Flexible lighting device and support structure
A flexible lighting device includes a flexible transparent body that extends along a length direction of the lighting device, the flexible transparent body comprising particles dispersed therein. The flexible light device also includes a flexible substrate, embedded in the flexible transparent body, and extending along a length direction of the lighting device. The flexible substrate separates the flexible transparent body into a first portion that has a first concentration of the particles and a second portion that has a second concentration of the particles. The first concentration may be different than the second concentration, and the first surface of the flexible substrate may face the first portion and a second surface of the flexible substrate may face the second portion. At least two light emitting elements may be arranged on the first surface of the flexible substrate along the length direction of the lighting device.
1 . An LED lighting strip comprising:
a support structure comprising:
a first support wall having a flat first inner reflective surface and a first outer surface opposite the first flat inner reflective surface,
a second support wall opposite the first support wall and having a flat second inner reflective surface and a second outer surface opposite the flat first inner reflective surface, the flat first inner reflective surface facing, and parallel to, the flat second inner reflective surface,
at least one mixing volume comprising a flexible transparent material enclosed by, and in contact with, both the flat first inner reflective surface and the flat second inner reflective surface, and
a channel formed in the flexible transparent material; and
a lighting device having a tube-shaped outer surface and two end surfaces, the lighting device disposed in the channel such that the mixing volume fully surrounds the tube-shaped outer surface of the lighting device, the lighting device comprising:
a flexible transparent body that extends along a length direction of the lighting device, the flexible transparent body comprising particles dispersed in a transparent material, wherein the particles comprise both phosphor particles and light-scattering particles,
a flexible substrate, embedded in the flexible transparent body, and extending along a length direction of the lighting device, wherein: the flexible substrate separates the flexible transparent body into a first portion that has a first concentration of the particles and a second portion that has a second concentration of the particles, the first concentration of the particles, including both the phosphor particles and light-scattering particles, is higher than the second concentration of the particles, including both the phosphor particles and the light-scattering particles, a first surface of the flexible substrate faces the first portion, a second surface of the flexible substrate faces the second portion, and the flexible substrate is at least semi-transparent,
at least two light emitting elements arranged on the first surface of the flexible substrate along the length direction of the lighting device and configured to emit a main portion of its light emission toward the first portion of the flexible transparent body a second portion of its light emission through the flexible substrate such that a color and an intensity of light emitted through an outer surface of the flexible transparent body is uniform, and
an optical separation member extending from the flat first inner reflective surface and the flat second inner reflective surface and towards the channel, wherein each of the optical separation members has a triangular-shaped cross section.
2 . The lighting system according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting device is arranged inside of the support structure such that the flexible substrate forms an angle of 0°±45° with at least one of the at least two opposing reflective surfaces.