Wall or ceiling covering with lighting system layer

Abstract

The invention provides a wall or ceiling covering arrangement (10) comprising a covering material (100) and a lighting system (200) arranged to generate light (210). The covering material (100) has a user side (101) and an opposite back side (102). The lighting system (200) is arranged at the back side (102) of the covering material (100) and the covering material (100) has a light transmission for light (210) generated by the lighting system (200) in the range of 0.5% to 30%, especially in the range of 1% to 20%. The covering material comprises wallpapers.

Claims

1. A wall or ceiling covering arrangement comprising: a covering material having a user side and an opposite back side; a support layer comprising a printed circuit board; and a lighting system layer arranged on the printed circuit board to generate light, the lighting system layer located between the covering material and the support layer, wherein the lighting system layer comprises a plurality of spaced lighting units, wherein the covering material has a light transmission for the light generated by the lighting system layer in the range of 0.5% to 30%, wherein the covering material comprises wallpapers attached to the lighting system through a transparent adhesive layer, and wherein the covering material is a light transmission medium for the light and wherein the lighting system layer is primarily and substantially covered by the covering material.

2. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the covering material comprises a plaster comprising stone granules and a binder.

3. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary layer, arranged between at least part of the lighting system and at least part of the covering material, wherein the auxiliary layer comprises one or more of a levelling layer, a scratch resistance layer, and a liquid-tight layer.

4. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wall or ceiling covering arrangement further comprises a controller arranged to control the lighting system.

5. A lighting system for use in the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board has one or more recesses arranged to host one or more light sources.

6. Alighting system for use in the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a top side for facing the covering material and a back side for facing the wall or ceiling, the top side having adhesion promoting properties.

7. Alighting system for use in the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a wedge-shaped edge having a first face for being adjacent to the wall or ceiling, and a second face for being adjacent to the covering material, the first face and the second face enclosing an angle .phi. that is smaller than 6 degrees.

8. A lighting system for use in the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, comprising one or more light sources provided on the printed circuit board, the lighting system having a top side for facing the covering material, and a back side for facing the wall or ceiling, wherein at the top side the lighting system comprises one or more auxiliary layers chosen from the group consisting of levelling layers and protective layers.

9. The lighting system according to claim 8, wherein the one or more auxiliary layers comprise a liquid-tight protective layer, and wherein the lighting system further comprises a liquid-transporting layer at the side of the liquid-tight protective layer facing away from the printed circuit board.

10. Use of a wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1 for way guiding.

11. A way-guiding system comprising the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1.

12. The way-guiding system according to claim 11, being an emergency exit finding system.

13. A method for providing a wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1 to a wall or a ceiling comprising: arranging a lighting system to the wall or ceiling; and applying covering material over the lighting system.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: providing one or more recesses to the wall or ceiling; and arranging the lighting system in the one or more recesses.

15. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the wallpapers comprise at least one of a vinyl wallpaper and a glass fiber wallpaper.

16. A wall or ceiling covering arrangement comprising: a covering material having a user side and an opposite back side; a lighting system arranged on the back side of the covering material, and to generate light; wherein the covering material has a light transmission for the light generated by the lighting system in the range of 0.5% to 30%; and wherein the covering material comprises wallpapers attached to the lighting system through a transparent adhesive layer, and wherein the covering material is a light transmission medium for the light and wherein the lighting system is primarily and substantially covered by the covering material.

17. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the wallpapers comprise at least one of a vinyl wallpaper and a glass fiber wallpaper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts embodiments of the wall and ceiling covering arrangements according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a to 2g schematically depict embodiments and variants thereof of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3b schematically depict embodiments and variants thereof of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention;

(5) FIGS. 4a to 4b schematically depict an example of a wall (or ceiling) covering arrangement with plaster and LEDs; and

(6) FIG. 5 schematically depicts an embodiment and variants thereof of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically depicts a further embodiment of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 schematically depicts an embodiment of a wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 comprises a covering material 100, and a lighting system 200 arranged to generate light 210.

