METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCAPSULATING A LIGHT SOURCE

摘要

An apparatus and method for encapsulating a light source within a water-tight, robust encapsulating bulk for use, among other things, as a walk paver. The apparatus and method provides a strong, durable, waterproof illuminated paver that includes an array of individually addressable light sources, having the aesthetic appearance of a conventional stone material. A light guide is provided having a light receiving end and a light transmissive end. A light source is provided having a selective on state and a selective off state. The light source is optically coupled to the light receiving end of the light guide to form a light engine comprising the light source and the light guide. The optically coupled light guide and light source are encased within an encapsulating bulk, wherein the encapsulating bulk includes at least one viewable surface, and where the light transmissive end of the light guide is viewable at said at least one viewable surface. An obscuring layer is formed on one or more of the at least one viewable surface for obscuring the transmissive end of the light guide from view when the light source is in the selective off state.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing a light source embedded in a bulk, the light source comprising at least one light generation element, the bulk having a viewable surface for viewing the light generated from the light source forming a obscuring layer on the viewable surface for obscuring said at least one light generation element when light is not generated from the light generation element