Light display structures

Abstract

Useful light display structures are configured so that they can be economically fabricated and assembled. The light display structures generally comprise a plurality of light-emitting elements that are coupled between first and second conductors with the addition of other structures (e.g., spacers, light redirectors, substrates, wire bonds, tabs, posts, ground planes and blocks) that support or augment the conductors.

1 . A display structure, comprising: 
 a substrate that has first and second substrate sides and defines a plurality of apertures that communicate with said first and second substrate sides;    a plurality of light-emitting diodes that each have a semiconductor junction between abutted first and second electrodes and that are each received within a respective one of said apertures wherein a portion of said first electrode is absent to thereby provide access to an exposed portion of said second electrode;    a first conductor that is coupled to said first substrate side and coupled to the first electrode of each of said diodes; and    a second conductor that is coupled to said first substrate side and coupled to the exposed portion of each of said diodes;    said diodes thereby energized by a potential between said first and second conductors.    
   
   
       2 . The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second conductors are wire bonded to said first electrode and said exposed portion respectively.  
   
   
       3 . The structure of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second conductors are wire bonded to said first substrate side.  
   
   
       4 . The structure of  claim 1 , further including, proximate to each of said diodes, a light-enhancing structure that is a selected one of a material with a selected index of refraction, a material configured with light dispersing particles, a material configured to diffuse light in a holographic effect, and a phosphor film.  
   
   
       5 . A display structure, comprising: 
 a substrate that has first and second substrate sides and defines a plurality of apertures that communicate with said first and second substrate sides;    a plurality of light-emitting diodes that each have a semiconductor junction between abutted first and second electrodes and that are each received within a respective one of said apertures;    a first conductor that is coupled to said first substrate side and coupled to the first electrode of each of said diodes; and    a second conductor that is coupled to said second substrate side and coupled to the second electrode of each of said diodes;    said diodes thereby energized by a potential between said first and second conductors.    
   
   
       6 . The structure of  claim 5 , wherein said first and second conductors are wire bonded to said first and second electrodes.  
   
   
       7 . The structure of  claim 6 , wherein said first and second conductors are wire bonded to said first and second substrate sides respectively.  
   
   
       8 . The structure of  claim 5 , further including, proximate to each of said diodes, a light-enhancing structure that is a selected one of a material with a selected index of refraction, a material configured with light dispersing particles, a material configured to diffuse light in a holographic effect, and a phosphor film.  
   
   
       9 . A display structure, comprising: 
 a substrate that has first and second substrate sides and defines a plurality of apertures that communicate with said first and second substrate sides;    a plurality of light-emitting diodes that each have a semiconductor junction between abutted first and second electrodes and that are each received within a respective one of said apertures;    a conductor that is coupled to said first substrate side and coupled to the first electrode of at least one of said diodes; and    an electrically-conductive member that contacts the second electrode of at least one of said diodes;    said diodes thereby energized by a potential between said conductor and said member.    
   
   
       10 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein said member is a post, said substrate is wrapped about a portion of said post with said second substrate side contacting said post and said post contacts the second electrode of all of said diodes, and further including: 
 a terminal in contact with one of said conductor and said post;    a cylindrical base surrounding said terminal and in contact with the other of said conductor and said post; and    a glass globe extending from said base and surrounding said substrate and said diodes;    said diodes thereby energized by a potential between said terminal and said base.    
   
   
       11 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said member is one of a plurality of ground planes that are positioned adjacent said second substrate side;    each of said ground planes contacts the second electrodes of a corresponding set of said diodes wherein said set is arranged as segments of a number; and    said conductor is one of a plurality of wires that are each coupled to the first electrode of a respective diode of each of said sets.    
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 11 , further including a plurality of switches that are each arranged to couple a potential to a respective one of said ground planes.  
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 9 , further including a plurality of insulated pins wherein: 
 said member is an electrically conductive block that contacts said second substrate side;    each of said pins extends through said block; and    said conductor is one of a plurality of wires that are each coupled to the first electrode of a respective one of said diodes and coupled to a respective one of said pins.    
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 13 , further including: 
 phosphor films that are each carried over a respective one of said first electrodes to selectively display different colors; and    an opaque overlay positioned over said substrate with apertures arranged to correspond to respective ones of said diodes.    
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 9 , further including, proximate to each of said diodes, a light-enhancing structure that is a selected one of a material with a selected index of refraction, a material configured with light dispersing particles, a material configured to diffuse light in a holographic effect, and a phosphor film.  
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 9 , further including an article of merchandise wherein said conductor and said member are flexible wires and said substrate is a flexible polymer substrate that is carried by said article.  
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said substrate defines at least one light redirector positioned to redirect light from a respective one of said diodes.  
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said article is a selected one of a sign, a container, a clothing item, a shoe, a tongue of a shoe  
   
   
       19 . The structure of  claim 16 , further including at least one fastener that removably couples said substrate to said article.  
   
   
       20 . The structure of  claim 19 , wherein said fastener is a zipper.