Transparent illumination panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9904002-B2
Application number	US-201214400517-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2012
Priority date	May 11, 2012
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

Windows, or other types of transparent materials, may be constructed to passively allow light from alternate sources to pass therethrough, while also being able to actively produce artificial light for providing illumination from one side of the window by means of an incorporated optical waveguide that accepts light from an edge of the window and disperses it from only one side of the window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An illumination device comprising:
a multilayer structure, wherein the multilayer structure has a perimetrical edge, and the multilayer structure comprises:
a first layer, wherein the first layer has a first thickness and a first refractive index;
a second layer, adjacent the first layer, wherein the second layer has a second thickness and a second refractive index;
a third layer, adjacent the second layer, wherein the third layer has a third thickness and a third refractive index,
wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer;
a substrate, adjacent the third layer, wherein the substrate has a fourth refractive index, and
wherein the third layer includes a surface which is disposed adjacent the substrate; and
a light source positioned proximate at least a portion of the perimetrical edge and configured to direct light into the first layer,
wherein:
the second refractive index is higher than the first refractive index at a wavelength of the light,
the second refractive index is higher than the third refractive index at the wavelength of the light,
the fourth refractive index is greater than the third refractive index, and wherein a value of the fourth refractive index greater than a value of the third refractive index facilitates dispersion of a portion of the light from the surface of the third layer; and
the multilayer structure is generally transparent.

2. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the light directed into the first layer selectively illuminates by passage through the second layer and the third layer.

3. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein:
the second thickness is less than the first thickness, and
the second thickness is less than the third thickness.

4. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each comprises a transparent polymer sheet.

5. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises transparent plastic.

6. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises glass.

7. The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first layer has a first surface disposed adjacent the second layer and a second surface opposite the first surface;
the illumination device is configured as a generally transparent window with the second surface for being disposed adjacent a substance having a fifth refractive index;
the first layer comprises a polymer selected so that the first refractive index is greater than the fifth refractive index by an amount sufficient to provide for total internal reflection at the first surface of the light entering from the perimetrical edge; and
the light directed into the first layer selectively illuminates by passage through the second layer and the third layer.

8. An illumination device comprising:
a multilayer structure, wherein the multilayer structure has a perimetrical edge, and the multilayer structure comprises:
a first layer, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index;
a second layer, wherein the second layer has a second refractive index; and
a third layer, wherein the third layer has a third refractive index, and wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer in a sandwich structure;
a transparent substrate, wherein the transparent substrate has a fourth refractive index, wherein the third layer includes a surface which is disposed adjacent the transparent substrate; and
a light source positioned proximate a portion of the perimetrical edge and configured to direct light into the first layer,
wherein:
the illumination device provides illumination by a portion of the light that enters the first layer, passes through the second layer, and then leaves the multilayer structure through the surface of the third layer, and
the fourth refractive index is greater than the third refractive index, wherein a value of the fourth refractive index greater than a value of the third refractive index facilitates dispersion of a portion of the light from the surface of the third layer.

9. The illumination device of claim 8 , wherein the multilayer structure is generally transparent.

10. The illumination device of claim 8 , wherein the transparent substrate is a glass window.

11. The illumination device of claim 8 ,
wherein:
the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index; and
the second refractive index is greater than the third refractive index.

12. The illumination device of claim 8 , wherein:
the first layer has a first thickness,
the second layer has a second thickness, and
the third layer has a third thickness, wherein:
the second thickness is less than the first thickness, and
the second thickness is less than the third thickness.

13. The illumination device of claim 8 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each comprises a plastic sheet.

14. The illumination device of claim 8 , wherein the first layer and the third layer each comprises a fluoropolymer sheet.

15. An illumination device comprising:
a multilayer structure, wherein the multilayer structure has a perimetrical edge, and the multilayer structure comprises:
a first layer, wherein the first layer has a first thickness and a first refractive index;
a second layer, wherein the second layer has a second thickness and a second refractive index; and
a third layer, wherein the third layer has a third thickness and a third refractive index, wherein the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer;
a transparent substrate, adjacent the third layer, wherein the transparent substrate has a fourth refractive index, and wherein the third layer includes a surface which is disposed adjacent the transparent substrate; and
a light source positioned proximate at least a portion of the perimetrical edge and configured to selectively direct light into the first layer;
wherein:
the second refractive index is greater than the first refractive index at a wavelength of the light;
the second refractive index is greater than the third refractive index at the wavelength of the light;
the fourth refractive index is greater than the third refractive index, wherein a value of the fourth refractive index greater than a value of the third refractive index facilitates dispersion of a portion of the light from the surface of the third layer; and
the illumination device is a window, the window being substantially transparent for viewing through the window.

16. The illumination device of claim 15 , wherein:
the second thickness is less than the first thickness; and
the second thickness is less than the third thickness.

17. The illumination device of claim 15 , wherein the transparent substrate is a pane of glass.

18. The illumination device of claim 17 , wherein:
the first layer has a first surface disposed adjacent the second layer and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface is exposed to air having a fifth refractive index; and
the first layer comprises a polymer selected so that the first refractive index is greater than the fifth refractive index by an amount sufficient to provide for total internal reflection at the first surface of the light entering from the perimetrical edge.

Assignees

• Duerksen Gary Lynn
• Miller Seth Adrian
• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Duerksen Gary Lynn
• Miller Seth Adrian

Classifications

• G02B6/0035

  provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it · CPC title

• G02B6/0011

  the light guides being planar or of plate-like form · CPC title

• G02B6/0095 Primary

  Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like · CPC title

• E06B3/66

  Units comprising two or more parallel glass or like panes permanently secured together {(reforming and uniting glass sheets by fusing C03B23/00; joining glass to glass or to other materials C03C27/00; laminated glass B32B17/10)} · CPC title

• E06B9/24

  Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; {Slat blinds}(operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00) · CPC title