Illuminated Panel

Abstract

Products are described comprising: a panel for emitting light therefrom comprising a first, front surface member and a second, rear member that define a volume therebetween, wherein the product furthe

Description

The present invention relates to illuminated panels in which more diffuse light sources are combined with more focused light sources to produce an apparatus yielding combined lighting effects on the surface of the illuminated panel. Preferably the focused light is supplied by way of fibre optic members. The combination of light sources yields the ability to provide a multiplicity of lighting effects. The present invention also relates to methods for producing products of the invention and intermediate products made in the course of those methods. The invention also relates to the use and / or installation of the illuminated panels in vehicles, preferably automobiles, buildings, and / or furniture. In addition, the invention also considers use of methods, products, and apparatuses of the invention in manufacture and maintenance of vehicles, buildings, and / or furniture. In particular, the products of the invention are suitable for use in automotive interiors such as headliners, i.e. the interior of the roof of an automobile cabin. Products of the invention are also suitable for use in other areas of automotive interiors, such as door panels. A central function of an automobile is the comfort and convenience it provides the user in being conveyed from place to place. Thus the cabin of a vehicle, especially an automobile, provides both the interface between the occupants and the user of the driving controls and the environment in which the controls and be utilised safely and all of the occupants conveyed in comfort. Accordingly, the aesthetic appeal of the cabin contributes significantly to the comfort and wellbeing of the occupants. Decorations and adornments such as sculptural features or flourishes are well known. However, decoration can also be achieved by the use of lighting effects, which also contribute to the overall appearance and design appeal of the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, lights, by dint of placement and controllability lend themselves well to functional characteristics, such as signalling vehicle status or other alerts and / or updates as to the state of the vehicle and the wider world. Car headliners (i.e. the lining of the roof panel of an automobile) have previously been embedded with fibre optic members whereby the output of the fibre points through the surface of the headliner into the cabin. In this way a “starfield” or other lighting effect made up of a multiplicity of points of light projected from inside or from the surface headliner has been achieved. This is described in UK patent no. 2563250. In addition, systems for control of the output of fibre optics whose output projects into the cabin of an interior are also described. Thus fibre optic cables embedded in the headliner of a vehicle can be used for enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a vehicle cabin and also for signalling information to the occupants therein. Headliner panels that are fully illuminated are also known. In such applications it is desirable if the distribution of the light output is even across the whole of the headliner panel, once again because of the aesthetic effect thereof and because of the functional advantages to cabin occupants of an even light field. In this way useful illumination can be provided to the occupants of a vehicle cabin. However, producing a homogenous light field is incompatible with fibre optic members transiting through the volume where the light is projected because they necessarily cast shadows or otherwise disrupt the homogeneity and natural texture of the light output. Thus, a desirable aesthetic effect of, for example a sunset or the aurora borealis being rendered by a more diffuse light display yet overlayed with the distinct patterns of a starfield has hither to been unachievable without unrealistic shadowing being present from the fibre optics yielding the starfield effect. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a means of combining illuminated panels that comprise both diffuse illumination covering substantially the whole area of the illuminated panel with the distinct light outputs of fibre optics. One reason that this need arises is aesthetic in that such realistic renderings of the sunset, twilight, and night skies contribute significantly to the aesthetic appeal of a headliner in a luxury car. A further reason is that a lit panel can significantly contribute to the usefulness of a cabin in the twilight or dark and fibre optic outputs can significantly contribute to these subtle but present information signalling to the occupants of a cabin. Thus it would be desirable to combine these two forms of light sources to provide a more functional and / or appealing headliner for the users of a vehicle. Thus an object of the invention is to provide an illuminated panel that comprises two forms of illumination: firstly illumination over the whole area of the panel; and secondly, distinct and defined point illumination in specific areas and / or points of the illuminated panel surface. The invention provides a product comprising: a panel for emitting light therefrom comprising a first, front surface member and a second, rear member that define a volume therebetween, wherein the product further comprises: a) a light source mounted on the product that projects light into all or part of the volume between the first and second members; and b) a fibre optic member that transits all or part of the volume between the first, front member and the second member, wherein an end of the fibre optic member is located at the front surface. Preferably the product comprises a multiplicity of fibre-optic members. In the context of the present invention, an optical fibre (optical fiber) is a cylindrical dielectric waveguide (nonconducting waveguide) that transmits light along its axis through the process of total internal reflection, typically optical fibres include a core surrounded by a transparent cladding material with a lower index of refraction. Light is confined to the core of the optical fibre by the phenomenon of total internal reflection which causes the fibre to act as a waveguide for the light carried therein. Typically, a fibre optic member will have a proximal end, from which light is emitted, and a distal end, into which light is projected and thus conveyed by the fibre-optic member. Preferably light is projected into the fibre optic member from a light source, however ambient light may also be conveyed through a fibre-optic member. Use of fibre-optic members in this way has the advantage of allowing designs to be rendered by multiple light