(12) United States Patent
`Parker et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`*May 3, 2005
`
`US006886956B2
`
`(54) LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES
`FOR USE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
`AND THE LIKE
`
`(75) Inventors: Je?'ery R. Parker, Rich?eld, OH (US);
`Mark D. Miller, Parma, OH (US);
`Thomas A. Hough, Lakewood, OH
`(Us)
`(73) Assignee: Solid State Opto Limited (VG)
`
`* N '
`ot1ce:
`
`s bj
`yd' 1 '
`h
`r h'
`u ect to an 1sc a1mer, t e term 0 t is
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/298,367
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 18, 2002
`(65)
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2003/0095398 A1 May 22, 2003
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Continuation of application No. 10/005,090, ?led on Dec. 5,
`2001, now Pat. No. 6,508,563, which is a continuation of
`application No. 09/703,088, ?led on Oct. 31, 2000, now Pat.
`No. 6,367,940, which is a continuation of application No.
`09/167,949, ?led on Oct. 7, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,158,867,
`which is a division of application No. 08/585,062, ?led on
`Jan. 16, 1996, now Pat. No. 5,895,115.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. G01D 11/28
`(52) US. Cl. ........................... .. 362/29; 362/85; 362/26;
`362/30; 362/487; 362/543
`(58) Field of Search ............................... .. 362/278, 503,
`362/540, 85, 511, 543, 545, 487, 459, 26,
`27, 29, 30, 40/556
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,945,313 A
`3,043,947 A
`3,070,913 A
`
`7/1960 Hardesty
`7/1962 Albinger, Jr.
`1/1963 Miller
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`AU
`EP
`GB
`GB
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`12/1991
`A-78486/91
`0 453 092 A1 10/1991
`523706
`3/1939
`2285518 A
`7/1995
`WO 92/05535
`4/1992
`WO 96/17207
`6/1996
`WO 96/27757
`9/1996
`
`Primary Examiner—FayeZ G. Assaf
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Renner, Otto, Boisselle &
`Sklar, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Light emitting panel assemblies include in one form of the
`invention a light emitting panel member made of a trans
`parent resiliently deformable elastomeric material that
`absorbs impact without breakage for use in automotive
`lighting applications of various types. In another form of the
`invention, a rigid light emitting panel member may be used
`with dome switches for switch area lighting or to backlight
`control buttons/key pads. Also, a rigid light emitting panel
`member may be used as a structural member, and two or
`more such light emitting panel members may be stacked
`together and used to light an instrument panel or the like.
`
`33 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 1
`
`

`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3328570 A
`6/1967 Balch‘mas
`372572;; 2 1g 13;? sBu?tad h
`
`C “met on‘
`/
`7
`7
`8/1973 Baker et a1.
`3,752,974 A
`9/1973 Mund et a1.
`3,761,703 A
`7/1975 Pulles
`3,892,959 A
`5/1976 Termohlen
`3,958,113 A
`8/1977 Eberhardt et a1.
`4,043,636 A
`4,118,111 A 10/1978 Laesser
`-
`4,177,501 A 12/1979 Karlrn
`4,183,628 A
`1/1980 Laesser
`4,257,084 A
`3/1981 Reynolds
`-
`4,282,560 A
`8/1981 Krrngel et a1.
`4,290,093 A
`9/1981 Thompson et al.
`-
`-
`4,446,508 A
`5/1984 K1nZ1e
`.
`4,542,449 A
`9/1985 Whrtehead
`4,573,766 A
`3/1986 Bournay, Jr. et al.
`4,630,895 A 12/1986 Abdala, Jr. et a1.
`.
`4,638,131 A
`1/1987 Kidd et a1.
`4,714,983 A 12/1987 Lang
`4,729,185 A
`3/1988 Baba
`-
`4,733,335 A
`3/1988 SerrZaWa et a1. ......... .. 362/503
`4,751,615 A
`6/1988 Abrams
`.
`4,763,984 A
`8/1988 Awar et a1.
`4,765,701 A
`8/1988 Cheslak
`4,906,070 A
`3/1990 Cobb, Jr.
`4,974,122 A 11/1990 Shaw
`4,975,808 A 12/1990 Bond et a1.
