RU2779922C2 - Light-emitting device containing light-emitting units located according to plane filling scheme - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electrical engineering.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a light-emitting device for covering a surface section. Light-emitting device (1) contains light-emitting units (10) located according to plane filling scheme (20) for covering a significant surface section. Separate light-emitting units (10) contain inner electrical circuit (11) and two connecting areas (12, 13) providing electrical access to inner electrical circuit (11) from the outer side of light-emitting units (10). Light-emitting units (10) are electrically connected through their connecting areas (12, 13) and are overlapped in sections of their connecting areas (12, 13). One of connecting areas (12, 13) of separate light-emitting units (10) is electrically connected to corresponding connecting areas (12, 13) of two other light-emitting units (10) at the same time.

EFFECT: provision of a possibility of operation of a light-emitting device submersed into fouling-causing liquid.

13 cl, 21 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES

First, the invention relates to a light emitting device comprising light emitting blocks arranged in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a significant area of the surface, in which the individual light emitting blocks contain an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing electrical access to an internal electrical circuit on the outside of the light emitting blocks, and in which the light emitting blocks are electrically connected through their connection areas.

Secondly, the invention relates to a set of light emitting blocks designed to be arranged in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a significant portion of a surface and thereby form said light emitting device, in which the individual light emitting blocks from the set comprise an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting regions providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, and in which the connecting regions of the light emitting blocks are designed to provide a light emitting block arrangement in which the light emitting blocks are electrically connected through their connecting regions.

Thirdly, the invention relates to the assembly of a marine object and said light emitting device, wherein the marine object comprises at least one surface, which is assumed to be at least partially immersed in an antifouling liquid containing biofouling organisms for at least part of the time service of the marine object, and the light emitting device is located on at least one surface.

Fourthly, the invention relates to a method for mounting a light emitting device, comprising the steps of preparing light emitting blocks containing an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, arranging the light emitting blocks in a plane filling pattern for covering at least a significant area of the surface and electrically connecting the light emitting blocks through their connecting areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, the invention relates to the field of realizing the effect of light emission by using a number of light emitting blocks arranged in a plane filling pattern. One possible specific application of the invention is the use to protect surfaces from fouling. Now the background of the invention will be explained in the context of this particular application, it should not be understood that the invention is intended to be limited to this application.

Fouling of surfaces that are not protected from water for at least part of their service life is a well-known phenomenon that creates significant problems in many areas. For example, it is known in the shipping industry that biofouling on the hull of ships leads to a significant increase in the drag of ships, and therefore increases the fuel consumption of ships. In this regard, it has been estimated that an increase in fuel consumption of up to 40% can be attributed to biofouling.

In general, biofouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, small animals, and the like. on surfaces. According to some estimates, over 1800 species containing over 4000 organisms are responsible for biofouling. Therefore, biofouling is caused by a variety of organisms and involves much more than the attachment of barnacles and algae to surfaces. Biofouling is classified into microfouling, which includes biofilm formation and bacterial adhesion, and macrofouling, which involves attachment of larger organisms. In addition, depending on the well-defined chemistry and biology of organisms, which determine the prevention of their settling, organisms are classified into hard and soft. Solid fouling organisms include calcareous organisms such as barnacles, crusting bryozoans, molluscs, polychaetes and other tubeworms, and striated mussels. Soft fouling organisms include non-calcareous organisms such as algae, hydroids, algal and biofilm slime. Together, these organisms form a fouling community.

Biofouling can cause machinery and clogged water intakes to stop working, only two other negative effects are mentioned here in addition to the increase in ship drag mentioned above. In any case, the topic of antifouling, ie the process of removing and/or preventing biofouling, is well known.

Patent document WO2014/188347 A1 discloses a method for preventing fouling of a surface when the surface is at least partially immersed in a liquid medium, in particular an aqueous or oily medium. The method includes providing an anti-fouling light and providing an optical medium in close proximity to such a surface to be protected, wherein the optical medium has a substantially flat radiation surface. At least part of the light propagates through the optical medium in a direction substantially parallel to the protected surface, and antifouling light is emitted from the radiation surface of the optical medium in the direction away from the protected surface. The anti-fouling light may be ultraviolet light and the optical medium may comprise ultraviolet transparent silicone, i.e. silicone that is substantially transparent to ultraviolet light, and/or clear quartz glass that is transparent to ultraviolet light, in particular quartz.

Using the method known from WO2014/188347 A1, it is possible to coat the surface to be protected with a layer that emits germicidal light in order to keep the surface free from biofouling, at least to a large extent. As previously mentioned, the surface to be protected may be the hull of a ship, but the method is equally applicable to other types of surface.

Patent document WO2014/188347 A1 also discloses a lighting module which is suitable for use in the practice of the method mentioned above. Therefore, the lighting module includes at least one light source for generating anti-fouling light and an optical medium for propagating anti-fouling light from the light source. The at least one light source and/or optical medium may be at least partially located in, on and/or near the surface to be protected, so that the anti-fouling light is emitted away from the surface to be protected.

The lighting module known from WO2014/188347 A1 may be formed in the form of a foil which is suitable for application to the surface to be protected. The foil can be significantly limited in size in two orthogonal directions perpendicular to the thickness direction of the foil to form a tiled antifouling block; in another embodiment, the foil is significantly limited in size in only one direction, perpendicular to the thickness direction of the foil, to form an elongated strip of antifouling foil.

The concept of having tile antifouling blocks is of particular interest when large surfaces have to be antifouled, which may be surfaces larger than 10,000 m ² . The antifouling blocks may be of any suitable shape and size. For example, square blocks can be used and arranged in a regular pattern on the hull to form a light emitting anti-fouling device on the hull, each block can be sized to cover about 1 m ^{2 of} the hull. For the anti-fouling light emitting device to work properly, the units must be electrically connected and all units must also be connected to a power source. However, the cost of the light emitting device is directly related to the number of connections to the blocks. In addition, in some cases, the connections to the blocks are completely exposed to water penetration and therefore short circuits can occur when at least a portion of the anti-fouling light emitting device is actually below the water line. One can easily reduce the risk of disruption, namely by limiting the number of connections, except that it is also important that the device has a certain level of electrical redundancy. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the term "redundancy" as used herein should be understood to refer to alternative power supply paths in the event of failure of a block or connections between blocks. The more alternative paths there are, the less likely the units are to be disconnected from the power supply in the event of a failure of the light emitting device, and there is a greater degree of electrical redundancy. In fact, the electrical redundancy of the light emitting device is high if the wiring is chosen such that the operation of the device is not affected by damage to the wiring, even if the damage occurs in many different places, and also if the malfunction of one or more units does not render other units inoperative, while the electrical redundancy of the light emitting device is low if the wiring is chosen such that the operation of the device is affected by wiring failure at only one location or few locations and/or malfunction of only one unit or few units.

In a light emitting device, all light emitting units that are included in the device must be connected in one way or another to a power supply. For obvious reasons, it is desirable to have only one power supply to supply power to a large number of light emitting units. In order to prevent both the plural electrical wires or other electrical conductive members and the light emitting units from being electrically connected to each of the light emitting units and the power supply, it is expedient to have daisy chain light emitting units, which means that the light emitting units must be connected in sequential order, with one end of the garland connected to a power source. However, the long row of daisy-chained light emitting units has no redundancy and is not at all protected from damage to one connection between the light emitting units and/or the light emitting unit. When one connection fails, all the light emitting units break the line of this connection, or the light emitting unit cannot be supplied with power. Redundancy requires more than the minimum number of (two) electrical connections per light emitting unit in order to have additional connections providing alternative electrical energy paths. The objective of the invention is to provide a practical solution to the situation of conflicting requirements, consisting, on the one hand, in the need to limit the number of connections, and on the other hand, in the need to have a sufficient level of electrical redundancy.

