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(11) | EP 1 167 867 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Light emitting device |
| (57) A light emitting device comprises a support (1) including a first layer (2) and a
second layer (4) of electrically conductive material, and an intermediate layer (3)
of electrically insulating material; an electrical supply source (5) operatively connected
to the two layers (2, 4) of electrically conductive material; and a plurality of LEDs
(6) which are applied, in a removable way and according to selectively variable configurations,
on the support (1) and are supplied by the electric-power supply source (5) through
the two layers (2, 4) of electrically conductive material. |
[0001] The subject of the present invention is an innovative and original light emitting device, which can be advantageously used for new and useful applications.
[0002] The light emitting device according to the invention is basically characterized in that it comprises a support including a first layer and a second layer of electrically conductive material, and an intermediate layer of electrically insulating material which is connected to said layers of electrically conductive material; an electric-power supply source operatively connected to said layers of electrically conductive material; and a plurality of light emitters which are applied, in a removable way and according to selectively variable configurations, on said support and are supplied by said electric-power supply source through said layers of electrically conductive material.
[0003] Preferably, the aforesaid light emitters, conveniently consisting of LEDs, are each provided with a pair of respective power-supply pins inserted through said support and terminating in electrical contact one with said first layer of electrically conductive material and the other with said second layer of electrically conductive material.
[0004] The aforesaid layers of electrically conductive material and of insulating material of the support are advantageously flexible and more conveniently made of rubber, in the first case conductive rubber and in the second case insulating rubber.
[0005] The light device according to the invention may be advantageously used in a multiplicity of applications and sectors, such as lighting, advertising, furnishing, toys and games for children, etc.
[0006] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a light emitting device according to the invention; and
- Figure 2 is a sectional view at a larger scale taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.
[0007] The light emitting device according to the invention is basically made up of a support 1, which can be of any geometrical shape and has a stratified configuration, consisting of a top layer 2 of electrically conductive material, an intermediate layer 3 made of electrically insulating material, and a bottom layer 4 made of electrically conductive material joined to the layers 2 and 4. The thicknesses of the layers 2, 3, 4 shown in Figure 1 are purely indicative and are not to be considered in any way limiting.
[0008] The support 1 may be rigid or, more conveniently, flexible, so that it will be able to assume different configurations, not only two-dimensional ones but also three-dimensional ones, and is advantageously elastic. For this reason, the layers 2, 3, and 4 are conveniently made of rubber, for example thermoplastic rubber, which for the layers 2 and 4 is rendered electrically conductive in a conventional way.
[0009] The layers 2 and 4 are operatively connected to a direct-current electric-power supply source 5 (normally 12V), possibly taken from the mains supply via an ordinary transformer.
[0010] Applied on the support 1 is a plurality of light emitters, the number and arrangement of which is selectively variable. The said light emitters, designated by 6, conveniently consist of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are supplied by the electric-power supply source 5 through the layers of electrically conductive material 2 and 4.
[0011] For this reason, each light emitter 6 is provided with a pair of power-supply pins 7, 8, of which the former is shorter and is inserted through the first layer of electrically conductive material 2, and the latter is longer and, after traversing the intermediate layer of electrically insulating material 3, terminates in the other layer of electrically conductive material 4. Of course, the portion of the longer pin 8 which traverses the first layer of electrically conductive material 2 is provided with an electrically insulating coating 9.
[0012] As may be seen clearly from Figure 2, the pins 7, 8 have a pointed profile, which enables an easy and convenient application of each light emitter 6 on the support 1 like the application of a drawing pin.
[0013] Corresponding to the easy application is an equally easy removal, so that the light emitters 6 can be rearranged on the support 1 according to selectively variable configurations and according to possible requirements of use.
[0014] With the said arrangement, the light device according to the invention can be advantageously used for a very wide range of applications in the sector of lighting, advertising, furnishing, and also in the sector of toys and games for children, and similar applications.
[0015] It should moreover be noted that, in view of the structure of the support 1, the device may also undergo thermoforming so as to bestow on the support 1 original shapes, including three-dimensional ones.
[0016] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated herein, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the ensuing claims.
[0017] For example, the material of which the electrically conductive layers 2, 4 are made may be different from the ones cited as preferential. In particular, said layers may consist of thin metal plates.
[0018] Even the insulating layer could be made of an electrically insulating material different from rubber, for instance cork and like materials. Moreover a second insulating layer may be provided under the conductive layer 4, as a base for the device as a whole.
[0019] It is to be pointed out that one and/or the other conductive layers 2 and 4 may have a predetermined, i.e. set resistivity, so as to make the current supplied to the light emitters controllable. Resistivity may be calibrated by more or less "doping" one and/or the other conductive layers 2 and 4, so as to automatically provide limitation of the electrical current required by the light emitters 6 as a function of the available supply voltage. The layers 2 and 4 shall thus be both either freely conductive, or both resistive, or one conductive and the other resistive. In case they are both freely conductive, the supply current may be controlled for instance by providing for each LED a suitable resistor.
1. A light emitting device, characterized in that it comprises:
- a support (1) including a first layer (2) and a second layer (4) of electrically conductive material, and an intermediate layer (3) of electrically insulating material which is connected to said layers of electrically conductive material;
- an electric-power supply source (5) operatively connected to said layers (2, 4) of electrically conductive material;
- and a plurality of light emitters (6) which are applied, in a removable way and according to selectively variable configurations, on said support (1) and are supplied by said electric-power supply source (5) through said layers (2, 4) of electrically conductive material.
2. The light device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said light emitters (6) each present a pair of respective power-supply pins (7, 8)
inserted through said support (1) and having different lengths to terminate in electrical
contact one with said first layer (2), and the other with said second layer (4) of
electrically conductive material.
3. The light device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that said first layer (2) and said second layer (4) of electrically conductive material
and said intermediate layer of electrically insulating material (3) can be traversed,
and said power-supply pins (7, 8) of the light emitters (6) have a pointed configuration.
4. The light device according to Claim 3, characterized in that said layers of electrically conductive material (2, 4) and said layer of electrically
insulating material (3) are made of flexible material.
5. The light device according to Claim 4, characterized in that said layers of electrically conductive material (2, 4) and said layer of electrically
insulating material (3) are elastic.
6. The light device according to Claim 5, characterized in that said layers of electrically conductive material (2, 4) are made of conductive rubber,
and said layer of electrically insulating material (3) is made of insulating rubber.
7. The light device according to any one or the preceding claims, characterized in that one and/or the other of said layers of electrically conductive material (2, 4) have
a calibrated resistivity.
8. The light device according to any one or the preceding claims, characterized in that optical means are associated to said light emitters (6) so as to optimize the light
beam emitted thereby.
9. The light device according to any one or the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes an additional electrically insulating base layer.
10. The light device according to any one or the preceding claims, characterized in that said light emitters (6) are LEDs and said electric-power supply source (5) is a direct-current
source.