Barrier with integrated self-cooling solid state light sources

Abstract

An integrated barrier or partition (e.g. suspended ceiling, wall, etc.) containing lightweight solid state light sources wherein the light emitting surface of the light sources are the primary heat dissipating surfaces of the light sources. The light sources comprising of light emitting diodes (LED) in thermal contact to light transmitting thermally conductive elements and combined with a reflector element to form a light recycling cavity, provide both convective and radiative cooling from their light emitting surfaces, eliminating the need for external appended heat sinks. Seismically safe suspended ceilings contain integrated lighting where the lighting adds less than one gram per square foot to the structure. The lighting, integrated into but without penetrating the barrier (suspended ceiling, ceiling, wall, floor, etc.), is nonflammable and does not promote flame spread or smoke generation. The lighting is easily incorporated into ceiling tiles, sheetrock, grid elements, painted and/or wallpapered surfaces.

1 . A suspended ceiling system comprising:
 a support grid support comprising a plurality of intersecting struts that form a plurality of grid openings, the support grid supported within an internal space of a building;   a plurality of ceiling tiles mounted to the support grid and positioned in the grid openings to collectively form a barrier, each of the ceiling tiles comprising a front surface facing an occupant portion of the internal space of the building and a rear surface opposite the front surface;   at least one solid state light source comprising:
 at least one reflector element; 
 at least one light emitting diode (LED); 
 at least one light transmitting thermally conductive element, the light transmitting thermally conductive element providing a common light emitting and cooling surface to dissipate a majority of the heat from the solid state light source, the common light emitting and cooling surface facing the occupant portion of the internal space; and 
   the solid state light source at least partially embedded in and supported by one of the ceiling tiles;   wherein the scrim is a light transmitting thermally conductive scrim, and wherein light transmitting thermally conductive scrim overlays the common light emitting and cooling surface of the light transmitting thermally conductive element to conceal the solid state light source.   
     
     
         2 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  wherein the reflector element and the light transmitting thermally conductive element form a light recycling cavity; wherein the LED is mounted on the light transmitting thermally conductive element in the light recycling cavity; and wherein light emitted by the LED is redirected within the light recycling cavity by the reflector element and passes through and exits from the solid state light source via the light transmitting thermally conductive element through the common light emitting and cooling surface. 
     
     
         3 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  wherein the common light emitting and cooling surface of the light transmitting thermally conductive element acts as the primary heat dissipation means of the LED. 
     
     
         4 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  wherein the entire weight of the solid state light source is supported by the one of the ceiling tiles. 
     
     
         5 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  wherein the total weight of the solid state light source and all heat sinking for the solid state light source is less than one gram per square foot yet provides greater than 30 lumens per square foot of illumination throughout an illuminated area of the occupant portion of the internal space. 
     
     
         6 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 the one of the ceiling tiles comprising a recess formed into the front surface of the one of the ceiling tiles, the recess defined by a recess sidewall and a recess floor surface, the recess sidewall extending from the front surface of the one of the ceiling tiles to the recess floor surface; and 
 the solid state light source disposed in the recess and mounted to the one of the ceiling tiles. 
 
     
     
         7 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 the one of the ceiling tiles having a thickness measured from the front surface of the one of the ceiling tiles to the rear surface of the one of the ceiling tiles; 
 the recess of the one of the ceiling tiles having a depth measured from the front surface of the one of the ceiling tiles to the recess floor surface of the one of the ceiling tiles; and 
 wherein the thickness of the one of the ceiling tiles is greater than the depth of the recess of the one of the ceiling tiles. 
 
     
     
         11 .- 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The suspended ceiling system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the ceiling tiles comprises a side edge extending between the front and rear surfaces and having a profile that engages the struts to support the entire weight of the ceiling tile. 
     
     
         19 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus comprising:
 a ceiling tile comprising:
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface opposite the front surface; 
 a side edge extending between the front and rear surfaces of the ceiling tile; 
 a recess formed into the front surface of the ceiling tile, the recess defined by a recess sidewall and a recess floor surface, the recess sidewall extending from the front surface of the one of the ceiling tiles to the recess floor surface; 
   at least one solid state light source comprising:
 at least one reflector element; 
 at least one light emitting diode (LED); 
 at least one light transmitting thermally conductive element, the light transmitting thermally conductive element providing a common light emitting and cooling surface to dissipate a majority of the heat from the solid state light source, the common light emitting and cooling surface facing the occupant portion of the internal space; and 
   the solid state light source disposed within the recess and mounted to the ceiling tile;   wherein each of the ceiling tiles comprises a core and a scrim, the scrim comprising the front surface of the ceiling tile and wherein the scrim is a light transmitting thermally conductive scrim, and wherein light transmitting thermally conductive scrim overlays the common light emitting and cooling surface of the light transmitting thermally conductive element to conceal the solid state light source.   
     
     
         22 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the recess sidewall circumferentially surrounds a side edge of the solid state light source. 
     
     
         23 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the side edge of the solid state light source is in surface contact with the recess sidewall. 
     
     
         24 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the solid state light source comprises a rear surface opposite the common light emitting and cooling surface, the rear surface of the solid state light source in surface contact with the recess floor surface of the ceiling tile. 
     
     
         25 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  further comprising:
 the one of the ceiling tiles having a thickness measured from the front surface of the ceiling tile to the rear surface of the ceiling tile; 
 the recess of the one of the ceiling tiles having a depth measured from the front surface of the ceiling tile to the recess floor surface of the ceiling tile; and 
 wherein the thickness of the ceiling tile is greater than the depth of the recess. 
 
     
     
         26 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the recess floor surface is formed by a portion of a core of the ceiling tile. 
     
     
         27 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the reflector element and the light transmitting thermally conductive element form a light recycling cavity; wherein the LED is mounted on the light transmitting thermally conductive element in the light recycling cavity; and wherein light emitted by the LED is redirected within the light recycling cavity by the reflector element and passes through and exits from the solid state light source via the light transmitting thermally conductive element through the common light emitting and cooling surface. 
     
     
         28 . The integrated ceiling panel and lighting apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the common light emitting and cooling surface of the light transmitting thermally conductive element acts as the primary heat dissipation means of the LED. 
     
     
         29 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A barrier with lighting comprising:
 a substantially contiguous suspended ceiling system comprised of at least one ceiling tile and a support grid which supports said ceiling tile;   at least one light source, the light source comprising:
 at least one reflector element; 
 at least one light emitting diode; 
 at least one light transmitting thermally conductive element; 
 wherein the light transmitting thermally conductive element provides a common light emitting and cooling surface to dissipate heat from the light source; and 
   wherein said light source is either: (1) mounted directly to the support grid of the suspended ceiling system; or (2) integrated into the ceiling tile.   
     
     
         45 . The barrier according to  claim 44  wherein the suspended ceiling system and the light source form an acoustical barrier. 
     
     
         46 . The barrier according to  claim 44  wherein the light source further comprises push pin contacts for mounting said light source to the ceiling tile. 
     
     
         47 . The barrier according to  claim 44  wherein the entire surface of the barrier that faces an occupant portion of an internal space is covered with a light transmitting thermally conductive scrim layer. 
     
     
         48 .- 53 . (canceled)