IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693466
Granted Patent B2
US 12693466 · App. 19/176,822 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Light guide element for display boards

Inventor: Herbert Dopfer (Peissenberg, DE)
Assignee: Bremicker Verkehrstechnik GmbH
G02B6/0008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693466
App. No.
19/176,822
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light guide element ( 100 ) for display boards, comprising a light guide rod ( 101 ) for introducing light from a light source ( 103 ); and a free-form lens ( 105 ) for emitting the light from the light guide rod ( 101 ) as a diverging bundle of rays ( 107 ).

Claims (20)

1 . A light guide element for display boards, the light guide element comprising:

a light guide rod configured to introduce light light source, the light guide rod having a circumferentially edge-free side surface; and

a free-form lens configured to emit the light from the light guide rod as a diverging bundle of rays.

2 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the cross-section and the cross-sectional area of the light guide rod changes continuously over the length of the light guide rod.

3 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide rod and the free-form lens are configured in one piece.

4 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide rod has a length which is at least a multiple of the length or the width of a light entry surface of the light guide rod.

5 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the free-form lens deviates from the shape of an optical converging lens.

6 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the free-form lens is configured such that the free-form lens generates a collimated bundle of rays in a first angular range and the divergent bundle of rays in a second angular range.

7 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein a light entry surface of the light guide rod is provided with a vertical structuring or a line polish.

8 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide element is integrated in a plate.

9 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the light guide rod and a longitudinal axis of the free-form lens are offset parallel to each other.

10 . The light guide element according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide element is formed from transparent plastic.

11 . A plate comprising:

a matrix-shaped arrangement of light guide elements according to claim 1 .

12 . A display board comprising:

the light guide element according to claim 1 or comprising a plate comprising a matrix-shaped arrangement of light guide elements according to claim 1 .

13 . The display board according to claim 12 , wherein the light guide element is disposed in the display board such that the diverging bundle of rays is directed downwards relative to the longitudinal axis of the free-form lens.

14 . A method of emitting light by a light guide element for a display board, the method comprising:

introducing light from a light source into a light guide rod, the light guide rod having a circumferentially edge-free side surface; and

emitting the light from the light guide rod through a free-form lens as a diverging bundle of rays.