Luminaire element

Abstract

A luminaire element (10) for a luminaire (1), which luminaire element (10) comprises a first light-emitting device (11); a second light-emitting device (12); a frame (2) realized to accommodate the first light-emitting device (11) and the second light-emitting device (12), which frame (2) comprises a connecting interface (22, 23) realized to physically and electrically connect to a further luminaire element (10) of the luminaire (1); and wherein the first light-emitting device (11) and the second light-emitting device (12) are arranged within the frame (2) such that the first light-emitting device (11) emits to a first side of the luminaire element (10), and the second light-emitting device (12) emits to a second side of the luminaire element (10).

Claims

1. A luminaire element for a luminaire, which luminaire element comprises: a first light-emitting device; a second light-emitting device; and a frame configured to accommodate the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device, wherein the frame comprises at least one flange portion configured to extend outwardly from the frame, the flange portion comprising a connecting interface configured to physically and electrically connect to a further luminaire element of the luminaire, wherein the connecting interface comprises a tongue connector, and wherein the flange comprises first and second vertical extending regions each extending at a right angle with respect to the tongue connector of the flange, the first and second vertical extending regions preventing electrical contact other than at an electrode contact extending region; Wherein the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device are arranged within the frame such that the first light-emitting device emits to a first side of the luminaire element and the second light-emitting device emits to a second side of the luminaire element; wherein the luminaire element further comprises a layer element with a first electrically conductive contact joining region for joining spatially separate electrode contact regions of a first polarity and a second electrically conductive contact joining region for joining electrode contact regions of a second polarity; Wherein the first contact joining region is electrically isolated from the second contact joining region, wherein the layer element is realized to be entirely accommodated between the light-emitting device and the flange portion of the frame.

2. A luminaire element according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device comprises an organic light-emitting device.

3. A luminaire element according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device are arranged in a back-to-back arrangement in the frame.

4. A luminaire element according to claim 3, wherein the light-emitting device comprises at least one anode contact region and at least one cathode contact region, wherein a contact region is arranged along an edge of the light-emitting device.

5. A luminaire element according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the flange portion is configured to extend into a cavity between the first light-emitting device and the second light-emitting device.

6. A luminaire comprising a plurality of luminaire elements according to claim 1, and wherein the luminaire elements are physically and electrically connected by connecting interfaces of the frames, and wherein electrode contacts of the light-emitting devices contained in the frames are electrically connected by electrode contact extending regions of the frames.

7. A luminaire according to claim 6, comprising an assembly element with a plurality of connecting interfaces, wherein a connecting interface of the assembly element is configured for connection to the connecting interface of the frame of the luminaire element.

8. An assembly element comprising a number of connecting interfaces, wherein a connecting interface of the assembly element is configured for connection to connecting interface of the frame of luminaire element according to claim 1.

9. An assembly element according to claim 8, comprising at least one electrode conductive region which electrode conductive region is arranged to electrically connect electrode contact extending regions of the frames of adjacent light-emitting luminaire elements physically connected by the assembly element.

10. A luminaire kit comprising a plurality of luminaire elements according to claim 1, and wherein the luminaire elements are physically and electrically connectable by connecting interfaces of the frames, and wherein electrode contacts of the light-emitting devices contained in the frames are electrically connected by electrode contact extending regions of the frames; and optionally a number of assembly elements for connecting luminaire elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a luminaire element according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the luminaire element of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a light emitting device and a layer element of the luminaire element of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 shows a luminaire element according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 5A shows a luminaire according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5B shows an equivalent circuit of the luminaire of FIG. 5A;

(7) FIG. 6A shows a luminaire according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 6B shows an equivalent circuit of the luminaire of FIG. 6A;

(9) FIG. 7A shows a luminaire according to a third embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 7B shows an equivalent circuit of the luminaire of FIG. 7A;

(11) FIG. 8 shows a first embodiment of an assembly element for a luminaire according to the invention;

(12) FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of an assembly element for a luminaire according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of an assembly element for a luminaire according to the invention.

