Abstract:
An illuminate panel is disclosed. The illuminated panel includes two flat transparent plates disposed parallel and close to each other and plurality of spacers disposed between the flat panels. The spacers are at least partially transparent and disposed comprised in planes that are parallel to each other. The illuminated panel also includes a plurality of illumination units disposed along a line at one end of the illuminated panel and parallel to the planes of the spacers. The illumination units are disposed so that their illumination is directed towards the space between the flat panels.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/001,654, filed May 22, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An illuminated panel is disclosed comprising at least two flat plates disposed parallel to each other and spaced from each other, wherein the at least two plates are transparent, and the plates are disposed in parallel planes defined by a first and a second Cartesian axes. A plurality of spacers formed by flat transparent material are disposed between each two adjacent plates of the at least two flat plates, with each spacer being disposed along a line that is parallel to the first Cartesian axis and a third Cartesian axis, wherein the meeting of each of the spacers with each of the plates forms a first type junction line, and the crossing of each spacer with another spacer forms a second type junction line. A plurality of illumination units disposed along a line located adjacent and parallel to one edge of said plates is aligned with said first Cartesian axis, and at least part of the illumination of said illumination units is directed in a plane substantially parallel to said plates and located between each adjacent pair of said plates. 
         [0003]    According to some embodiments, the grade of transparency of the plates and the grade of transparency of the spacers is between 10% and 90%. 
         [0004]    According to some embodiments, the spacers are formed as straight flat material disposed parallel to each other and perpendicular to said plates. 
         [0005]    According to further embodiments, the spacers are evenly spaced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]    FIGS.  1 A and  1 AA present a transparent illuminated panel from a side view and from a front view, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0008]    FIGS.  1 B and  1 BA present a transparent illuminated panel from a side view and from a front view, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  which are a side view and a front view of an illuminated panel, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2C and 2D  which are partial side views of an illuminated panel, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2E  schematically represents the perception of illuminated dots as experienced by a viewer, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B , which schematically present illuminated panel  3000  in side view and front view, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3D  which schematically presents a graphic illustration of the way refracted illumination dots of an illuminated panel are perceived by a viewer, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3C  which is a close-up partial side view of the geometry of spacing ribs, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A and 4B , which schematically present an illuminated panel in a side view and a front view, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  schematically presents a graphic illustration of the way refracted illumination dots of an illuminated panel are perceived by a viewer according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5A  schematically present a structure element with an illuminated panel in an isometric view and in a side view, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an isometric schematic illustration of a structure comprising an illuminated structure element, according to some embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a control system configured to power illumination sources of an illuminated panel, according to some embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0022]    Reference is made to FIGS.  1 A and  1 AA, presenting transparent illuminated panel  100  from a side view and from a front view, respectively. Panel  100  comprise transparent plate  102  and plurality of light sources  110  disposed substantially along line parallel to the end of plate  102  aligned with Cartesian axis X. Plate  102  is disposed in the X-Z plane of a Cartesian reference system. The line of light sources  110  is disposed coplanar with plate  102  and parallel to the edge of plate  102  close to it and aligned with the X axis. At least portion  110 A of the illumination of light sources  110  is directed towards plate  102  and in the plane of plate  102 . The effect of the illumination of light sources  110  as viewed by a person in the LOS direction is minimal The LOS is directed substantially perpendicular to plate  102 , parallel to axis Y of the Cartesian system. Transparent plate  102  may seem a bit brighter, and the brightness may very gradually decline at areas of plate  102  that are further from the edge of plate  102  that is adjacent to the line of light sources  110 . 
         [0023]    Reference is made now to FIGS.  1 B and  1 BA, presenting transparent illuminated panel  1000  from a side view and a front view, respectively. Panel  1000  comprises back transparent plate  1002 A and front transparent plate  1002 B disposed between plate  1002 A and a viewer, and plurality of light sources  1110  disposed substantially along line parallel to the end of plates  1002 A,  1002 B, disposed substantially between them adjacent to one edge of plates  1002 A,  1002 B and aligned with Cartesian axis X. 
         [0024]    At least portion  1110 A of the illumination of light sources  1110  is directed towards plates  1002 A,  1002 B and into the plane between the plates. The effect of the illumination of light sources  1110  as viewed by a person in the LOS direction is minimal The LOS is directed substantially perpendicular to plate  1002 A,  1002 B, parallel to axis Y of the Cartesian system. Transparent plates  1002 A,  1002 B may seem a bit brighter, and the brightness may very gradually decline at areas of plates  1002 A,  1002 B that are further from the edges of the plates that are adjacent to the line of light sources  1110 . However, most of the illumination portion  1110 A of illumination source  1110  hits the internal faces of plates  1002 A and  1002 B at an angle smaller than the critical reflective angle and, therefore, is reflected back and does not penetrate through the plates to the outside of illuminated panel  1000 . 
