Abstract
A lighting device (1) is disclosed, comprising at least a first elongated carrier (2) and a second elongated carrier (3), each of the first elongated carrier (2) and the second elongated carrier being foldable (3). At least the first elongated carrier (2) and the second elongated carrier (3) have been folded over each other such that a plurality of sections (16) of the first elongated carrier (2) are interleaved with respect to a plurality of sections (17) of the second elongated carrier (3) so as to form an interleaved structure (10). The interleaved structure (1) may have been arranged such that a plurality of cavities (9) in the interleaved structure (10) are formed, each cavity (9) at least being constituted by a surface (12) of one of the sections (16) of the first elongated carrier (2) and a surface (13) of one of the sections (17) of the second elongated carrier (3), wherein the surfaces (12, 13) of the sections (16, 17) of the first elongated carrier (2) and the second elongated carrier (3), respectively, at least in part face each other.
Claims
1. A lighting device comprising: at least a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier, at least one of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier being configured to support at least one light-emitting element, each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier being foldable; wherein at least the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier have been repeated folded over each other, thereby forming a plurality of folds in each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier, such that a plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier are interleaved with respect to a plurality of sections of the second elongated carrier so as to form an interleaved structure.
2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier is flexible, and wherein the interleaved structure has been arranged such that a plurality of cavities in the interleaved structure are formed, each cavity at least being constituted by a surface of one of the sections of the first elongated carrier and a surface of one of the sections of the second elongated carrier, wherein the surfaces of the sections of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier, respectively, at least in part face each other.
3. A lighting device according to claim 2, wherein at least the first elongated carrier comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements supported thereby, and wherein at least one of the light-emitting elements is arranged on each of at least some of the sections of the first elongated carrier, wherein each of at least some of the cavities has at least one light-emitting element arranged on the section of the first elongated carrier of the cavity.
4. A lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the second elongated carrier comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements supported by the second elongated carrier, wherein at least one of the light-emitting elements is arranged on each of at least some of the sections of the second elongated carrier, and wherein each of at least some of the cavities has at least one light-emitting element arranged on the section of the second elongated carrier of the cavity.
5. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein at least the first elongated carrier comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements supported by the first elongated carrier, wherein at least one of the light-emitting elements is arranged on each of at least some of the sections of the first elongated carrier.
6. A lighting device according to claim 5, wherein the first elongated carrier comprises at least a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the second side extending along the length of the first elongated carrier, and wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged on the first side of the first elongated carrier but not on the second side of the first elongated carrier.
7. A lighting device according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier is adjoining at least one other section of the plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier so as to form a succession of contiguous sections, wherein alternatingly at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has at least on light-emitting element arranged thereon and at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has no light-emitting element arranged thereon.
8. A lighting device according to claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier is adjoining at least one other section of the plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier so as to form a succession of contiguous sections, wherein each section in the succession of contiguous sections has at least on light-emitting element arranged thereon, wherein alternatingly at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has at least one light-emitting element arranged thereon on the first side and at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has at least one light-emitting element arranged thereon on the second side.
9. A lighting device according to claim 5, wherein the second elongated carrier comprises a plurality of light-emitting elements supported by the second elongated carrier, wherein at least one of the light-emitting elements is arranged on each of at least some of the sections of the second elongated carrier.
10. A lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the second elongated carrier comprises at least a first side and a second side, each of the first side and the second side extending along the length of the second elongated carrier, and wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged on the first side of the second elongated carrier but not on the second side of the second elongated carrier.
11. A lighting device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of sections of the second elongated carrier is adjoining at least one other section of the plurality of sections of the second elongated carrier so as to form a succession of contiguous sections, wherein alternatingly at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has at least on light-emitting element arranged thereon and at least one section in the succession of contiguous sections has no light-emitting element arranged thereon.
12. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first elongated carrier has a width different from a width of the second elongated carrier, wherein a ratio between a width of the first elongated carrier and a width of the second elongated carrier is in a range between 0.2 and 5.
13. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is arranged such that the at least the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier in the interleaved structure are fixedly arranged with respect to each other.