(9) Herein, the species wall covering arrangement is also indicated by reference numeral 115, while the species ceiling covering arrangement is indicated with reference numeral 116.

(10) By way of example, the room 1 has a wall 50, a ceiling 60, and a floor 80. The wall 50 is provided with the wall covering arrangement 115, that is applied to substantially the entire surface 51 of the wall 50 on the left side of FIG. 1. Further, by way of example, the ceiling 60 is provided with the ceiling covering arrangement 116 that is applied to substantially the entire surface 61 of the ceiling 60.

(11) The covering material 100, that may for instance be wallpaper or plaster, has a user side 101 and an opposite back side 102. The lighting system 200 has a top side 201 and a bottom side 202. The lighting system 200 is arranged at the back side 102 of the covering material 100. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the top side 201 of the lighting system 200 and the back side 102 of the wall or ceiling covering 100 are facing each other. The back side 102 may also be indicated as illumination side. The lighting system 200 in this embodiment comprises a plurality of light sources 205, such as LEDs. The lighting system 200 is arranged to generate light 210 (when switched on). In this embodiment, the lighting system 200 comprises one lighting unit 250 (i.e. the lighting unit is the lighting system); in general the lighting system 200 may comprise a plurality of lighting units 250 (see below). The lighting system 200 may be powered by an external power source (indicated with V).

(12) The covering material 100 has a light transmission for light 210 generated by the lighting system 200 in the range of 0.5% to 30%, especially in the range of 1% to 20%. In this way, an observer/user perceiving the user side 101 of the covering material 100 will essentially not see the lighting system 200 or other items behind the back side 102 of the covering material 100. The observer will observe the covering material 100 as normal covering material 100. However, when the lighting system 200 provides light 210, this light 210 is observed by the observer. The source of light is hidden; the light itself is perceived.

(13) The invention is also directed to the covering material 100 per se, which covering material 100 (thus) has user side 101 and opposite back side 102, and has a light transmission for light 210 in the range of 0.5% to 30%, especially in the range of 1% to 20%.

(14) The covering material 100 may for instance be selected from the group consisting of plaster, paint, a ceramic tile, paper, wood, plastic, textile, and vinyl, especially one or more of stone plaster, stucco plaster, synthetic resin plaster, rustic plaster, limestone plaster, and venetian plaster, and wallpapers, especially one or more of vinyl wallpaper and glass fiber wallpaper.

(15) The lighting system 200 in general comprises a substrate or support, indicated with reference 203, which substrate or support 203 comprises the light source(s) 210. For instance, support 203 may be a printed circuit board (PCB). To such a PCB, LEDs may be provided.

(16) FIGS. 2a to 2c schematically depict non-limiting means/embodiments with an auxiliary layer, for instance to smooth or level the lighting system 200. These embodiments show an auxiliary layer 500, arranged between at least part of the lighting system 200 and covering material 100. In FIG. 2a, the auxiliary layer 500 is substantially only present between the light sources 205 and not over the light sources 205. FIG. 2a schematically depicts a cross-section. To illustrate the terms downstream and upstream in relation to FIG. 2a: user side 101 is downstream of back side 102; back side 102 is upstream of user side 101. FIG. 2b schematically depicts a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a, however without covering material 100. It can be clearly seen that the auxiliary layer 500 has openings, indicated with reference 503, for the light sources 205. Hence, the lighting system 200 may provide light 210, without substantial absorption of the auxiliary layer 500, since the auxiliary layer 500 has openings 503 to allow light 210 travel in the direction of the covering material 100. The auxiliary layer 500 may for example be made of a PCB layer with apertures (see also below). Therefore, the levelling layer may in an embodiment be made of PCB material.

(17) FIG. 2c schematically depicts an embodiment wherein the auxiliary layer 500 is also arranged over the light sources 205. The auxiliary layer may be chosen to be transmissive for light 210 of the lighting system 200.

