Multi-waveguide illumination panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12282186-B2
Application number	US-202318205518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2023
Priority date	Jun 4, 2017
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

An illumination system having a base sheet and at least two planar optical waveguides attached to a back surface of the base sheet at different locations and each having light extraction structures. Each waveguide is optically coupled to an LED source at its edge and is configured to emit light towards the base sheet. Various embodiments incorporate flexibility of the base sheet, variable densities of the light extraction structures, positioning of LED sources, and distinct light extraction patterns. The base sheet may include optically transmissive and opaque areas. Additional aspects involve reflective or light-diffusing materials near the optical waveguides, side-emitting LED packages, and opaque materials located between the waveguides or LED sources. The system is adaptable for multiple planar optical waveguides distributed over the base sheet, covered by one or more reflective sheets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination system, comprising:
a base sheet having a broad-area front surface and an opposing broad-area back surface extending parallel to the broad-area front surface;
a first planar optical waveguide directly or indirectly attached to the broad-area back surface at a first location of the base sheet;
a second planar optical waveguide directly or indirectly attached to the broad-area back surface at a second location of the base sheet;
a first LED source optically coupled to an edge of the first planar optical waveguide;
a second LED source optically coupled to an edge of the second planar optical waveguide;
an image print located on a front side of the base sheet;
a first plurality of light extraction structures formed in a surface of the first planar optical waveguide; and
a second plurality of light extraction structures formed in a surface of the second planar optical waveguide,
wherein each of first and second planar optical waveguides is configured for emitting light towards the base sheet.

2. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base sheet is flexible and adapted for being retained in a bent or curved configuration.

3. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein a density of the first plurality of light extraction structures progressively increases with a distance from the edge of the first planar optical waveguide, and wherein a density of the second plurality of light extraction structures progressively increases with a distance from the edge of the second planar optical waveguide.

4. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein a spacing distance between the first and second planar optical waveguides is less than a width of at least one of the first and second planar optical waveguides by at least 2.5 times.

5. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein edges of the first and second planar optical waveguides are oriented parallel to one another and the first planar optical waveguide is separated from the second planar optical waveguide by a spacing area, wherein the edges of the first and second planar optical waveguides and a portion of the broad-area back surface located in the spacing area forms a channel having a rectangular cross sectional profile, and wherein the first LED source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes located within the channel.

6. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein edges of the first and second planar optical waveguides are oriented parallel to one another and the first planar optical waveguide is separated from the second planar optical waveguide by a spacing area, wherein the edges of the first and second planar optical waveguides and a portion of the broad-area back surface located in the spacing area forms a channel having a rectangular cross sectional profile, and wherein both the first and second LED sources are located within the channel.

7. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base sheet is formed from an optically transmissive material, and wherein a density of the first plurality of light extraction structures at a first location of the first planar optical waveguide is different than the density of the first plurality of light extraction structures at a different second location of the first planar optical waveguide.

8. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base sheet comprises one or more optically transmissive areas and one or more opaque areas, wherein at least a portion of the one or more opaque areas is located in a space between the first and second planar optical waveguides.

9. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base sheet comprises one or more opaque areas located in a space between the first and second planar optical waveguides, a first optically transmissive area located in front of the first planar optical waveguide, and a second optically transmissive area located in front of the second planar optical waveguide.

10. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second planar optical waveguides are bonded to the broad-area back surface using an adhesive.

11. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a first sheet of a reflective material disposed in an immediate proximity to a surface of the first planar optical waveguide and a second sheet of a reflective material disposed in an immediate proximity to a surface of the second planar optical waveguide, wherein each of the first and second planar optical waveguides are configured to emit light from a surface which is facing away from the base sheet.

12. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a sheet of reflective material covering the first and second planar optical waveguides, wherein the first plurality of light extraction structures forms a first two-dimensional pattern, and wherein the second plurality of light extraction structures forms a second two-dimensional pattern which is different from the first two-dimensional pattern.

13. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a first sheet of an optically transmissive light diffusing material disposed in an immediate proximity to a surface of the first planar optical waveguide and a second sheet of an optically transmissive light diffusing material disposed in an immediate proximity to a surface of the second planar optical waveguide.

14. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a sheet of an optically transmissive light diffusing material approximately coextensive with the base sheet.

15. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second LED sources comprises a plurality of side-emitting LED packages.

16. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first and second planar optical waveguides are separated from one another by a strip of an opaque material.

17. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first planar optical waveguide has different dimensions than the second planar optical waveguide.

18. An illumination system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a first strip of an opaque material located between the first LED source and the base sheet and a second strip of an opaque material located between the second LED source and the base sheet, wherein the base sheet is formed from an optically transmissive material.

19. An illumination system, comprising:
a base sheet having a broad-area front surface and an opposing broad-area back surface extending parallel to the broad-area front surface;
a first planar optical waveguide directly or indirectly attached to the broad-area back surface at a first location of the base sheet;
a second planar optical waveguide directly or indirectly attached to the broad-area back surface at a second location of the base sheet;
a first LED source optically coupled to an edge of the first planar optical waveguide;
a second LED source optically coupled to an edge of the second planar optical waveguide;
a first plurality of light extraction structures formed in a surface of the first planar optical waveguide; and
a second plurality of light extraction structures formed in a surface of the second planar optical waveguide,
wherein each of first and second planar optical waveguides is configured for emitting light towards the base sheet, and wherein the base sheet is flexible and adapted for being retained in a bent or curved configuration.

20. An illumination system, comprising:
a base she

Assignees

• Vasylyev Sergiy
• S V V Tech Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Vasylyev Sergiy

Classifications

• G02B6/0021

  for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses · CPC title

• 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 · CPC title

• G02B6/0068

  Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources · CPC title

• G02B6/0078

  Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays · CPC title

• G02B6/0073

  Light emitting diode [LED] · CPC title