Light-emitting construction element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9476551-B2
Application number	US-201214370359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2012
Priority date	Jan 3, 2012
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A non-transparent light-emitting construction element ( 100; 200; 300; 400 ), comprising: a construction element having a mounting side and a user-facing side ( 104; 204; 304 ) to be facing a user when the light-emitting construction element is used in a construction; and a light-emitter ( 108; 404 ) embedded in the construction element, wherein the light-emitter is embedded in the construction element in such a way that the light-emitter is non-visible in its off-state and light from the light-emitter escapes from the construction element when the light-emitter is in its on-state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-transparent light-emitting construction element comprising:
a construction element having a mounting side and a user-facing side to be facing a user when said light-emitting construction element is used in a construction; and
a light-emitter embedded in said construction element,
wherein said light-emitter is embedded in said construction element in such a way that said light-emitter is non-visible in its off-state and light from the light-emitter escapes from the construction element when the light-emitter is in its on-state,

wherein said construction element comprises:
a top layer having a user facing side and a mounting side, wherein said mounting side comprises a plurality of cavities; and
a carrier comprising a plurality of light-emitters, each being arranged in a respective one of said cavities in said top layer,

wherein said top layer has a rough surface having peaks and valleys and wherein said cavities in said top layer are extending through said top layer and wherein the light-emitters are protruding from the surface of said top layer.

2. The light-emitting construction element according to claim 1 , wherein said construction element material is selected form the group comprising stone, ceramics, concrete, porphyry and marble.

3. The light-emitting construction element according to claim 2 , wherein said light-emitter is the light-output region of a light-guide.

4. A method for manufacturing a non-transparent light-emitting construction element comprising the steps of:
providing a carrier having at a plurality of light-emitters arranged thereon;
providing a layer of construction element material arranged on said carrier such that said at least one light-emitter is embedded in said construction element material in such a way that said light-emitter is non-visible in its off-state and light from the light-emitter escapes from the construction element when the light-emitter is in its on-state,

wherein a layer of construction element material has a user facing side and a mounting side,
wherein said mounting side comprises a plurality of cavities and wherein each of the plurality of light-emitters is arranged in a respective one of said cavities in said layer of construction element material, and wherein said layer of construction element material has a rough surface having peaks and valleys and wherein said cavities in said layer of construction element material are extending through said layer of construction element material and wherein light-emitters are protruding from the surface of said layer of construction element material.

5. The method for manufacturing a non-transparent light-emitting construction element according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of arranging said carrier and layer of construction element material on a support layer.

6. The light emitting construction element according to claim 1 , wherein the color and texture of the portion of the light-emitter protruding from the surface is adapted to match the appearance of the surface.

7. The light emitting construction element according to claim 1 , wherein the peaks of the rough surface extend above the protruding light-emitter.

8. The light emitting construction element according to claim 1 , wherein the cavities are larger than the light emitters.

9. The light emitting construction element according to claim 2 , wherein space around the light emitters and between the carrier and the top layer is filled with silicone or epoxy.

10. The light emitting construction element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier is provided in the form of a net.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Thijssen Johannes Maria
• Duijmelink Andreas Aloysius Henricus
• Knaapen Bram
• Bergman Anthonie Hendrik
• Mason Jonathan David
• Ferrari Elena Tiziana

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V7/0091

  using total internal reflection · CPC title

• F21S8/02

  of recess-mounted type, e.g. downlighters (specially adapted for vehicle exteriors F21S41/00-F21S45/00) · CPC title

• E04F15/082

  with a top layer of stone or stone-like material, e.g. ceramics, concrete or glass in combination with a lower layer of other material · CPC title

• F21V33/006 Primary

  General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols · CPC title