초록 ▼

Light emitting panel assemblies include one or more light emitting panel members each having at least one pattern of optical deformities that may be varied in size, shape, density, placement, angle, rotation and/or type to obtain at least one light output distribution having a form or shape of at le

Light emitting panel assemblies include one or more light emitting panel members each having at least one pattern of optical deformities that may be varied in size, shape, density, placement, angle, rotation and/or type to obtain at least one light output distribution having a form or shape of at least one of text, graphics, logo or image. At least some of the optical deformities may be shaped or oriented preferentially to cause different colored light propagating through the panel member in different directions to create a multi-colored light output distribution. Also, a plurality of panel members each having a different light output distribution may be placed in overlying relation to one another to produce a composite output distribution when viewed through the panel members or a display overlying the panel members.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An optical assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one side of the panel member for producing a li

What is claimed is: 1. An optical assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and a pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one side of the panel member for producing a light output distribution from a light emitting surface area of the panel member, the individual optical deformities being varied throughout the pattern to cause the light output distribution to be generally uniform and provide a generally uniform field of illumination for a liquid crystal display overlying the light emitting surface area except in a localized region within the uniform field of illumination where the individual optical deformities are varied to create a watermark, security marking, label or other effect within the uniform field of illumination having a form or shape of at least one of text, graphics, logo or image that is viewable through the display, each element of the text, graphics, logo or image being comprised of a plurality of the individual optical deformities which are quite small in relation to the length and width of each element of the text, graphics, logo or image formed thereby. 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a colored light source. 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least two input edges at different end edges or side edges of the panel member for receiving light from at least two different light sources. 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the different light sources are different colored light sources. 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the different colored light sources are different colored light emitting diodes. 6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the different colored light sources are flashed to produce a desired colored light output distribution. 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical deformities of the one pattern are varied to obtain a multi-intensity light output distribution. 8. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one other light emitting panel member having a different light output distribution than the one panel member, the panel members being in overlying relation to one another for producing at least one composite light output distribution when viewed through the panel members from one side. 9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the other panel member has at least one light output distribution in the form or shape of at least one of text, graphics, logo or image. 10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein each of the panel members receives light from at least one different colored light source to produce at least one multi-colored composite light output distribution when viewed through the panel members from the one side. 11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the light output distribution of each of the panel members produces one or more parts of a more complex light output distribution that is visible through the panel members from the one side. 12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the intensity of the light output distribution from each of the panel members is different and creates at least one multi-intensity composite light output distribution that is visible through the panel members from the one side. 13. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising a display overlying the one side of the overlying panel members, the light output distributions of the overlying panel members being visible through the display. 14. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising at least one light redirecting film between the display and at least one of the panel members. 15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least some of the optical deformities are prismatic or lenticular optical deformities. 16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the panel member has at least two input edges at different end edges or side edges of the panel member for receiving light from at least two different light sources. 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the input edges receive light from different colored light sources, and at least some of the optical deformities in the one pattern are shaped or oriented preferentially to cause the different colored light received by the different input edges to create at least one multi-colored light output distribution. 18. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising additional optical deformities on or in the opposite side of the panel member for generally emitting light in a different direction, such that different light output distributions are seen when the panel member is viewed from different angles through a side. 19. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one light redirecting film in close proximity to the panel member that allows different light output distributions to be seen when the panel member is viewed through the film from different angles. 20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the film is a prismatic or lenticular brightness enhancing film or light management film. 21. An optical assembly comprising a light emitting panel member having opposite sides, at least one input edge for receiving light from at least one light source, and at least one pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one side of the panel member for producing a light output distribution from a light emitting surface area of the panel member, the individual optical deformities being varied throughout the pattern to cause the light output distribution to be generally uniform and provide a generally uniform field of illumination for a liquid crystal display overlying the light emitting surface area except in a localized region within the uniform field of illumination where the individual optical deformities are varied to create a watermark, security marking, label or other effect within the uniform field of illumination having a form or shape of at least one of text, graphics, logo or image that is viewable through the display, each element of the text, graphics, logo or image being comprised of a plurality of the individual optical deformities which have at least one well defined sloping surface and a length and width that are quite small in relation to the length and width of each element of the text, graphics, logo or image formed thereby.