Patent Description:
Frequently, table-top therapy lights are used while users perform reading or other (on-screen) activities. Ideally, however, the therapy light surface should surround the reading device in order to illuminate the user's face from all sides. Many future indoor surfaces (e.g. ceilings, walls, desk dividers) are expected to have integrated light sources such that they become luminous surfaces which can provide comfortable lighting to users while at the same time add a more spacious and natural feeling to indoor spaces.

However, since such devices take up quite some space and need to be positioned near the user, it is beneficial to combine such light-emitting units with functional elements such as monitors, for space-efficiency reasons. For example, <CIT> discloses a luminous panel providing a low resolution display output for viewing by multiple viewers at a large distance and having an integrated smaller high resolution display. This smaller display is positioned within the outer limit of the light emitting surface of the luminous panel and thus fills a window in the light emitting surface. A further example, <CIT>, discloses an electronic device, i.e. a tablet dock, having a display screen.

A drawback of this luminous panel is that the use of the integrated smaller high resolution display is not always convenient for the user, e.g. it may take some effort for the user to get desired content on the smaller high resolution display.

It is a first object of the invention to provide a luminous panel system, which can be used in combination with a further electronic device in a way that is (more) convenient for the user.

In a first aspect of the invention, a luminous panel system configured to illuminate an area or a user comprises a light emitting surface, a controller configured to control said light emitting surface, attachment means for attaching a further electronic device to said light emitting surface, and power supply means for supplying power to said further electronic device when said further electronic device is attached to said light emitting surface via said attachment means. Said power supply means is surrounded by a plurality of parts of said light emitting surface at opposite sides of said power supply means.

The luminous panel system may be, or may be comprised in, a luminous desk divider or monitor back panel, a ceiling panel, a table-top wake-up light, or a portable therapy light, for example. By allowing the user to flexibly attach a further electronic device, e.g. the user's own mobile phone or tablet, to the light emitting surface, it does not take the user much effort to use the functionality of the further electronic device, e.g. to get desired content on a high resolution display of the further electronic device. If many indoor surfaces become luminous, many users may be able to benefit from attaching digital (display) devices to the light emitting surfaces, for instance, attaching a monitor to a luminous desk divider, attaching a tablet to a luminous wall (or wall panel), or attaching a TV to an "Ambilight panel".

By allowing the further electronic device to be attached to a (more) central part of the light emitting surface rather than at an edge of the light emitting surface/luminous panel, a high resolution display of the further electronic device may be viewed more easily and/or a sensor of the further electronic device may sense better. For example, said power supply means may be located on a symmetry axis of said light emitting surface. The attachment means may also be located on or near the symmetry axis of the light emitting surface.

Furthermore, the attachment means allows the user to attach the further electronic device conveniently and the power supply means provides power to the further electronic device without the user needing any tools or wiring. This is beneficial for mobile phones, amongst others, because people want to continue to use their phones when charging. Preferably, said power supply means are hidden when they are not used (and may also be hidden when used). Preferably, said power supply means and said attachment means are located behind said light emitting surface. For example, the light emitting surface may be configured such that the power supply means are unobtrusive, hidden from sight, or (almost) invisible such that the light emitting surface functions normally when no further electronic device is attached (e.g. generating a uniform light output).

The luminous panel system may comprise a single device or multiple devices. As an example of the latter, the controller may be part of a different device than the light emitting surface, attachment means, and power supply means and communicate with the other device. The system may comprises multiple processors. Said controller may be configured to control said light emitting surface based on one or more properties of said further electronic device when said further electronic device is attached to said light emitting surface. If the luminous panel system is aware of the properties of the attached further electronic device, it may be able to adjust its light output accordingly. For example, the luminous panel system may generate light output on light emitting elements surrounding the further electronic device based on the current app or display content.

Said one or more properties of said further electronic device may comprise a type of said further electronic device, an identifier of an app running on said further electronic device, content rendered on said further electronic device, a state of said further electronic device, a color of said further electronic device, a position of said further electronic device, a shape of said further electronic device, an orientation of said further electronic device, and/or dimensions of said further electronic device, for example.

