Structurally Embedded Lighting for Display Panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016376024-A1
Application number	US-201514707652-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for forming an embedded light source in a composite panel. A first electrode and a second electrode are associated with a first layer of material. A light source is positioned in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode. An assembly comprising the first layer of material, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the light source is processed to form a multilayer panel with an embedded light source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
associating a first electrode and a second electrode with a first layer of material; positioning a light source in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; and processing an assembly comprising the first layer of material, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the light source to form a multilayer panel with an embedded light source.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying a surface treatment to at least one of the light source or the first layer of material prior to processing the assembly.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the first electrode and the second electrode with the first layer of material comprises affixing only one of the first electrode or the second electrode to the first layer of material.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein associating the first electrode and the second electrode with the first layer of material further comprises:
positioning an other of the first electrode or the second electrode such that the other of the first electrode or the second electrode is free to move relative to the first layer of material.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein affixing only one of the first electrode or the second electrode to the first layer of material comprises at least one of adhering the only one of the first electrode or the second electrode to the first layer of material, printing the only one of the first electrode or the second electrode onto the first layer of material, or integrating conductive fibers into the first layer of material at selective locations to form the only one of the first electrode or the second electrode.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
placing a second layer of material over the light source and the first layer of material.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the second layer of material comprises a material that allows at least some light from the light source to travel through the second layer of material.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the first layer of material and the second layer of material are pre-impregnated composite material, and wherein processing the assembly comprises:
curing the assembly with at least one of applied heat or applied pressure to form a cured panel.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein processing the assembly further comprises:
applying a laminate over the cured panel.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
curing the first layer of material to form a cured panel after associating the first electrode and the second electrode with the first layer of material, wherein the light source is positioned in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode on the cured panel, and wherein processing the assembly comprises:
applying a laminate over the light source and the cured panel to form the multilayer panel with the embedded light source.

11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
associating a shim having an approximate thickness of the light source with the first layer of material.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer panel with the embedded light source comprises at least one of cabin lighting, décor, advertising, emergency signage, emergency lighting, entertainment display, seat placards, or safety signage.

13 . A multilayer panel with an embedded light source comprising:
a first electrode associated with a first layer of material; a second electrode associated with the first layer of material; a light source in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; and a second layer of material overlying the first layer of material and the light source.

14 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the second layer of material is a laminate layer.

15 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the light source rests substantially within a depression in the first layer of material.

16 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 further comprising:
a conductive adhesive positioned between at least one of the first electrode or the second electrode and the light source.

17 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 further comprising:
a layer of core material.

18 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the second layer is a pre-impregnated composite material.

19 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the multilayer panel has a non-planar curvature.

20 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the light source is a static image flexible organic light emitting diode.

21 . The multilayer panel of claim 13 , wherein the light source is a programmable flexible organic light emitting diode.

22 . An aircraft comprising:
a multilayer panel with an embedded light source comprising a first electrode associated with a first layer of material, a second electrode associated with the first layer of material, a light source in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second layer of material overlying the first layer of material and the light source; and a controller in communication with the light source.

23 . The aircraft of claim 22 , wherein the multilayer panel comprises at least one of cabin lighting, décor, advertising, emergency signage, emergency lighting, entertainment display, seat placards, or safety signage.

24 . A multilayer panel with an embedded light source comprising:
a first layer of composite material; a light source positioned relative to the first layer of composite material; and a second layer of composite material overlying the first layer of composite material and the light source.

25 . The multilayer panel of claim 24 , wherein the light source rests substantially within a depression in the first layer of composite material.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kulkarni Abhishek Pradeep
• Wilde John Christopher
• Wang Xiaoxi
• Cuddy Nathanial C

Classifications

• B32B27/08

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B9/045

  of synthetic resin · CPC title

• B32B15/04

  comprising metal as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/08; next to a water-setting substance layer B32B13/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/061; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/042)} · CPC title

• B32B27/42

  comprising condensation resins of aldehydes, e.g. with phenols, ureas or melamines · CPC title

• B32B9/041

  of metal · CPC title