US20050226004A1 - Illuminant and method - Google Patents
Illuminant and method Download PDFInfo
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- US20050226004A1 US20050226004A1 US11/055,090 US5509005A US2005226004A1 US 20050226004 A1 US20050226004 A1 US 20050226004A1 US 5509005 A US5509005 A US 5509005A US 2005226004 A1 US2005226004 A1 US 2005226004A1
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- Prior art keywords
- light
- illuminant
- pattern
- decorative
- tapered
- Prior art date
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- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005034 decoration Methods 0.000 abstract description 19
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
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Images
Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
- G02B6/0036—2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/003—Light absorbing elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
- G02B6/0038—Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/005—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
- G02B3/0006—Arrays
- G02B3/0037—Arrays characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
- G02B3/0062—Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
- G02B3/0068—Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between arranged in a single integral body or plate, e.g. laminates or hybrid structures with other optical elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
- G02B5/02—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
- G02B5/0205—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties
- G02B5/021—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures
- G02B5/0231—Diffusing elements; Afocal elements characterised by the diffusing properties the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures the surface having microprismatic or micropyramidal shape
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10K—ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- H10K50/00—Organic light-emitting devices
- H10K50/80—Constructional details
- H10K50/85—Arrangements for extracting light from the devices
- H10K50/852—Arrangements for extracting light from the devices comprising a resonant cavity structure, e.g. Bragg reflector pair
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
- Finishing Walls (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
An illuminant that also functions as decorative wallpaper or as an architectural decoration is disclosed. The illuminant may include a light generation part such as an organic light emitting material, a light guide such as a tapered light guide, and a surface pattern. The light source generates the light that is guided to small opening in the surface pattern to provide illumination. The surface pattern may be formed as a decoration or subsequently processed to form the decoration.
Description
- The present invention generally relates to an illuminant and method, and more particularly to an illuminant and method that may be used as wallpaper or an architectural decoration.
- Buildings have many common structural elements. Among those elements are lighting fixtures and either wallpaper or wall decorations. Thus, wall or ceiling space is used by both the wallpaper or wall decoration and also by the lighting. A combination of a backlight with translucent wallpaper or wall decoration reduces the required wall or ceiling space but generates other problems. These problems include light absorption in the wallpaper or wall decoration that reduces the energy efficiency of the light source for a given illumination level and that the light absorption in the wallpaper or wall decoration alters the chromaticity of the light from the backlight. This absorption of light may produce undesired lighting effects such as a green wallpaper or wall decoration illuminating a room with green light. Accordingly there is a need for wallpaper and/or wall decorations that act as a self-luminous, energy efficient light source that does not have the above light absorption problems.
- An aspect of the invention is to provide an illuminant including a surface pattern having a plurality of apertures and a light guide that guides light emitted from an organic light emitting material into the plurality of apertures. The light guide may be a tapered light guide, or may include microspheres, microlenses, zone plates or holographic lenses. The light guide may diverge the light. The organic light emitting element may have a predetermined illumination pattern or may have an illumination pattern that may be changed. The surface pattern may be a wallpaper pattern or an architectural decoration. The light guide includes a colored material that forms the surface pattern and may be adjacent a colored material. The surface pattern includes a clear resin.
- Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of making an illuminant including forming a light guide that guides light emitted from an organic light emitting material into a plurality of apertures of a surface pattern, and decorating the surface pattern with a colorant material such that a desired pattern results. The desired pattern may be decorative or functional. The desired pattern may be formed by dying the surface pattern. The desired pattern may be formed by printing a colored material on the surface pattern or may be formed from a photosensitive material. The photosensitive material may be a positive photosensitive material and may be developed by light emitted from the plurality of apertures.