For instance, the light output of the light emitting surface of the luminous panel system may depend on the active app (application) on the attached device, e.g. render "Ambilight" light output for a movie, concentration light when reading an article, and "selfie-light" when the camera is active (e.g. during a video chat). Alternatively or additionally, a light color (pattern) may be rendered based on colors of the attached further electronic device or colors as currently rendered on a display of the attached further electronic device.

Said one or more properties of said further electronic device may comprise said position and/or said dimensions and/or said orientation of said further electronic device and said controller may be configured to determine, based on said position and/or said dimensions and/or said orientation of said further electronic device, a plurality of pixels covered by said further electronic device when said further electronic device is attached to said light emitting surface, and reduce said plurality of pixels' light output level while said further electronic device is attached to said light emitting surface.

This may save energy and/or prevent unwanted prominent lighting and/or prevent heat generation at the backside of the attached further electronic device. Furthermore, if there is a light sensor at the back of the further electronic device, this may prevent that this light sensor gets the (wrong) impression of a huge (ambient) light level, which might cause the screen of the further electronic device to be dimmed.

Said one or more properties of said further electronic device may comprise said position and/or said dimensions and/or said orientation of said further electronic device and said controller may be configured to determine, based on said position and/or said dimensions and/or said orientation of said further electronic device, a plurality of pixels surrounding said further electronic device when said further electronic device is attached to said light emitting surface, and control said surrounding pixels. This may be used to emphasize contours of said further electronic device on said light emitting surface or to render "Ambilight" light output for a movie, concentration light when reading an article, or "selfie-light" when the camera is active (e.g. during a video chat), for example. The determined surrounding pixels, which are preferably in spatial alignment with the edges of the further electronic device, may be only those pixels near the further electronic device or may be all pixels surrounding the further electronic device.

Said controller may be configured to receive said one or more properties from sensing means integrated into said luminous panel system, from external sensing means, from said further electronic device and/or from a user device, for example. A light sensor may be integrated into or next to each light element, for example. Alternatively, sensing means may be integrated into the attachment means of the luminous panel system. The user device may be a mobile phone of the user, for example.

Said light emitting surface is preferably as large as a surface of said power supply means, said surface of said power supply means facing said light emitting surface, e.g. twice as large as said surface of said power supply means or even larger. Said light emitting surface may comprise a two-dimensional array of light emitting elements. This array may comprise LEDs placed in rows and columns or LEDs placed on a hexagonal grid or a random grid, for example.

Said power supply means may comprise one or more wireless power cells. Said attachment means may comprise one or more magnetic or metal parts, for example. The future of charging and power connectors is wireless power, which is already supported in many new smartphones. When Apple introduced the iPhone <NUM>, Apple also launched Apple MagSafe, which features magnetic wireless charging. The MagSafe enables a device-attachable wireless charger which magnetically aligns optimally with the power transfer coils of the mobile phone. MagSafe addresses the challenge how to properly position the device on the charging pad to find the optimal coil alignment for the "charging sweet spot". The same technology may be used to supply power from the luminous panel system to the further electronic device with the help of the power supply means and the attachment means.

Said power supply means may comprise a power track and/or a power connector. Said power track and/or said power connector may be covered (i.e. and thereby hidden) by a light diffusing layer. A thin light-emitting layer (e.g. a side-lit light guide) covering the power supply means may be placed just behind the diffusing layer, for example.

