The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 08, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 25, 2002
Theodorus Mattheus Maria Maas, Eindhoven, NL;
Jelle Hilbrand Schuurmans, Eindhoven, NL;
Constance J. E. Saalberg-Seppen, Arnhem, NL;
Edwin Van Lier, Eindhoven, NL;
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A luminaire comprises a relatively thin and flat light-emitting panel ( ) having a light-emitting window ( ) and, opposite said light-emitting window, a rear wall ( ) with opposed edge surfaces ( ). At least one of the edge surfaces ( ) is light transmitting and associated with a plurality of light sources ( , . . . ). Light originating from the light sources ( , . . . ) is spread in the panel ( ). The invention is characterized in that a plurality of deformities ( , . . . ) is provided in the panel ( ) for extracting light from the panel ( ) via the light emission window ( ). The deformities ( , . . . ) are clustered so as to form at least one light symbol ( ). The configuration of the clusters ( ) of deformities ( , . . . ) corresponds to the shape of the light symbol ( ). Preferably, the luminaire has a first and a second light-transmitting edge surface, with respectively, a first and a second plurality of light sources being associated with said surfaces. A first cluster of deformities only couples light from the first light source out of the panel, thereby forming a first light symbol, while a second cluster of deformities only couples light from the second light source out of the panel, thereby forming a second light symbol, independently of the formation of the first light symbol. The luminaire according to the invention provides independent lighting and coloring possibilities of light symbols in a single-panel luminaire.