- Another aspect of the invention is to provide an illuminant including a surface pattern having a plurality of apertures and a light guide that guides light emitted from a light source into the plurality of apertures. The light guide may be a tapered light guide, or may include microspheres or microlenses. The light guide may diverge the light The light emitting element may have a predetermined illumination pattern. The light emitting element may be an illumination pattern that may be changed. The surface pattern may be a wallpaper pattern or an architectural decoration. The light guide may include a colored material that forms the surface pattern and may be adjacent a colored material.
- Another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of forming an illuminant including coating an array of tapered light guides with a negative photoresist, the array of tapered light guides having tips, passing light through the array of tapered light guides to illuminate a portion of the negative photoresist, developing the negative photoresist, depositing a material on the array of tapered light guides to form a layer, stripping the portion of the negative photoresist such that the layer adjacent the tips is removed, and depositing a resin after stripping the portion of the negative photoresist. The layer maybe a decorative layer that may be formed from a colored material and the depositing a material may be a metallization.
- The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:
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FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary illuminant according to the present invention; -
FIG. 2 illustrates another exemplary illuminant according to the present invention including circular cylinders; -
FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary illuminant according to the present invention including octagonal cylinders; -
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary side wall and surface pattern configuration; -
FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary side wall and surface pattern configuration; -
FIG. 6 illustrates a third exemplary side wall and surface pattern configuration; -
FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth exemplary side wall and surface pattern configuration; -
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method of forming the side wall ofFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 9 illustrates cells from a light diverging part; -
FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary combination of microspheres and a decorative part; -
FIG. 11 illustrates a combination of a light diverging part and decoration including convex lenses on the input surface of a sheet of clear material; -
FIG. 12 illustrates another exemplary embodiment including input and output lenses formed on both the input and output surfaces of a light diverging part; -
FIG. 13 illustrates a light converging element; -
FIG. 14 illustrates light diverging part including a grating; -
FIG. 15 illustrates the spaces between the light guides ofFIG. 14 filled with a decorative material; and -
FIG. 16 illustrates another illuminant including two light diverging parts. - The combination of a light source, a sheet containing an array of microscopic light guides and a surface coloration element may be used to provide a wallpaper or wall decoration capable of simultaneously acting as an area lighting fixture! A light source, such as an organic light emitting diode light source, may be placed behind the sheet containing an array of microscopic light guides. The sheet diverges the light by channeling the light down to a small aperture that emits the light. The spaces between the apertures may be colored so as to provide a wallpaper pattern or a wall decoration. Since the channeled light does not pass through the surface coloration element that forms wallpaper pattern or wall decoration, light from the light source is not absorbed by the surface coloration element.
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FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary illuminant 100 according to the present invention The illuminant 100 includes alight generation part 102, alight diverging part 104, and a decorative orfunctional surface part 105 located in or on anon-light emitting area 106. Any suitable light source may be used for thelight generation part 102. However, only a small amount of light will be lost in the illuminant 100 if thelight generation part 102 is configured such that the light rays are collimated. For example, a feedback enhanced organic light emitting diode (FE-OLED) may be used for thelight generation part 102. Such an organic light emitting diode light source may include a reartransparent substrate 110, aback feedback layer 112, afront feedback layer 114, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 116, ananode bus 118, acathode bus 120 and a fronttransparent substrate 122. The frontfeed back layer 114 and theback feedback layer 112 form aresonant cavity 124 that stimulates enhanced light emission in the organiclight emitting diode 116 and renders the light rays substantially collimated. Further information and alternative embodiments for OLED light sources may be found in provisional application serial no. 60/379,141, which is incorporated herein by reference. - The
