ILLUMINATING PANEL INTEGRATED INTO A TRAVERSABLE SURFACE

Abstract

Disclosed is an illuminating panel, in particular integrated into a traversable surface, including, in succession, a first protective film arranged on the front face of the device, a first exterior encapsulating film, an interior encapsulating film, a second exterior encapsulating film, and a second protective film arranged on the rear face of the device, one of the films chosen from among the first exterior encapsulating film, the interior encapsulating film and the second exterior encapsulating film coating at least one active element suitable for emitting light. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a panel and a functional traversable surface with such a panel.

Claims

1. A light slab able to be integrated into a trafficable pavement, comprising in succession: a first protective film, arranged on the front face of the device, made of a first material, a first external encapsulating film, made of a second material, an internal encapsulating film, made of a third material, a second external encapsulating film, made of a fourth material, a second protective film, arranged on the rear face of the device, made of a fifth material, one of the films, chosen among the first external encapsulating film, the internal encapsulating film and the second external encapsulating film, coating at least one active element adapted to emit light, each active element adapted to emit light comprising at least one light element on a support allowing the at least one light element to be powered, the first material, the second material, the third material, the fourth material and the fifth material having Young's moduli E.sub.1, E.sub.2, E.sub.3, E.sub.4 and E.sub.5, respectively, and coefficients of thermal expansion CTE.sub.1, CTE.sub.2, CTE.sub.3, CTE.sub.4 and CTE.sub.5, respectively, E.sub.1 and E.sub.5 being similar or identical, E.sub.2 and E.sub.4 being similar or identical, E.sub.1>E.sub.2 and E.sub.4<E.sub.5, CTE.sub.1 and CTE.sub.5 being similar or identical, CTE.sub.2 and CTE.sub.4 being similar or identical, CTE.sub.1<CTE.sub.2 and CTE.sub.4>CTE.sub.5.

2. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein an active element adapted to emit light comprises at least two light elements connected in parallel.

3. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein at least one among the first protective film, the second protective film and the at least one active element or a part of the at least one active element is coloured.

4. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein at least one active element comprises a printed circuit on which at least one light-emitting diode is mounted.

5. The light slab according to claim 4, wherein the printed circuit is in the form of a comb comprising a base and at least two substantially parallel fingers.

6. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the first material and/or the fifth material is a composite comprising glass fibres and an epoxy resin.

7. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the second material and/or the fourth material is an ionomer.

8. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the third material is a thermoplastic polyolefin or a acrylic resin.

9. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first protective film and/or the second protective film is comprised between 0.1 mm and 5.0 mm.

10. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first external encapsulating film and/or the second external encapsulating film is comprised between 0.25 and 2.0 mm.

11. The light slab according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the internal encapsulating film is comprised between 0.4 and 2.0 mm.

12. A method for manufacturing a light slab comprising successively: a first protective film, arranged on the front face of the device, made of a first material, a first external encapsulating film, made of a second material, an internal encapsulating film, made of a third material, a second external encapsulating film, made of a fourth material, a second protective film, arranged on the rear face of the device, made of a fifth material, one of the films, chosen among the first external encapsulating film, the internal encapsulating film and the second external encapsulating film, coating at least one active element adapted to emit light, each active element adapted to emit light comprising at least one light element on a support allowing it to be powered, the method comprising the following steps: (a) providing at least one active element adapted to emit light comprising at least one light element on a support allowing the at least one light element itto be powered, (b) positioning the at least one active element adapted to emit light on a stack comprising the second protective film and the second external encapsulating film, (c) laminating the internal encapsulating film on the at least one active element in such a way as to fill at least in part the spaces between the active elements with the material of the internal encapsulating film, and to cover at least partially the at least one active element with the material of the internal encapsulating film, and (d) laminating on the internal encapsulating film a stack comprising the first external encapsulating film and the first protective film.

13. The method for manufacturing a slab according to claim 12, wherein the at least one active element provided at step is obtained by cutting according to a desired pattern a cuttable support on which at least one light element is mounted.

14. The method for manufacturing a slab according to claim 12 wherein step comprises the fastening of at least one active element to the second protective film through the second external encapsulating film.

15. A functionalized trafficable pavement, comprising a trafficable pavement on which is fastened at least one light slab according to claim 1, using a fastening layer, the first protective film of the light slab being covered with a coating layer, to allow the passage of pedestrians and/or vehicles, the coating layer letting through all or part of the light emitted by the light slab and having a textured external surface.

16. The light slab according to claim 2, wherein at least one among the first protective film, the second protective film and the at least one active element or a part of the at least one active element is coloured.

17. The light slab according to claim 2, wherein at least one active element comprises a printed circuit on which at least one light-emitting diode is mounted.

18. The light slab according to claim 3, wherein at least one active element comprises a printed circuit on which at least one light-emitting diode is mounted.

19. The light slab according to claim 2, wherein the first material and/or the fifth material is a composite comprising glass fibres and an epoxy resin.