`-
`4,978,952 A 12/1990 Irwrn
`4,989,956 A
`2/1991 Wu et a1.
`.
`5,005,108 A
`4/1991 Prrstash et al.
`.
`5,027,258 A
`6/1991 Schonrger et a1.
`5,056,892 A 10/1991 Cobb, Jr.
`-
`5,070,431 A 12/1991 KltaZaWa et a1.
`.
`5,093,765 A
`3/1992 Kashrma et a1.
`5,128,842 A
`7/1992 Kenmochi
`5,134,549 A
`7/1992 Yokoyama
`5,136,483 A
`8/1992 Schoniger et a1.
`
`5/1993 Murase et a1.
`5,207,493 A
`5,262,928 A 11/1993 Kashima et al.
`5,283,673 A
`2/1994 Murase et al.
`5,303,322 A
`4/1994 Winston et a1.
`
`4/1994 Gaudette
`5,307,244 A
`.
`.
`8/1994 Rudrsrll et a1.
`5,339,179 A
`9/1994 Blonder et a1.
`5,349,503 A
`5,375,043 A 12/1994 Tokunaga
`,,
`5,377,084 A 12/1994 Ko]1ma et a1.
`_
`5,390,085 A
`2/1995 Marl-Roca et a1.
`5,394,308 A
`2/1995 Watanabe et a1.
`5,396,350 A
`3/1995 Beeson et a1.
`.
`5,442,523 A
`8/1995 Kashrma et a1.
`5,467,208 A 11/1995 Kokawa et a1.
`5,467,417 A 11/1995 Nakamura et al.
`_
`5,485,291 A
`1/1996 Qrao et a1.
`_
`5,506,929 A
`4/1996 Tar et a1.
`5,521,342 A
`5/1996 Barley et a1.
`5,576,078 A 11/1996 Schatz
`5,579,134 A 11/1996 Lengyel
`.
`.
`5,598,280 A
`1/1997 Nrshro et a1.
`.
`5,598,281 A
`1/1997 Zrmmerman et al.
`.
`5,600,462 A
`2/1997 Suzukr et a1.
`5,613,751 A * 3/1997 Parker et a1. ............... .. 362/31
`.
`5,618,095 A
`4/1997 Kashrma et a1.
`5,664,862 A
`9/1997 Redmond et a1.
`.
`5,671,994 A
`9/1997 Tar et a1.
`5,711,592 A
`1/1998 Hotta
`5,719,649 A
`2/1998 Shono et a1.
`5,771,328 A
`6/1998 Wortman et a1.
`.
`5,775,791 A
`7/1998 Yoshrkawa et a1.
`.
`5,779,338 A
`7/1998 Ishrkawa et a1.
`5,808,784 A
`9/1998 Ando et a1.
`_
`5,851,062 A 12/1998 Shrnohara et a1.
`.
`5,961,198 A 10/1999 Hrra et a1.
`_
`5,971,559 A 10/1999 Ishrkawa et a1.
`70000 G d.
`6 091 547 A
`t
`1
`7
`7
`at 1n“ e a‘
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 2
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 3,2005
`
`Sheet 1 0f 5
`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`FIG.
`
`2
`
`'0
`
`FIG. 3
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 3
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`May 3,2005
`
`Sheet 2 0f 5
`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 3,2005
`
`Sheet 3 0f 5
`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 3,2005
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`FIG-J9
`
`FIG. I8
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 3, 2005
`
`Sheet 5 0f 5
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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`l2
`9
`/
`7 /
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`H9
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`"6
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`I25
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`C] '0
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`I 26
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`I26
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`I25
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`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 7
`
`

`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`1
`LIGHT EMITTING PANEL ASSEMBLIES
`FOR USE IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
`AND THE LIKE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of Application Ser. No.
`10/005,090, ?led Dec. 5, 2001 now US. Pat. No. 6,508,563
`B2, Which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/703,
`088, ?led Oct. 31, 2000, now US. Pat. No. 6,367,940, dated
`Apr. 9, 2002, Which is a continuation of application Ser. No.
`09/167,949, ?led Oct. 7, 1998, now US. Pat. No. 6,158,867,
`dated Dec. 12, 2000, Which is a division of application Ser.