light diverging part 104 may be adhesively bonded to thelight generation part 102 with an adhesive 130. The light from thelight generation part 102 is incident upon thelight diverging part 104. Thelight diverging part 104 is a sheet of material composed of an array of microscopic or near microscopic volumes orcells 502. The array of volumes orcells 502 may include interstitial volumes between them. The extent of the volumes is defined by an array of closed geometric FIGS. 503 that tile to fill or nearly fill the surface area of the first orinput surface 504 of thelight diverging part 104 and the perpendicular or near perpendicular projection of those geometric figures down through the thickness of thelight diverging part 104. A light guide array, microlens array or any other suitable means is provided within each volume to converge a pencil of light 505 entering theinput surface 504 to a point orsmall area 506 on or proximate to the second oroutput surface 507 of thelight diverging part 104. In some cases the point or area of convergence may not be within the corresponding microscopic volume. On exiting the point or area of convergence, the light once again diverges so that to an observer viewing theoutput surface 507 of thelight diverging part 104, theoutput surface 507 appears to glow diffusely. InFIG. 2 , the microscopic volumes are circular cylinders defined by circular areas. Alternatively, other generically cylindrical volumes defined by linearly and/or curvilinearly bound geometric figures on theinput surface 504 or a mixture of two or more cylindrical types of microscopic volumes may be utilized. For example,FIG. 3 shows alight diverging part 104 comprising octagonal cylinders. - The
light diverging part 104 may be a tapered photopolymerized waveguide array such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,700. In this case the converging means are between theside walls 132 and form tapered light guides 133 that direct light received from thelight generation part 102 through tapered light guides 133 tosmall apertures 134. The light is then emitted over a range of angles such that the light, if collimated or substantially collimated on entering thelight diverging part 104, will be diverged over a range of angles thereby providing a light which may be viewed over the range of angles and which will illuminate over the range of angles. Exemplary configurations of a taperedlight guide 133 are further discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,462,700, 5,481,385, 6,424,786, 5,657,408, and 5,696,865, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Tapered light guides may be produced by the exemplary methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,218,924, 3,279,314, and 3,767,445, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. -
FIG. 4 illustrates anexemplary side wall 132. Thelight diverging part 104 hasspaces 106 above theindividual side walls 132. Theside walls 132 may be a low index of refraction material, so as to provide a light guiding structure. Alternatively, the tapered light guides 133 may be coated with a low index material or otherwise suitably configured to provide the light guiding structure. Additionally, the decorative or functional surface part may be formed as part of theside walls 132 and/or on the light divergingsheet output surface 506 within thespace 106. For example, a taperedlight guide 133 may have a low index of refractionouter coating 140 to provide the wave guiding function. Anopaque material 142 may then be deposited upon the low index ofrefraction coating 140. The remainder of theside walls 132 not filled by theopaque material 142 then may be filled with thecolored material 138 that functions as the decorative or functional part. Theopaque material 142 is below the viewed surface and thecolored material 138 is on the viewed surface.FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment having this structure. Alternatively, theopaque material 142 may be omitted and the remainder of the space may be solely filled by thecolored material 138. Alternatively, theopaque material 142 may have a low index of refraction and the low index of refractionouter coating 140 may be omitted. Alternatively, thecolored material 138 that constitutes the decorative or functional part may have a sufficiently low index that coloredmaterial 138 alone may be used to form theside walls 132. Thecolored material 138 may function as a low index cladding for the taperedlight guide 133. -
