Abstract: A lighting fixture with segmented emission employing a sheet of an optically transmissive material having a first broad-area surface configured for light output, an opposing second broad-area surface extending parallel to the first broad-area surface and configured for light output, a first edge configured for light input, and an opposing second edge. The lighting fixture further employs a series of compact solid-state light sources optically coupled at least to the first edge, a plurality of patterned light extraction areas distributed over an area of the rectangular sheet and separated from one another and from the first and second edges by separation areas, and a housing encasing the light sources and one or more edges of the rectangular sheet. A width of the separation areas may be less than a length or width dimension of the patterned light extraction areas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a light converting optical system. The method involves providing a first optical layer having a microstructured front surface comprising an array of linear grooves that reflect first light rays using total internal reflection and deflect second light rays using refraction. A thin sheet of reflective light scattering material is positioned parallel to the first optical layer. A second optical layer is provided with a microstructured front surface. A continuous photoabsorptive film layer comprising a light converting semiconductor material is positioned between the first optical layer and the reflective material, with a thickness less than the minimum thickness required for absorbing all light traversing through the film layer. The method further involves providing a light source and positioning the second optical layer on the light path between the light source and the photoabsorptive film layer.

Abstract: A wide-area solid-state illumination system employing a waveguide with two-sided segmented light emission and one or more compact solid-state light sources, such as LEDs, coupled to an edge of the waveguide. The waveguide is made of a thin sheet of optically transmissive material with a uniform thickness and has a plurality of light extraction areas distributed over the waveguide's area according to a two-dimensional pattern. The light extraction areas are separated from one another by separation areas and have different densities of light extraction surface structures. The surface structures are configured to distribute light from both sides of the waveguide. At least some of the light extraction surface structures are formed by discrete surface microstructures spaced apart from one another by distances which are greater than sizes of the individual discrete surface microstructures and at least five times less than a width of the separation areas.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a backlight unit for LCD displays. The method includes providing a thin and flexible light transmissive sheet and forming a patterned light extraction area and a light mixing area by forming a plurality of light extraction microstructures on surface of the sheet according to an area-distributed two-dimensional pattern. A side-emitting LED strip comprising a linear array of side-emitting LED packages is also provided, along with electrical contacts for connecting the strip to a power supply. The major surface of the flexible printed circuit is oriented parallel to the light transmissive sheet and positioned in contact with one of the broad-area surfaces. A reflective layer is positioned on one side of the light transmissive sheet, and the flexible printed circuit and a portion of the light mixing area are covered using an opaque housing with a heat conductive element.

Abstract: A method of making a waveguide illumination system. More specifically, in a specific embodiment, an optically transmissive sheet having a light coupling area located at or near its light input edge and a two-dimensional light extraction area located on at least one of the first and second broad-area surfaces and at a distance from the first edge is provided. An LED strip having a strip of heat-conducting printed circuit and a linear array of electrically interconnected side-emitting LED packages is further provided. The LED strip is aligned parallel to the light input edge and positioning at or near the light input edge such that a major surface of the heat-conducting printed circuit extends generally parallel to the optically transmissive sheet and at least a substantial portion of the major surface is disposed in a space between the light input edge and an opposite edge of the optically transmissive sheet.

Abstract: An illumination panel employing two or more groups of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light in different color temperatures, an optically transmissive sheet with light deflecting surface structures, and an LED driver electrically connected to the LEDs. The illumination panel further incorporates two or more LED intensity control channels and one or more pulse width modulation (PWM) circuits. The LED intensity control channels are configured to independently control the light output from the individual LED groups and the LED driver is further configured to provide dimming of the LEDs in response to a change of the intensity of incident natural daylight.

Abstract: A method of making an angular selective light control sheeting is disclosed. The method includes providing a sheet of an optically transmissive elastic material, providing a slitting blade, advancing the slitting blade into the optically transmissive elastic material to a predetermined depth, moving the slitting blade relatively to the sheet along a straight or curvilinear path so as to form a channel in the elastic material, and introducing an opaque material into the channel.