`No. 08/585,062, ?led Jan. 16, 1996, now US. Pat. No.
`5,895,115, dated Apr. 20, 1999.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally as indicated to light
`emitting panel assemblies especially for automotive appli
`cations.
`
`20
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Light emitting panel assemblies are generally knoWn. The
`present invention relates to certain improvements in light
`emitting panel assemblies especially for automotive appli
`cations. Also, this invention is concerned With passing/
`shining light directly through a light emitting panel member
`or through holes in the panel member for performing speci
`?ed lighting functions, for example, providing brake or turn
`signal lights and/or turning or backup illumination for a
`vehicle.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance With one aspect of the invention, the light
`emitting panel assemblies of the present invention may
`include a light emitting panel member made out of a suitable
`transparent resiliently deformable elastomeric material that
`absorbs impact Without breakage. Such panel members are
`especially suitable for use both in interior automotive light
`ing applications to reduce the possibility of serious injury to
`a driver or passenger of a vehicle When throWn into contact
`With the panel member during a traf?c accident, and in
`exterior automotive lighting applications to help eliminate
`damage to the panel member if impacted during a traf?c
`accident.
`Examples Where such a resiliently deformable light emit
`ting panel member may be effectively used in interior
`automotive lighting applications to reduce injury during
`accidents are steering Wheel and dash lighting applications
`for lighting controls, sWitches, instrument panels, headliner
`lighting, logos and/or accent lighting.
`In steering Wheel applications, a resiliently deformable
`light emitting panel member may be mounted in the hub
`portion of the steering Wheel outWardly of an air bag for
`lighting controls and/or sWitches or logos on the steering
`Wheel hub and for accent lighting.
`When used on a dash or other ?ush mount applications
`such as instrument panels and headliner lighting, a resil
`iently deformable panel member Will absorb impact/shock,
`and may be contoured to match the shape of the dash or other
`surface.
`Examples Where such a resiliently deformable panel
`member may be effectively used in exterior automotive
`lighting applications to reduce or eliminate damage to the
`panel member during accidents are running or accent lights
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`in the bumper or other exterior body portions of a vehicle.
`The light emitting panel member may also be incorporated
`into a trunk lid of a vehicle to provide running lights and/or
`license plate or logo illumination in the trunk lid. In appli
`cations Where the trunk lid is recessed, the panel member
`may be rigid. HoWever, if the trunk lid is substantially ?ush
`With the body exterior, the panel member is desirably
`resiliently deformable to Withstand impacts during accidents
`Without breakage of the panel member.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, one or
`more light sources may be mounted Within one or more light
`transition areas or regions adjacent one or more light input
`surfaces of a light emitting panel member.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, one or
`more light sources may be positioned adjacent one side of
`the panel member for causing light to shine through the
`panel member or through holes in the panel member for
`performing speci?ed lighting functions, for example, pro
`viding brake or turn signal lights and/or turning or backup
`illumination for a vehicle.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, one or
`more light sources may be selectively positioned along an
`edge or side of the panel member for increasing the light
`output from selected light output areas/regions on one or
`both sides of the panel member.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, a
`resiliently deformable light emitting panel member may be
`used to backlight a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or
`multiple control sWitches or key pads of a radio or other
`electrical device. Such a panel member upon being engaged
`by a control button/key pad Will be deformed into electrical
`contact With a sWitch or other circuitry such as a printed
`circuit inWardly of the panel member for performing a
`selected sWitching function.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, a rigid
`light emitting panel member may be used to backlight an
`LCD and/or multiple control buttons/key pads of a radio or
`other electrical device by providing holes or openings
`through the panel member for movement of a portion of the
`control buttons/key pads into and out of electrical contact
`With a printed circuit inWardly of the panel member. Surface
`irregularities such as print patterns or molded in shapes may
`be provided on the panel surfaces around the holes/openings
`to ?ood the areas around the buttons/key pads With light.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, a rigid
`light emitting panel member may be used With dome and
`other such sWitches for sWitch area lighting. One or more
`such rigid light emitting panel members each With its oWn
`separate light source and transition region may support a
`series of push buttons that ?oat on the panel members to
`permit the push buttons to be moved into contact With the
`dome sWitches.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, tWo or
`more stacked light emitting panel members may be used to
`light an instrument panel or the like. One of the panel
`members may be used to provide general backlighting for
`graphic displays on the instrument panel, Whereas an other
`panel member may be used to light dial pointers or other
`elements on the instrument panel. Common or separate light
`sources may be used to supply light to input surfaces of tWo
`or more panel members. Also, separate indicator lights may
`be provided behind the panel members for providing
`through illumination to indicators on the graphic displays of
`the instrument panel.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, a rigid
`light emitting panel member may be used as a structural
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 8
`
`

`
`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`3
`member for graphic overlays or decals, to provide for
`example lighting for designating the gear shift lever posi
`tions of a vehicle. One or more light sources may be
`inserted/embedded Within light transition regions at one or
`more locations along the length of the panel member to
`direct light into input surfaces of the panel member. Indi
`cator lights may be provided adjacent an edge or side of the
`panel member in line With each indicator position for
`providing increased light output at the selected position.