FIG. 5 illustrates anotherexemplary side wall 132 and surface pattern configuration. InFIG. 5 , theside wall 132 is partly formed from with the low index ofrefraction material 146 then the remaining portion is formed from acolored material 138. Another alternative is to completely formside walls 132 with a low index ofrefraction material 146 and then impregnate the surface part of theside walls 132 to form thecolored material 138. In this case, the low index ofrefraction material 146 must be able to receive the dye or pigment or other colorant to form thecolored material 138 subsequent to deposition. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a thirdexemplary side wall 132 and surface pattern configuration. InFIG. 6 , theside wall 132 is completely formed from the low index ofrefraction material 146 and acolored material 144 formed or coated thereon. Alternatively, thecolored material 144 may be colored subsequent to deposition. Thecolored material 144 may be deposited as colored material or may be deposited as a pigment receiving material which is dyed or otherwise colored subsequent to the deposition of the pigment receiving material. A desired pattern may be formed by dying the surface pattern or by printing a colored material on the surface pattern. The desired pattern may be formed from a photosensitive material, such as a positive photosensitive material. The material is chosen to have the desired decorative color either by containing dissolved dye or by being filled with pigment. The positive photosensitive material may be exposed by light emitted from the plurality of apertures. This light may be from energizing thelight source 102 or some other light source located behindinput surface 504 for this purpose. Following this the photosensitive material is developed with a suitable solvent leaving a film of the material over thespaces 106, but not over the tapered light guides 132. The photosensitive material may screen printed onto the light diverging sheet in some decorative pattern, exposed, and then developed as above. This procedure may then be repeated one or more times to build up a multicolored, decorative pattern over the ensemble ofspaces 106. Alternatively, the positive photosensitive material may be coated uniformly on theoutput surface 506 of thelight diverging sheet 104. The material then may be exposed by light directed towards the output side of the light diverging sheet through a photomask. Subsequently the material can be exposed with illumination fromlight generation part 102. Development of the photoresist then yields a decoratively patterned film with the desiredapertures 134 between theside walls 132. These steps may be repeated to build up a multicolored decorative pattern. Alternatively, a negative photosensitive patterning material may be deposited and then exposed by turning on thelight generation part 102 or some other light source located behindinput surface 504 for this purpose. The exposed pattern is then developed removing unexposed patterning material. Thecolored material 144 is then deposited. If the deposition is such that thecolored material 144 will flow into the holes where the unexposed patterning material is removed and not wet the patterning material surface, nocolored material 144 need be removed. If the deposition is such that thecolored material 144 remains on the patterning material surface, the excess material may need to be removed. This removal may be by sqeegeeing, wiping, or any other suitable technique. If the photosensitive material is transparent to the light produced by thelight generation part 102 it may be left in place. Otherwise photosensitive material may be chemically stripped. The unwanted colored material also may be removed by a lift process whereby the photosensitive material is chemically stripped with the colored material over the photosensitive material. This removes both the photosensitive material and the colored material. This approach may be particularly advantageous if the colored material is a vacuum deposited metal coating because it provides a way to selectively remove the tenacious metal film from the tapered light guide exit apertures. - If the decorative,
colored material 138 is transparent or translucent, it is advantageous to use the configuration inFIG. 4 wherein theopaque layer 142 is a white pigment loaded material or that shown inFIG. 5 wherein thelow index material 146 is loaded with a white pigment. In this way the decorative patterning will be made more brilliant to the eye. Additionally, white background areas in a decorative pattern may be formed by using the configuration ofFIG. 4 wherein theopaque layer 142 is white pigment loaded and thematerial 138 is a clear resin or the configuration inFIG. 5 wherein thelow index material 146 is loaded with a white pigment andmaterial 138 is a clear resin. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a fourthexemplary side wall 132 and surface pattern configuration. InFIG. 7 the light guide surfaces of the taperedlight guide 133 are coated with a vacuum depositedmetal coating 148. After the metal coating is applied the remainder of theside wall 132 is filled with a transparent and/ortranslucent resin 138. This resin may or may not be colored. -
