
• the set of diodes 21a respectively 21b) of the face 20a (respectively 20b) of the support 20 is arranged so as to form on this face a light pattern La (respectively Lb).
• La light pattern
• the diodes 21a and 21b are associated in pairs by being mounted in pairs, for example vis-à-vis, on either side of the support plate 20.
• the light patterns La and Lb of the two faces of mounting 20a and 20b of the support 20 are identical and aligned in a direction X perpendicular to the plane of the two faces 20a and 20b of the support 20.
• the structure of the light modules 2 and 2 'advantageously allows, according to the invention, to produce ultra-thin and very light double-sided light modules, for example compared to neon-tube signs.
• modules 2 and 2 ' having a thickness e1 of the order of 5.4 mm, and mounted in a frame 3 d e2 thickness of the order of 36mm. Also, compared to a neon tube light sign, the manufacture of a luminous sign based light modules 2, 2 'of the invention is advantageously simpler and faster.
• the use of light-emitting diodes to achieve the sign of the invention also advantageously reduces the power consumption and increase the life of the sign.
• the modules 2, 2 'of the luminous sign 1 are positioned relative to each other so that their support plates 20 are adjacent and aligned in the same assembly plane P.
• the support plates 20 of a module 2 (respectively module 2 ') comprise assembly means A (respectively A') allowing its assembly with a light module 2 '(respectively module 2) adjacent.
• the support plate 20 of a module 2 is a quadrangular plate comprising at least one assembly means A female interlocking, which is embodied in the form of a notch in one side of the plate 20;
• the support plate 20 of a module 2 ' is a quadrangular plate comprising at least one assembly means A' which is complementary and capable of cooperating with a aforementioned assembly means A;
• the assembly means A ' is constituted by a protruding male part which extends from an edge of the support plate 20 and which is complementary and able to fit into the notch A of the plate 20 of a module 2.
• the light cross 1 comprises a single central light module 2 ', and four identical light modules 2 nested on the periphery of the central module 2', so that the support plates 20 of the modules 2 and 2 form a thin cross, the plates 20 of the modules 2 respectively forming the four branches of the pharmacy cross.
• the juxtaposition of the individual luminous patterns La, Lb of the assembled modules 2 and 2 ' makes it possible to form, on each of the two faces 1a and 1b of the sign 1, a complete luminous pattern representing in particular a luminous cross.
• the central light module 2 'of the cross comprises in its center a subset of diodes 21a, 21b which are arranged so as to allow the display of a variable light pattern comprising for example the date and outside temperature.
• the sign 1 comprises power supply means and electronic control means (microprocessor electronic card) which can control, preferably individually, the ignition of the diodes 21a and 21b. These means are connected to the printed electrical circuits of the two faces 20a and 20b of the support plates 20, and are preferably fixed to the frame 3 of the sign, being housed inside the protective cover 4.
• the invention may be indifferently be implemented with any type of means for controlling the ignition of the diodes, said control means being able to allow, for example and indifferently according to the invention, a permanent lighting of the diodes, a flashing ignition, or an ignition allowing get a dynamic display with scrolling.
• the invention is not limited to a sign 1 composed of several light modules 2 or 2 'but also extends to a light double-sided light sign consisting of a single light module.
• modules 2 and 2 'of small size could be replaced by a single large module.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
• Planar Illumination Modules (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36190647

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2005
  • 2005-09-12 FR FR0509251A patent/FR2890775B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-09-11 EP EP06808102A patent/EP1932132A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-09-11 WO PCT/FR2006/002076 patent/WO2007031629A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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