IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,058,250
Granted Patent B2
US 7,058,250 · App. 09/890,411 · Granted Jun 6, 2006

Illumination arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,058,250
App. No.
09/890,411
Granted
Jun 6, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device, comprising a light guide ( 11; 31; 43 ), a light source ( 12; 32, 33; 41 ), which couples the light that is emitted into the light guide, and a support ( 10; 20, 21; 22, 23; 30, 35, 38; 40, 42 ) in the form of a shell, consisting of several interconnected sub-shells which enclose the light guide, at least in the area in which the light should be deviated. The invention also relates to a method for producing a lighting device.

Claims (44)

1. An illumination arrangement, comprising:

an optical waveguide;

at least one light source for emitting light into the optical waveguide, the at least one light source being coupled to the optical waveguide; and

a housing formed as a shell from a plurality of interconnected shell elements which define a cavity for enclosing therein (i) the optical waveguide at least in regions in which the light is to be deflected and (ii) at least one light source, said shell having upper, lower and side walls;

wherein at least one of said shell walls has a reflective internal surface in regions corresponding to regions of the optical waveguide in which light from said at least one light source is to be deflected, and one of said shell walls defines a window from which light emitted by the optical waveguide escapes the housing.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said housing defines a bridge over a second cavity.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein said housing is mounted on a printed circuit board and the second cavity is between said housing and said board, and further comprising means for facilitating electrical communication between an external power source and said at least one light source via said printed circuit board.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3 , further comprising components mounted on said printed circuit board within said second cavity.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said housing is mounted on a printed circuit board, and further comprising means for facilitating electrical communication between an external power source and said at least one light source via said printed circuit board.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of said side walls facing said cavity is reflective.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a plurality of mating parts.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein said plurality of mating parts snap fit together.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein said parts are injection molded.

10. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said lower wall is convex.

11. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said upper wall is angled.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises means for accommodating a plurality of light emitting sources such that emission from said sources are caused to emit in different directions.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12 , wherein said waveguide emits a combination of emissions from said plurality of light emitting sources.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one light source comprises a laser diode.

16. An illumination arrangement, comprising:

an optical waveguide;

at least one light source for emitting light into the optical waveguide, the at least one light source coupled to the optical waveguide; and

a housing formed as a shell from a plurality of interconnected shell elements which define a cavity for enclosing therein (i) the optical waveguide at least in regions in which the light is to be deflected and (ii) at least one light source, said shell having upper, lower and side walls, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of mating parts;

wherein at least one of said shell walls has a reflective internal surface for deflecting light from said at least one light source, and one of said shell walls defines a window from which light emitted by the optical waveguide escapes the housing, and

wherein said plurality of mating parts cooperate to form an opaque overhang where said parts join.

17. An illumination arrangement, comprising:

an optical waveguide; at least one light source for emitting light into the optical waveguide, the at least one light source coupled to the optical waveguide; and

a housing formed as a shell from a plurality of interconnected shell elements which define a cavity for enclosing therein (i) the optical waveguide at least in regions in which the light is to be deflected and (ii) at least one light source, said shell having upper, lower and side walls, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of mating parts;

wherein at least one of said shell walls has a reflective internal surface for deflecting light from said at least one light source, and one of said shell walls defines a window from which light emitted by the optical waveguide escapes the housing, and

wherein said parts are approximately inversely symmetrical.

18. A method for producing a light emitting component, comprising the steps of:

forming a housing as a shell from a plurality of shell elements and defining a cavity, said shell having bottom, side and top walls, at least one of said shell walls having a reflective internal surface, and said top wall defining a window;

mounting an optical waveguide within said cavity;

mounting at least one light emitting source within said cavity such that said at least one light emitting source is coupled to said optical waveguide such that light emitted from said source is reflected by said internal surfaces in regions corresponding to regions of the optical waveguide in which light from said at least one light emitting source and transmitted by said optical waveguide out said window.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising the step of:

mounting said housing on a printed circuit board such that said lower wall and said printed circuit board cooperate to define a second cavity; and

mounting components within said second cavity on said board.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein said lower wall is convex and said plurality of shell elements comprise a plurality of snap fitted components which mate to form said housing.

21. An illumination arrangement, comprising:

an optical waveguide;

at least one light source for emitting light into the optical waveguide, the at least one light source being coupled to the optical waveguide;

a housing formed as a shell from a plurality of interconnected shell elements which define a cavity for enclosing therein (i) the optical waveguide at least in regions in which the light is to be deflected and (ii) at least one light source, said shell having upper, lower and side walls, said housing being mounted on a printed circuit board and wherein a second cavity is between said housing and said board; and

means for facilitating electrical communication between an external power source and said at least one light source via said printed circuit board;

wherein at least one of said shell walls has a reflective internal surface in regions corresponding to regions of the optical waveguide in which light from said at least one light source is to be deflected, and one of said shell walls defines a window from which light emitted by the optical waveguide escapes the housing, and wherein said at least one light source radiates in a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to a main surface of the printed circuit board.