LAMINATED LIGHTING UNIT

Abstract

A lighting unit in the form of laminated layers including a first layer (A), and a second layer (B). At least one of the layers (A) or (B) is optically transparent and the layers (A) and (B) are arranged parallel to each other. At least one functional interlayer (C) is arranged between the layers (A) and (B) and arranged parallel to the layers (A) and (B). The lighting unit includes at least one light source. Preparation of the lighting unit is disclosed. The lighting unit is suitable for use in buildings, furniture, cars, trains, planes and ships as well as in facades, skylights, glass, roofs, stair treads, glass bridges, canopies and railings.

Claims

1. A lighting unit in form of laminated layers comprising a) a layer (A); b) a layer (B); wherein at least one of the layers (A) or (B) is optically transparent, and the layers (A) and (B) are arranged parallel to each other, c) at least one functional interlayer (C), arranged between the layers (A) and (B) and arranged parallel to the layers (A) and (B); d) at least one light source (D), arranged at an edge of the laminated layers, wherein the functional interlayer (C) comprises luminous particles.

2. The lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the layers (A) and (B) are based on glass or transparent polymers, preferably glass, more preferably low-iron glass, or preferably PVC (polyvinylchloride), PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), PC (polycarbonate), PS (polystyrene), PPO (polypropylene oxide), PE (polyethylene), PEN (polyethylene naphthalate), PP (polypropylene), PET (polypropylene terephthalate), PES (polyether sulfones), PI (polyimides) and mixtures thereof.

3. The lighting unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlayer (C) is based on an ionomer (ionoplast), acid copolymers of -olefins and ,-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyvinyl acetal (for example poly(vinylbutyral)) (PVB), including acoustic grades of poly(vinyl acetal), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylenes (for example metallocene-catalyzed linear low density polyethylenes), polyolefin block elastomers, ethylene acrylate ester copolymers (for example poly(ethylene-co-methyl-acrylate) and poly(ethylene-co-butyl acrylate)), silicone elastomers, epoxy resins and mixtures thereof.

4. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the luminous particles comprise: i) at least one matrix (i), and one or both of the following components (ii) and (iii): ii) at least one luminophore (ii); iii) at least one grit (iii).

5. The lighting unit according to claim 4, wherein the matrix (i) comprises homo- or copolymers of: (meth)acrylates, i.e. polymethacrylates or polyacrylates, for example polymethyl(meth)acrylate, polyethyl(meth)acrylate or polyisobutyl(meth)acrylate; poly(vinyl acetal), especially poly(vinyl butyrate) (PVB), cellulose polymers like ethyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, hydroxy alkyl cellulose, poly(vinyl acetate), polystyrenes (PS), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyimides, polyethylene oxides, polypropylene oxides, polyamines, polycaprolactones, phosphoric acid functionalized polyethylene glycols, polyethylene imines, polycarbonates (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylenes (for example metallocene-catalyzed linear low density polyethylenes), castor oil, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl chloride, polybutene, silicone, epoxy resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polystyreneacrylonitrile (SAN), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyvinyl butyrate (PVB), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides, polyoxymethylenes, polyimides, polyetherimide or mixtures thereof.

6. The lighting unit according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the luminophore (ii) comprises inorganic luminescent colorants and/or organic luminescent colorants, wherein preferred inorganic luminescent colorants are silicate-based phosphors of a general composition A.sub.3Si(O,D).sub.5 or A.sub.2Si(O,D).sub.4, in which Si is silicone, O is oxygen, A comprises strontium (Sr), bariu (Ba), magnesium (Mg) or calcium (Ca) and D comprises chlorine (Cl), fluorine (F), nitrogen (N) or sulfur, aluminum-based phosphors, aluminum-silicate-based phosphors, nitride-based phosphors, sulfate phosphors, oxy-nitride phosphors, oxy-sulfate phosphors, garnet materials, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, lead chromate pigments, lead molybdate pigments, nickel titanium pigments or chromium oxide or mixtures thereof, and preferred organic luminescent colorants are organic luminescent pigments or organic luminescent dyes, for example functionalized naphthalene derivatives or functionalized rylene derivatives, for example naphthalene comprising compounds bearing one or more substituents selected from halogen, cyano, benzimidazole or one or more groups bearing carbonyl functions or perylene compounds bearing one or more substituents selected from halogen, cyano, benzimidazole, or one or more groups bearing carbonyl functions, heterocyclic hydrocarbons, cumarins, stilbenes, cyanines, rubrens, pyranines, rhodanines, phenoxazines, diazo compounds, isoindoline derivatives, monoazo compounds, anthrachinone pigments, thioindigo derivatives, azomethine derivatives, chinacridones, perinones, dioxazines, pyrazolo-chinazolones, polycyclic compounds comprising keto groups, phthalocyanines, varnished basic colorants, benzoxanthene or benzimidazoxanthenoisoquinolinone or mixtures thereof, or inorganic quantum dots, especially based on CdSe, CdTe, ZnS, InP, PbS, CdS or mixtures thereof.

7. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the grit (iii) is selected from particles comprising TiO.sub.2, SnO.sub.2, ZnO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Y.sub.3Al.sub.5O.sub.12, barium sulfate, lithopone, zinc sulfide, calcium carbonate, ZrO.sub.2 and mixtures thereof.

8. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the luminous particles comprise ethyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose or poly(meth)acrylate or copolymers comprising (meth)acrylate or mixtures thereof as at least one matrix (i), and one or both of the following components (ii) and (iii): cerium doped yttrium aluminum garnet, or mixtures thereof as at least one luminophore (ii), TiO.sub.2 , Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or Y.sub.3Al.sub.5O.sub.12 as at least one grit (iii).

9. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the luminous particles comprise: In the case of organic luminophores (ii): i) 45% by weight to 99.99% by weight, 77% by weight to 99.93% by weight, more preferably 93.5% to 99.85% by weight of at least one matrix (i), ii) 0.01 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.02 to 3% by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 2.5% by weight of at least one organic luminophore (ii), iii) 0 to 50% by weight; preferably 0.05 to 20% by weight; more preferably 0.1 to 4% by weight of at least one grit (iii); wherein the sum of all components (i), (ii) and (iii) is 100% by weight; in the case of in organic luminophores (ii): i) 15% by weight to 99.5% by weight, 30% by weight to 97.5% by weight, more preferably 38% to 97% by weight of at least one matrix (i), ii) 0 to 60% by weight, preferably 1 to 55% by weight, more preferably 2 to 52% by weight of at least one inorganic luminophore (ii), iii) 0 to 60% by weight, preferably 1 to 55% by weight, more preferably 2 to 52% by weight of at least one grit (iii); wherein the sum of all components (i), (ii) and (iii) is 100% by weight.

10. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising: a) a layer (A); b) a layer (B); wherein at least one of the layers (A) or (B) is optically transparent, and the layers (A) and (B) are arranged parallel to each other, c) at least one functional interlayer (C), arranged between the layers (A) and (B) and arranged parallel to the layers (A) and (B); c) at least one interlayer (C), arranged between the layers (C) and (B) and arranged parallel to the layers (C) and (B) and/or arranged between the layers (A) and (C) and arranged parallel to the layers (A) and (C); d) at least one light source (D), arranged at an edge of the laminated layers, wherein the functional interlayer (C) comprises luminous particles.

11. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the light source (D) is selected from LED, OLED, laser and gas-discharge lamps, preferably from LED and OLED, most preferably from LED.

12. The lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the luminous particles are applied to the interlayer (C) by printing, most preferably by inkjet printing or by screen printing.

13. Process for preparing a lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 comprising the steps of i) applying luminous particles to a layer (C*), whereby the functional interlayer (C) is formed; ii) laminating a layer (A) at least one functional interlayer (C) and a layer (B), wherein the layers (A), (C) and (B) are arranged parallel to each other, whereby the at least one layer (C) is arranged between layers (A) and (B); iii) mounting the at least one light source (D) at an edge of the laminated layer.

14. A process according to claim 13, wherein the luminous particles are applied to the layer (C*) by printing, preferably by screen printing or inkjet printing.

15. Use of a lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in buildings, furniture, cars, trains, planes and ships as well as in facades, skylights, glass roofs, stair treads, glass bridges, canopies, railings, car glazing, train glazing.

16. Use of a lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for control of radiation, for optical control and/or acoustical control.

17. Use of the lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 ininsulating glass units, windows, rotating windows, turn windows, tilt windows, top-hung windows, swinging windows, box windows, horizontal sliding windows, vertical sliding windows, quarterlights, store windows, skylights, light domes, doors, horizontal sliding doors in double-skin facades, closed cavity facades, all-glass constructions, D3-facades, facade glass construction elements, interactive facades, curved glazing, formed glazing, 3D three-dimensional glazing, wood-glass combinations, over head glazing, roof glazing, bus stops, shower wall, indoor walls, indoor separating elements in open space offices and rooms, outdoor walls, stair treads, glass bridges, canopies, railings, aquaria, balconies, privacy glass and figured glass.