Patent document WO2009/069076 A2 relates to an electronic hotplate in which variable parameters such as color and/or brightness and/or temperature are implemented. The tile is designed to be placed in a system of several identical tiles to cover the surface, and this system contains a special tile for adjusting various parameters, so that the specialist can change the appearance of the tile system at will. At least one tile from the system is connected to a power source.

In particular, the tile known from WO2009/069076 A2 may contain one or more LEDs and may be designed to implement the functionality without any electrical wiring. A square periphery of the tile is assumed and in this case the tile has four corners, it may be that the tile has a notch at the location of the corner and that the electrical contacts of the tile are located exactly at that location. Connecting one tile to another involves the use of a separate piece also having contacts which then contact both the corner of one tile and the corner of the other tile.

Patent document WO2012/041456 A1 relates to a lighting system for coloring a wall, ceiling or floor. The lighting system contains a plurality of square coloring tiles, a plurality of contact elements located in the edge area of each of the tiles, including in the corners of each of the tiles. The coloring tiles are electrically connected to each other through their contact elements, while the physical connections between the contact elements of the respective tiles are realized through contact plates, which are located at the respective places of the lighting system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a light emitting device which comprises light emitting blocks arranged in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a substantial portion of a surface, wherein the individual light emitting blocks comprise an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting regions providing electrical access to the internal an electrical circuit on the outside of the light emitting blocks, in which the light emitting blocks are electrically connected through their connecting areas, in which at least one of the connecting areas of the individual light emitting blocks is electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting areas of at least two other light emitting blocks and in which the light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of the connection areas, where the individual light emitting blocks are electrically connected simultaneously with the respective connection areas of at least two x other light emitting blocks.

As explained above, connecting a conductive member to each light emitting unit to allow each light emitting unit to be directly connected to a power supply will provide a high level of electrical redundancy, but will result in an unacceptable number of conductive members and associated damage/short circuit hazard. The daisy-chained light emitting units do not provide a practical solution to the problem because they carry the risk of multiple light emitting units being rendered inoperative if only one connection in the light emitting unit chain fails. Creating a connection structure for each light emitting block in a daisy chain of light emitting blocks, and also providing alternative power routing through an adjacent daisy chain, will increase the level of electrical redundancy without the need to create a path that connects each light emitting block directly to a power supply, but will entail a large number of electrical connections between light emitting blocks.

The invention proposes a different approach and is based on the formation of electrical connections between at least three light emitting units at one place, namely, a place where the respective connection areas of at least three light emitting units are brought together in a functional sense, so that the connection areas can be connected. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of physical connections between the light emitting units while maintaining an acceptable level of electrical redundancy. In particular, it appears that by making connections between at least three light emitting units at the same location, which will hereinafter be referred to as combined connections, an efficient structure is obtained in which individual light emitting units are at a predetermined location to receive energy along alternative connecting paths, so that damage to the light emitting unit or the connection to the light emitting unit will not affect the operation of other light emitting units, while reducing the number of physical connections that are necessary to implement the structure.

For example, the light emitting device may comprise combined connections of four light emitting blocks. In such a case, compared to the usual situation in which each connection is only between two light emitting units, the total number of connections between light emitting units in a light emitting device can be reduced by about 50% while still the same level of electrical redundancy. In addition, in such a case, it may be expedient to arrange the light emitting blocks in a regular pattern in rows and columns of light emitting blocks, and to arrange the combined connections of the four light emitting blocks at the places where the four light emitting blocks are joined, that is, at the places both between two rows and between two columns, which will be called nodal places in the future. In order to have a desirable sufficient level of electrical redundancy with such a scheme, it is necessary that all the nodal locations between the light emitting units represented in the scheme be the locations where four light emitting units are connected. Instead, it may be sufficient to form combined connections at every other node, both in the row direction and in the column direction of the circuit.

Within the scope of the invention, the actual physical location of the at least three light emitting blocks spanned by the combined connection can be chosen at will, provided that the at least three light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of the at least three sections of the connecting regions, where at least three light emitting of the block are electrically connected at the same time to the respective connection areas of at least two other light emitting blocks. These light emitting blocks may be arranged in a plane filling pattern such that the light emitting blocks are generally adjacent to each other in a physical sense, but not in fact. In fact, the concept of connecting the respective connection areas of the at least three light emitting blocks is not limited by any physical method of establishing electrical connections. All light emitting blocks of the light emitting device may be of the same kind, that is, they may be identical, but it may also be that light emitting blocks of two or more kinds are used in the light emitting device. In this connection, it may be particularly advantageous to use at least two configurations of light emitting units in the light emitting device.

For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the term "plane-filling pattern" should be understood in a practical sense, that is, as covering various options, the meanings of which are usually understood by a person skilled in the art using the term, including the option, according to which the light emitting blocks are located close to each other. to each other, practically without a gap between the light emitting blocks, and a variant, according to which the light emitting blocks are located near each other with only a small gap between them. In general, the term applies both to a circuit in which the light emitting blocks are arranged so as to form a continuous surface coating, and to a circuit in which the light emitting blocks are arranged so as to form a surface coating that has discontinuities, and these discontinuities are no more than small areas between the light emitting blocks, while most of the total circuit area is occupied by light emitting blocks. In any case, it may be preferable that the distances between the light emitting blocks are significantly smaller than the overall dimensions of the light emitting blocks. In general, the light emitting blocks may be formed in the form of tiles, panels, or the like suitable for placement on the surface to be coated.

In practical situations, it may be that the light emitting device comprises a number of light emitting blocks, which cannot be characterized as light emitting blocks in which at least one of the connecting regions is included in the combined connection, especially light emitting blocks having a corner place or a side place in the circuit light emitting blocks, and this does not change the fact that the invention is implemented by other light emitting blocks, which usually make up the majority of the total number of light emitting blocks of a light emitting device.

As mentioned above, the light emitting blocks include at least two connection areas for providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit of the light emitting blocks from the outside of the light emitting blocks. It can be within the scope of the invention that at least two of the connection areas of the individual light emitting blocks are electrically connected simultaneously to the corresponding connection areas of at least two other light emitting blocks, i.e. included in a combined connection. In such a case, considering the mentioned option at the level of an arbitrary light emitting block from the scheme, it is most expedient that one of the at least two connection regions of the light emitting block be included in the combined connection between the light emitting block and the first set of at least two other light emitting blocks, and the other of at least two connection areas of the light emitting unit is included in the combined connection between the light emitting unit and a second set of at least two other light emitting units, different from the first set of at least two other light emitting units, so that the light emitting unit can be connected to many other light emitting units .

It should be noted that the invention also covers a variant according to which no more than two connecting areas of individual light emitting blocks are electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting areas of at least two other light emitting blocks. In addition, it may be expedient that (exactly) two of the connection areas of the individual light emitting units are electrically connected simultaneously to the corresponding connection areas of at least two other light emitting units.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be that at least one other of the connection areas of the light emitting units is electrically connected to the connection area of only one light emitting unit. In other words, the invention is still usable in practice if not all the connection areas of the light emitting blocks are included in the combined connection, while the light emitting device may contain both combined connections and conventional single connections between light emitting blocks.

According to the invention, the light emitting blocks are arranged so as to overlap at the locations of at least portions of the connection regions, where the individual light emitting blocks are electrically connected simultaneously to the respective connection regions of at least two other light emitting blocks, i.e., at the locations of at least the connection regions, which included in combined connections between light emitting units. For example, it may be that the individual light emitting blocks contain at least one recessed section, while at least one connecting area of the light emitting blocks contains at least one electrically conductive connecting element, which is located on the light emitting blocks at the location of their at least one a recessed portion and which is in electrical connection with an internal electrical circuit of the light emitting units, and wherein the light emitting units partially overlap at their recessed portions. The electrically conductive connecting element of at least one connecting region can be implemented in the form of an electrically conductive strip extended, for example, on a portion of the outer surface of the light emitting blocks.