outputs spread across the first surface of the product. In one preferred embodiment the design may be a starfield or star map representation of a night sky. Advantageously, the output of the light transmitted by the fibre-optic members allows alternative colours to be displayed and the incorporation of lighting effects such as flashing, pseudo-movement (e.g. “shooting-star” effects). Preferably the fibre optic members are single optical fibres. However, the use of bundles of optical fibres to provide an optical fibre is also envisaged. The front, surface member preferably provides the area from which the light is emitted. The surface may be flat or planar in configuration. Thus the surface may be substantially two-dimensional. The surface may be contoured or curved and thus be three-dimensional. The surface may have a relatively smooth or even surface. The surface of the front, surface member may be covered with a material, preferably a textile, through which light may be visible. The use of contoured surfaces means that products can be manufactured that are pre-shaped and configured for installation in locations where a contoured surface is required, e.g. in the headliner or an automobile. This has the additional advantage of better enabling the product to be integrated seamlessly into the headliner. A textile surface covering may further allow the provision of a flush and / or unblemished surface covering the product. In the present context light is defined as electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength that is visible to the human eye. Electromagnetic radiation of the wavelengths of visible light is particularly well suited to transmission through optical fibres. However, fibre optical transmission of infra-red (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths may be transmissible by the optical fibres of the invention and therefore these wavelengths fall within the definition of the term “light” in the context of the present invention. In the current context the term transit is defined as the act of passing through or over another object. Preferably the fibre optic member transits all or part of the volume between the first, front member and the second member. In the context of the present disclosure the term located means set or fixed in a defined position with respect to other objects of the product. In the present context the proximal (i.e. preferably light emitting) end of the fibre optic member is located at the front surface and this definition encompasses the end of the fibre-optic member being located in proximity to or against the first, front surface, preferably abutting the plane of the front surface, most preferably with the end substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front surface. This arrangement has the advantage of projecting light emitted by the terminus of the fibre-optic member out from the first surface. In the present context the volume between the first and second members may also be considered to be a volume or space defined by the extent of the first and second members, preferably the two-dimensional extent of the first and second members. The light source may project light into all of the volume between the first and second members. This has the advantage of there being no unlit portions of the panel. When there are no unlit portions of the panel it can be more easily and simply integrated into the interior design of a vehicle cabin as dim or unlit portions of the panel do not need to be accommodated, masked, or camouflaged. Furthermore, the light projected into the volume of the panel may be controlled in terms of its colour and / or intensity. Thus, advantageously, the invention allows for the production of sky-wide lighting conditions such as aurora borealis, sunsets, and / or sunrises, in the context of also projecting distinct points of light on the panel such as those required to render a starfield effect or representation. Shadows are defined in the current context as objects disrupting or blocking the passage of light from a source to a viewer. Thus in the present context shadows include disruption of light by refraction, as seen by a viewer including by objects within the volume of the panel interrupting, refracting, or bending the path of the light. Preferably the first and second members match and have congruent or equivalent dimensions. This has the advantage of more easily lighting the whole extent of the panel and simplifying manufacture of the panel. The first, front member and the second, rear member may be substantially parallel. An invariant distance between the front and second members provided by this arrangement has the advantage of being more easily homogeneously or evenly lit. Without wishing to be bound by theory this is because it is not necessary to vary the output of the light sources to accommodate for close or greater distances between the front and rear members. This arrangement also has the advantage of more easily lighting the whole extent of the panel and simplifying manufacture of the panel. A terminus of a fibre optic element may be bonded to the front member such, 5 preferably the light emitted by the fibre optic element is projected through or from the front surface of the panel. Most preferably, the terminus of the fibre optic elements is fixed in position using a bonding material. The bonding material may be a clear or transparent epoxy resin, preferably Plexus MA300 (RTM). The terminus of the fibre optic may be bonded to the rear of the front member. 10 The edges of the front and rear surfaces may also define sides surrounding the volume between the two surfaces. Preferably the first and second surfaces are of substantially similar dimensions. Advantageously, the edges of the first and second members coincide in the X and Y plane that are separated in the Z plane. 