(14) In the drawings, like numbers refer to like objects throughout. Objects in the diagrams are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIG. 1 shows a luminaire element 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Here, a rectangular or square-shaped housing frame 2 is realised with connecting means 22 on its four sides. The diagram shows a tongue connector 22 on each of the four sides of the housing frame 2. The diagram shows that an electrode contact extending region 201, 202 terminates at the point where the tongue 22 protrudes from the housing frame 2. In this embodiment, the polarity of each electrode contact extending region 201, 202 is clearly indicated by the visual indicators or symbols 51, 52 on the luminaire element 10. The diagram shows a first standard OLED 11 fitting closely in the housing frame 2, so that the housing frame 2 itself makes only a small contribution to the overall area. The planar surface comprises a substrate 100 of the first OLED 11. Underneath the luminaire element 10, so that it cannot be seen in the diagram, is a second standard OLED 12.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section X-X′ through the luminaire element 10 of FIG. 1. Here, the layer structure of the standard OLEDs 11, 12 is clearly shown. Each OLED 11, 12 comprises a substrate 100, onto which are applied in succession an ITO anode 101; an active layer 103; and a cathode 102. Each OLED 11, 12 is encapsulated in a hermetic cover 110. The diagram shows the back-to-back placement of the OLEDs 11, 12 in the housing frame 2. The housing frame 2 comprises a flange 20 that extends someway into the frame interior, but not beyond the side wall of the cover 110. The flange 20 leaves an aperture 24 for accommodating the encapsulating covers 110 of the OLEDs 11, 12. This cross-section X-X′ shows anode contact regions 101A, 101B for the OLEDs 11, 12. A cross-section taken at right angles to this would show a similar arrangement of cathode contact regions for the OLEDs 11, 12. In each case, a MAM layer 14 is applied to the electrode contact regions of both OLEDs 11, 12 to improve the electrical conductivity of the electrodes 101, 102 and to provide an improved contacting surface. To electrically connect the anode contact regions 101A, 101B on opposite sides of the devices 11, 12, a PCB layer 3 is placed between the frame flange 20 and the MAM layer 14 of each device 11, 12. The PCB layer 3 comprises through-connectors 35 for electrically contacting the conductive surfaces of the MAM layer and a metal electrode contact extending region 201 of the frame 2. The PCB layer 3 can also serve as bonding means, since they can be bonded relatively easily to both the MAM layer 14 and a metal electrode contact extending region 201 of the frame using an ACF bonding technique described above. The ACF bonding can be applied to make a bond essentially all the way around the OLED device 11, 12 where the MAM layer meets the PCB layer. For a housing frame with four sides and four connecting means as shown here, a “picture frame” PCB layer 3 can be used to make four ACF bonds, one at each side of the housing frame 2, where the PCB layer 3 meets the electrode contact extending regions of the housing frame 2. Again, this diagram can only show the two anode contact extending regions 201 of the frame 2, while the two cathode contact extending regions would be seen in a cross-section taken at right angles to this.

(17) The thickness of the MAM layer 14, the PCB layer 3, and the flange 20 are chosen such that the combined thickness of the MAM layer 14, the PCB layer 3, and half the flange thickness does not exceed the height of a cover 110. In this way, the OLED devices 11, 12 can be arranged in a back-to-back manner with little or no gap between them, resulting in a favourably slim or thin luminaire element 10. At present, a typical thickness or “height” of an OLED device 11, 12 is approximately 1.8-2.0 mm. The entire luminaire element 10 of the invention is therefore favourably thin, with a thickness or height of only about 3.8-4.2 mm. The width and length of the emitting area of such an OLED device 11, 12 at present can be about 50-140 mm, and it is expected that advances in technology will lead to even larger surface areas, so that such a luminaire element 10 can be used to construct luminaries for practical and interesting lighting applications.

(18) This diagram shows the electrode contact extending regions 201 terminating at the edge of the frame flange 20, so that the anodes 111 of the first and second OLEDs 11, 12 are electrically separate from each other. Of course, the electrode contact extending regions 201 could wrap around the edge of the frame flange 20 (this possibility is indicated in the description), so that the anodes 101 of the first and second OLEDs 11, 12 are electrically connected. If the cathode contact extending regions also wrap around the edge of the frame flange 20, the first and second OLEDs 11, 12 of this luminaire element 10 will always be connected in parallel.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a light emitting device 11 and a layer element 3 of the luminaire element 10 of FIG. 1, and indicates how these would be connected together. The OLED 11 has anode contacts 101A, 101B and cathode contacts 102A, 102B, given by the outer surface of the MAM layer. For optimal voltage distribution across the electrodes 101, 102 of the OLED, the same potential should be applied to each electrode 101, 102. This is achieved with the PCB layer 3, comprising a “picture frame” realisation with an aperture 34 to accommodate the encapsulating cover 110 of the OLED 11. The PCB layer 3 has an anode region 31 shaped to cover almost the entire surface of the anode contacts 101A, 101B, and a cathode region 32 shaped to cover almost the entire surface of the cathode contact 102A, 102B. These regions 31, 32 are electrically isolated from each other by the material of the PCB onto which the contact regions 31, 32 are printed. When assembled, any voltage applied across these regions 31, 32 will be applied also across the electrodes 101, 102 of the OLED 11 without any significant drop in potential between electrode contacts arranged on opposite sides of the device 11.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a luminaire element 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Here, the housing frame 2 is realised to have different connecting means 22, 23 on its four sides. The diagram shows a tongue connector 22 on the right and at the top of the housing frame 2, and a groove connector 23 on each of the left and bottom sides of the housing frame 2. The diagram shows that an electrode contact extending region 201 terminates at the point where the tongue 22 protrudes from the housing frame 2, while an electrode contact extending region “wraps around” the wall parts of a groove 23. Here also, the polarity of each electrode contact extending region 201, 202 is clearly indicated by the symbols 51, 52 on the luminaire element 10.