`Also, a movable color ?lter may be provided betWeen the
`panel member and label to provide a different colored light
`output at any selected gear shift position. For example, a
`movable red ?lter may be used to change the color of the
`light output at the selected gear shift lever position from
`White to red.
`In accordance With another aspect of the invention, the
`light emitting panel member may have a secondary
`re?ective/refractive surface for re?ecting/refracting a por
`tion of the light entering an input surface of the panel
`member around a corner of the panel member.
`To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends,
`the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully
`described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the
`folloWing description and the annexed draWings setting forth
`in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention,
`these being indicative, hoWever, of but several of the various
`Ways in Which the principles of the invention may be
`employed.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`In the anneXed draWings:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan vieW of a steering Wheel of
`a vehicle incorporating one form of light emitting panel
`assembly in accordance With this invention in the hub
`portion of the steering Wheel;
`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section through the
`panel assembly Within the hub portion of FIG. 1 taken on the
`plane of the line 2—2 thereof;
`FIG. 2A is an enlarged plan vieW of a portion of a light
`output surface area of a panel assembly schematically shoW
`ing a pattern of light extracting deformities on the light
`output surface area;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic end vieW of a rear portion of a
`vehicle incorporating other forms of light emitting panel
`assemblies in accordance With this invention;
`FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through the
`vehicle end portion and panel assemblies of FIG. 3 taken on
`the plane of the line 44 thereof;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic plan vieW of a radio or other
`electronic device incorporating another form of light emit
`ting panel assembly in accordance With this invention;
`FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the assembly of
`FIG. 5 taken on the plane of the line 6—6 thereof;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic fragmentary section through a
`portion of a control panel incorporating another form of light
`emitting panel assembly in accordance With this invention;
`FIG. 7A is a fragmentary top plan vieW of a portion of the
`light emitting panel member of FIG. 7 shoWing light extract
`ing deformities on light emitting surfaces of the panel
`member around a hole or opening in the panel member in
`alignment With a control button/key pad;
`FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary section through a
`contoured surface such as the dash of a vehicle shoWing
`other forms of light emitting panel assemblies in accordance
`With this invention interposed betWeen a printed circuit and
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`a series of key pads either molded into the contoured surface
`or eXtending through openings therein;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic side elevation vieW of another form
`of light emitting panel assembly in accordance With this
`invention used for supporting and illuminating a series of
`?oating push buttons above a series of dome sWitches;
`FIG. 10 is a transverse section through the assembly of
`FIG. 9 taken on the plane of the line 10—10 thereof;
`FIG. 11 is a top plan vieW of another form of light
`emitting panel assembly in accordance With this invention
`Which is also used to support and illuminate a series of
`?oating push buttons;
`FIG. 12 is a schematic vertical section through an instru
`ment panel incorporating other forms of light emitting panel
`assemblies in accordance With this invention;
`FIG. 13 is a top plan vieW of a graphic overlay for the
`instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from the plane of the
`line 13—13 thereof;
`FIG. 14 is a top plan vieW of one light emitting panel
`assembly in accordance With this invention incorporated in
`the instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from the plane of the
`line 14—14 thereof;
`FIG. 15 is a top plan vieW of another form of light
`emitting panel assembly in accordance With this invention
`incorporated in the instrument panel of FIG. 12 as seen from
`the plane of the line 15—15 thereof;
`FIGS. 16 through 18 are schematic plan vieWs shoWing
`other forms of light emitting panel assemblies in accordance
`With this invention Which provide a structural support for
`graphic overlays/decals used for eXample to designate the
`various gear shift lever positions of an engine;
`FIG. 19 is a fragmentary transverse section through one
`such light emitting panel member used as a structural
`support; and
`FIGS. 20 through 22 are schematic illustrations shoWing
`light emitting panel assemblies in accordance With this
`invention used to provide lighting for vanity mirrors and the
`like.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring noW in detail to the draWings, and initially to
`FIGS. 1 and 2, there is schematically shoWn one form of
`light emitting panel assembly 1 in accordance With this
`invention mounted in the hub portion 2 of a steering Wheel
`3 of a vehicle outWardly of an air bag 4 to provide back
`lighting for control sWitches/buttons 5, the horn, logos, or
`other accent lighting on the steering Wheel.