(18) The auxiliary layer 500 may be part of the lighting system 200, i.e. it may be a layer attached to the lighting system 200. For instance, it may be a laminate of support 203 (such as a PCB) and auxiliary layer 500.

(19) The auxiliary layer may for instance have one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of adhesion, levelling, waterproof, water repellent, scratch resistance, etc.

(20) FIG. 2d is used to illustrate some parameters of the lighting system 200. The total height of the lighting system is indicated with h2; the height of the support 203 is indicated with h1 and the height of the light source(s) 210, if protruding from the top side 201 of the lighting system 200 (or support 203), is indicated with h3; i.e. h2=h3+h1. The total height h2 may for instance be in the range of about 1 mm.

(21) FIG. 2e schematically depicts an embodiment wherein the wall or ceiling, here by way of example wall 50 comprises one or more recesses, indicated with reference 70, wherein at least part of the lighting system 200, such as one or more units and/or electric cables, may be arranged. In this way, part or the entire lighting system 200 may be partly or completely recessed. Thereby, a substantially flat wall surface 51 (or ceiling surface 61, respectively) may be provided. In the example depicted, a lighting unit 250 with two light sources 205 are completely recessed in one of the recesses 70.

(22) Whereas FIG. 2e may schematically depict a cross-section of a wall (or ceiling), FIG. 2f schematically depicts a front view. By way of example, also electric cables or connections 251 are shown, which are in this example also recessed in recesses 70. Hence, FIG. 2e schematically depicts an embodiment wherein substantially the entire lighting system 200 (here comprising by way of example 4 lighting units 250 (and cables 251, etc.) is at least partly recessed in recesses 70. In this way, covering material may be provided to a substantially flat surface of the wall or ceiling.

(23) FIG. 2g depicts a specific variant of the lighting system 200 schematically depicted in FIG. 2a. The lighting system 200 comprises a substrate 203, which is especially a PCB. Light sources 203 and/or other (electronic) components of the lighting system 200 are embedded in levelling layer (indicated as auxiliary layer 500), in recesses 204 (these recesses 204 may also be indicated as openings 503). In this way, a flat lighting system 200 may be provided. The levelling layer may also be PCB material, laminated to the PCB substrate. Hence, in this way a PCB with one or more recesses 204 may be obtained, especially for hosting one or more light sources 205. The one or more recesses 204 may be arranged to host one or more light sources 205 and/or one or more other electrical components, such as electrical connections, power source(s), controller(s), etc. The lighting unit 250 schematically depicted in FIG. 2f may be considered a laminate.

(24) FIG. 3a schematically depicts an embodiment wherein the covering material 100 comprises a plurality of independent units 150, such as wallpaper sheets. FIG. 3b schematically depicts an embodiment wherein the lighting system 200 comprises a plurality of lighting units 250. FIG. 3b by way of example also shows (optional) electric connections 251 between (adjacent) lighting units 250. Note that the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 100 may also comprise a plurality of independent units 150 and plurality of lighting units 250. In an embodiment, the number of independent units 150 may be larger than the number of lighting units 250. In such embodiment, when lighting units 250 may not be adjacent, (also) a auxiliary layer may be arranged between the lighting units 250. A unit may for instance have dimensions like 1 cm to 50 cm length and width, and 0.1 mm to 1 mm height.

(25) FIGS. 4a-4b shows an example of a plaster wall with LEDs behind the plaster. FIG. 4a shows light escaping from the wall, here by way of example also carrying information (way finding for instance). FIG. 4b shows the lighting system (or unit) in the off state: the wall is perceived as normal wall and the lighting system is not visible.