Abstract: A stretchable sheet-form electronic display having a generally rectangular shape with four edges, a thickness of less than 1.5 mm, and a longer dimension of at least 100 mm. The stretchable sheet-form electronic display includes an elastic substrate sheet comprising a thin layer of an optically transmissive material having a relatively high elastic range, a grid of flexible connecting members and a two-dimensional array of at least 100,000 digitally addressable solid-state light emitting devices such as micro OLEDs or LEDs. At least some of the solid-state light emitting devices may be arranged into light emitting clusters and directly or indirectly mounted to a plurality of support pads. The solid-state light emitting devices within the clusters may be configured for emitting light in different colors such as blue, red, and green.

Abstract: An optical article for illuminating building interiors including a reflective grid panel, an LED light source positioned above the reflective grid panel and configured to illuminate the reflective grid panel at incidence angles ranging from a minimum angle of 0° to a maximum angle of at least 45°, a light diffusing sheet of an optically transmissive dielectric material approximately coextensive with and oriented generally parallel to the reflective grid panel, and a pair of reflective side walls flanking a space between the reflective grid panel and the light diffusing sheet. The reflective grid panel incorporates a plurality of parallel longitudinal walls and a plurality of parallel transverse walls joining the walls and defining a plurality of rectangular openings configured to transmit light.

Abstract: An occupancy sensing lighting control system is disclosed. The occupancy sensing lighting control system includes an electric lighting fixture configured to illuminate a surrounding area, a wireless communication unit associated with the electric lighting fixture, a signal-generating device, a signal detector, an occupancy condition generating device, and a load control device configured to control the current supplied to the electric lighting fixture. The signal-generating device generates control signals detectable by a mobile cellular phone device which is located within the surrounding area and is not being in an active call mode. The signal detector detects communication signals generated by the mobile cellular phone device and the occupancy condition generating device determines occupancy condition in response to a detection of communication signals from the mobile cellular phone device.

Abstract: A daylight redirecting window film having a layered structure with a total thickness of less than one millimeter and having a first optically transmissive film, a second optically transmissive film approximately coextensive with the first optically transmissive film, an intermediate layer of a relatively soft optically transmissive material disposed between the first and second optically transmissive films, a parallel array of linear three-dimensional structures formed in a space between the first and second optically transmissive films, a layer of an optically transmissive adhesive coating a surface of the first optically transmissive film, and a two-dimensional pattern of light scattering surface microstructures formed in an outer surface of the second optically transmissive film.

Abstract: A stepped light guide illumination system employing a planar sheet of an optically transmissive material having a stepped light guiding structure including one or more parallel arrays of channels. Light is input into the stepped light guiding structure using a number of side-emitting LED sources located within the channels and coupled to the stepped light guiding structure at multiple locations. The LED sources are mounted to a printed circuit board extending along one or more channels and having a width which is greater than a width of the respective channel. Light is extracted from the stepped light guiding structure using a two-dimensional pattern of light extraction features formed in a surface of the planar sheet.

Abstract: A suspended lighting fixture for direct/indirect lighting including a pair of curved sheets which are joined by a linear heat-dissipating structural element and cooperatively forming a trough-shaped structure configured to be suspended with a downward orientation using one or more suspension elements. The lighting fixture further includes a linear light source with one or more linear arrays of light emitting diodes (LEDs) optically coupled to light input edges of the curved sheets, a linear heat-dissipating structural element joining curved sheets, and an opaque elongated housing at least partially enclosing the structural element, light source, and the light input edges.