The possibility of partially overlapping the light emitting blocks at the locations of the recessed areas of the light emitting blocks allows to have an arrangement in which the light emitting blocks are located at the same level, especially in the case when the height of the light emitting blocks at all locations of the recessed areas is chosen so that it is more than half the total height of the light emitting blocks. blocks, and alternately arranging light emitting blocks with a recessed portion directed downwards and a recessed portion directed downwards, so that the recessed portions of the light emitting blocks can face each other, while unlike the recessed portions, the light emitting blocks are located side by side.

As in the case of conventional situations, the light emitting device may include wiring to establish the necessary electrical connections between the light emitting units. For example, wire bundles of electrically connected wires may provide combined connections between at least three light emitting units, with each of the at least three light emitting units connected to a corresponding wire end of the wire bundle. For example, it may be more appropriate to use a different kind of conductive element, such as a conductive pin or track. In any case, the connection areas of the light emitting blocks may comprise a conductive strip or the like as already mentioned above, in which case something like an electrical wire or a conductive lead or track may be provided to connect the conductive strips or the like. In general, any relatively small size connector known to form electrically conductive connections will do. Alternatively, the electrically conductive strips or the like may be pressed against each other for contact with each other, may be soldered or other suitable method of attachment, or may be located at a short distance facing each other to provide transmission of electrical energy based on capacitive effects.

Within the scope of the invention it is possible to formulate a necessary condition for an electrical path to pass through at least one light emitting unit between two locations where at least three light emitting units are connected via their respective connecting regions. In fact, when applying the necessary condition, it is not possible to have an electrically conductive element in a light emitting device that serves as a direct electrical connection between two locations of combined connections between at least three light emitting units.

The light emitting blocks may be of any suitable shape and size. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the term "light emitting unit" as used herein should be understood to encompass any possible unit having light emitting functionality, including light emitting tile, panel, module, flooring, etc. In a practical embodiment of the light emitting device according to the invention, the light emitting blocks may have a periphery with multiple sides and angles connecting the sides. For example, the light emitting blocks may have a generally rectangular or square periphery, a triangular periphery, or a hexagonal periphery. In such a case, at least one of the connecting regions of the individual light emitting blocks, which is electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting regions of at least two other light emitting blocks, can be located at a corner position on the light emitting block. When the light emitting blocks have a generally four-sided periphery, such as said generally rectangular or square periphery, and at least two of the connecting regions of the individual light emitting blocks are included in a combined connection, these connecting regions can be located at opposite corner positions of the light emitting blocks, so that there is optimal reachability of connecting areas. It should be noted that the term "corner spot" as used herein should be understood to cover a spot on a corner portion of the light emitting unit, i.e., a spot at a corner of the light emitting unit or a spot near a corner of the light emitting unit, which to a person skilled in the art means a corner spot. , not a place on the side of the light emitting block.

As mentioned above, one of the possible areas of application of the invention is the area of protection against surface fouling. In this regard, it should be noted that the individual light emitting units may comprise at least one light source which is configured to emit during operation of the antifouling light. For example, at least one light source may comprise at least one light-emitting diode (LED), and this does not change the fact that within the scope of the invention it is possible to use one or several other types of light source. In any case, the at least one light source may be configured to emit ultraviolet light during operation, so that the light emitting device will be suitable for use in antifouling. In general, the light emitting units may be of any suitable design and may comprise an optical medium in which at least one light source is included or, for example, some form of enclosure in which at least one light source is placed. When the light emitting device is to be used under water, it is preferable that the light emitting units are electrically connected to provide liquid impermeability.

Advantageously, the light emitting device according to the invention comprises a single power supply which is configured to supply power to all light emitting units. Such a power supply can be electrically connected to only one light emitting unit, or only a limited number of light emitting units, such as two or three, or a large number of light emitting units, such as the number in the range of 10-50, which can be used in a real case. . Since all the light emitting units are connected, it is sufficient that the power supply is electrically connected to only one light emitting unit. However, in order to avoid total failure of the light emitting device if the connection between the power supply and one light emitting unit is damaged, it may be advantageous to connect the power supply to more than one light emitting unit. Alternatively or additionally, the power supply can be connected to the light emitting unit via a plurality of conductive elements so that if the conductive element fails for some reason, power supply to the light emitting units via the light emitting unit in question is still guaranteed via at least one other conductive element.

The invention further relates to a light emitting device in an unassembled state, i.e. to a set of light emitting blocks intended to be arranged in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a substantial portion of a surface and thereby form a light emitting device in which the individual light emitting blocks from the set comprise an internal an electrical circuit and at least two connecting regions providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, in which the connecting regions of the light emitting blocks are designed to provide placement of the light emitting blocks, in which the light emitting blocks are electrically connected through their connecting regions, and in which the connecting areas of the light emitting blocks are designed to provide placement of light emitting blocks, in which the light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of at least sections of their connecting about blasts.

The light emitting device according to the invention may be intended for appropriate use in conjunction with a marine object, in particular a marine object containing at least one surface that is expected to be at least partially immersed in an antifouling liquid containing biofouling organisms for at least part of the life of an offshore facility. In the assembly of such a light emitting device and a marine object, the light emitting device is located on at least one surface of the marine object. In the context of the present description, the term "marine object" is not limited to an object used in salt water, but should be understood as including objects used also in fresh water. Examples of offshore facilities include ships and other vehicles, offshore stations, offshore oil and gas installations, floating devices, offshore wind turbine support structures, wave/tidal energy capture structures, intake boxes on suction piping, subsea instruments, etc. .d. The marine object is only one example of numerous objects that can be provided with a light emitting device according to the invention.

According to the invention, a light emitting unit is provided for use in a light emitting device, in particular, the light emitting unit comprises an internal electrical circuit and at least two connection areas providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting unit. In accordance with what has already been explained above, taking into account that the light emitting blocks are supposed to be arranged with partial overlap, it may be expedient that the light emitting block contains at least one recessed area, while at least one connecting area contains at least one electrically conductive element located on the light-emitting block at the location of at least one recessed section and being in electrical connection with the internal electrical circuit. Alternatively or additionally, the light emitting block may have a periphery with a number of sides and corners connecting the sides, wherein at least one of the connecting regions is located at a corner location of the light emitting block. For example, as previously explained, the light emitting unit may have a generally four-sided periphery and may be electrically attachable at its two opposite corner locations.

In addition, the invention relates to a method for mounting a light emitting device, comprising the steps of preparing light emitting blocks containing an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, arranging the light emitting blocks in a plane filling pattern for covering at least a significant area of the surface and the electrical connection of the light-emitting blocks through their connection areas, in particular, in this case, an arrangement is realized in which at least one of the connection areas of the individual light-emitting blocks is electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connection areas of at least two other light-emitting blocks blocks, that is, they cover the combined connection. As explained earlier, the number of light emitting blocks covered by the combined connection may be any number greater than two.

The light emitting blocks are located with partial overlap, in particular, the light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of at least portions of the connecting areas where the individual light emitting blocks are covered by the combined connection. It is expedient that the light emitting blocks contain at least one recessed section, so that at least one connecting area of the light emitting blocks contains at least one electrically conductive element, which is located on the light emitting blocks in the locations of their at least one recessed section and which is located in electrical connection with the light emitting blocks, and the location of the light emitting blocks with partial overlap included the creation of a partial overlap of the light emitting blocks in the locations of their recessed areas.