18. Use of a lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for thermal insulation, sound insulation, shading and/or sight protection.

19. Use of the lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in advertising panels, showcases, display facades, interactive facades, interactive bus stops, interactive train stations, interactive meeting points, interactive surfaces, motion sensors, light surfaces and background lighting, signage, pass protection.

20. Use of the inventive lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in transportation units, preferably in boats, in vessels, in spacecrafts, in aircrafts, in trains, in automotive, in trucks, in cars, more preferably in windows, separating walls, light surfaces, background lighting, signage, pass protection, as sunroof, in the trunk lid, in the tailgate, for brake lights, for blinker, for position lights in said transportation units.

21. Use of a lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12 in heat-mirror glazing, vacuum glazing and laminated safety glass.

22. Facades, skylights, glass roofs, stair treads, glass bridges, canopies, railings, car windows, train windows, furniture, planes, ships, advertising panels, show cases, motion sensors, bus stops, light domes, shower screens, interior walls, aquaria, balconies, windows, doors and laminated safety glass comprising the lighting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0356] The % values given in the examples are weight-% if nothing different is mentioned.

Example 1

[0357] A lighting unit comprising the following elements:

[0358] A laminated safety glass comprised of: [0359] A first sheet of float glass (2 mm thick, 30 cm30 cm) [0360] A functional interlayer comprised of [0361] A first PVB sheet (0.05 mm thick, 20 cm30 cm) partially printed with luminous particles [0362] A second PVB sheet (0.76 mm), [0363] A second sheet of float glass (2 mm thick, 30 cm30 cm)

[0364] A single blue LED as light source with a peak emission wavelength of 450 nm attached to the face side of the laminated safety glass.

[0365] The luminous particles on the first PVB sheet comprise 2% organic luminophore OL1 (see below) and 98% PMMA (MW 12.000) and are evenly distributed in a regular pattern on the surface of a first PVB sheet.

##STR00002##

[0366] Organic luminophore OL1 used in example 1

[0367] In the FIGS. A, B and C (see FIG. 5) the following is shown:

[0368] FIG. A: Laminated glass sheet with functionalized film after lamination in ambient light mode: printed structures not visible; overall transparency is >80%, determined as light transmission TL (380-780 nm) based on EN 410.

[0369] FIG. B: Laminated glass sheet with functionalized film and blue LED attached to edge and LED is switched on.

[0370] FIG. C: Laminated glass sheet with functionalized film and strip of 5 blue LEDs attached to edge and LEDs are switched on.

[0371] Preparation of the lighting unit according to example [0372] i) A print formulation is prepared as follows:

[0373] 20 ml benzyl alcohol is mixed with 1 g of PMMA (MW 12.000) and 20 mg of organic luminophore OL1. This mixture is placed onto a stirring plate and stirred for approximately 14 hours at room temperature. The resulting ink is filtered and used subsequently for ink-jet printing. [0374] ii) The print formulation comprising the organic luminophore is printed onto the first PVB sheet as follows:

[0375] Test patterns are printed in 4 separated segments of the PVB foil. A cartridge inkjet printhead from Dimatix Fujifilm is used. The firing frequency is 10 kHz. Each segment has a different thickness of the luminous particles, which is achieved by repeated printing of individual segments (1 time, for upper left segment, 2 times for upper right segment, 4 times for lower left segment, 8 times for lower right corner). After printing, the PVB sheet is dried at ambient temperature by slowly evaporating the solvent. Coverage of the PVB foil with luminous particles is confirmed by UV lamp exposure. [0376] iii) Preparation of laminated glass:

[0377] A first PVB sheet (0.05 mm thick, 20 cm30 cm) partially printed with luminous particles is placed in a centered position onto a first glass sheet (2 mm thick, 30 cm30 cm). A second PVB sheet (0.76 mm thick, >30 cm30 cm) is then placed onto the first PVB sheet. A second glass sheet is then placed onto the second PVB sheet, coinciding with the first glass sheet. The fraction of the second PVB sheet protruding over the edge of the glass sheets is removed by cutting with a knife.

[0378] The stack of first glass sheet, first and second PVB sheet and second glass sheet was then prelaminated under vacuum (p=200 mBar) and elevated temperature (T=90 C.) for 30 min.

[0379] The final lamination was performed in an autoclave under elevated pressure (p=12 bar) and elevated temperature (T=140 C.) for 90 min.

