Device and method for sign illumination

1. A device for illuminating an existing sign having a specific given pattern on its front side, comprising:

a removable laminate intended to be applied to the front side of the sign, and comprising a mainly transparent cast compound or matrix and a number of light emitting diodes which are embedded in the matrix together with associated connected diode wires and positioned in a specific pattern adapted to the existing pattern of the sign, and

a control unit configured to provide the light emitting diodes with electric current from a source of power supply connected to the control unit, and to control the current feeding to the light emitting diodes in accordance with a predetermined scheme.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a processor which is programmable to execute said predetermined scheme.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rear side of the laminate is provided with a self-adhering adhesive layer for attaching the laminate to the sign.

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the diode wires can be directly connected to the control unit.

5. A device according to claim 1 , wherein a connection contact is arranged at an edge side of the laminate, wherein the diode wires can be connected to the control unit by means of the connection contact and a feeding line.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a plurality of current feeding channels, wherein the light emitting diodes can be connected individually and/or by groups to the current feeding channels in the control unit, such that selected light emitting diodes can be turned on and off at certain points in time or at certain intervals.

7. A method of manufacturing the device of claim 1 , comprising the following steps;

casting a laminate comprising a cast compound or matrix and a plurality of light emitting diodes embedded in the matrix together with associated wires, such that the light emitting diodes are positioned in a specific pattern adapted to the existing pattern of the sign,

connecting the diode wires to a control unit and a source of power supply, wherein the control unit is configured to control the current feeding to the light emitting diodes in accordance with a predetermined scheme, and

applying the laminate to front side of the existing sign in a position such that the diode pattern matches the existing pattern of the sign.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the diode wires are directly connected to the control unit.

9. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of connecting the diode wires to the control unit by means of a contact on the laminate and a feeding line.

10. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of connecting the light emitting diodes individually and/or by groups to a plurality of current feeding channels in the control unit, such that selected light emitting diodes can be turned on and off at certain points in time or at certain intervals.

11. A method according to claim 7 , further comprising the step of providing the rear side of the laminate with a self-adhering adhesive layer for attaching the laminate to the sign.

12. A device for illuminating a sign having a pattern of indicia on its front side, comprising:

a removable laminate adapted to be applied to the front side of the sign, said removable laminate comprising a substantially transparent material and a number of light emitting diodes which are embedded in the substantially transparent material together with associated, connected diode wires, and

a control unit configured to provide the light emitting diodes with electric current from a power supply, and to control the current supplied to the light emitting diodes,

wherein said removable laminate can be readily removed from said front of said sign and further wherein said control unit can selectively turn individual light emitting diodes off while other light emitting diodes remain turned on.