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary method of forming theside wall 132 ofFIG. 7 . InStep 1, an array of tapered light guides 133 are coated with anegative photoresist 402. InStep 2, light is passed through thelight diverging part 104 from the input surface. This causes a high luminous flux to be emitted from the tips of the tapered light guides 133 polymerizing thephotoresist 402. Thephotoresist 402 is then developed leaving the light channels tips alone covered by the remainingphotoresist 404. InStep 3, the array of tapered light guides 133 is vacuum metallized to form ametallic layer 406. InStep 4, the remainingphotoresist 404 is chemically stripped which also removes the metallization at the tips of the tapered light guides 133. InStep 5, theilluminant 100 is completed by coating atransparent resin 408 to complete theside walls 132. - An alternative method of fabricating the
light diverging sheet 104 containingside walls 132 and tapered light guides 133 may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,700 which teaches the fabrication of arrays tapered micro-light guides by patterned exposures of films of photopolymerizable materials. Black filled rear projection screens may be produced from those arrays by rubbing carbon filled fluorocarbon prepolymer into the spaces between the tapered light guides 133. Next, excess carbon loaded fluorocarbon is cleaned from the tips of the tapered light guides 133 by a simple wiping procedure. The fluorocarbon is then cured at elevated temperatures. Alternatively, the carbon loaded fluorocarbon material may be deposited into the voids between the tapered light guides 133 by blade coating. This process may be automated to produce the screen material on a roll to roll basis. Similarly, blade coating may be used to fill the voids between the tapered light guides 133 with fluorocarbon prepolymer that has been filled with colored pigments or fluorocarbon prepolymer that contains a dissolved colored dye or an unfilled fluorocarbon prepolymer. Alternatively, blade coating may be used to deposit a smaller amount of clear fluorocarbon prepolymer in the voids between the tapered light guides 133. After this material has been cured, a second layer of colored fluorocarbon prepolymer may be coated to fill the remaining volume in the voids and then cured. The resultant structure similar to that illustrated inFIG. 5 . - The examples described up to this point have assumed the use of light guide structures in which there is a discontinuous boundary between the high index tapered light guides 133 and low
index side walls 132. However, structures in which the index boundary between the two regions is graded may used to create light convergence. A method for producing such structures is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,854.FIG. 9 illustratescells 152 from thelight diverging part 104. InFIG. 9 , areas of higher refractive index are lightly shaded while areas of lower refractive index areas are darkly shaded. The grading of refractive index in thecells 152 causes enteringlight rays 156 to be refract such that the light is concentrated insmall areas 159 near the output surfaces of thecells 152. Adecorative coating 154 is deposited on thelight diverging part 104 withsmall apertures 134 corresponding to the areas oflight concentration 159. Divergentlight rays 158 exit the sheet. - Alternatively, the
light diverging part 104 may contain an array of microlenses. The microlenses may bemicrospheres 162 such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,378,252, 3,552,822, and 5,563,738. An exemplary combination ofmicrospheres 162 and a decorative part is illustrated inFIG. 10 . Themicrospheres 162 may be adhered to atransparent support film 160 using a colored or colorabledecorative resin 164 that forms the decorative part. A clear, low refractive index resin may be applied as aplanarization layer 166 over themicrospheres 162 and provides the input surface for thelight rays 168 emanating from thelight generation part 102. Since the light rays 168 may be collimated or substantially collimated, theplanarization layer 166 helps to couplelight rays 168 into themicrospheres 162. Themicrospheres 162 act as convex lenses that focus thelight rays 168 through the small area where themicrospheres 162 are in contact with thetransparent support film 160. The part of the small area in contact with thetransparent support film 162 forms theapertures 134. - An array of convex microlenses may be fabricated as is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,351,034, 2,310,790 2,951,419, 5,362,351, 6,124,974, and Reissue 19,070.
FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a combination of alight diverging part 104 and decoration includingconvex lenses 170 on the input surface of a sheet ofclear material 172. Theselenses 170 focus theincoming light 178 atpoints 179 at or near the output surface ofsheet 172 and may be fabricated by an embossing or other suitable process. Coloreddecorative material 174 may be formed on the output surface ofsheet 172 withapertures 134 registered to thepoints 179. Thelight diverging part 104 also may have a low refractiveindex overcoat layer 176 on the input surface. Alternatively,overcoat layer 176 may be air. -
FIG. 12 illustrates another exemplary embodiment including input andoutput lenses lenses transparent sheet 181. Thelenses light rays 186 to points 189.Transparent layers lenses 182 so that thepoints 189 are on or proximate to the output surface oftransparent layer 188. A coloreddecorative material 183 may be formed on the output surface of thetransparent layer 188 with apertures registered to thepoints 189. Thetransparent layer 187 may be a transparent, low birefringence material, air or any other suitable material. Thetransparent layer 188 may be a backing material fordecorative material 183 and may be formed of the same low birefringence material as thetransparent layer 187. Thelight diverging part 104 also may have a low refractiveindex overcoat layer 184 on the input surface. Alternatively,layer 184 may be an air layer. - Alternatively, Fresnel zone plates, surface or volume holographic lenses, or other lens equivalent optical components may be substituted for the
lenses - The closed geometric FIGS. 503 that define the
microscopic cells 502 ofFIG. 2 may be elongated along either the width axis or length axis or some other axis in the plane of thelight diverging part 104 such that light is not symmetrically focused to point orsmall area 506. The result will be that cone of light emerging from thelight diverging part 104 will be wider along one axis than the other. The point orsmall area 506 need not be centered on the perpendicular projection of geometricFIG. 503 onoutput surface 507. The result of this asymmetry will be to displace center of symmetry of the output cone of light away from the normal to theoutput surface 507. The elongation of the geometric FIGS. 503 and the decentering of thepoints 506 may be used individually or in combination to advantageously control the output distribution of light such that light from theilluminant 100 may be concentrated in desired directions and distributions.FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a light converging element that may be used for such control of light distribution.FIG. 13 includes a plurality of the micro-light pipes that may be used to form thelight diverging part 104. Thelight pipes 190 may be symmetric or asymmetric in shape. Awall 192 of alight pipe 190 may be inclined more closely to the normal to the plane of light divergingpart 104 than another wall, such aswall 194. Also, abase dimension 197 of alight pipe 190 may be shorter than anotherbase dimension 198 of thelight pipe 190. - The elongation of the closed geometric FIGS. 503 that define the
microscopic cells 502 may be continued to the point that the geometric figures become taperedlight guide stripes 302 running the entire length or width of thelight diverging part 104. This configuration, which is also known as a grating, is illustrated inFIG. 14 . The spaces between the light guides may be filled with thedecorative material 204 as is illustrated inFIG. 15 and as is described above. The result is an illuminant 100 with line apertures through which the light is focused in lines rather than points. -
FIG. 11 illustrates anotherexemplary illuminant 100 that includes alight diverging part 104 having an array ofcylindrical lenses 170 running the length ofinput surface 504. The fabrication of such cylindrical lens arrays is described in. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,434,049 and 4,525,029. -
FIG. 16 illustrates anotherilluminant 100 including two light divergingparts 104. Onelight diverging part 104 may have a structure such as illustrated inFIG. 11 and the other light diverging part may have a structure such as illustrated inFIG. 14 . InFIG. 16 , film 201 has an array of cylindrical microlenses formed its input surface. The long axes of the cylindrical lenses are along coordinate axis y in the figure. The film 201 may be bonded to an array of micro-light guides 202. The micro-light guides 202 may be alight diverging part 104 such as described inFIG. 14 with their long axes along the x axis.Decorative material 204 is formed over the surface of the light guides 202. There is an array ofapertures 206 indecorative material 204. Thelenses 208 andlight guides 202 combine to focus input light 208 atpoints 209 that are registered with theapertures 206. - It may be cosmetically desirable that the
illuminant 100 have a transparent decorative part This may be achieved by having thedecorative material 138 be a clear, colorless resin. - The
light generation part 102 may be an organic electroluminescent device that has been divided into pixels. A mixture of red, green and blue pixels or some other combination of colored pixels may constitute the pixels from which thelight generation part 102 is built up. Various combinations of colored pixels may be activated to vary the color of the light emanating from the illuminant. Displays of the type described in provisional application Ser. No. 60/379,141 may be used as thelight generation part 102. In this case 10 activating all display pixels will serve the illuminant function or alternatively theilluminant 100 may be used as an information display. Pixelated sheets ofilluminants 100 of this type may be used to present video and other information at electronically chosen locations in theilluminants 100 while the remainder of theilluminants 100 serves as a light source.Such illuminants 100 may have a large size. - Any number of configurations and geometries may be used to create the