Abstract: A method of making a light converting optical system comprising providing a first optical layer, a thin sheet of reflective light scattering material, a light source, a second optical layer approximately coextensive with the first optical layer, a continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer approximately coextensive with the first optical layer, positioning the thin sheet of reflective light scattering material parallel to the first optical layer, positioning the continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer between and parallel to the first optical layer and the thin sheet of reflective material, and positioning the second optical layer on a light path between the light source and the continuous broad-area photoabsorptive film layer. The first optical layer has a microstructured broad-area front surface comprising an array of linear grooves disposed side by side and extending along a straight line between two edges of the layer.

Abstract: Wide-area solid-state illumination system, including one or more linear arrays of compact solid-state light sources, such as LEDs, an optical waveguide, and a light distributing grid panel. The optical waveguide comprises a thin sheet of an optically transmissive material which is optically coupled to the plurality of compact solid-state light sources and configured to distribute light from a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface. A light extraction pattern is formed in the first broad-area surface and defines a plurality of light extraction areas alternating with separation areas.

Abstract: A backlight unit for LCD displays including an optical waveguide having a light mixing area and a light extraction area, a flexible side-emitting LED strip incorporating a flexible printed circuit, a reflective layer positioning on a side of the waveguide, and an opaque housing incorporating a heat conductive element and covering two or more sides of the LED strip and at least a substantial portion of the light mixing area. The light extraction area has a two-dimensional pattern light extraction microstructures formed in a surface of the waveguide. The light-emitting surface of LED packages is oriented perpendicular to a major surface of the flexible printed circuit and has a first dimension which is greater than the thickness of the waveguide. The LED strip may be directly or indirectly attached or bonded to a front or back surface of the waveguide.

Abstract: Wide-area solid-state illumination devices and systems employing a front sheet, a back sheet approximately coextensive with the front sheet, a wide-area light emitting panel positioned between the front and back sheets and one or more strips of a two-sided adhesive tape joining an inner surface of the front sheet with an inner surface of the back sheet along one or more perimeter edges so as to form a thin and hollow sheet-form structure having a generally uniform thickness and at least partially enclosing the wide-area light emitting panel. The wide-area light emitting panel includes one or more solid-state light sources and has a total area which is less than total areas of each of the front and back sheets. The two-sided adhesive tape is configured at a thickness that is approximately equal to or greater than a total thickness of the wide-area light emitting structure. The wide-area light emitting structure may include a planar light guide and one or more LEDs optically coupled to the light guide.

Abstract: An electronic display panel having a generally rectangular shape with rounded corners, a thickness of less than 1.5 mm, a longer dimension of at least 100 mm, a support substrate, a rigid heat-conductive substrate, a transparent or translucent area, a two-dimensional array of at least 1,000,000 digitally addressable solid-state light emitting devices arranged in rows and columns and each having a size from 1 ?m to 300 ?m, and a grid of connecting members defining a plurality of grid connection nodes and an area-distributed plurality of openings configured for providing a partial view through the panel. The support substrate may incorporate a thin layer of an optically transmissive material having a substantially uniform thickness and a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa. At least some of the solid-state light emitting devices may be arranged into light emitting clusters and directly or indirectly mounted to a plurality of support pads.

Abstract: A window covering for natural illumination of building interiors by redirecting the incident daylight at angles that promote its deeper penetration into the interior space. The window covering comprises an optically transmissive, flexible polymeric sheet having a layered structure with a light diffusing output surface and a number of total internal reflection surfaces incorporated into its material. The total internal reflection surfaces are dimensioned such that the multi-layer sheet diffusely redirect at least a portion of light towards a direction which is generally not coincident with the incidence direction.

Abstract: An illumination system employing an elongated waveguide having a non-round transversal cross-section and having at least a portion of its surface shaped in the form of a linear collimating element. The waveguide further employs at least one array of light extracting features distributed along a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and disposed in the focal area of the respective linear collimating element. Each light extracting feature has an active aperture which is substantially less than the light receiving aperture of the linear collimating element and is configured to redirect light propagating in the waveguide generally towards a normal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Light rays redirected by the light extracting features are further collimated by the linear collimating element and exit from the waveguide in the form of a directional beam.