In addition, in accordance with the above explanation of the various options related to the light emitting device according to the invention, at least the following options are achievable in the context of the method: (1a) the formation of light emitting blocks having a periphery with a number of sides and corners connecting the sides, and creating combined connections at corner locations on the light emitting blocks, (1b) forming light emitting blocks having a generally four-sided periphery, and creating combined connections at opposite corner locations on the light emitting blocks, (2a) arranging the light emitting blocks in a regular pattern containing rows and columns, and creating combined connections of the four light emitting blocks at the places where the four light emitting blocks converge, that is, at the nodal places between two rows and between two columns, and (2b) in the case of the previous embodiment, the formation of combined connections only at every other nodal m place both in the direction of the rows and in the direction of the columns of the chart.

It should be noted that the concept of arranging the light emitting blocks with partial overlap is independent of the concept of forming combined connections between at least three light emitting blocks. Therefore, as in the second aspect and as defined in the claims, the invention relates to a light emitting device comprising light emitting blocks arranged in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a substantial portion of a surface, the individual light emitting blocks comprising an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, while the light emitting blocks are electrically connected through their connecting areas and these light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of at least portions of their connecting areas. In particular, the individual light emitting blocks may comprise at least two recessed sections, wherein the connecting regions of the light emitting blocks comprise at least one electrically conductive element which is located on the light emitting blocks at the location of their at least two recessed sections and which is in contact with by an internal electrical circuit of the light emitting blocks, and the light emitting blocks partially overlap at the locations of their at least two recessed sections.

Many of the options discussed above in the context of combined connections apply equally to the light emitting device, now defined with particular attention to the partially overlapping arrangement of light emitting blocks. In particular, it may be that the light emitting blocks have a periphery with a number of sides and corners connecting the sides, wherein at least one of the connecting areas of the light emitting blocks is located at a corner location on the light emitting blocks. In the case where the light emitting blocks have a generally four-sided periphery, the light emitting blocks may include two connecting regions which are located at opposite corner positions on the light emitting blocks. Further, the individual light emitting units may comprise at least one light source that is configured to emit antifouling light during operation, and/or the light emitting device may comprise one power supply that is configured to power all of the light emitting units.

Now, a light emitting device can be defined as part of an assembly also containing a marine object, wherein the marine object contains at least one surface that is assumed to be at least partially immersed in an antifouling liquid containing biofouling organisms during at least part of the service life marine object, and the light emitting device is located on at least one surface.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting a light emitting device, comprising the steps of preparing light emitting blocks containing an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, arranging the light emitting blocks according to the scheme of filling the plane for covering at least at least a significant area of the surface and electrical connection of the light emitting blocks through their connecting areas, while the light emitting blocks overlap at the location of at least portions of their connecting areas. As explained earlier, it may be that the individual light emitting blocks contain at least two recessed sections, while the connecting areas of the light emitting blocks contain at least one electrically conductive connecting element, which is located on the light emitting blocks at the location of their at least two recessed sections and which is in electrical connection with the internal electrical circuit of the light emitting units. In this case, the method may include the step of creating a partial overlap of the light emitting blocks at the locations of their at least two recessed areas.

The concept of partially overlapping light emitting blocks is not necessarily limited to arranging the light emitting blocks in a plane filling pattern to cover at least a significant portion of a surface. Therefore, the invention also relates to a light emitting device comprising light emitting blocks arranged in a scheme, in accordance with which the individual light emitting blocks contain an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, while light emitting the blocks are electrically connected through their connection regions, and in which the light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of at least portions of their connection regions. The options mentioned in the preceding paragraphs in relation to the light emitting device that is the subject of these paragraphs are equally applicable. In addition, the invention relates to a method for mounting a light emitting device, comprising the steps of preparing light emitting blocks containing an internal electrical circuit and at least two connecting areas providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit from the outside of the light emitting blocks, arranging the light emitting blocks according to the scheme and electrical connection light emitting blocks through their connecting regions, wherein the light emitting blocks overlap at the locations of at least portions of their connecting regions. The above-mentioned variant of light-emitting blocks provided with at least two recessed sections is equally applicable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which the same or similar parts are identified by the same reference numbers and in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a light emitting device according to the first embodiment, and also a power supply of the light emitting device;

fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a first conventional light emitting device;

fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a second conventional light emitting device;

fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a third conventional light emitting device;

fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a light emitting device according to the second embodiment;

fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from an alternative light emitting device;

fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a light emitting device according to the third embodiment;

fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of a number of light emitting units from a light emitting device according to the fourth embodiment;

fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of a light emitting unit having recessed portions in which connection areas of the light emitting unit are located;

fig. 10-17 are illustrations of a method for co-arranging the four light emitting units shown in FIG. 9 to form a combined connection between the light emitting blocks;

fig. 18 is an illustration of an alternative configuration of a connecting region on a recessed portion of the light emitting unit; and

fig. 19-21 are illustrations of another embodiment of placing four light emitting blocks together to form a combined connection between light emitting blocks, which includes the application of an additional plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 relates to a light emitting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, comprising light emitting blocks 10 arranged in a plane filling pattern 20 so that the light emitting device 1 is usable to cover at least a significant portion of a surface. The light emitting blocks 10 typically have a shape similar to that of a tile, panel, or the like, and comprise an internal electrical circuit 11, shown schematically by dotted lines crossing the light emitting blocks 10. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the light emitting blocks 10 include two connection areas 12 , 13 providing electrical access to the internal circuit 11 from the outside of the light emitting units 10. The internal circuit 11 may be configured in any suitable manner. For example, it may be that the light emitting units 10 are provided with at least one light source and that the internal electrical circuit 11 includes a positive wire and a negative wire for powering at least one light source, with at least one light source located between the wires. In addition, the connection regions 12, 13 may be configured in any suitable manner, as long as they serve the function of providing locations where the light emitting unit 10 can be electrically connected to at least one other light emitting unit 10. In this regard, it should be noted that it is expedient that the connecting regions 12, 13 contain at least one electrically conductive element of some kind. In any case, in the light emitting device 1, the light emitting units 10 are electrically connected via their connecting regions 12, 13.

In the embodiment shown, the light emitting blocks 10 typically have a square periphery, with the light emitting blocks 10 having four sides 14 and four corners 15 connecting the sides 14. It should be noted that this particular shape of the light emitting blocks 10 is shown for illustration only and that the present disclosure is in no way not limited to this form. Other possible shapes are shown in Fig. 5-7, which will be explained later. In FIG. 1 shows a variant of the light emitting blocks 10 with rounded corners 15, without changing the fact that, within the scope of the invention, the corners 15 can also be sharp. In addition, in the example shown, the arrangement 20 of the light emitting blocks 10 is regular, with the light emitting blocks 10 arranged in columns and rows at certain small distances from each other. These features of circuit 20 are not essential; in particular, the light emitting blocks 10 can also be arranged end to end. With regard to the location of the connecting regions 12, 13 on the light emitting blocks 10, it should be noted that in the example shown, the connecting regions 12, 13 are located at two opposite corners 15 of the light emitting block 10.

In FIG. 1 shows only a few of the total number of light emitting units 10 of the light emitting device 1. Within the scope of the invention, the light emitting device 1 may comprise any suitable number of light emitting units 10, the number of light emitting units 10 may be up to 10,000 or even (much) more. The light emitting blocks 10 may be of any suitable size. Based on the feasibility of using the light emitting device 1 to cover the hull of a ship and effecting an antifouling effect by emitting antifouling light away from the hull, an example of such dimensions is a size of the order of 1 m per length of the sides 14 of the light emitting blocks 10.

The light emitting units 10 may be of any suitable design and, depending on the intended use of the light emitting device 1, may contain any suitable components. An example of a contemplated use of the light emitting device 1 is said use on surfaces for anti-fouling effects, it being preferred that the device 1 be designed to emit ultraviolet light during its operation. In such a case, it may be advantageous to design the device 1 specifically to emit ultraviolet C light, which is also known as ultraviolet C light, and even more specifically, light with a wavelength of approximately 250 nm to 300 nm. It has been found that most fouling organisms die, become inactive or are unable to reproduce when exposed to a certain dose of ultraviolet light having these characteristics. The light may be applied continuously or at suitable intervals which suit the particular situation, especially considering the intensity of the light. Further, in such a case, it may be expedient that the light emitting blocks 10 contain a silicone material.