(26) This embodiment shows that a user/observer observes the wall (or ceiling) as normal wall (or ceiling) when light is switched off, whereas when light is switched on, the observer/user is able to light emanating from the wall (or ceiling)/FIG. 5 schematically depicts an embodiment of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 (here by way of example again both wall covering arrangement 115 and ceiling covering arrangement 116) further comprising a controller 300 arranged to control the lighting system 200, more precisely the light 210 that may be generated by the lighting system 200. The controller 300 may be arranged external from the lighting system, but may also be integrated in the lighting system 200. The controller 300 controls the one or more light sources 205. Optionally, the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 may further comprise a sensor 400. The controller 300 may then be arranged to control the light 210 of the lighting system 200 in response to a sensor signal of the sensor 400. The term sensor may also relate to a plurality of sensors. Such plurality of sensors may for instance be arranged to sense the same parameter (like touch of a user) at different locations, or to sense different parameters (like touch of a user and smoke, respectively).

(27) The wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 may be used to show decorative patterns, but may also be used to provide information, such as by providing a light pattern containing information like arrows, commercial information, etc. (see also above).

(28) A person in room 1 (i.e. on the user side 101) of the covering material, is preferably not able to see the lighting system 200 (when in an off state). This may especially be achieved through the relatively low transmission of not more than about 15%, preferably not more than about 10%, such as 5% or lower.

(29) In a further embodiment the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 is used to make an emergency escape route lighting system that may be activated in case of an emergency. The embodiment comprises the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 located on the wall or ceiling, respectively. The wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 may comprise a plurality of light sources 205, which may optionally be connected with each other. The light transmissive covering material 100 is used to cover the lighting system 200. The lighting system 200 may for example be arranged to generate light 210 in the shape of light spots, but may also be in the shape of arrows, to point into the right direction for escape. This arrow may also be made variable, such that the direction of the arrow may be changed depending on the location of the emergency. For example, the arrow may point away from a fire hazard. Instead of an arrow, also blinking lights may be used to point into a direction. In this way, also information may be provided, like arrows indicating in a specific direction, commercial information. One or more of colour, pattern shape, on/off state, output intensity, and information content of the light 210 may be variable and may be controlled by the controller.

(30) Further, one or more of colour, pattern shape and information content of the light 210 may be dependent on a sensor signal of a sensor (such as a touch or approach sensor or fire sensor or smoke sensor or thermal sensor, etc.) (not depicted), wherein the sensor is arranged to sense an object on or in the vicinity of the wall or ceiling covering arrangement 10 or is arranged to sense a feature selected from the group consisting of smoke and heat, and wherein the controller 300 is arranged to control one or more of colour, on/off state, intensity, pattern shape and information content of the light 210 in dependence of the sensor signal.

(31) Optionally, the controller 300 may also control other apparatus, indicated with reference 600, such as other lighting sources. The light 210 may for instance be controlled in response to a sensor signal of one or more sensors 400. One or more of such sensors 400 may for instance be arranged to measure the light level (in a space or room), which light level may for instance at least partly receive a contribution of other light sources, including day light.

(32) Further preferred embodiments are shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In these embodiments, the lighting system 900 is provided on the wall 940 (but it may also be provided on a ceiling), and it is covered by the covering material 930. The lighting system 900 comprises light sources 920, and it has a wedge-shaped edge 910 (see FIG. 6A). The lighting system 900 has reduced visibility through the covering material 930 by having an edge 910 that gradually thins or narrows towards the surface of the wall 940 on which it is mounted. The wedge-shaped edge 910 may be characterized by the angle that is enclosed between the face of the wedge-shaped edge 910 that is adjacent to the wall 940 and the face that is adjacent to the covering material 930. Preferably, this angle is smaller than 6 degrees, more preferably smaller than 1.5 degrees, such as for example 1.1 degrees. This means that if the lighting system 900 has a thickness T of 1 mm, the wedge-shaped edge 910 of the lighting system 900 preferably has a length L of more than 1 cm, more preferably more than 4 cm, such as for example 5 cm. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wedge-shaped edge may be created from a stack of paper layers 911, 912, 913 and 914. Any other kind of liquid transporting layers may also be used to provide a similar wedge-shaped edge. In this way, the wedge-shaped edge does not only serve to reduce the visibility of the lighting system through the covering material, but also to improve the drying speed of an adhesive layer that is used to attach the covering material, particularly of a water-based adhesive layer, such as wallpaper paste.