14. A lamp, a light engine or a luminaire comprising a lighting device according to claim 1.
15. A method of manufacturing a lighting device comprising at least a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier, at least one of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier being configured to support at least one light-emitting element, and each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier being foldable, the method comprising: repeated folding at least the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier over each other thereby forming a plurality of folds in each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier, such that a plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier are interleaved with respect to a plurality of sections of the second elongated carrier so as to form an interleaved structure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] Exemplifying embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an interleaved structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIGS. 3-10 are schematic views of a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier in accordance with different embodiments of the present invention.
[0050] FIGS. 11-16 are schematic side views of a cavity in an interleaved structure in accordance with different embodiments of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an entity comprising a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of a method of manufacturing a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate embodiments of the present invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0054] The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments of the present invention set forth herein; rather, these embodiments of the present invention are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote the same or similar components having a same or similar function, unless specifically stated otherwise.
[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first elongated carrier 2 and a second elongated carrier 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, which first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 are arranged so as to form an interleaved structure. In FIG. 1, the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 are seen from one side thereof. According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 is foldable, and the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 are folded over each other such that sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 become interleaved with respect to sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 so as to form an interleaved structure, as described further in the following. Only some of the sections 16 and 17 of the first and second elongated carriers 2 and 3, respectively, are indicated by reference numerals in FIG. 1.
[0056] In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 is adjoining at least one other section 16 of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 so as to form a succession of contiguous sections 16. Similarly, each of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 is adjoining at least one other section 17 of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 so as to form a succession of contiguous sections 17. However, it is to be understood that this is not required, and that all of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 may not form a succession of contiguous sections, and that all of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 may not form a succession of contiguous sections.
[0057] In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 may foldable at least at the lines illustrated in FIG. 1 separating adjacent ones of the sections 16 and 17, respectively, which lines may be referred to as folding lines. It is however to be understood that the configuration of the folding lines as illustrated in FIG. 1 is according to an example, and that other configurations are possible. For example, the folding lines must not necessarily be straight, and the folding lines must not necessarily be arranged perpendicularly to a length axis of the first and second elongated carriers 2 and 3, respectively.
[0058] Each or any one of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 may be configured to support a plurality of light-emitting elements. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the first elongated carrier 2 is configured to support a plurality of light-emitting elements 8. The second elongated carrier 3 may or may not be configured to support light-emitting element(s). Each or any one of the light-emitting elements 8 may for example comprise one or more LEDs, but is not limited thereto. For example, each or any one of the light-emitting elements 8 could, in alternative, or in addition, comprise one or more other types of solid state light emitters.
[0059] In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the first elongated carrier 2 comprises a first side 5 and a second side 7, with each of the first side 5 and the second side 7 extending along the length of the first elongated carrier 2. The first side 5 and the second side 7 are opposite sides of the first elongated carrier 2. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the light-emitting elements 8 supported by the first elongated carrier 2 are arranged on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, while there are no light-emitting elements arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2. However, in accordance with one or more other embodiments of the present invention, there could instead be light-emitting element(s) arranged on only the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, or there could be light-emitting element(s) arranged on both the first side 5 and the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2.
[0060] Further in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the second elongated carrier 3 comprises a first side 4 and a second side 6, with each of the first side 4 and the second side 6 extending along the length of the second elongated carrier 2. The first side 4 and the second side 6 are opposite sides of the second elongated carrier 3. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there are no light-emitting elements arranged on any of the first side 4 and the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3. However, in accordance with one or more other embodiments of the present invention, there could be light-emitting element(s) arranged on one or on both of the first side 4 and the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3.
[0061] Each or any one of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 may be flexible, and may for example comprise a flexible PCB and/or a flexfoil, which may be configured to provide power to any light-emitting element arranged thereon. Each or any one of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 may for example comprise a light strip, such as, for example, a LED strip.
[0062] A method of folding the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 over each other such that sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 become interleaved with respect to sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1 in four steps from the top left in FIG. 1 to the bottom right in FIG. 1, with the transitions between the four steps indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 1, between the second and third steps, and also between the third and fourth steps, the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 are folded over each other such that sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 become interleaved with respect to sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3. The method may continue in the same way as illustrated in FIG. 1 with folding additional sections of the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 2, respectively, over each other, in order to form an interleaved structure.
