Illuminant and method
An illuminant that also functions as decorative wallpaper or as an architectural decoration is disclosed. The illuminant may include a light generation part such as an organic light emitting material, a light guide such as a tapered light guide, and a surface pattern. The light source generates the light that is guided to small opening in the surface pattern to provide illumination. The surface pattern may be formed as a decoration or subsequently processed to form the decoration.
1. An illuminant comprising: a surface pattern having a plurality of apertures; and a light guide that guides light emitted from an organic light emitting material into the plurality of apertures, wherein the light guide has a light input side for receiving light emitted from the organic light emitting material and a light output side adjacent the surface pattern for emitting light through the plurality of apertures.
2. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is a tapered light guide.
3. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the light guide diverges the light.
4. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises microspheres.
5. The illuminate of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises microlenses.
6. The illuminate of claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises a Fresnel zone plate or a holographic lens.
7. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting element has a predetermined illumination pattern.
8. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the organic light emitting element has an illumination pattern that may be changed.
9. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern is a wallpaper pattern.
10. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern is an architectural decoration.
11. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the light guide includes a colored material that forms the surface pattern.
12. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the light guide is adjacent a colored material.
13. The illuminant of claim 1 , wherein the surface pattern includes a clear resin.
14. An illuminant comprising:
a surface pattern having a plurality of apertures; and
a light guide that guides light emitted from a light source into the plurality of apertures,
wherein the light guide has a light input side for receiving light emitted from the light source and a light output side adjacent the surface pattern for emitting light through the plurality of apertures.
15. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light guide is a tapered light guide.
16. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light guide diverges the light.
17. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light guide comprises microspheres.
18. The illuminate of claim 14 , wherein the light guide comprises microlenses.
19. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light emitting element has a predetermined illumination pattern.
20. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light emitting element has an illumination pattern that may be changed.
21. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the surface pattern is a wallpaper pattern.
22. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the surface pattern is an architectural decoration.
23. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light guide includes a colored material that forms the surface pattern.
24. The illuminant of claim 14 , wherein the light guide is adjacent a colored material.
25. An illuminant comprising:
a light source;
a sheet of material operable to receive light from the light source, the sheet having at least a plurality of light guides and a surface area;
a plurality of apertures on the surface area of the sheet, the plurality of light guides operable to guide the received light towards the plurality of apertures; and
a plurality of decorative areas on parts of the surface of the sheet where the apertures are not present.
26. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the light source is attached behind the sheet.
27. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the light source is organic light emitting diode.
28. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of light guides includes a plurality of microscopic light guides.
29. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the plurality of decorative areas are located on parts of the surface where substantially no light is emitted.
30. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the surface has a rough surface pattern.
31. The illuminant of claim 25 , wherein the surface has a non-uniform surface pattern.