In general, the light emitting units 10 may comprise at least one light source (not shown) for emitting the intended light, and also an internal electrical track and/or internal wiring as part of an internal electrical circuit 11 to which the at least one light source is connected. In order to power at least one light source of the light emitting units 10, the light emitting device 1 comprises a power supply 30, and the light emitting units 10, in particular their internal circuit 11, are connected to this power supply 30. As mentioned above, the light emitting units 10 are electrically connected through the connecting regions 12, 13. The light emitting device 1 includes at least one electrically conductive member 40 for electrically connecting at least one of the light emitting units 10 and the power supply 30. When the other light emitting units 10 are electrically connected to at least one of the light emitting units 10 which is directly connected to the power supply 30, all other light emitting units 10 are also indirectly connected to the power supply 30 so that only one power supply 30 is needed to power a large number of light emitting blocks 10.

In the light emitting device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the electrical connections between the four light emitting units 10 are formed at one place. In the present description, considering that the electrical connections span more than two light emitting units 10, in contrast to the usual case, the electrical connections are called combined connections. The locations where the combined connections are formed are the locations where the four light emitting blocks 10 converge, that is, the locations both between two rows and between two columns, which will be referred to as node locations 21 in the following. As shown in diagram 20, not all the nodes 21 between the light emitting blocks 10 are the places where four light emitting blocks 10 are connected. Combined connections are formed only at the nodes 21 where the connection areas 12, 13 of the four light emitting blocks 10 are combined. As a result, in the example shown, combined connections are formed at every second node 21 both in the direction of the rows and in the direction of the columns of the circuit 20.

The combined connections between the four light emitting units 10 at the respective nodal locations 21 can be implemented in any suitable manner. First of all, it is possible to have at least one real conductive element connecting the connecting areas 12, 13 of the respective light emitting units 10. Such an electrically conductive element can be formed in the form of an electrical wiring, but other possibilities also exist within the scope of the invention, including the possibility of forming an electrically conductive element in the form of a contact column or track of electrically conductive material. In the case of electrical wiring, it may be advantageous to have a two-piece electrical wiring, forming a positive wire and a negative wire, to power at least one light source of the light emitting units 10, although it is also possible to have separate positive wires and negative wires. Assuming that separate positive and negative wires are used in the light emitting unit 10, these wires can be arranged so that they run in a more or less parallel configuration throughout the light emitting unit 10, in which case the wires can be run between the same connecting areas 12, 13 of the light emitting unit 10, so that the number of connecting areas 12, 13 of the light emitting unit 10 can be kept as small as possible. However, this is not essential within the scope of the invention. For example, it is also possible to have a wire configuration similar to the transverse configuration, in which the positive wire, rather than the negative wire, is extended between two other connection areas 12, 13 of the light emitting unit 10.

If the light emitting device 1 is intended to be used underwater, it is expedient to take measures to provide a liquid-tight seal at the locations where the electrically conductive members are connected to the light emitting units 10, i.e., at the locations where the electrical wires enter the light emitting units 10 and exit from them, in the case where the electrically conductive elements are formed in the form of electrical wiring. The electrical conductive members located at the nodal locations 21 between the four light emitting units 10 may comprise a wired assembly of two electrical wires in a cross configuration, in which, for example, the electrical wires are electrically connected to each other at the intersection, and in which each of the light emitting units 10 is connected with the corresponding end of the wire from the wire assembly, but this does not change the fact that other embodiments of these electrically conductive elements are also possible. A practical use of wiring for electrically connecting the light emitting units 10 will be explained later based on FIG. 9-21.

By forming combined connections between the light emitting units 10, it is achieved that the number of physical connections between the light emitting units 10 can be kept to a minimum while maintaining an acceptable level of electrical redundancy in the light emitting device 1 at the same time. In the case shown in FIG. 1, compared with the usual situation in which each connection is only between two light emitting units 10, it is achieved that the total number of connections between light emitting units 10 in the light emitting device 1 can be reduced by about 50% with the same level of electrical redundancy, so that it is ensured that each of the light emitting units 10 is in its place to receive power through alternative connection paths, whereby a failure of the light emitting unit 10 or connection to the light emitting unit 10 does not affect the operation of the other light emitting units 10. In other words, one can have a significant the number of failed light emitting units 10 and/or damaged connections to the light emitting units 10 and still have the maximum number of operating light emitting units 10. The thing is that in the light emitting device 1, electrical energy can reach individual light emitting units 10 at two places on the light emitting block 10, namely, on two opposite corner places. When one of the connections to the light emitting unit 10 fails, the light emitting unit 10 can still be supplied with power via an alternative path. In FIG. 1, the wiring of electrical energy throughout the circuit 20 of the light emitting blocks 10 is carried out by means of an internal electrical circuit 11 of the respective light emitting blocks 10 and combined connections between the light emitting blocks 10 at the nodal locations 21 in the circuit 20. It should be noted that in most cases, the light emitting device 1 is supplied with energy through a grid a wiring structure that provides many different alternative paths.

The suggestion that the number of connections between the light emitting units 10 can be kept to a minimum while still maintaining an acceptable level of electrical redundancy can also be understood by comparing the light emitting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 with corresponding conventional light emitting devices 200, 300, 400 shown in FIG. 2, 3 and 4.

In FIG. 2 shows a conventional light emitting device 200 in which each light emitting unit 10 is individually connected to a power supply 30 (not shown in FIG. 2) through an electrically conductive member 40 in the form of an electrical wire. When, in this arrangement, one of the light emitting units 10 fails, the individual unit 10 cannot be supplied with energy through an alternative path and is no longer used. On the other hand, the power supply of the other light emitting units 10 is not affected. However, a large number of electrical wires are required to achieve this level of electrical redundancy, and most of these electrical wires are needed to cover relatively large distances and as a result are very susceptible to damage.

In FIG. 3 shows a conventional light emitting device 300 in which the light emitting blocks 10 are connected in a daisy chain, in which the light emitting blocks 10 are electrically connected one after the other, and in which connections are made on two sides of each of the light emitting blocks 10. According to FIG. 1, the internal electrical circuits 11 of the respective light emitting units 10 are shown schematically in FIG. 3 with dotted lines and thus shows how the electrical power is distributed in the circuit 20 of the light emitting units 10. The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 is very susceptible to damage. The point is that if one light emitting unit 10 or the connection to the light emitting unit 10 is damaged, the light emitting units 10 further in the daisy chain cannot be supplied with power.

In FIG. 4 shows a conventional light emitting device 400 in which the level of electrical redundancy is increased compared to the daisy chain version of the light emitting units 10 shown in FIG. 3. However, this is achieved at the cost of increasing the number of required electrical connections. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the individual light emitting units 10 that are at the side locations of the light emitting device 400 are connected to three other light emitting units 10 except for the light emitting unit 10 that is at the corner location of the light emitting device 400, and the individual light emitting units 10 that are not at the side locations of the light emitting device 400 are connected to four other light emitting units 10. Specifically, connections between two adjacent light emitting units 10 are formed at a location where sides 14 of the light emitting units 10 face each other. By making electrical connections between the light emitting units 10 at nodal locations 21 between at least four light emitting units 10, rather than at locations between sides 14 of only two light emitting units 10, the same level of electrical redundancy can be realized while reducing the number of connections between light emitting units 10 by fifty%.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the internal electrical circuits 11 of the respective light emitting units 10 are schematically shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 and thus shows how the electrical power is distributed to the circuit 20 of the light emitting units 10. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the distribution of electrical power is still carried out on a grid using square base elements, as in the case of the conventional variant shown in FIG. 4, and this also explains how the same level of electrical redundancy can be achieved. The difference is that in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the wiring is carried out via the nodal locations 21 between the light emitting units 10 and thus at an inclination angle of 45° compared to conventional wiring via the sides 14 of the light emitting units 10.