[0063] By means of the method indicated in FIG. 1, the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 in the interleaved structure may be brought into a folded state (or semi-folded), e.g., a state in which sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 are overlying each other in a stacked arrangement. As mentioned in the foregoing, each or any one of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 may be flexible. By stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 in the interleaved structure when the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 are in such a stacked arrangement, one or more cavities in the interleaved structure may be formed, which cavities may be in the form of empty space(s) between at least two surfaces of the interleaved structure.
[0064] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an interleaved structure 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the interleaved structure 10 having been formed from a first elongated carrier 2 and a second elongated carrier 3 in accordance with a method indicated in FIG. 1. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2, the interleaved structure 10 has been arranged, by stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 after having been folded over each other such as indicated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 in the interleaved structure 10 are formed. Only one of the cavities is indicated by reference numeral in FIG. 2. Each cavity 9 is at least constituted by a surface 12 of one of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and a surface 13 of one of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3, wherein the surfaces 12 and 13 of the sections 16 and 17 of the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, respectively, at least in part face each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The number of cavities in the interleaved structure 10 shown in FIG. 2 is according to an example, and it is to be understood that the interleaved structure 10 may in principle comprise any number of cavities, possibly even a single cavity, for example.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first elongated carrier 2 may comprise a plurality of light-emitting elements 8 supported by the first elongated carrier 2, wherein, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, one light-emitting element 8 (or several light-emitting elements) is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2. Thereby, although not shown in FIG. 2, at least some, or even all, of the cavities 9 in the interleaved structure 10 may have at least one light-emitting element 8 arranged on the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 of the cavity 9. In alternative, or in addition, there may be one or more light-emitting elements arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2.
[0066] As mentioned in the foregoing, the second elongated carrier 3 may comprise a plurality of light-emitting elements supported by the second elongated carrier 3 (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2). In alternative, or in addition, at least one of the light-emitting elements supported by the second elongated carrier 3 may be arranged on each of at least some of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3, and each of at least some of the cavities may have at least one light-emitting element arranged on the section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 of the cavity.
[0067] FIGS. 3-10 are schematic views of a first elongated carrier 2 and a second elongated carrier 3. Each of FIGS. 3-10 depicts, from left to right, a first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, a second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, a first side 4 of the second elongated carrier 3, and a second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3. FIGS. 3-10 illustrate different configurations of light-emitting elements 8 in the lighting device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Only some of the light-emitting elements 8 are indicated by reference numerals in FIGS. 3-10.
[0068] In accordance with each of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-10, each of the first and second elongated carriers 2, 3 is foldable, and the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 may be folded over each other (not illustrated or indicated in FIGS. 3-10) such that sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 become interleaved with respect to sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 so as to form an interleaved structure (not shown in FIGS. 3-10). Only some of the sections 16 and 17 of the first and second elongated carriers 2 and 3, respectively, are indicated by reference numerals in FIGS. 3-10.
[0069] With respect to each of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-10, an interleaved structure may be formed from the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3 for example in accordance with a method illustrated in FIG. 1. The first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as indicated in FIG. 1, may be stretched out such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, wherein the light-emitting elements 8 may be positioned in the cavities 9 in configurations corresponding to the respective ones of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-10.
[0070] In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 3-10, each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 is adjoining at least one other section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 so as to form a succession of contiguous sections 16. Similarly, each of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 is adjoining at least one other section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 so as to form a succession of contiguous sections 17. However, it is to be understood that this is not required, and that all of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 may not form a succession of contiguous sections, and that all of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 may not form a succession of contiguous sections.
[0071] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, a light-emitting element 8 is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 No light-emitting element is arranged on the second side of the first elongated carrier 2 or on the second elongated carrier 3. There could possibly be more than one light-emitting element 8 arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2. A configuration of light-emitting elements 8 in the lighting device such as illustrated in FIG. 3 may be relatively easy to produceand hence be relatively inexpensiveand may facilitate thermal management in the lighting device.
[0072] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, alternatingly one section in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2 or on the second elongated carrier 3. By stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, the light-emitting elements 8 may be directed in different directions from the lighting device with respect to each other.