20. The light slab according to claim 3, wherein the first material and/or the fifth material is a composite comprising glass fibres and an epoxy resin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0098] Moreover, various other features of the invention emerge from the appended description made with reference to the drawings that illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

[0099] FIG. 1 is an overall view of a light slab according to the invention,

[0100] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a light slab according to the invention,

[0101] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a light slab according to the invention integrated into an existing pavement,

[0102] FIG. 4 is a diagram of different lighting modes that may be obtained with slabs according to the invention,

[0103] FIG. 5 is a non-coloured light slab according to the invention integrated in a pavement,

[0104] FIG. 6 is a light slab according to the invention coloured in white and integrated in a pavement,

[0105] FIG. 7 is a light active element comprising LEDs and resistors arranged in parallel on a comb-shaped PCB support,

[0106] FIG. 8 is an overall diagram showing different modes of connection of the PCBs between each other,

[0107] FIG. 9 is a connection diagram of the area designated as “Zoom 1” in FIG. 7,

[0108] FIG. 10 is a connection diagram of the area designated as “Zoom 2” in FIG. 7,

[0109] FIG. 11 is a connection diagram of the area designated as “Zoom 3” in FIG. 7.

[0110] It is to be noted that, in these figures, the structural and/or functional elements common to the different alternatives can have the same references numbers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0111] The light slab 100 shown in FIG. 1 is an overall representation of a slab according to the invention. It comprises a stack of a first protective film 101, a first external encapsulating film 102, an internal encapsulating film 103 that coats at least one active element 104, a second external encapsulating film 105, and finally a second protective film 106.

[0112] The light slab 100 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a stack of a first protective film 101 made of a prepeg material that is a composite of fibres and resin, such as a composite of epoxy resin and glass fibres, a first external encapsulating film 102 that acts as a moisture barrier to protect the active elements, an internal encapsulating film 103 made of a so-called soft encapsulating material, which coats at least one active element 104 including a printed circuit (PCB) support and a LED, a second external encapsulating film 105 that acts as a moisture barrier, and finally a second protective film 106 made of a prepeg material that is a composite of fibres and resin, such as a composite of epoxy resin and glass fibres.

[0113] FIG. 3 shows the integration of a light slab 100 in an existing pavement. The light slab 100 is fastened to the pavement 110 through an adhesive resin layer 109. The light slab 100 is covered with a wearing layer 107 letting through all or part of the light emitted by the light slab 100 and having a textured external surface. The wearing layer 107 provides in particular the necessary grip for traffic on the functionalized pavement. Between the light slab 100 and the wearing layer 107 is present an interface layer 108 allowing for maximum compatibility between the wearing layer 107 and the first protective film 101. The interface layer 108 allows to promote grip (primer). In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the light slab 100 comprises in particular a first protective film 101 (front face), light active elements 104 and a second protective film 106 (rear face).

[0114] FIG. 4 shows three different lighting modes that may be obtained with a light slab according to the invention. Therefore, with a suitable control, the light elements 104 of the light slab may emit a so-called “normal” lighting, i.e. with a main direction of the light rays normal to the surface of the pavement 110, and a homogeneous distribution on either side of the latter (section A in FIG. 4). As an alternative, the light elements may emit a so-called “tangential” lighting, i.e. with a main direction of the light rays that forms an angle lower than 90°, in particular lower than 45°, with the surface of the pavement 110 (section B in FIG. 4). A so-called “mixed” lighting can also be obtained by combining light elements 104 emitting a normal lighting and light elements 104 emitting a tangential lighting (section C in FIG. 4). Of course, depending on the control, the lighting direction of each light element can be adapted to any desired direction.

[0115] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show embodiments in which the light slab 100 is either transparent (FIG. 5) or coloured, for example white (FIG. 6). The light slab 100 comprises a first protective film (front face) 101, LED light active elements 104 and a second protective film (rear face) 106. The second protective film 106 may be either translucent, as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, or coloured, in particular white, as in the embodiment of FIG. 6. The light slab 100 is covered with a translucent textured wearing layer 107, and fastened to the pavement 110 using an adhesive 109. As an alternative, the colour may be imparted to the slab by colouring other elements of the light slab integrated in the pavement, for example by colouring the PCB circuit of the active elements 104, or by colouring the adhesive 109.

[0116] FIG. 7 shows the electric diagram of an active element 104 comprising, on a PCB support, LEDs connected to each other in parallel. The PCB has a comb shape that is optimum both as regards the optimization of the materials used during its manufacturing, and as regards the versatility of the accessible shapes and possible junctions. The light active element of FIG. 7 comprises a comb whose fingers all have the same length. However, each of the fingers of the comb may be, in the spirit of the invention, more or less shortened by simple cutting to obtain a desired pattern illuminated by the active element. If necessary, the cutting may go down to the level of the unitary LED on its support. Connecting the LEDs in parallel allows them to be independent. Each LED is coupled to a resistor.

[0117] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the simplified connection to each other of several light active elements including PCB supports according to the invention, wherein the connections can be made as well between two comb-shaped PCB bases, between the base of a comb-shaped PCB and the end of the fingers of another PCB (zoom 1, also shown in FIG. 9), between the ends of the fingers of two PCBs (zoom 2, also shown in FIG. 10), or between the bases of two comb-shaped PCBs, in particular perpendicular to each other (zoom 3, also shown in FIG. 11). The connections between PCB can be made using a tined copper strip, in particular a 5 mm-wide tined copper strip.