         [0025]    Reference is made now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , which are a side view and a front view, respectively, of illuminated panel  2000 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. As is used here, front view is the view seen by the viewer, and side view is perpendicular to the front view. Illuminated panel  2000  comprise dual layer panel  2001  and plurality of light sources  2110  arranged along line that is coplanar with the gap between the plates  2002  and  2004  that are part of illuminated panel  2000 . Plates  2002  and  2004  are disposed parallel to each other and spaced apart by gap d plate . Dual layer panel  2001  further comprises plurality of spacing ribs  2006  disposed between plates  2002  and  2004 . Ribs  2006  may be disposed perpendicular to the inner faces of plates  2002  and  2004  and parallel to each other spaced apart from each other by d space  and disposed parallel to the imaginary line of illumination sources  2110 . Plates  2002  and  2004  and spacing ribs  2006  may be made of thin flat material having at least partial transparency, for example, thin plates of Polycarbonate (PC). The faces of plates  2002  and  2004  and ribs  2006  may be polished and glossy or matte, where the specific selection of the type of finishing of each of the elements may influence the appearance of the illuminated panel, as is described below. It will be noticed, however, that other configuration of ribs may be disposed between parallel plates  2002  and  2004 , for example so that the ribs are parallel to line of illumination sources  2110  but inclined with respect to the inner faces of plates  2002  and  2004 , whether parallel to each other or not, whether crossing each other or not. Spacing ribs may also be disposed not parallel to line of illumination lights  2110 . These diverted configurations may have also influence of the appearance of illuminated panel, as is explained below. 
         [0026]    Reference is made now also to  FIGS. 2C and 2D  which are partial side views of illuminated panel  2000 . The contact points (as seen in side view) or the contact lines (as in 3D world) of rib  2006  with inner face of plate  2002  and  2004  are indicated in  FIG. 2C  by  2005  and  2007 , respectively. Illumination portion  2110 A of illumination source  2110  illuminates the inner gap between plates  2002  and  2004  by a plurality of illumination rays that flow from illumination sources  2110  in a range of angles in between the plates. Due to the position of illumination sources  2110 , somewhat remote from the adjacent edges of plates  2002  and  2004 , relative to the gap d plate  between the plates, most of the illumination rays of portion  2110 A of illumination  2110  hit the inner faces of plates  2002  and  2004  at angles that are smaller than the total reflection (the critical) angle and, therefore, are reflected internally from inner face to inner face, as is presented by ray  2111  and its two consecutive inner reflections  2111   a  and  2111   b.  Indeed, the travel of reflected rays  2111  a and  2111   b  may cross through one or more spacing ribs  2006  and, therefore, may be slightly deviated from their path before the crossing and, in case ribs  2006  are not highly transparent, may gradually lose intensity, but it is not expected that ray such as ray  2111  that was internally reflected will travel through any of plates  2002  or  2004 . 
         [0027]    In order for the benefits and features of illuminated panel  2000  to be understood, the description herein below will focus on those illumination rays that hit the connection locations (points/lines)  2005 ,  2007  of spacing ribs  2006  with the internal faces of plates  2002  and  2004 . Optically, these points/lines form optical irregularity where the angle that illumination ray  2110 (i) meets inner face of plate  2002 ,  2004  or the face of rib  2006  facing illumination sources  2110  change abruptly. As a result, at least some of that rays are refracted in a wide illumination angle around connection location  2005 ,  2007  and at least some of the refracted illumination rays are directed towards the viewer, through plate  2004  in the example of  FIG. 2D . Illuminated panel  2000  may comprise N spacing ribs  2006 , where the spacing rib adjacent to illumination sources  2110  may be denoted  2006   (1) , the following spacing rib may be denoted  2006   (2) , etc. As seen in  FIG. 2D , an illumination ray that hits the connection point of rib  2006 (k) passes through k−1 spacing ribs. Depending on the grade of transparency of spacing ribs  2006 , the decrease in the strength of the k-th ray is directly proportional to k−1 times the decrease of a single spacing rib  2006 . Generally speaking, if the decrease in the illumination strength of an illumination ray when passing through one spacing rib is denoted m, and assuming that all spacing ribs have the same decreasing factor, the cumulative decrease in the illumination strength of an illumination ray hitting connection point  2005 ,  2007  of the k-th spacing rib will be m (k-1) . Accordingly, for a dual plate panel having spacing ribs spaced apart evenly and having equal transparency, the illumination strength of refracted rays will decrease gradually and evenly as the refracting point is positioned farther from the location of illumination sources  2110 . 
         [0028]    As seen in  FIG. 2B , the image of refraction points  2005  is seen by a viewer as dots  2120  aligned along lines corresponding to the connection lines of the respective spacing rib with plate  2004 , where each dot  2120  in the image is the local image of one corresponding illumination source of the plurality illumination sources  2110 . Accordingly, dots  2120 A are aligned along a line positioned closest to illumination sources  2110 , and dots  2120 B are positioned spaced from dots  2120 A and farther from illumination sources  2110 . This pattern repeats for each of the spacing ribs where the illumination strength of the dots of certain line will seem less than the illumination strength of the corresponding to a spacing rib having lower index number, and it will seem stronger than the illumination source of the dots corresponding to a spacing rib having higher index number. 
