Perforated acoustic panel, method of producing, and use of the same

Abstract

A perforated acoustic panel for mounting to a wall and/or a ceiling, including a visible front side and a rear side hidden by the panel when mounted is discussed. It is an objective of the disclosure to provide illuminating walls or ceilings. The objective is solved by a flexible printed circuit layer, FPC, attached to the rear side of the panel, the FPC comprising a plurality of LEDs, wherein each LED is arranged to be positioned to emit light through a perforation of the panel.

Claims

1. A perforated acoustic panel for mounting to a wall and/or a ceiling, the panel comprising: a visible front side and a rear side opposite the front side, the rear side being hidden when the panel is mounted; and a flexible printed circuit layer, FPC, attached to the rear side of the panel, the FPC comprising a plurality of LEDs, each LED arranged to be positioned to emit light through a perforation of the panel, wherein the FPC is attached to the perforated acoustic panel with an attachment comprising an attachment free margin around an entire outer periphery of each of the perforations which allow the FPC to vibrate with a sound wave that reaches the FPC.

2. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the FPC is a paper FPC or a film FPC.

3. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a panel core; and wherein walls of the perforations reflect light emitted from the LEDs through the perforation.

4. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 3, wherein the LEDs are arranged such that light is emitted through some perforations of the panel.

5. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 3, wherein the panel core is a gypsum core.

6. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are arranged such that light is emitted through each perforation of the panel.

7. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the attachment free margin is between 3 mm to 5 mm.

8. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the FPC is a paper FPC of less than 1.5 mm thickness.

9. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs is emitting light perceived as white.

10. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 9, wherein the LEDs are broad-spectrum LEDs.

11. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 10, wherein the light perceived as white is emitted by a combination of primary colored, narrowband LEDs; and wherein light intensity and light color preferably is adjustable by adjusting the intensity of the LEDs of each primary color independently.

12. A method of producing a perforated acoustic panel, according to claim 1, comprising the steps: arranging an FPC on a rear side of a perforated acoustic panel such that each of a plurality of LEDs arranged on the FPC is located over a perforation of the panel; and attaching the FPC to the panel.

13. A use of a perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1 to illuminate a room.

14. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the perforations are circular.

15. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the attachment free margin around each of the perforations is circular.

16. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein a substrate of the FPC has a thickness of about 0.1 mm thick, and the LEDs have a thickness of about 0.8 mm.

17. The perforated acoustic panel according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a panel core which has a white color.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the figures, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 outlines a cross section of an illuminating acoustic panel;

(3) FIG. 2 outlines an illuminating acoustic panel;

(4) FIG. 3 outlines an illuminating acoustic panel with attachment margins;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of an illuminating acoustic panel 100. The panel comprises a front side 110 of the panel, a rear side 120 of the panel, a flexible printed circuit layer (FPC; 130) including one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs; 140). The panel also comprises perforations 150 and a panel core 160, preferably a gypsum core. The acoustic panel according to this example is an acoustic plasterboard. The walls of the perforations 150 act as a light reflectors directing light through the perforations. This results in narrowed light beams compared to panels on which the LEDs are located on the front side of the panel. If the panel core 160 is a gypsum core the walls of the perforations have inherently a whitish colour and work as light reflectors without further treatment. In case the panel core 160 consists of another material, e.g. wood or else, it might be advisable to coat the perforation walls with a light reflecting material.

(6) The FPC preferably is a paper FPC or a film FPC when used on acoustic plasterboards. When the FPC is a paper FPC, the paper is preferably less than 1.5 mm thick, and more preferably less than 1.2 mm thick. According to this example the paper substrate of the FPC is about 0.1 mm thick, and the mounted LEDs have a height of about 0.8 mm. Paper substrate and LEDs together have a thickness of about 0.9 mm. Since the acoustic panel is a plasterboard the use of a paper FPC is especially beneficial because plasterboards usually have paper liners and the attachment is thus facilitated. However, if the panel or its casing is made of other materials it can be more favourable to use film PFCs.

(7) The panel 100 may be configured for mounting onto a wall and/or a ceiling (not shown). Sound absorbing material, such as mineral wool (not shown) may be arranged behind the panel (on the rear side 120 of the panel), when mounted. As shown, the FPC 130 is attached to the rear side of the panel, and LEDs 140 of the FPC 130 are arranged such that their emitted light is directed through the perforations 150 of the panel 100.

(8) FIG. 2 outlines an illuminating acoustic panel from the front side 110. The FPC is attached to the rear side 120 and is provided and arranged in such a way that the LEDs 140 are arranged within perforations 150. Depending on the desired effect of the illuminating acoustic panel, LEDs may be located at only some, clustered, in every second, or in each perforation 150 of the panel.

(9) FIG. 3 outlines an illuminating acoustic panel 100 from the rear side 120. The FPC is provided and positioned such that the LEDs 140 are arranged within the perforations 150. The FPC is attached to the panel at certain locations 310. Preferably, the panel comprises attachment free zones or margins 320 keeping a distance to the perforations, in order to allow for the FPC to vibrate and thus to prevent the reflection of sound waves. The attachment free margin 320 preferably comprises an area of 3 mm to 5 mm from the edges of each perforation 150, in order to facilitate sound wave to propagate through the FPC.

(10) The LEDs are preferably emitting light perceived as white, such as by using broad-spectrum white LEDs. The LEDs may also have different colours that can individually be adjusted in intensity, in order to have an adaptable illumination with respect to intensity and to perceived colour or along the panel, resulting in a colour pattern, shape or image.

(11) The illuminated acoustic panel can be used in wall or ceiling installations or as an acoustic sail/sound absorber with added illumination.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(12) 100 perforated acoustic panel 110 front side (of the panel) 120 rear side (of the panel) 130 flexible printed circuit layer (FPC) 140 Light Emitting Diode (LED) 150 perforation of the panel 160 panel core 310 FPC attachment 320 attachment free margin