[0073] As indicated in the foregoing, there may be more than one light-emitting element 8 arranged on one or more of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 (and/or possibly more than one light-emitting element 8 arranged on one or more of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3). The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5 is similar to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4. According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5, in addition, on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, alternatingly one section in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. Each of the contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 having light-emitting elements arranged thereon has light-emitting element(s) arranged on both the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2 and on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second elongated carrier 3. By stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, the light-emitting elements 8 may be directed in different directions from the lighting device with respect to each other, and in even more directions as compared to, for example, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0074] The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6 is similar to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5. According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 6, each section in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has one light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon), wherein alternatingly one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, and one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second elongated carrier 3. By the first elongated carrier 2 not comprising sections 16 with light-emitting elements 8 arranged on both the first side 5 and the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, light may be emitted in relatively many directions from the lighting device while thermal management in the lighting device may be facilitated.
[0075] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 7, there is more than one light-emitting element 8 arranged on some of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 (and/or possibly more than one light-emitting element 8 arranged on some of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3). On the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, a light-emitting element 8 (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8) is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2. Furthermore, on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, alternatingly one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. Also, no light-emitting element is arranged on the second elongated carrier 3. By stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, the light-emitting elements 8 may be directed in different directions from the lighting device with respect to each other, and in even more directions as compared to, for example, the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0076] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 8, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, a light-emitting element 8 (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8) is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2, and on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, a light-emitting element 8 (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8) is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second elongated carrier 3. By stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, the light-emitting elements 8 may be directed in different directions from the lighting device with respect to each other, and in even more directions as compared to, for example, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0077] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, alternatingly one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section 16 in the succession of contiguous sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2. Furthermore, on the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3, alternatingly one section 17 in the succession of contiguous sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section 17 in the succession of contiguous sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. Further, no light-emitting element is arranged on the first side 4 of the second elongated carrier 3. A configuration of light-emitting elements 8 in the lighting device such as illustrated in FIG. 9 may be relatively easy to produceand hence be relatively inexpensiveand may facilitate thermal management in the lighting device. Also, by stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such that a plurality of cavities 9 (cf. FIG. 2) in the interleaved structure are formed, the light-emitting elements 8 may be directed in different directions from the lighting device with respect to each other. Other ways of positioning the light-emitting elements 8 are however possible. According to another example, the light-emitting elements 8 arranged on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2 may instead be arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, and the light-emitting elements 8 arranged on the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3 may instead be arranged on the first side 4 of the second elongated carrier 3.
[0078] The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 10 is similar to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9. According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 10, on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2, a light-emitting element 8 (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8) is arranged on each of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2. No light-emitting element is arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2. Furthermore, on the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3, alternatingly one section 17 in the succession of contiguous sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 has a light-emitting element 8 arranged thereon (or possibly several light-emitting elements 8 arranged thereon) and one section 17 in the succession of contiguous sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 has no light-emitting element arranged thereon. Further, no light-emitting element is arranged on the first side 5 of the second elongated carrier 3. Other ways of positioning the light-emitting elements 8 are however possible. According to another example, the light-emitting elements 8 arranged on the first side 5 of the first elongated carrier 2 may instead be arranged on the second side 7 of the first elongated carrier 2, and the light-emitting elements 8 arranged on the second side 6 of the second elongated carrier 3 may instead be arranged on the first side 4 of the second elongated carrier 3.
[0079] As described in the foregoing with reference to FIG. 2, for example by stretching out the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, having been folded over each other such as illustrated in FIG. 1, a plurality of cavities 9 in the interleaved structure may be formed. With further reference to FIG. 2, each cavity 9 may be at least constituted by a surface 12 of one of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and a surface 13 of one of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3, wherein the surfaces 12 and 13 of the sections 16 and 17 of the first elongated carrier 2 and the second elongated carrier 3, respectively, at least in part face each other. As described in the foregoing for example with reference to FIGS. 3-10, one or more light-emitting elements 8 may be arranged on one or more of the sections 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and/or on one or more of the sections 17 of the second elongated carrier 3. Thereby, one or more light-emitting elements 8 may be arranged inside a cavity.
[0080] FIGS. 11-16 are schematic side views of a cavity 9 in an interleaved structure in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The cavity 9 is (at least) constituted by a surface 12 of a section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and a surface 13 of a section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3, wherein one or more light-emitting elements 8 are arranged inside the cavity 9. The examples of the cavity 9 illustrated in FIGS. 11-16 may be implemented in any one of the embodiments of the present invention described herein, such as, for example, in any one of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-10. Also, the different examples of the cavity 9 illustrated in FIGS. 11-16 may be combined in any combination.