`The light emitting panel assembly 1 includes a transparent
`light emitting panel member 8 having one or more light
`sources 9 mounted Within one or more light transition areas
`or regions 10 at one or both ends of the panel member
`mounted Within the air bag/steering Wheel covering 11
`outWardly of the air bag 4. In FIGS. 1 and 2, tWo such light
`transition areas or regions 10 and light sources 9 are shoWn
`at one end of one or tWo panel members 8 for selectively
`lighting one or tWo roWs of control buttons 5. The light that
`enters the transparent light emitting panel members 8 from
`the light transition region(s) 10 may be emitted along the
`entire length of the panel members or from one or more light
`output surface areas along their length as desired to produce
`a desired light output distribution to ?t a particular applica
`tion.
`The light sources 9 may be mechanically held in any
`suitable manner in slots, cavities or openings machined,
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 9
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`

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`US 6,886,956 B2
`
`5
`molded or otherwise formed in the light transition regions of
`the panel assemblies. HoWever, the light sources may be
`embedded, potted or bonded in the light transition regions in
`order to eliminate any air gaps or air interface surfaces
`betWeen the light sources and surrounding light transition
`regions, thereby reducing light loss and increasing the light
`output emitted by the light emitting panels. Bonding may be
`accomplished using a suitable embedding, potting or bond
`ing material or by a variety of methods that do not incor
`porate extra material, for example, thermal bonding, heat
`staking, ultrasonic or plastic Welding or the like. Other
`methods of bonding include insert molding and casting
`around the light sources.
`The light sources may be of any suitable type including,
`for example, any of the types disclosed in US. Pat. Nos.
`4,897,771 and 5,005,108, assigned to the same assignee as
`the present application, the entire disclosures of Which are
`incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the light
`sources may be non-linear such as an arc lamp, an incan
`descent bulb Which also may be colored, ?ltered or painted,
`a lens end bulb, a halogen lamp, a light emitting diode
`(LED), a chip from an LED, a neon bulb, a ?ber optic light
`pipe transmitting light from a remote light source, a laser or
`laser diode, or linear such as a line light or ?uorescent tube,
`or any other suitable light source. Also, the light sources may
`be a multiple colored LED, or a combination of multiple
`colored radiation sources in order to provide a desired
`colored or White light output distribution. For example, a
`plurality of colored lights such as LEDs of different colors
`(red, blue, green) or a single LED With multiple colored
`chips may be employed to create White light or any other
`color or shade light output distribution by varying the
`intensities of each individual colored light. A label/overlay
`With different color light emitting regions can be used in
`conjunction With a panel assembly having a plurality of
`colored light sources for speci?c indication based on color
`or the frequency of light emitted by the different light
`emitting regions.
`Apattern of light extracting deformities or disruptions 12
`(see FIG. 2A) may be provided on one or both sides 13, 14
`of the panel members along the entire length thereof or at
`one or more selected areas of the panel members as desired.
`The terms deformities or disruptions are used interchange
`ably herein to mean any change in the shape or geometry of
`the panel surface and/or coating or surface treatment that
`causes a portion of the light to be emitted. Apattern of light
`extracting deformities may include a variable pattern Which
`breaks up the light rays such that the internal angle of
`re?ection of a portion of the light rays Will be great enough
`to cause the light rays either to be emitted out of the panel
`members through the side or sides on Which the light
`extraction deformities are provided or re?ected back through
`the panel members and emitted out the other side.