(33) The wall or ceiling arrangement according to the invention may further comprise a compartment for housing a backup power battery. This compartment may also contain electronic components for checking the operation of the wall or ceiling arrangement. The compartment may be connected to an electrical conduit (such as a PVC pipe) through which power supply and control wires can reach the lighting system. Preferably, the compartment is open at the surface of the wall or ceiling, and the lighting system is mounted over the compartment to close it off after an electrical connection is made between the lighting system and any electrical wires in the compartment. Preferably, the electrical conduit leads to a location in the wall or ceiling where a power supply may be placed, either directly or via one or more intermediate compartments.

(34) For easy removal and replacement of the lighting system, the wall or ceiling arrangement according to the invention may comprise a cover material that is cut along the rim of the lighting system. In this way, the lighting system may be removed without the need to remove the cover material. This may, for example, be facilitated using a press and release system to place and remove the lighting system.

(35) The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention may be used for guiding people to certain locations in a building. For example, it may be used as an emergency exit sign, as defined in standards such as NEN 6088. The aesthetics of an emergency exit sign based on the wall or ceiling arrangement according to the invention are strongly improved with respect to the known emergency exit signs, because no housing will be visible (however, the light may remain visible at all time, because emergency exit signs are normally always lit).

(36) The wall or ceiling covering arrangement according to the invention may also be an interactive system for guiding people to certain locations in a building. For example, a person may receive a badge with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip that corresponds with a certain location in a building. That person can then touch a wall with the badge, after which arrows in the wall will show in which direction the person should walk. After a certain time period (for example 20 seconds), this way-guiding information disappears again. In this example, an RFID reader may be located inside a compartment within a wall that is provided with a wall covering arrangement according to the invention. During standby operation one light source of the lighting system might be switched on at the location above the compartment that holds the RFID reader. When the user's badge is swiped over the location of this one light source, the RFID reader located in the nearby compartment will detect the RFID chip in the badge. The lighting system, and preferably also other nearby lighting systems, will then show the way in which the person should walk. After a certain time, this information disappears and the light source indicating the location of the RFID reader is switched on again. There are several ways how the covering arrangement can know the direction in which the person should walk. In one example, there is a data connection between the RFID reader and a central data system. Using this data connection the RFID reader can request way-finding information based on the RFID chip that was detected. The advantage of this approach is that it is easy to change routes through a building, for example when one corridor is temporarily unavailable. In another example the RFID reader contains a memory chip on which way-finding information is stored for every possible RFID chip that may be detected. The advantage of this approach is that no data connection with a central data system is needed. In order to also turn on nearby lighting systems there should be a data connection between lighting systems. This may be achieved through the central data system, or it may be achieved locally, using locally interconnected lighting systems. Next to using an RFID reader to detect a badge, other suitable identification methods may be also be used.

(37) The term substantially herein, such as in substantially flat or in substantially consists, etc., will be understood by the person skilled in the art. In embodiments the adjective substantially may be removed. Where applicable, the term substantially may also include embodiments with entirely, completely, all, etc. Where applicable, the term substantially may also relate to 90% or higher, such as 95% or higher, especially 99% or higher, even more especially 99.5% or higher, including 100%. The term comprise includes also embodiments wherein the term comprises means consists of. Likewise, the term about may, where applicable, indicate a deviation of 10% or less, or 5% or less, or 1% or less, or 0.5% or less, or even 0.1% or less, and also in an embodiment no (measureable) deviation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, small deviations from numerical values may, where applicable, in general be allowed. Hence, except for the values in the definition of about above, numerical values may, where applicable deviate a 10% or less, or 5% or less, or 1% or less, or 0.5% or less, or even 0.1% or less from the given value. To stress this, herein sometimes the word about is used before numerical values.

(38) Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

(39) The devices herein are amongst others described during operation. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to methods of operation or devices in operation.

(40) It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb to comprise and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article a or an preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. 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.