Abstract:
A flexible light array is constructed to have a flexible substrate with conducting circuits therein, a LED array formed of longitudinally and transversely aligned light emitting diodes respectively electrically connected to the conducting circuits and controllable by a driving circuit to produce a video display, and a flexible plastic member packed on the flexible substrate and the LED array.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to light emitting devices and more particularly, to a flexible LED display panel. The invention relates also to the fabrication of such a flexible LED display panel.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Following fast development of information technology, a variety of LED display panels have been developed and used in different electronic products. These LED display panels may also be used as signboards, signal lights for transportation vehicle, outdoor TV walls. By means of controlling on/off operation of individual light emitting diodes, a LED display panel can show a message or motion picture, which is practical for sending messages to people in real time. However, conventional LED display panels are fragile and not convenient to carry. Further, because conventional LED display panels are not bendable, they have a view angle limitation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a flexible light array, which can be used as a flexible LED display panel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible light array, which is convenient to carry and provides a wide view angle. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the flexible light array comprises flexible substrate, the flexible substrate having a plurality of conducting circuits therein, and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged into at least one longitudinally and transversely aligned LED array on at least one of two opposite sides of the flexible substrate and respectively electrically connected to the conducting circuits of the flexible substrate and controllable by a driving circuit to emit light. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flexible light array constructed according to the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the flexible light array according to the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an alternate form of the flexible light array according to the present invention, showing two LED arrays symmetrically arranged on the top and bottom sides of the flexible substrate;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of another alternate form of the flexible light array according to the present invention, showing two LED arrays arranged on the top and bottom sides of the flexible substrate in a staggered manner;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 2  packed in a flexible tube;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5A ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 3  packed in a flexible tube;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6A ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 4  packed in a flexible tube;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7N  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 8A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 2  molded with a flexible plastic packing layer;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8A ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 3  molded with a flexible plastic packing layer;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9A ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10A  is a side view in section of still another alternate form of the present invention, showing the flexible light array of  FIG. 4  molded with a flexible plastic packing layer;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 10A ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a circuit block diagram of a 4×4 flexible light array constructed according to the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a flexible light array fabrication flow chart according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a flexible light array is shown comprising a flexible substrate  11  molded from flexible plastic and having conducting circuits (not shown) therein, and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged into an array of LEDs  12  on one side of the flexible substrate  11  and electrically connected to the conducting circuits in the flexible substrate  11  through a dielectric layer (not shown). This design of flexible light array is practical for use as a signal light means for transportation vehicles, a signboard or an outdoor TV wall for advertising.  
         [0026]     Light emitting diodes may be arranged into an array of LEDs  12  on one side of the substrate  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or into two symmetrical arrays of LEDs  12  on the top and bottom sides of the substrate  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the light emitting diodes alternatively arranged on the top and bottom sides of the substrate  11 , forming two staggered arrays of LEDs  12  at the two sides of the substrate.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the flexible lighting array of  FIG. 2  may be packed in a flexible tube  13  that admits light. The flexible tube  13  may be coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the flexible light array of  FIG. 3  may be packed in a flexible tube  13  that admits light. The flexible tube  13  may be coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the flexible light array of  FIG. 4  may be packed in a flexible tube  13  that admits light. The flexible tube  13  may be coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , a flexible plastic packing layer  14  may be molded on the substrate  11  of the flexible light array shown in  FIG. 2 , keeping the array of LEDs  12  embedded in the flexible plastic packing layer  14 . The plastic packing layer  14  admits light and is coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a flexible plastic packing layer  14  may be molded on the top and bottom sides of the substrate  11  of the flexible light array shown in  FIG. 3 , keeping the two arrays of LEDs  12  embedded in the flexible plastic packing layer  14 . The flexible plastic packing layer  14  admits light and is coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a flexible plastic packing layer  14  may be molded on the top and bottom sides of the substrate  11  of the flexible light array shown in  FIG. 4 , keeping the two arrays of LEDs  12  embedded in the flexible plastic packing layer  14 . The flexible plastic packing layer  14  admits light and is coated with a layer of color filter coating.  
         [0034]      FIG. 11  shows a 4×4 flexible light array constructed according to the present invention. As illustrated, the flexible light array comprises a driving circuit  15 , conducting circuits  16 , and light emitting diodes  17 . The light emitting diodes  17  are arranged into a 4×4 array of LEDs  12  respectively installed in the conducting circuit  16 . The driving circuit  15  is electrically connected to the conducting circuits  16 , and adapted to control on/off of the light emitting diodes  17 . Therefore, the array of LEDs  12  can be controlled to produce a visual signal or motion display for use as a flexible LED display panel for adverting or transportation vehicle.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a flexible light array fabrication procedure comprises the steps of: preparation of LED array S 100  where a number of light emitting diodes are arranged into a LED array, preparation of flexible substrate S 102  where a flexible substrate is prepared having conducting circuits therein, electric connection of LEDs to flexible substrate S 104  where the prepared LED array is electrically connected to the conducting circuits of the flexible substrate, packaging S 106  where the flexible substrate is packed with a flexible plastic packing layer or a flexible tube, and singulation S 108  where the package thus obtained is cut subject to the desired size. After singulation S 108 , a driving circuit  15  is prepared and connected to the conducting circuits  16  of the substrate (see also  FIG. 11  for controlling on/off operation of the light emitting diodes  17 .  
         [0036]     As indicated above, the invention provides a flexible light array, which comprises a flexible substrate, at least one LED array installed in the flexible substrate, and a driving circuit adapted to control on/off operation of the light emitting diodes of the at least one LED array.  
         [0037]     A prototype of flexible light array and its fabrication procedure has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of  FIGS. 1-12 . The flexible light array and its fabrication procedure functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.  
         [0038]     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.