`Such deformities or disruptions can be produced in a
`variety of manners, for example, by providing a painted
`pattern, an etched pattern, a machined pattern, a printed
`pattern, a painted pattern, a hot stamped pattern, or a molded
`pattern or the like at selected light output areas on the
`surfaces of the panel members. An ink or adhesive pattern or
`printed pattern may be applied for example by pad printing,
`silk screening, ink jet, photolithography, heat transfer ?lm
`process or the like. The deformities may also be printed on
`a sheet or ?lm Which is used to apply the deformities to the
`sides of the panel members. This sheet or ?lm may become
`a permanent part of the light panel assemblies for example
`by attaching or otherWise positioning the sheet or ?lm
`against one or both sides of the panel members in order to
`produce a desired effect.
`
`10
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`By varying the density, opaqueness or translucence,
`shape, depth, color, area, index of refraction, or type of
`deformities on an area or areas of the panel members, the
`light output of the panel members can be controlled. The
`deformities or disruptions may be used to control the percent
`of light emitted from any surface area of the panel members.
`For example, less and/or smaller siZe deformities may be
`placed on panel surface areas Where less light output is
`Wanted. Conversely, a greater percentage of and/or larger
`deformities may be placed on surface areas of the panels
`Where greater light output is desired.
`Varying the percentages and/or siZe of deformities in
`different surface areas of the panels is necessary in order to
`provide a uniform light output distribution. For example, the
`amount of light traveling through the panels Will ordinarily
`be greater in areas closer to the light source than in other
`areas further removed from the light source. A pattern of
`light extracting deformities may be used to adjust for the
`light variances Within the panel members, for example, by
`providing a denser concentration of light extracting defor
`mities With increased distance from the light source thereby
`resulting in a more uniform light output distribution from the
`light emitting panels.
`The deformities may also be used to control the output ray
`angle distribution of the emitted light to suit a particular
`application. For example, if the panel assemblies are used to
`provide a liquid crystal display backlight, the light output
`Will be more ef?cient if the deformities cause the light rays
`to be emitted from the panels at predetermined ray angles
`such that they Will pass through the liquid crystal display
`With loW loss.
`Additionally, the pattern of light extracting deformities
`may be used to adjust for light output variances attributed to
`light extractions of the panel members. The pattern of light
`extracting deformities may be printed on the light output
`surface areas utiliZing a Wide spectrum of paints, inks,
`coatings, epoxies, adhesives, or the like, ranging from glossy
`to opaque or both, and may employ half-tone separation
`techniques to vary the deformity coverage. If an adhesive is
`used to provide a pattern of light extracting deformities, the
`adhesive may also be used to secure a back re?ector to the
`panel member. Moreover, the pattern of light extracting
`deformities may be multiple layers or vary in index of
`refraction.
`Print patterns of light extracting deformities may vary in
`shapes such as dots, squares, diamonds, ellipses, stars,
`random shapes, and the like, and are desirably 0.006 square
`inch per deformity/element or less. Also, print patterns that
`are 60 lines per inch or ?ner are desirably employed, thus
`making the deformities or shapes in the print patterns nearly
`invisible to the human eye in a particular application thereby
`eliminating the detection of gradient or banding lines that
`are common to light extracting patterns utiliZing larger
`elements. Additionally, the deformities may vary in shape
`and/or siZe along the length and/or Width of the panel
`members. Also, a random placement pattern of the defor
`mities may be utiliZed throughout the length and/or Width of
`the panel members. The deformities may have shapes or a
`pattern With no speci?c angles to reduce moire or other
`interference effects. Examples of methods to create these
`random patterns are printing a pattern of shapes using
`stochastic print pattern techniques, frequency modulated
`half tone patterns, or random dot half tones. Moreover, the
`deformities may be colored in order to effect color correction
`in the panel members. The color of the deformities may also
`vary throughout the panel members, for example to provide
`different colors for the same or different light output surface
`areas.