(21) FIG. 5A shows a luminaire 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Here, six luminaire elements 10 are connected together by the connecting means 22, 23 of the housing frames 2. For the purposes of explanation, it may be assumed that the diagram shows the first OLEDs 11 of each luminaire element 10, while the second OLEDs 12 are underneath these and therefore cannot be seen in the diagram. Here, a positive pole of a DC voltage source 6 is connected to an anode of the first OLED of the luminaire element 10 in the upper left of the drawing, and a negative pole of the DC voltage source 6 is connected to a cathode of the first OLED of the luminaire element 10 in the lower left of the drawing.

(22) The first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the upper left of the drawing is connected in series with the first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the lower left of the drawing, by means of the electrode contact extending regions 201, 202 of the (horizontal) connecting means between the upper and lower luminaire elements 10.

(23) Similarly, the first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the upper centre of the drawing is connected in series with the first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the lower centre of the drawing.

(24) In the same way, the first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the upper right of the drawing is connected in series with the first OLED 11 of the luminaire element 10 in the lower right of the drawing.

(25) The series-connected OLEDs 11 are all connected in parallel by the electrode contact extending regions 201, 202 of the (vertical) connecting means 22, 23 between the left and centre luminaire elements 10, between the centre and right luminaire elements 10.

(26) An equivalent circuit for this luminaire realisation is shown in FIG. 5B, where each light-emitting diode symbol corresponds to a first OLED 11 in a luminaire element 10 of the luminaire 1. The node symbols indicate the electrical connections between pairs of anode contact extending regions 201; pairs of cathode contact extending regions 202; or a connection between an anode contact extending region 201 and a cathode contact extending region 202, as appropriate.

(27) FIG. 6A shows a luminaire 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Here, the luminaire elements 10 have only tongue connecting interfaces 22 on the housing frames 2, and three luminaire elements 10 are connected using additional assembly elements 4C to give a “three-dimensional” luminaire 1. The assembly elements 4C have grooves 43 to match the tongues 22 of the housing frames 2, arranged at right angles about the body of the assembly element 4C. Such a “three-dimensional” arrangement involves a combination of serial and parallel connections, as shown in the equivalent circuit of this luminaire in FIG. 6B. A series connection of three first OLEDs 11 (the upper three OLEDs) are connected in parallel with a series connection of three second OLEDs 12 (the lower three OLEDs). The upper OLED symbol connected to the “plus” pole of the power supply (indicated schematically here) corresponds to the first OLED device of the luminaire element in the bottom right of the diagram; the second OLED symbol corresponds to the first OLED device of the luminaire element in the upper right of the diagram; and the third OLED symbol connected to the “minus” pole of the power supply corresponds to the first OLED device of the luminaire element on the left of the diagram Again, the node symbols indicate the electrical connections between pairs of anode contact extending regions 201; pairs of cathode contact extending regions 202; or a connection between an anode contact extending region 201 and a cathode contact extending region 202, as appropriate.

(28) FIG. 7A shows a luminaire 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention, showing that assembly elements 4B, 4C can be put to good effect in obtaining a luminaire that extends in various directions, while the luminaire elements 10 emit light from each of their front and back (or upper and lower) surfaces. Here, the luminaire 1 comprises six independent “planes”, whereby a plane comprises either the first or the second OLEDs of a planar arrangement of luminaire elements. For example, one plane is given here by first OLEDs 11_A, 11_B, 11_C, 11_D. Again, the “plus” and “minus” poles of a power supply are indicated schematically for this plane. FIG. 7B shows the equivalent circuit for this plane only, using the same symbol notation as used in FIGS. 5B, 6B above. The equivalent circuits for the other five planes are similar.

(29) FIG. 8 shows a basic assembly element 4A, without any electrical connecting surfaces. This diagram shows the arrangement of four grooves 43 for “mating” with tongues of up to four luminaire elements. FIG. 9 shows an assembly element 4B, with connecting surfaces 41 arranged to connect the first OLED of a first luminaire element to the first OLED of a second luminaire element; and to connect the second OLED of the first luminaire element to the second OLED of the second luminaire element. FIG. 10 shows an assembly element 4C which makes the intersecting plane construction of FIG. 7A possible. Here, a first set of connecting surfaces 41 acts in the same way as those of FIG. 9. An additional set of connecting surfaces 42 is arranged to connect the first OLED of a third luminaire element to the first OLED of a fourth luminaire element; and to connect the second OLED of the third luminaire element to the second OLED of the fourth luminaire element.

(30) Of course, for luminaire elements that are intended for an outer edge of a luminaire, housing frames can be provided that have connecting interfaces on only two sides, for example. The other two sides can be flat. In this way, a favourable optical result can be obtained. Alternatively, cover pieces can be provided that fit over the unused connecting interfaces in order to give the luminaire a “finished” appearance if so desired.

(31) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. The housing frames might be made large enough to enclose an array of standard OLEDs, for example a 2×2 array of first OLEDs above a 2×2 array of second OLEDs, and the frame flange can have a corresponding shape to hold the individual OLEDs. In this way, a luminaire with relatively large planar portions can be obtained with less frame connections.

(32) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.