Fig. 5 refers to the light emitting device 2 according to the second embodiment of the invention. In this light emitting device 2, the light emitting blocks 10 are rhombus-shaped, and the combined connections are formed between the three light emitting blocks 10. The light emitting blocks 10 are shown side by side, while in practical cases the light emitting blocks 10 may be located with some gap between their sides 14.

As with the configuration shown in FIG. 1, it is not necessary for the light emitting blocks 10 to comprise more than two connecting regions 12, 13, with the connecting regions 12, 13 located at opposite corner positions on the light emitting blocks 10, although the latter is not essential. In addition, in FIG. 5 shows that the electrical wiring throughout the light emitting device 2 can be depicted as a grid containing hexagonal base elements, wherein in some of the light emitting blocks 10 the two connecting regions 12, 13 of the light emitting blocks 10 are shown as interconnected in a straight line crossing the light emitting blocks 10 from one connection area 12 to another connection area 13, representing the internal electrical circuit 11 of the light emitting units 10. Thus, the electrical redundancy is at a desirable level, while the light emitting unit 10 can still be used when the connection with this light emitting unit 10 is broken, and the operation of the other light emitting units 10 is not disturbed, although the number of connections to each of the light emitting units 10 is minimal.

Fig. 6 refers to an alternative light emitting device 3. In this light emitting device 3, the light emitting blocks 10 are generally square in shape with cutouts at two opposite corner locations and connecting areas 12, 13 in each of the cutouts. The light emitting blocks 10 are shown side by side, and this does not change the fact that the light emitting blocks 10 may be located with some gap between their sides 14. cutouts of the light emitting blocks 10. The four light emitting blocks 10 are electrically connected at the locations of the gaps 22. In particular, the gaps 22 can be used to accommodate electrically conductive elements 40, such as electrical wires that can be used to electrically connect the four light emitting blocks 10.

In fact, the alternative light emitting device 3 is very similar to the light emitting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, the difference is in the shape of the light emitting blocks 10 at the opposite corner places where the connecting areas 12, 13 of the light emitting blocks 10 are located. Based on the fact that the light emitting blocks 10 provided with cutouts, it is possible, but not necessary, to position the light emitting blocks 10 abutting and still have sufficient free space to accommodate the electrically conductive elements 40 between the light emitting blocks 10, namely, at the locations of the square gaps 22. In accordance with one possibility available in in the context of an alternative light emitting device 3, such electrically conductive elements 40 may comprise lengths of electrical wire having split ends for connection to two light emitting units 10 at each end. In FIG. 6 this possibility is shown schematically, while in accordance with FIG. 1, the manner in which the connecting regions 12, 13 of the light emitting units 10 are electrically connected through the internal electrical circuit 11 of the light emitting units 10 is shown by dashed lines, whereby the grid structure of the electrical wiring throughout the circuit 20 is clearly visible in FIG. 6.

Fig. 7 refers to the light emitting device 4 according to the third embodiment of the invention. In this light emitting device 4, the light emitting units 10 are triangular in shape. It should be noted that in FIG. 7, the light emitting blocks 10 are shown abutting, while in practical cases the light emitting blocks 10 may be arranged with some gaps between their sides 14.

Circuit 20 shown in FIG. 7 is an example of a circuit 20 in which the light emitting units 10 are electrically connected both through conventional connections between two light emitting units 10 and through combined connections between more than two light emitting units 10, namely between at least six light emitting units 10 in this specific case. In particular, each of the light emitting units 10 is connected to five other light emitting units 10 at its corner 15 and to one additional light emitting unit 10 at a location on the side 14 opposite said corner 15. In addition, in FIG. 7 shows a grid structure of electrical wiring throughout circuit 20, containing triangular base elements having sides extending between the locations of the combined connections. It is a fact that in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, each of the light emitting blocks 10 does not contain more than two connection areas 12, 13 and at the same time sufficient electrical redundancy is still guaranteed by combined connections between more than two light emitting blocks 10, namely between six light emitting blocks 10 in this particular case.

Fig. 8 refers to the light emitting device 5 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. In this light emitting device 5, the light emitting blocks 10 are generally square in shape. The light emitting blocks 10 are shown arranged at a small distance from each other, which does not change the fact that the light emitting blocks 10 can also be located adjacent.

In fact, the light emitting device 5 according to the fourth embodiment is very similar to the light emitting device 1 according to the first embodiment, the difference is in the location of the connecting areas 12, 13 on the light emitting units 10. FIG. 8 serves to illustrate that the connection regions 12, 13 do not have to be located at the corner positions on the light emitting blocks 10, but a diagram 20 of the light emitting blocks 10 is shown in which combined connections are formed between four light emitting blocks 10 in the same manner as in the case of light emitting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention, but in which light emitting blocks 10 are used, which have connection areas 12, 13 located on their opposite sides 14. In this embodiment, it may be expedient that the light emitting blocks 10 are electrically connected, for example, through electrical wiring or electrically conductive tracks. In any case, this embodiment also has the design feature of not more than two connection areas 12, 13 per light emitting unit 10 and the arrangement of combined connections only at or near every other node 21 and at the same time still has the same level of electrical redundancy as in the conventional embodiment shown in FIG. 4, which must be doubled due to numerous connections. It should be noted that in the case of the generally square light emitting blocks 10 in which the combined connections of the four light emitting blocks 10 are formed, the amount of combined connections of 50% of the number of light emitting blocks 10 is sufficient.

Fig. 9-17 refer to the light emitting unit 10 having recessed portions 16 on which the connecting regions 12, 13 of the light emitting unit 10 are located, and FIG. 18 relates to an alternative configuration of the connecting region 12, 13 on the recessed portion 16 of the light emitting unit 10.

In FIG. 9 shows one light emitting unit 10 having a generally square periphery. In this embodiment, the light emitting unit 10 has two recessed portions 16 located at two opposite corner locations on the light emitting unit 10. Connecting regions 12, 13 are formed at the location of the recessed portions 16 in the form of electrically conductive strips 17 which are in electrical connection with the internal electrical circuit 11 of the light emitting unit 10. Two recessed sections 16 are located at different levels, the electrically conductive strip 17 of one of the recessed sections 16 is facing upwards, and the electrically conductive strip 17 of the other of the recessed sections 16 is directed downwards. The recessed portions 16 extend partially from the generally square periphery of the light emitting block 10 so as to allow partially overlapping arrangement of the light emitting blocks 10 exactly at the locations of the recessed portions 16, as will now be explained with reference to FIG. 10-17 which serve to illustrate the process of co-locating four identical light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d to create a combined connection between the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d.

In FIG. 10 partially shows the first light emitting unit 10a with one of the recessed portions 16 extended forward, as can be seen in the drawing.

In FIG. 11 shows how the second light emitting unit 10b is positioned with respect to the first light emitting unit 10a, namely, together with the recessed portion 16 extending backwards, as seen in the drawing, at a location adjacent to the recessed portion 16 of the first light emitting unit 10a, while the electrically conductive strips 17 located on the recessed portions 16 of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b extend substantially parallel to each other.

In FIG. 12 and 13 show how the third light emitting unit 10c is positioned with respect to both the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, it should be noted that in these drawings, hidden parts of the conductive strips 17 and tracks 31 of the internal electrical circuit 11 of the light emitting units 10a , 10b, 10c leading from the strips 17 to the inside of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c are shown in dotted lines. In FIG. 12 shows the third light emitting unit 10c close to the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, and FIG. 13 shows the third light emitting unit 10c (almost) in its place relative to the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b.