`
`PETITIONER EX. 1001 Page 10
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`

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`US 6,886,956 B2
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`7
`In addition to or in lieu of these light extracting
`deformities, other light extracting deformities including
`prismatic surfaces, depressions or raised surfaces of various
`shapes using more complex shapes in a mold pattern may be
`molded, etched, stamped, thermoformed, hot stamped or the
`like into or on one or more surface areas of the panel
`members. The prismatic surfaces, depressions or raised
`surfaces Will cause a portion of the light rays contacted
`thereby to be emitted from the panel members. Also, the
`angles of the prisms, depressions or other surfaces may be
`varied to direct the light in different directions to produce a
`desired light output distribution or effect. Moreover, the
`re?ective or refractive surfaces may have shapes or a pattern
`With no speci?c angles to reduce moire or other interference
`effects.
`A back re?ector or re?ective coating (including trans
`re?ectors) 15 (see FIG. 2) may be applied to a bottom side
`of the panel members using a suitable adhesive or other
`method in order to improve light output efficiency of the
`panel assemblies by re?ecting the light emitted from that
`side back through the panel members for emission through
`the opposite side. If adhesive is used to adhere the back
`re?ector to the panel members, the adhesive is desirably
`applied only along the side edges of the panel members so
`that there is a slight air gap betWeen the back re?ector and
`panel members except Where there is adhesive, since the
`adhesive changes the internal critical angle of the light in a
`less controllable manner than the air gap betWeen the panel
`surface and back re?ector.
`Additionally, a pattern of light extracting deformities may
`be provided on one or both sides of the panel members in
`order to change the path of the light so that the internal
`critical angle is exceeded and a portion of the light is emitted
`from one or both sides of the panel members. Where the
`deformities are created by a print pattern, the back re?ector
`can be the same color as the print pattern so that print pattern
`is not visible through the back re?ector. Moreover, a trans
`parent ?lm, sheet or plate may be attached or positioned
`against the side or sides of the panel members from Which
`light is emitted using a suitable adhesive or other method in
`order to produce a desired effect.
`The transparent ?lm may be used to further improve the
`uniformity of the light output distribution or change the
`output ray angle distribution. For example, the ?lm may be
`a colored ?lm, a diffuser, or a label or display, a portion of
`Which may be a transparent overlay that may be colored
`and/or have text or an image thereon. Also the ?lm may be
`a prismatic or lenticular lens or other device that changes the
`output ray angle distribution.
`In FIG. 1 the light transition regions or areas 10 are shoWn
`as an integral extension of one end of the light emitting panel
`members 8 and as having curved edges 16 to more ef?ciently
`re?ect and/or refract and focus the light emitted from the
`light sources that impinges on the curved edges 16 back
`through the light transition regions at an acceptable angle for
`entering the light input surface of the light emitting panel
`members. Also, a suitable re?ective material or coating 17
`may be provided on any portions of the edges of the light
`transition regions of the panel members on Which any
`portion of the light impinges for maximiZing the amount of
`light or otherWise changing the light that is re?ected back
`through the light transition regions and into the light emit
`ting panel members.
`A suitable pattern of light extracting deformities or dis
`ruptions 12 may be provided on selected areas on one or
`both sides of the panel members 8 corresponding to the
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`location of the control buttons 5 on the air bag covering 11
`above the panel members. In the example shoWn, the pattern
`of light extracting deformities or depressions is provided on
`the bottom side 14 of the panel member 3 (i.e., the side
`facing aWay from the control buttons), and a re?ective ?lm
`or coating 15 is provided on that side to re?ect the light
`emitted from that side back through the panel members.
`Preferably the light emitting panel members 8 are made of
`a transparent resiliently deformable material such as a
`thermoplastic elastomer or silicone rubber Which alloWs
`areas of the panel members in line With the control buttons
`to be ?exed into engagement With a printed circuit 19
`located beneath the panel members When the respective
`control buttons are depressed to complete an associated
`control circuit. Also if the air bag 4 should ever be deployed
`or if the driver’s head should be forced into engagement With
`the hub portion 2 of the steering Wheel 3 during a traf?c
`accident, the resiliently deformable panel members 8 Will
`absorb shock, thus greatly reducing the possibility of serious
`injury to the driver because of such contact.
`The printed circuit 19 may be made of a suitab