light guide 132 and surface pattern configuration to produce a decorative wallpaper effect or wall decoration effect. Optionally, further processing of any of the layers to improve or add functionality may be included. For example, the viewed surface layer of theilluminant 100 may be altered by laser ablation to remove small portions of material may be performed so as to further vary the range of angles over which light is emitted from theilluminant 100. Additional layers may also be incorporated into the illuminant. For example, theilluminant 100 may be coated with a protective layer or coating and/or the illuminant may be coated with a layer that scatters light. - Although several embodiments of the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that changes, substitutions, transformations, modifications, variations, permutations and alterations may be made therein without departing from the teachings of the present invention, the spirit and the scope of the invention being set forth by the appended claims
Claims (14)
1-13. (canceled)
14. A method of making an illuminant comprising:
forming a light guide that guides light emitted from an organic light emitting material into a plurality of apertures of a surface pattern; and
decorating the surface pattern with a colorant material such that a desired pattern results.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired pattern is decorative.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired pattern is functional.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired pattern is formed by dying the surface pattern.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired pattern is formed by printing a colored material on the surface pattern.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the desired pattern is formed from a photosensitive material.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the photosensitive material is a positive photosensitive material.
21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the photosensitive material is developed by light emitted from the plurality of apertures.
22-32. (canceled)
33. A method of forming an illuminant comprising:
coating an array of tapered light guides with a negative photoresist, the array of tapered light guides having tips;
passing light through the array of tapered light guides to illuminate a portion of the negative photoresist;
developing the negative photoresist;
depositing a material on the array of tapered light guides to form a layer;
stripping the portion of the negative photoresist such that the layer adjacent the tips is removed; and
depositing a resin after stripping the portion of the negative photoresist.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the layer is a decorative layer.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the decorative layer is formed from a colored material.
36. The method of claim 33 , wherein the decorative layer is a metal film.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/055,090 US20050226004A1 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2005-02-11 | Illuminant and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/319,631 US6880948B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2002-12-16 | Illuminant and method |
US11/055,090 US20050226004A1 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2005-02-11 | Illuminant and method |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/319,631 Division US6880948B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2002-12-16 | Illuminant and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050226004A1 true US20050226004A1 (en) | 2005-10-13 |
Family
ID=32710735
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/319,631 Expired - Fee Related US6880948B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2002-12-16 | Illuminant and method |
US11/055,090 Abandoned US20050226004A1 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2005-02-11 | Illuminant and method |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/319,631 Expired - Fee Related US6880948B2 (en) | 2002-12-16 | 2002-12-16 | Illuminant and method |
Country Status (4)
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US (2) | US6880948B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1579148A2 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003297037A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004061365A2 (en) |
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US20100091488A1 (en) * | 2006-10-16 | 2010-04-15 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Luminaire arrangement with cover layer |
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-
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- 2003-12-12 AU AU2003297037A patent/AU2003297037A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-12-12 WO PCT/US2003/039721 patent/WO2004061365A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
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2005
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20100091488A1 (en) * | 2006-10-16 | 2010-04-15 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Luminaire arrangement with cover layer |
US8047696B2 (en) | 2006-10-16 | 2011-11-01 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Luminaire arrangement with cover layer |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP1579148A2 (en) | 2005-09-28 |
WO2004061365A2 (en) | 2004-07-22 |
US6880948B2 (en) | 2005-04-19 |
US20040141302A1 (en) | 2004-07-22 |
WO2004061365A3 (en) | 2004-11-04 |
AU2003297037A1 (en) | 2004-07-29 |
AU2003297037A8 (en) | 2004-07-29 |
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Legal Events
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