Relative to the recessed portions 16 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, the recessed portion 16 of the third light emitting unit 10c is oriented in an inverted position, with its electrically conductive strip 17 extending at an angle of substantially 90° relative to the respective strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b. As a result, it is achieved that the recessed portion 16 of the third light emitting unit 10c overlaps with half of the respective recessed portions 16 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, while the conductive strip 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c faces the respective strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second of the light emitting unit 10b, and the portions of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c outside the recessed portions 16 continue in the same plane, so that a light emitting device having a flat common surface can be realized.

In FIG. 14-17 show how the fourth light emitting unit 10d is positioned with respect to the first light emitting unit 10a, the second light emitting unit 10b, and the third light emitting unit 10c. In FIG. 14 and 15 show the fourth light emitting unit 10d close to the first light emitting unit 10a, the second light emitting unit 10b, and the third light emitting unit 10c, and FIG. 16 and 17 show the fourth light emitting unit 10d in position relative to the first light emitting unit 10a, the second light emitting unit 10b, and the third light emitting unit 10c. In FIG. 14 and 16, hidden parts of the electrically conductive strips 17 and tracks 31 of the internal electrical circuit 11 of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are shown in dotted lines, while FIG. 15 and 17 are actual views of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d.

As with the recessed portion 16 of the third light emitting unit 10c, the recessed portion 16 of the fourth light emitting unit 10d is oriented inverted relative to the recessed portions 16 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, with its conductive strip 17 extending at an angle of substantially 90° with respect to the respective strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b and extend substantially parallel to the strip 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c. In fact, the gap that remains on the combination of the recessed portions 16 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b after the third light emitting unit 10c is brought into place is filled and closed by the recessed portion 16 of the fourth light emitting unit 10d, the fourth light emitting unit 10d being designed to approach the opposite side than the third light emitting unit 10c.

By co-arranging the four light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d in the manner described above and shown in FIG. 10-17, what is achieved is that the closed configuration shown in FIG. 16 and 17. In the process, the recessed portions 16 of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are made to overlap in such orientations that a cruciform pattern is obtained with two substantially parallel conductive strips 17 at the lower level and two substantially parallel conductive strips 17 at the upper level. level, while the strips 17 of the two levels are facing each other. Thus, the combined connection of the four light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d is realized. In the example shown, the recessed portions 16 of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d have a height of approximately half the height of the larger portions of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, that is, the portions of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d outside the recessed sections 16, so that, as mentioned earlier, a light emitting device having a flat overall surface is realized.

In the combined connection of the four light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10a, 10d, the conductive strip 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a faces the parts of the strips 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c and the fourth light emitting unit 10d, and is connected to the strip 17 of the second light emitting unit 10b through the strips 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c and a fourth light emitting unit 10d. In the same way, the conductive strip 17 of the second light emitting unit 10b faces portions of the strips 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c and the fourth light emitting unit 10d, and is connected to the strip 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a through the strips 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c and the fourth light emitting unit 10d, the conductive strip 17 of the third of the light emitting unit 10c faces parts of the strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b and is connected to the strip 17 of the fourth light emitting unit 10d through the strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b, and the electrically conductive strip 17 of the fourth light emitting unit 10d faces the parts strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b and is connected to the strip 17 of the third light emitting unit 10c through the strips 17 of the first light emitting unit 10a and the second light emitting unit 10b.

It may be that the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are designed such that in order to obtain an effective combined connection by which the electrical connection of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d is established, it is only necessary to co-locate the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d in the manner described above. This is the case that the electrically conductive strips 17 of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are brought into contact with each other during operation, or brought close enough to each other so that the transfer of electric power between the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d can take place. , for example, based on capacitive effects. On the other hand, it may be that the co-positioning process of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d is accompanied by pressing the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d to each other at the place where the recessed portions 16 overlap, supplying heat to this place, and etc. Alternatively, gluing or soldering, etc. may be added as an intermediate step. conductive strips 17.

It may be expedient that the connecting regions 12, 13 comprise two electrically conductive strips 17, 18, whereby one of the strips 17, 18 is connected to the positive side of the internal electrical circuit 11 and the other of the strips 17, 18 is connected to the negative side of the internal electrical circuit. chains 11. In FIG. 18 shows this variant, in particular showing a connection region 12 comprising two electrically conductive strips 17, 18 located on a recessed portion 16 of the light emitting unit 10. The light emitting unit 10 in question is intended to be combined with four other identical light emitting units 10 such in the same manner as described above and shown in FIG. 10-17, the difference follows from the design of the connecting regions 12, 13, in which separate positive and negative circuits are realized in combined connections. In order to avoid the connection of plus and minus circuits, the electrically insulating cover plate 19 is located in the proper place on one of the conductive strips 17, 18. In addition, in the example shown, the conductive strips 17, 18 are provided at the ends with areas 32 with solder.

As explained, the embodiment of recessed portions 16 and connecting regions 12, 13 located on recessed portions 16 is preferred in the context of implementing combined connections between at least three light emitting units 10. However, this embodiment is not intended to be limited to such a case. In particular, this option is also applicable in the usual case of making connections between more than two light emitting units 10. In addition, it should be noted that the design of light emitting units 10, including recessed areas 16, does not depend on the overall shape of the light emitting units 10.

Within the scope of the invention, in the practical arrangement of the embodiment having the recessed portions 16 and the connecting regions 12, 13 located on the recessed portions 16, alternatively, there may be a construction of the light emitting blocks 10 which allows the formation of combined connections when all the protruding portions of the light emitting blocks 10 are located covered by the combined connections. , next to each other at the same level and by connecting the respective connecting areas 12, 13, for example, by means of an intermediate plate or the like, having an electrical circuit that is brought into contact with all the connecting areas 12, 13. In such a case it is possible to arrange the connecting areas 12, 13 in areas protruding from the general configuration of the light emitting blocks 10. Another possibility is that the light emitting blocks 10 provide recessed sections 16, which are located within the general configuration of the light emitting blocks 10. This possibility is shown in FIG. 19-21 and will now be explained.

In FIG. 19 shows corner portions of four light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, in particular, corner portions in which recessed portions 16 are provided on respective light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. The four light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are positioned such that the respective recessed portions 16 extend near each other at the same level, with the connection area 12 present on the respective recessed portion 16 being accessible from the same side. In the example shown, as in the case of the example shown in FIG. 9-17, the connecting region 12 of each of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d is formed at the location of the recessed portion 16 of the respective light emitting unit 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d in the form of an electrically conductive strip 17, which is in electrical connection with an internal electrical circuit. 11 of the light emitting unit 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d.

In FIG. 20 shows how the plate 50 containing the electrical circuit 51, which is accessible from the outside, at the locations of the four pads 52, is brought closer to the recessed area formed by the four recessed portions 16 of the respective light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. The plate 50 is placed on this recessed area, with each of the four pads 52 facing (or brought into contact with) the electrically conductive strip 17 of the other light emitting unit 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, whereby a combined connection between the light emitting units can be established. 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d being electrically connected through the electrical circuit 51 of the plate 50. The final position of the plate 50 relative to the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d is shown in FIG. 21. As shown, it may be advantageous to size the plate 50 such that the plate 50 can cover the entire recessed area, although this is not essential within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, as shown, it may be advantageous to size the plate 50 such that the plate 50 can be flush with the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. In general, it is preferable to choose the dimensions of the plate 50 such that the plate 50 fits exactly into the gap that exists between the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d at the location of the recessed portions 16 when the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d are located relatively each other in the respective manner shown in FIG. 19.

