LIGHTING APPARATUS WITH FLEXIBLE OLED AREA ILLUMINATION LIGHT SOURCE AND FIXTURE
Lighting apparatus includes a solid-state area illumination light source, having: a planar flexible substrate, a flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) layer deposited on the flexible substrate, the organic light emitting diode layer including first and second electrodes for providing electrical power to the OLED layer, a flexible encapsulating cover covering the OLED layer, and first and second conductors electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and extending beyond the encapsulating cover for making electrical contact to the first and second electrodes by an external power source, whereby the light source may be stored in a space saving planar configuration; and a lighting fixture for removably receiving and holding the light source in a curved 3 dimensional configuration, the lighting fixture including a support for holding the light source in the curved configuration and contacts for providing electrical contact between said first and second conductors and an external power source.
1 . A lighting fixture for removably receiving and holding a flexible planar light source in a curved three-dimensional configuration, the light source including first and second electrical conductors, comprising:
a) a support for holding the flexible planar light source in the curved configuration; and
b) contacts for providing electrical contact between said first and second conductors and an external power source.
2 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the curved configuration is cylindrical, spiral, or pyramidal.
3 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the external power source is a standard power source.
4 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 2 , wherein the standard power is selected from the group consisting of 110 volt AC, 220 volt AC, 24 volt DC, 12 volt DC, and 6 volt DC.
5 . The lighting fixture claimed claim 1 , further comprising a transparent or translucent housing surrounding the light source.
6 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a base adapted to be received by and make electrical contact with a standard electrical outlet.
7 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a converter connected to the first and second conductors for converting power from the external power source to a form useable by the planar light source.
8 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 7 , wherein the converter converts AC line voltage to a voltage useable by the planar light source.
9 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a reflector for directing light from the light source.
10 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture is a ceiling lamp.
11 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture is a table lamp.
12 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lighting fixture is a floor lamp.
13 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the planar light source has a rectangular shape and the support includes clamps for holding two edges of the light source to bow the light source into a cylindrical configuration.
14 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 13 , wherein the contacts are located in the clamps.
15 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 wherein the planar light source has an elongated rectangular shape and the support includes a frame and clamps for holding the planar light source in a spiral configuration about the frame.
16 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 15 , wherein the contacts are located in the clamps.
17 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 1 , wherein the planar light source has the shape of a ring segment, and the support includes clamps for holding the light source in a conical configuration.
18 . The lighting fixture claimed in claim 17 , wherein the contacts are located in the clamps.