         [0029]    Reference is made now to  FIG. 2E , which schematically represents the perception of the illuminated dots  2120  as experienced by the viewer. Due to the gradual decrease in the illumination strength of the refracted light as the index number of the corresponding spacing ribs gets higher, the viewer experiences the feeling that the distance of the lines of dots from him grows bigger as the strength of illumination decreases. Accordingly, the images  2130 A of dots  2120 A seem to the viewer to be the closest to the viewer (closest to the right of the page), and images  2130 B of dots  2120 B seem to the viewer to be farther from viewer more than images  2130 A, etc. 
         [0030]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , which schematically present illuminated panel  3000  in side view and front view, respectively, to  FIG. 3D  which schematically presents graphic illustration of the way refracted illumination dots of illuminated panel  3000  are perceived by a viewer, and to  FIG. 3C  which is a close-up partial side view of the geometry of spacing ribs  3006 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. Illuminated panel  3000  differs from illuminated panel  2000  mainly in the structure of the spacing ribs. Here, spacing ribs  3006  are not perpendicular to the faces of plates  3002 ,  3004 , and two adjacent ribs are not parallel to each other. As seen in  FIG. 3A , spacing ribs  3006  are disposed between the inner faces of plates  3002 ,  3004  inclined with respect to the faces of plates  3002 ,  3004  and substantially perpendicular to each other and cross each other, thereby forming series of X like structure of spacing ribs  3006 . As a result, illumination rays that hit the connection points/lines  3005 ,  3007  and the cross points/lines  3009  pass through more ribs compared with the travel of rays of illuminated panel  2000 , and the number of crossed ribs of certain X element is one for rays hitting upper point  2007  and point  2009  and two for rays hitting lower point  2007 . Accordingly, the decrease in illumination strength is not linear as in illuminated plate  2000 . As may be seen in  FIG. 3D , the way a viewer perceives the images of the illuminated reflected points draws a picture in which the image of upper point  3007  and point  3009  seem to be located at similar distance from the viewer, while the image of lower point  3007  seems to the viewer at a longer distance from him, since its illumination strength is lower—as exemplified by points  3130 A,  3130 B and  3130 C. 
         [0031]    Reference is made now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , which schematically present illuminated panel  4000  in side view and front view, and to  FIG. 4C  which schematically presents graphic illustration of the way refracted illumination dots of illuminated panel  4000  are perceived by a viewer according to embodiments of the present invention. The main difference between illuminated panel  4000  and illuminated panel  2000  is that illuminated panel  4000  comprises two sets of illumination sources  4119  and  4120 . The first is located adjacent to one edge of plates  4002 ,  4004 , and the latter is located adjacent to the opposite edge of the plates, thus providing illumination from two opposite ends of the panel. Accordingly, spacing ribs that are close to either of illumination sources experience stronger illumination. As the rib is closer to the middle of plates  4002 ,  4004 , the illumination strength decreases. According to the principles described at length with respect to  FIGS. 2A-2D , the way the images of illuminated dots in illuminated panel  400  are perceived by the viewer is as if the central line of images of dots is farthest from the viewer and the lines of dots seem to be closer to the viewer as they are closer to the ends of the plates. 
         [0032]    Reference is made now to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5A , which schematically present structure element  5000  with illuminated panel  5010  in isometric view and in side view, respectively, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Structure element  5000  may comprise support element  5020  that may be formed of a rigid thin material, such as steel or the like. Support element  5020  may be formed to provide lower and upper supporting edges designed to hold illuminated panel  5010  and provide housing to electronic unit  5022 . Electronic unit  5022  may comprise power supply unit, control unit and illumination line, such as illumination line  2010 . In this configuration, illuminated panel  5010  may be seen from one side only; however, it should be apparent that, with the required changes in the construction of support element  5024 , both sides of illumination panel may be seen. 
         [0033]    Reference is made to  FIG. 6  which is an isometric schematic illustration of structure  6000  comprising illuminated structure element  6010 , which may be similar or equal to illuminated structure element  5000 . Structure element may be, for example, a fence unit comprising two or more fence elements  6002  and at least one illuminated structure element  6010 . It would be apparent that other configurations of utilizing or embedding illuminated elements according to the present invention are possible within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0034]    Reference is made now to  FIG. 7  which is a schematic illustration of control system  7000  configured to power illumination sources of an illuminated panel, such as panel  2000  and panel  4000 , according to some embodiments of the present invention. Control system  7000  may comprise central unit  7010  which may comprise power supply unit and control unit. The power supply unit may be any power supply known in the art that is adapted to provide the required power in the required voltage to illumination units  7020 . The control unit may be or may comprise any controller, central processing unit (CPU) or programmable logic controller (PLC) or the like. The controller may comprise non transitory storage unit adapted to store programs and data which, when executed, perform the steps of operation of the illuminated unit according to some embodiments of the present invention. Power supply and control unit  7010  may be adapted to be programmed or tuned, for example, by a user to select or define his own or pre-programmed scheme of illumination. For example, the illumination scheme may comprise change of the intensity of illumination in time, blinking in various blinking schemes, change of the color of illumination if the illumination sources are adapted to provide multi-color illumination, and the like. 
         [0035]    While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.