Illuminated tile systems and methods for maunfacturing the same

Abstract

In one embodiment, a lighted tile system, comprises a first tile. The first tile comprises a tray that comprises a floor, one or more walls coupled to a perimeter of the floor, and a cavity defined at least in part by the floor and the one or more walls. The first tile also comprises a ceiling coupled to the tray and located substantially opposite the floor of the tray, and a substrate located between the floor of the tray and the ceiling. One or more light sources are coupled to the substrate to shine a light from the one or more light sources in a substantially uniform pattern towards the ceiling. The ceiling is at least partially translucent to permit at least part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the ceiling. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A lighted tile system, comprising:
 a first tile comprising:   a tray comprising:
 a floor; 
 one or more walls coupled to a perimeter of the floor; and 
 a cavity defined at least in part by the floor and the one or more walls; 
   a ceiling coupled to the tray and located substantially opposite the floor of the tray;   a sealing junction to substantially seal the floor and the ceiling together to make the lighted tile system at least one of weatherproof and waterproof;   a substrate located between the floor of the tray and the ceiling; and   one or more light sources coupled to the substrate to shine a light from the one or more light sources in a substantially uniform pattern towards the ceiling, wherein the ceiling is at least partially translucent to permit at least part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the ceiling.   
     
     
         44 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43  where the junction is sealed by a sealant that comprises at least one of: silicone, adhesive, sonic weld and grout. 
     
     
         45 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein the first tile further comprises:
 a diffusive layer located between the substrate and the ceiling;   wherein the diffusive layer is configured to diffuse the light from the one or more light sources across at least a portion of the ceiling.   
     
     
         46 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein the first tile further comprises:
 a reflective layer configured to reflect the light from the one or more light sources towards the ceiling, wherein the reflective layer comprises at least one of:
 a reflective sheet located between the floor of the tray and a second side of the substrate; and 
 a surface of the floor facing the substrate. 
   
     
     
         47 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein: at least one of the ceiling and the tray comprise at least one of:
 a glass material;   a crystalline stone material;   a metallic material; and   a plastic material.   
     
     
         48 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein:
 the ceiling comprises one or more translucent edges configured to permit at least a trans-edge light component of the light from the one or more light sources to shine past at least a first translucent edge of the one or more translucent edges.   
     
     
         49 . The lighted tile system of  claim 48 , further comprising: a second tile configured to be located contiguous with the first tile,
 wherein, when the first tile and the second tile are located contiguous with each other, at least a portion of the trans-edge light component shines into the second tile through a translucent edge of a ceiling of the second tile.   
     
     
         50 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein:
 the ceiling is configured to extend at least approximately  5  to  8  millimeters past a top of the one or more walls.   
     
     
         51 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein:
 an edge of the substrate is adjacent to a first wall of the one or more walls of the tray;   the light from the one or more light sources comprises a trans-substrate light component;   the substrate is configured to distribute the light of the one or more light sources to shine the trans-substrate light component past the edge of the substrate and towards the first wall;   the trans-substrate light component comprises a trans-wall light component;   the first wall is translucent and configured to permit the trans-wall light component to shine past the first wall.   
     
     
         52 . The lighted tile system of  claim 51 , further comprising: a second tile configured to be located contiguous with the first tile,
 wherein, when the first tile and the second tile are located contiguous with each other, the trans-wall light component shines into the second tile through a translucent wall of a tray of the second tile.   
     
     
         53 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein:
 the one or more light sources are located across a first side of the substrate and configured to shine the light substantially perpendicular to the first side of the substrate and towards the ceiling.   
     
     
         54 . The lighted tile system of  claim 43 , wherein: the first tile comprises a junction between at least two of:
 the one or more walls of the tray;   the floor of the tray; and   the ceiling, wherein the junction comprises at least one of:   a silicone junction;   a grout junction;   an adhesive junction; and   a sonic weld junction, wherein the junction is configured to restrict water from entering the cavity of the tray.   
     
     
         55 . An illuminated paver system, comprising:
 a first paver comprising:   a tray comprising:
 a floor; and 
 one or more walls coupled around a perimeter of the floor; 
   a tile coupled to the one or more walls of the tray;   a substrate located between the tile and the tray;   one or more light sources coupled to the substrate; and   wherein the tile protrudes at least partially past the one or more walls of the tray;   the substrate is configured to direct a light from the one or more light sources towards and substantially evenly across the tile;   the tile is at least partially translucent to permit at least part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the tile;   at least one of the tile or the tray comprises at least one of:
 a glass material; 
 a metallic material; 
 a crystalline stone material; and 
 a plastic material; 
   the one or more light sources comprise at least one of:
 a light emitting diode; 
 an organic light emitting diode; and 
 a light emitting capacitor; 
   the first paver comprises a junction between at least two of:
 the one or more walls of the tray; 
 the floor of the tray; and 
 the tile; 
   the junction of the tile comprises at least one of:
 a silicone junction; 
 a grout junction; 
 an adhesive junction; and 
 a sonic weld junction; and 
   the junction of the tile is configured to restrict water and dirt from entering the tray.   
     
     
         56 . The illuminated paver system of  claim 55 , further comprising:
 one or more resistive elements coupled to the one or more light sources,   wherein the one or more resistive elements are coupled to the one or more light sources, and   wherein the one or more resistive elements are configured to decrease a voltage across each of the one or more light sources.   
     
     
         57 . The illuminated paver system of  claim 55 , wherein:
 at least the tray and the substrate of the first paver are crop-able to form a cropped edge of a remaining first paver portion after a cropping of the first paver;   the one or more light sources coupled to the remaining first paver portion remain operable after the cropping;   the cropped edge is sealable with a seal comprising at least one of: a silicone seal;   a grout seal;   an adhesive seal; and   a replacement wall section, wherein the seal is waterproof to restrict water from entering the cavity of the tray.   
     
     
         58 . The illuminated paver system of  claim 55 , wherein:
 the one or more light sources are positioned parallel to a first edge of the substrate and configured to shine the light through the first edge into the substrate.   
     
     
         59 . The illuminated paver system of  claim 55 , wherein:
 the one or more light sources are arranged across a first side of the substrate and   configured to shine the light substantially perpendicular to the first side of the substrate towards the tile.   
     
     
         60 . A method for manufacturing a lighted tile system, the method comprising:
 providing a first tile, wherein providing the first tile comprises:
 providing a tray having a cavity defined by a floor and by one or more walls coupled to a perimeter of the floor; 
 coupling a substrate to the cavity of the tray; 
 providing one or more light sources coupled to the substrate; and coupling a ceiling to at least partially extend past the one or more walls; 
 a sealing junction to substantially seal the floor and the ceiling together; and 
   make the lighted tile system at least one of weatherproof and waterproof;
 providing the one or more light sources coupled to the substrate comprises providing the one or more light sources to shine a light from the one or more light sources in a substantially evenly distributed pattern towards the ceiling, the ceiling at least partially translucent and configured to permit at least a first part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the ceiling. 
   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein providing the first tile further comprises at least one of:
 providing a diffusive layer located between the substrate and the ceiling and configured to diffuse the light from the one or more light sources across the ceiling; and   providing a reflective layer configured to reflect the light from the one or more light sources towards the ceiling, the reflective layer comprising at least one of:   a reflective sheet located between the floor of the tray and the substrate; and   a surface of the floor facing the substrate.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein
 at least one of the ceiling or the tray comprises at least one of:   a glass material;   a metallic material;   a crystalline stone material; and   a plastic material, the one or more light sources comprise at least one of:
 a light emitting diode; 
 a organic light emitting diode; and 
 a light emitting capacitor.