[0380] FIG. A shows the laminated glass as described above without LED attached to it in ambient light condition. The transparency is >80%, determined as light transmission TL (380-780 nm) based on EN 410. [0381] iv) Functional test with blue LED:

[0382] A blue LED light source (.sub.peak: 450 nm) was partially shielded so that only a strip of 4 mm width was illuminated and the glass laminate was placed onto the LED with the edge oriented towards the main beam direction. Figure X3 shows the laminated safety glass as described above with LED attached to it in dark environment. When the blue LED is switched on, greenish yellow lightas characteristic of organic luminophore OL1is emitted by the laminated glass sheet perpendicular to its surface.

Example 2

[0383] The lighting unit is identical with the lighting unit of example 1 with the only difference that instead of one single blue LED as light source a strip of 5 blue LEDs (.sub.peak: 450 nm) is attached to (.sub.peak: the side the glass laminate with the glass edge oriented towards the main beam direction.

[0384] i) Functional test with strip of blue LEDs:

[0385] FIG. C shows the laminated glass as described above with strip of 5 LEDs attached to it in dark environment and the LEDs being switched on. Greenish yellow lightas characteristic of organic luminophore OL1is emitted by the laminated glass sheet perpendicular to its surface.

Example 3

[0386] A lighting unit comprising the following elements:

[0387] A laminated safety glass comprised of: [0388] A first sheet of float glass (4 mm thick, 50 cm50 cm) [0389] A functional interlayer comprised of [0390] A first ionoplast interlayer sheet (0.89 mm thick, 50 cm50 cm) partially covered with luminous particles [0391] A second sheet of float glass (4 mm thick, 50 cm50 cm)

[0392] As light source, 5 blue LEDs with peak emission wavelength at 450 nm are evenly distributed on an aluminum profile with a length of 50 cm and attached to the face side of the laminated safety glass so that the blue light from the LED is directed into the glass laminate.

[0393] The luminous particles on the first ionoplast interlayer sheet comprise 50% cerium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Y.sub.3Al.sub.5O.sub.12: Ce.sup.3+) and 50% Ethylcellulose, and are evenly distributed in a regular pattern on the surface of a first ionoplast interlayer sheet, with a surface area coverage of 20%.

[0394] Preparation of the Lighting Unit According to Example 3 [0395] i) A print formulation was prepared as follows: 80 g of butylcarbitol is mixed with 10 g of Ehylcellulose and 10 g of Ce.sup.3+:YAG (e.g. Tailorlux TL0036). This mixture is dispersed for 4 hrs. [0396] ii) The print formulation comprising the organic luminophore is printed onto the first ionoplast interlayer sheet as follows:

[0397] An homogeneous test pattern comprising single luminous particles with 1 mm diameter and an average area coverage of 10% is screen-printed on the ionoplast interlayer sheet using a polyester printing screen. After printing, the ionoplast interlayer sheet is dried for 8 min in a tunnel furnace at maximum temperature of 50 C. by evaporating the solvent. Coverage of the ionoplast interlayer sheet with luminous particles is confirmed by UV lamp exposure.

[0398] iii) Preparation of laminated glass:

[0399] The first ionoplast interlayer sheet (0.89 mm thick, 50 cm50 cm) covered with printed luminous particle pattern is placed in a centered position onto a first glass sheet (4 mm thick, 50 cm50 cm). A second glass sheet is then placed onto the ionoplast interlayer sheet, coinciding with the first glass sheet and the ionoplast interlayer sheet.

[0400] The stack of first glass sheet, first ionoplast interlayer sheet and second glass sheet is then placed in a vacuum bag (p=200 mBar) and the vacuum bag is then placed in an autoclave under elevated pressure (p=12 bar) and elevated temperature (T=140 C.) for 90 min.

[0401] The transparency, determined as light transmission TL (380-780 nm) based on EN 410, of the resulting laminated glass is larger than 80% over the whole area.

[0402] iv) Functional test with blue LED:

[0403] A strip light source of 5 blue LEDs (.sub.peak: 450 nm) is attached to the side the laminated glass sheet with the sheet's edge oriented towards the main beam direction. Figure D shows the laminated safety glass as described above with the strip of 5 LEDs attached to it in dark environment and the LEDs being switched on. White light is emitted by the laminated glass sheet perpendicular to its surface (blue light observed in image is light reflected by the wall behind the laminated glass sheet). Luminous particle pattern can be observed.

[0404] In FIG. D (see FIG. 5) the following is shown:

[0405] FIG. D: Laminated glass sheet with functionalized film and strip of 5 blue LEDs attached to edge and switched on.