[0081] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 11, a light-emitting element 8 is arranged on the surface 12 of the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and so as to emit light in a direction into the cavity 9, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 11. In addition, or in alternative, a light-emitting element 8 could be arranged on the surface 13 of the section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 and so as to emit light in a direction into the cavity 9. The light-emitting element 8 could for example comprise a side-emitting LED. There may possibly be several light-emitting elements 8 inside the cavity 9, wherein at least some of the light-emitting elements 8 may be arranged so as to emit light in a direction into the cavity 9. By arranging light-emitting element(s) 8 to emit light in a direction into the cavity 9, an even better light mixing functionality with respect to the light emitted from the lighting device may be achieved.
[0082] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 12, a light-emitting element 8 is arranged on the surface 12 of the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and so as to emit light in a direction out of the cavity 9, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 12. In addition, or in alternative, a light-emitting element 8 could be arranged on the surface 13 of the section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3 and so as to emit light in a direction out of the cavity 9. The light-emitting element 8 could for example comprise a side-emitting LED. There may possibly be several light-emitting elements 8 inside the cavity 9, wherein at least some of the light-emitting elements 8 may be arranged so as to emit light in a direction out of the cavity 9. By arranging light-emitting element(s) 8 to emit light in a direction out of the cavity 9, an even better light collimation functionality with respect to the light emitted from the lighting device may be achieved.
[0083] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 13, a light-emitting element 8 is arranged on the surface 12 of the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 so as to be located relatively far into the cavity 9 (or even as far into the cavity 9 as possible).
[0084] As indicated in the foregoing, there may be more than one light-emitting element inside the cavity. The light-emitting elements may be arranged in different ways inside the cavity. Examples of how light-emitting elements may be arranged inside the cavity are illustrated in FIGS. 14-16.
[0085] According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 14, light-emitting elements 8 are arranged on one of the sections 16 and 17 of the first and second elongated carriers 2 and 3, respectively, but not on the other one of the sections 16 and 17. According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 14, light-emitting elements 8 are arranged on the surface 12 of the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2, but the light-emitting elements 8 could instead be arranged on the surface 13 of the section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3. Although FIG. 14 depicts two light-emitting elements 8, it is to be understood that there could be provided more than two light-emitting elements 8.
[0086] According to the embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, light-emitting elements 8 are arranged on both the section 16 of the first elongated carrier 2 and the section 17 of the second elongated carrier 3. Although each of FIGS. 15 and 16 depicts two light-emitting elements 8, it is to be understood that there could be provided more than two light-emitting elements 8.
[0087] A lighting device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention such as described in the foregoing, for example such as described in the foregoing with reference to any one of FIGS. 1-16, may be used or implemented in different entities. FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of an entity 20 comprising a lighting device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention. The entity 20 may for example comprise or be constituted by a lamp, a light engine, or a luminaire. The lamp could for example comprise or be constituted by a LED lamp, such as, for example, a tubular LED lamp, a so called LED bulb, or as a replacement for a coil in a LED retrofit lamp having an appearance similar to a traditional incandescent light bulb.
[0088] FIG. 18 is a schematic flowchart of a method 50 of manufacturing a lighting device comprising at least a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier. At least one of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier is configured to support at least one light-emitting element. Each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier is foldable. The method 50 comprises, S52, folding at least the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier (possibly repeatedly) over each other such that a plurality of sections (or portions) of the first elongated carrier are interleaved with respect to a plurality of sections (or portions) of the second elongated carrier so as to form an interleaved structure. The method 50 may comprise, prior to step S52, providing the at least a first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier, S51.
[0089] In conclusion, a lighting device is disclosed, comprising at least a first elongated carrier and a second elongated carrier, each of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier being foldable. At least the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier have been folded over each other such that a plurality of sections of the first elongated carrier are interleaved with respect to a plurality of sections of the second elongated carrier so as to form an interleaved structure. The interleaved structure may have been arranged such that a plurality of cavities in the interleaved structure are formed, each cavity at least being constituted by a surface of one of the sections of the first elongated carrier and a surface of one of the sections of the second elongated carrier, wherein the surfaces of the sections of the first elongated carrier and the second elongated carrier, respectively, at least in part face each other.
[0090] While the present invention has been illustrated in the appended drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration is to be considered illustrative or exemplifying and not restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the appended claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