<FIG> shows a first embodiment of the luminous panel system configured to illuminate an area or a user: a luminous panel <NUM>. The luminous panel <NUM> comprises a light emitting surface <NUM>, a controller <NUM> configured to control the light emitting surface <NUM>, attachment means <NUM> for attaching a further electronic device <NUM> to the light emitting surface <NUM>, and power supply means <NUM> for supplying power to the further electronic device <NUM> when the further electronic device <NUM> is attached to the light emitting surface <NUM> via the attachment means <NUM>. The power supply means <NUM> is surrounded by a plurality of parts of the light emitting surface <NUM> at opposite sides of the power supply means <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the power supply means <NUM> comprise one or more wireless power cells and the attachment means <NUM> comprise one or more magnetic or metal parts. Further electronic device <NUM> also comprises attachment means. Attachments means <NUM> also comprises one or more magnetic or metal parts. At least one of attachment means <NUM> and attachment means <NUM> comprises one or more magnetic parts. Further electronic device <NUM> also comprises power reception means <NUM>.

Further electronic device <NUM> may be a mobile phone or a tablet, for example. Upon attachment, the light emitting surface <NUM> may be controlled based on attached device inputs (e.g. rendering app or content-based light, Ambilight, sensor-based light control, alarm clock app, selfie light). Similarly, upon attachment, specific functions or apps may be started on the attached device (e.g. activate alarm clock function upon attaching phone to bedside wake-up light so the phone's alarm will wake the user in the morning, and the timing of the wake-up light is matched to the alarm time from the phone).

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the power supply means <NUM> is located on a symmetry axis of the light emitting surface <NUM>. Specifically, the power supply means <NUM> is located on two symmetry axes of the light emitting surface <NUM>: axis <NUM> and axis <NUM>. Next to power, the luminous panel might also provide a good network or data connection. For instance, the panel may have a recessed connector, e.g. USB(-C) for enabling the further electronic device to dock or HDMI for video, or the panel may have a built-in Wi-Fi repeater to make sure attached devices are provided with a good Wi-Fi signal (not shown in <FIG>). The panel may be able to locate the connector of the further electronic device automatically when the further electronic device has been attached magnetically, e.g. based on the type and position of the further electronic device. The panel may control one or more light elements to indicate the position of the connector of the further electronic device.

The luminous panel <NUM> may be a luminous desk divider or monitor back panel, a ceiling panel, a table-top wake-up light, or a portable therapy light, for example. For instance, a luminous ceiling panel may enable a user to attach further electronic devices such as sensors, downlights or (rotatable) spotlight devices to the ceiling panel. In the case of a wake-up light, which helps people compensate for a lack of bright daylight when waking up, working or reading during winter time, an attached phone could automatically go into silent or do-not-disturb mode and/or activate the alarm clock app or function. In a similar way, a user could attach a tablet or electronic reader device to a portable or table-top therapy light in order to get optimal exposure to (therapy) light while browsing or reading.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, only one further electronic device can be attached to the light emitting surface <NUM> at a time. In the embodiment of <FIG>, three further electronic devices can be attached to the light emitting surface <NUM> simultaneously. A second further electronic device can be attached to attachment means <NUM> and receive power from power supply means <NUM>. A third further electronic device can be attached to attachment means <NUM> and receive power from power supply means <NUM>. Power supply means <NUM> and <NUM> are located on a single symmetry axis: axis <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a first embodiment of the light emitting surface <NUM> of <FIG>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the light emitting surface <NUM> comprises a two-dimensional array of light emitting elements, including a light emitting element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a second embodiment of the luminous panel system configured to illuminate an area or a user: a luminous panel <NUM>. The luminous panel <NUM> comprises a light emitting surface <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, attachment means <NUM> of <FIG> is replaced with attachment means <NUM> and power supply means <NUM> of <FIG> is replaced with power supply means <NUM>. Power supply means <NUM> comprises a power track. The power track is located in the center, thereby enabling a further electronic device <NUM> to be easily connected. The power track may be configured such that it can light up and blend in with the light emitting surface surface, or it may be hidden behind a (e.g. Velcro) seam in a flexible (e.g. textile) diffusing layer, for example.

Further electronic device <NUM> comprises attachment means <NUM>. Before the further electronic device is attached to the light emitting surface <NUM>, it is first rotated <NUM> degrees. The attachment means <NUM> is then inserted into the power track and rotated <NUM> degrees in the other direction, which causes the attachment means <NUM> to be held in place by the attachment means <NUM> of the luminous panel <NUM>. The attachment means <NUM> also functions as power reception means.