In accordance with what has already been explained with respect to the example shown in FIG. 9-17, it may be that the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and the plate 50 are designed so that to realize an effective combined connection of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, only co-location of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c is required. , 10d and plates 50 in the manner described above. This is the case when, during the process, the pads 52 of the plate 50 are brought into contact with the electrically conductive strips 17 of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, or brought close enough to the electrically conductive strips 17 of the light emitting units 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d. On the other hand, it may be that the process of joint placement of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and the plate 50 is accompanied by the implementation of pressing the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and the plate 50 to each other at the place where the plate overlaps with recessed portions 16 light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, supplying heat to the place, etc. Alternatively, gluing or soldering, etc. may be added as an intermediate step. the electrically conductive strips 17 of the light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and/or pads 52 of the plate 50, etc.

In addition, it may be expedient that the connecting area 12 of the respective light emitting unit 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d contains two electrically conductive strips 17, 18, and one of the strips 17, 18 is connected to the plus side of the internal electrical circuit 11, and the other of the strips 17, 18 was connected to the negative side of the internal electrical circuit 11. In such a case, the electrical circuit 51 of the plate 50 may tend to contain a plus section and a minus section, usually at different places/levels on the plate 50. The plate 50 can only be used for connection of four light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, but it is also possible for the plate 50 to have additional functionality. For example, plate 50 may be provided with at least one functional component, such as a light source. This part of the plate 50 is independent of other features of the plate 50 such as size and shape, and in addition, the exact number of light emitting blocks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d must be electrically connected through the plate 50.

A person skilled in the art should be clear that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed above, and several changes and modifications of it are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the attached claims. The invention is intended to be construed as including all such changes and modifications to the extent that they fall within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. Although the invention is shown and discussed in detail in the drawings and in the description, such illustration and such discussion should be considered illustrative or exemplary only and not limiting. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, details which are not necessary for understanding the invention may be omitted and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The invention does not relate to a specific connection of the circuit 20 of the light emitting units 10 with the power supply 30 of the light emitting devices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, but rather relates to a detailed method of connecting the light emitting units 10, while the image of the power supply 30 is shown only in Fig. . 1. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that this circumstance should not be understood to mean that other embodiments do not include power supply 30 .

Modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and made by a person skilled in the art in the practice of the claimed invention as a result of studying the drawings, description and appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article does not exclude a plurality. Any position in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Elements and aspects discussed for or with respect to a particular embodiment may be appropriately combined with elements and aspects from other embodiments, unless otherwise expressly stated. Therefore, the fact that certain parameters are listed in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these parameters cannot be used to advantage.

The term "comprises" as used in this specification is to be understood by those skilled in the art as encompassing the term "consists of". Therefore, the term "comprises" in one embodiment may mean "consists of" but in another embodiment may mean "comprises/includes at least certain species and optionally one or more other species".

A possible summary of the invention reads as follows. Light-emitting devices 1, 2, 4, 5 are proposed, which can be used in various cases, including the case of implementing an effect that protects surfaces from fouling. The light emitting device 1, 2, 4, 5 comprises light emitting blocks 10 arranged in a plane filling pattern 20 to cover at least a significant portion of the surface. The individual light emitting blocks 10 are electrically connected via connection regions 12, 13 located on the light emitting blocks 10 to provide electrical access to their internal electrical circuit 11, with the light emitting blocks 10 overlapping at the locations of at least portions of their connection regions 12, 13. In addition, it may be that at least one of the connection areas 12, 13 of the individual light emitting units 10 is simultaneously electrically connected to the corresponding connection areas 12, 13 of at least two other light emitting units 10, so that there is an acceptable practical level of electrical redundancy in the light emitting device 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 with a minimum of electrical connections in the light emitting device 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Claims (17)

1. Light-emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5), containing light-emitting blocks (10), located according to the scheme (20) of filling the plane, to cover at least a significant portion of the surface, while individual light-emitting blocks (10) contain an internal electrical a circuit (11) and at least two connecting areas (12, 13) providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit (11) from the outside of the light emitting blocks (10), while the light emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected through their connecting areas ( 12, 13) and the light emitting blocks (10) overlap at the locations of at least portions of their connecting regions (12, 13), wherein at least one of the connecting regions (12,13) of the individual light emitting blocks (10) is electrically connected simultaneously with the respective connecting areas (12, 13) of at least two other light emitting blocks (10). 2. The light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to claim 1, in which the individual light emitting blocks (10) contain at least two recessed sections (16), while the connecting areas (12,13) of the light emitting blocks (10 ) contain at least one electrically conductive element (17), which is located on the light emitting blocks (10) at the location of their at least two recessed sections (16) and which is in contact with the internal electrical circuit (11) of the light emitting blocks (10) , and at the same time, the light emitting blocks (10) partially overlap at the locations of their at least two recessed sections (16). 3. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to claim 1, in which at least two of the connecting areas (12, 13) of the individual light emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting areas (12, 13) at least two other light emitting blocks (10). 4. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to claim 1, in which two of the connecting areas (12, 13) of the individual light emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting areas (12, 13) of at least two other light emitting blocks (10). 5. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 3, 4, in which the light emitting blocks (10) overlap at the locations of at least portions of the connecting areas (12, 13), where the individual light emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected simultaneously with the respective connecting areas (12, 13) of at least two other light emitting blocks (10). 6. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 3-5, in which the electrical path between two locations where at least three light emitting units (10) are connected via their respective connection regions (12, 13) continues through at least one light emitting unit (10). 7. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-6, in which the light emitting blocks (10) have a periphery with a number of sides (14) and corners (15) connecting the sides (14), and at the same time at least one of the connecting areas (12, 13) of the individual light emitting blocks located at the corner place on the light-emitting blocks (10). 8. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-7, wherein the individual light emitting units (10) comprise at least one light source which is configured to emit anti-fouling light during its operation. 9. Light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-8, containing one source (30) of power supply, which is configured to supply energy to all light emitting units (10). 10. A set of light emitting blocks (10) designed to be arranged according to the scheme (20) of filling the plane, to cover at least a significant portion of the surface and thereby form a light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, while individual light emitting blocks (10) from the set contain an internal electrical circuit (11) and at least two connecting areas (12, 13) providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit (11) from the outside of the light emitting blocks ( 10), wherein the connecting areas (12, 13) of the light emitting blocks (10) are designed to provide placement of the light emitting blocks (10), in which the light emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected through their connecting areas (12, 13), and at the same time the connecting the areas (12, 13) of the light emitting blocks (10) are designed to ensure the placement of the light emitting blocks (10), in which the light emitting blocks (10) overlap at the locations of at least sections of their connecting areas (12, 13). 11. Assembly of the marine object and light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, wherein the marine object comprises at least one surface that is expected to be at least partially immersed in a fouling liquid containing biofouling organisms during at least part of the service life of the marine object, and the light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5) is located on said at least one surface. 12. Mounting method of the light emitting device (1, 2, 4, 5), comprising the steps of: provide light-emitting blocks (10) containing an internal electrical circuit (11) and at least two connecting areas (12, 13) providing electrical access to the internal electrical circuit (11) from the outside of the light-emitting blocks (10), arranging light emitting blocks (10) according to the scheme (20) of filling the plane to cover at least a significant portion of the surface, and the light-emitting blocks (10) are electrically connected through their connecting areas, while the light-emitting blocks (10) overlap at the locations of at least sections of their connecting areas (12, 13), and an arrangement is realized in which at least one of the connecting areas (12, 13) of individual light emitting blocks (10) is electrically connected simultaneously with the corresponding connecting areas (12, 13) of at least two other light emitting blocks (10). 13. The method according to claim 12, in which the individual light emitting blocks (10) contain at least two recessed sections (16), while the connecting areas (12, 13) of the light emitting blocks (10) contain at least one electrically conductive connecting element ( 17), which is located on the light-emitting blocks (10) in the locations of their at least two recessed sections (16) and which is in electrical connection with the internal electrical circuit (11) of the light-emitting blocks (10), and at the same time the light-emitting blocks (10 ) partially overlap at the locations of at least two recessed sections (16).

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