Abstract:
An internally illuminated sign carrying element of an emergency light and sign assembly is provided, in which a base unit (11) is arranged to be mounted to a ceiling (33) and the sign body (12) clips onto the base. The sign carrier element (12) extends below the base unit (11) and is removable from the base unit (11). Electrical connection between the removable sign carrier (12) and the electronic module (16) of the base unit (11) is via a pair of cooperating electrical connectors (24, 25). The sign element (12) is formed in a transparent, semi-transparent or translucent material and is moulded as a pair of shell halves which when assembled together, encapsulate two light sources (26, 27), an upper one of which (light source 26) performs a normal sign illuminating function and the other of the two light sources (27), performs an emergency illumination function whereby the sign is illuminated, as well as a surrounding area of the floor under emergency conditions. The base unit (11), houses batteries (14), transformers (15) and an electronics module (16) carrying the communications control, battery charging, device monitoring and electronic ballast circuits required to perform emergency lighting and illuminated sign functions.
Abstract:
A light guide (10) for illuminating a display and/or a keyboard device is formed from translucent material as a planar element having a peripheral edge (24). A plurality of arcuately shaped light coupling recesses (150) are formed on one side to transmit light from light sources substantially uniformly into the light guide (10). A plurality of light reflecting recesses (60, 62) are formed in the peripheral edge (24) to reflect light at the edge back into the light guide (10) in a manner useful for illuminating the keys of the device.
Abstract:
Es wird eine beleuchtete Anzeigetafel, insbesondere ein Werbeträger, ein Hinweisschild, ein Verkehrsschild od.dgl., vorgeschlagen, das aus einer Platte (10) aus durchsichtigem Material besteht, die an wenigstens einer seitlichen Begrenzungskante wenigstens ein die Platte (10) kantenseitig beleuchtendes Leuchtelement (13) aufweist. Wenigstens eine der beiden Flachseiten der Platte (10) ist wenigstens teilweise mit einer Trübfolie (11) überzogen, wobei die mit der Trübfolie (11) versehene Platte (10) zur Hinterleuchtung von an der von einem Betrachter aus gesehen vorderen Flachseite der Platte (10) anzubringenden Anzeigesymbolen (16) vorgesehen ist. Das an der Kontaktfläche zwischen Platte (10) und Trübfolie (11) von der Platte (10) in die Trübfolie (11) gelangende Licht wird dort infolge der Trübung gestreut, so daß die gesamte Trübfolie (11) aufleuchtet und eine gleichmäßig helle Fläche bildet, die zur Hinterleuchtung einer mit Anzeigesymbolen versehenen Platte geeignet ist.
Abstract:
Applicants have discovered that a particularly efficient illuminating device for a transparent display (89) comprises a microtextured reflecting surface (92) formed on a major surface of a transparent substrate (90) and a light source (93) for directing light into the transparent substrate approximately parallel to the major surface. The microtextured reflecting surface (92) comprises a plurality of spherical segments. Preferably the substrate has two major surfaces separated by a thickness in the range 0.5 to 1.0 mm so that the substrate acts as a light guide. A substantial portion of the light passing into the substrate undergoes total internal reflection until it hits a microelement and is reflected out of the substrate. The result is an efficient illuminating device particularly useful for lighting transparent displays.
Abstract:
A light emitting panel (42) is formed of a transparent plastic substrate doped with fluorescent dye which absorbs incident light through a relatively large surface area and emits light of a longer wavelength out through one edge. The incident light may be ambient or produced by a fluorescent light source. The edge emitted light is optically coupled into an edge of a display panel (44), which may be a polymer dispersed liquid crystal display or a plastic panel having a display surface formed with an etched or printed pattern (56), grating or hologram. The substrate materials of the emitting and display panels, as well as an optical adhesive (52) which joins the edges thereof, preferably have an essentially similar index of refraction which is larger than that of air causing light propagating through the panels to be internally reflected and exit the structure only through the pattern on the display surface. The display panel is preferably transparent in the absence of light incident on the emitting panel, and produces a display visible from only one direction upon application of incident light. The display panel may be constituted as a center-high-mounted stop light for an automotive vehicle.
Abstract:
Improved backlighting apparatus evenly illuminates positive and negative LCDs under all ambient lighting conditions. Incandescent lamps (301-304) provide light for distribution by a light pipe (101). The bottom of the light pipe (101) is selectively painted white to reflect light to the top of the light pipe (101) while the unpainted areas reflect light internal to the light pipe (101), controlling hot and dim spots. The corners of the light pipe (101) near the lamps (301-304) are dual angled to reflect the light into the center of the display. The burn-out of a lamp (301-304) will not substantially affect the even lighting capabilities of the apparatus.
Abstract:
An improved fiber optic backlighting panel (10) provides uniform and increased background illumination in devices, such as rubber keypads, membrane switches, liquid crystal displays, rigid panels or the like. The fiber optic panel comprises a light source and a layer of optical fibers (24) arranged adjacent each other, which transmit light to different locations throughout the device, thereby providing efficient background illumination relative to the amount of light beamed in. The optical fibers (24) are selectively terminated at these locations by forming a series of angular cuts (30) through the layer of optical fibers with a laser, according to a predetermined geometric zig-zag or sawtooth pattern stored in a computer memory. The zig-zag pattern extends across the entire length and width of the panel (10) such that each optical fiber (24) is cut only once to provide increased and consistent illumination throughout the device. In one specific embodiment, for application in liquid crystal displays, a layer of foam is used to diffuse the light to provide uniform illumination.