<FIG> shows a second embodiment of the luminous panel configured to illuminate an area or a user: a luminous panel <NUM>. The luminous panel <NUM> comprises a light emitting surface <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, attachment means <NUM> of <FIG> is replaced with attachment means <NUM> and power supply means <NUM> of <FIG> is replaced with power supply means <NUM>. Power supply means <NUM> comprises a power connector. A further electronic device <NUM> can be attached to the light emitting surface <NUM>.

Further electronic device <NUM> comprises attachment means <NUM> and power reception means <NUM>. Power reception means <NUM> comprises a power connector. Power reception means <NUM> and power supply means <NUM> may be connected with the help of a cable. In order to attach further electronic device <NUM> to the light emitting surface <NUM>, attachment means <NUM> of further electronic device <NUM> and attachment means <NUM> of the luminous panel <NUM> are aligned.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the light emitting surface of <FIG>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the power track of <FIG> is covered by a light diffusing layer. The light emitting surface <NUM> comprises a grid of flexible, rectangular, diffusing cells. This grid of cells enables a user to move cabling/connectors through the seams and hide those between the cells. Each cell comprises a light emitting element, e.g. light emitting element <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross section view of a column of light emitting elements of the light emitting surface <NUM> of <FIG>. The light emitting elements of <FIG> are mounted on a strong mechanical support panel <NUM> with integrated power connectors (one or more power tracks in an alternative embodiment), including power connector <NUM>. Each light emitting element is covered by a rectangular, flexible diffusing cap. For example, light emitting element <NUM> is covered by diffusing cap <NUM>. The flexible caps tightly fit together, resulting in a luminous panel front with a grid of seams.

The support panel <NUM> is also provided with attachment means <NUM>, e.g. a mechanical mount. The attachment means <NUM> may comprise screw thread, for example. In the example of <FIG>, the attachment means <NUM> of the luminous panel <NUM> and the attachment means <NUM> of further electronic device <NUM> are connected via a headless screw <NUM> and power supply means <NUM> of the luminous panel <NUM> and power reception means <NUM> of the further electronic device <NUM> are connected via a cable <NUM>.

The user can push the caps apart in order to insert cable <NUM> and the headless screw <NUM> into, respectively, power supply means <NUM> and attachment means <NUM> of the support panel <NUM>. It is also possible to hide cabling at the back of the flexible caps, near the support panel <NUM>. While <FIG> shows the use of rectangular caps, the caps may alternatively have different characteristics such as hexagonal, sunflower seed arrangement, company logo, or some decorative pattern.

<FIG> shows a second embodiment of the light emitting surface of <FIG>. Light emitting surface <NUM> of <FIG> has been replaced with a light emitting surface <NUM> in <FIG>. While in the embodiment of <FIG>, the array of light emitting elements is contiguous, in the embodiment of <FIG>, there is a space <NUM> without light elements at the position where a further electronic device can be attached. The size of the space <NUM> may correspond to the minimum size of the further electronic device, for example.

As described above, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the light emitting surface. For example, the light emitting surface may provide comfortable and biological light effects while the user performs reading activities. The luminous panel may be a luminous desk divider, for example. In simple implementations, the luminous panel does not have an input for receiving data signals from another device, e.g. via a cable or wirelessly. In more advanced implementations, the luminous panel does have an input for receiving data signals from another device and is able to adjust the light emitted by the light emitting surface based on these data signals.

For example, the controller <NUM> may be configured to control the (light output of the) light emitting surface based on one or more properties of the further electronic device when the further electronic device is attached to the light emitting surface. Optionally, the attached further electronic device might be able to transfer control over to the luminous panel so the luminous panel can decide on the best settings for the combination of luminous panel and attached device. For example, in case the attached device is an Ambilight TV, the luminous panel could take over the control of the Ambilight part and may get de-activated on the attached TV itself.

The one or more properties of the further electronic device may comprise a type of the further electronic device, an identifier of an app running on the further electronic device, content rendered on the further electronic device, a state of the further electronic device, a color of the further electronic device, a position of the further electronic device, a shape of the further electronic device, an orientation of the further electronic device, and/or dimensions of the further electronic device, for example.

The controller <NUM> may be configured to receive the one or more properties of the further electronic device in one of the following ways or a combination of those:.

The controller of the luminous panel may be able to control the (light output of the) light emitting surface in various ways, for example:.

<FIG> illustrates two of the uses described above. <FIG> shows the further electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> being attached to light emitting surface <NUM> of <FIG>. To enable the first use in which the one or more properties of the further electronic device comprise the position and/or the dimensions and/or the orientation of the further electronic device, the controller <NUM> is configured to determine, based on the position and/or the dimensions and/or the orientation of the further electronic device, a plurality of pixels covered by the further electronic device when the further electronic device is attached to the light emitting surface and reduce the plurality of pixels' light output level while the further electronic device is attached to the light emitting surface.

<FIG> shows pixels covered by the further electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> being switched off, i.e. all pixels in area <NUM> have been switched off. This reduces energy consumption and/or prevents heat generation and the user is not able to see these pixels anyway.

To enable the second use in which the one or more properties of the further electronic device also comprise the position and/or the dimensions and/or the orientation of the further electronic device, the controller <NUM> is configured to determine, based on the position and/or the dimensions and/or the orientation of the further electronic device, a plurality of pixels surrounding the further electronic device when the further electronic device is attached to the light emitting surface, and control the surrounding pixels to emphasize contours of the further electronic device on the light emitting surface.

<FIG> shows pixels surrounding the further electronic device <NUM> of <FIG>, i.e. the pixels in area <NUM>, being controlled to emphasize the contours of the further electronic device <NUM>.

In the embodiments described above and shown in the figures, the light emitting surface is at least twice as large as the surface of the power supply means. In an alternative embodiment, the light emitting surface is smaller relative to the surface of the power supply means. Preferably, the light emitting surface is at least as large as the surface of the power supply means. The surface of the power supply means faces the light emitting surface.

In the embodiments describe above and shown in the figures, the power supply means and the attachment means are located behind the light emitting surface. To help the user find the attachment means, light emitting elements near the attachment means may automatically light up, e.g. when a wirelessly chargeable further electronic device in particular or an object in general is detected nearby. In an alternative embodiment, the power supply means and the attachment means are not located behind the light emitting surface.

In the embodiment of the luminous panel system shown in the figures, the luminous panel comprises one controller <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment, the luminous panel system comprises multiple controllers. The controller <NUM> of the luminous panel may be a general-purpose processor, e.g. from ARM or Qualcomm or an application-specific controller. The luminous panel may comprise other components typical for a luminous panel such as a housing and power reception means and/or a battery. The power reception means may be connected to the power grid, for example. In case of a portable luminous panel, it may have an integrated battery and the luminous panel may then double as a power bank and power or charge the attached device from this battery.

Claim 1:
A luminous panel system (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) configured to illuminate an area or a user, said luminous panel system (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) comprising:
- a light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>),
- a controller (<NUM>) configured to control said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>),
- attachment means (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) for attaching a further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) to said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), and
- power supply means (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) for supplying power to said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) when said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is attached to said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) via said attachment means (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>);
characterized in that
said power supply means (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is surrounded by a plurality of parts of said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) at opposite sides of said power supply means (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>),
wherein said controller (<NUM>) is configured to control said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) based on one or more properties of said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) when said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is attached to said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), wherein said one or more properties of said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) comprise a position and/or a dimensions and/or an orientation of said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>),
wherein said controller (<NUM>) is configured to:
- determine, based on said position and/or said dimensions and/or said orientation of said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), a plurality of pixels surrounding said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) when said further electronic device (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) is attached to said light emitting surface (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>), and
- control said surrounding pixels.