15 The volume of the space between the first and second members may also define _ . sides surrounding the volume between the two members. CM The volume or space between the first and second members may be partially or -^20 wholly occupied by a light guide. Thus the side of the light guide distal to the first member may be considered to be the second member of the product. A light guide is a device used to direct light from a light source (typically an LED) to a place where the light is needed, i.e. to be emitted at a destination location. Light guides are also sometimes referred to as light pipes. Light guides are typically made of glass or 25 plastic, may have an index of refraction of approximately 1.5. Light that is projected into the light guide (“injected”) within the correct range of angles becomes trapped inside the guide because of total internal reflection. Once the light is so constrained, the light remains inside the guide until it is extracted by an extraction feature, is fully absorbed by the material, or encounters a surface at less than the critical angle. In 30 some this instance the light guide is used to extract the injected light the light along the length of the light guide. Preferably the extracted light is also emitted in a specific direction. This has the advantage of making the light guide appear lit over all or a part of its emission surface. Extraction of light from the light guide is achieved by adding components to the device such as paint dots or textures (small bumps or holes) that influence the way the light is reflected, breaking the total-internal reflection condition, and causing the light to exit the light guide. Light guides are typically used to homogenize light emerging from one or more light sources. By allowing light to travel down the length of a guide while reflecting off the sides, advantageously the light is “mixed,” and the light emerging from the emission surface of the light guide may be spatially and angularly uniform. The light guide may have portals or tunnels therethrough. Preferably, when the light guide is mounted on the first member the tunnels or portals are perpendicular to the plane of the first member. The fibre optic elements may protrude into and / or travel through the tunnel or portal. Preferably the fibre-optic element transits the tunnel. Shadows cast by the fibre-optic members passing through the volume defined by the first and second members may be compensated for by modification of the optical properties of the light guide. Preferably this modification means that differential refraction redistributes the light transmitted by the light guide to provide an alternative field of illumination. Most preferably this modified illuminated field is a substantially homogeneous illuminated field. This means of modification may be achieved by shaping, etching, or engraving of the inner and / or outer surface of the light guide. Redistribution of the light emission from the panel in this way use the advantage that means that shadows from the fibre optic elements can be compensated for such that they are effectively invisible in the background light field yielded by the light source of the panel projecting into the volume of the panel. The tunnels or portals through the light guide may be cylindrical. This shape has the advantage of ease of manufacturing in that the portals may be created by drilling. Furthermore, this particular geometric configuration means that there is less disruption of the light caused by sharper or angular edges. Thus a rounded, preferably circular, cross-section is advantageous for avoiding shadowing by the passage of a fibre optics member through the light guide. Preferably the diameter of the portals through the light guide are sized to match the diameter of the fibre optic materials. Most preferably, sufficient gap is left between the walls of the fibre-optic and the matter of the light guide in order that that total internal reflection is maintained in the fibre-optic member as it transits the tunnel in the light guide so that light is not lost from the fibre optic member in an uncontrolled manner. The light guide may be ground, engraved, or etched, by a laser, diamond, or otherwise, or moulded, in order to compensate for the presence of the holes and enable emission of light evenly across the surface of the light guide. Preferably the outer surface of the light guide, abutting or in proximity to the first, front surface member is engraved, or etched, by a laser, diamond or otherwise, or moulded, in order to compensate for the presence of the holes and enable emission of light evenly across the first surface. The light source may be located at or in proximity to an edge or side of the panel. Preferably the light source is located on an edge of the panel and, most preferably is mounted thereon. This has the advantage of producing a panel with convenient access to the light source. Accordingly, the light source is advantageously easily and conveniently fixed in position, installed in connection with a power source, maintained, repaired, and / or replaced. The origin of the light source may be located on the second member. Preferably the light source is located on the inner surface of the second member, i.e. facing the first member. The facing portions of the surfaces may be substantially parallel. Preferably the gap or distance between the facing portions of the first and second surfaces is IQ-50 mm, more preferably 10-20 mm, most preferably 15 millimetres. This spacing has the advantage of allowing the light to spread sufficiently so that the lighting effect is homogenous. A portion of the exterior of the fibre optic member may be polished. Preferably the portion of the fibre optic member is that proximal to the terminus of the fibre optic member. One or more of the fibre optic members comprised in the product may have a portion of the proximal terminal area polished on the exterior. The has the advantage of greater transmissibility of light and prevents loss of light from the fibre optic member into the light guide. Alternatively a portion of the exterior of the fibre optic member may be roughened. 5 Preferably the portion of the fibre optic member is that proximal to the terminus of the fibre optic member. One or more of the fibre optic members comprised in the product may have a portion of the proximal terminal area roughened on the exterior. Such roughening allows ambient light to better penetrate the fibre optic and thus be projected as a point on the panel, but without artificial lighting. Thus, advantageously 10 further lighting effects are enabled. The light source preferably comprises or is composed of a light emitting diode (LED), preferably a strip comprising a multiplicity of LEDs. The LED strip may be mounted on the side of the panel. This has the advantage of convenient installation and 15 convenient replacement should this be required during the life of the panel. CXI The light source may be modulated in terms of intensity and / or colour. This yields the advantage of rendering shading and movement to the sky field aspect of the panel illumination. 20 The internal surface of the second panel may be equipped with an array of LED elements projecting towards the inside surface of the first member. Light sources, and in particular LEDs, may be mounted on a printed circuit board 25 (PCB), preferably a flexible printed circuit board. The circuit board, and particularly a flexible printed circuit board may be supported by mounting on a supporting structure or material, such as a foam or textile. The material may be a foam, preferably a spacer fabric such as 3mesh® (RTM) made by Muller Textil GmbH. 30 The first and second members may be movable relative to one another such that the distance between them can be modified or modulated. Thus the first and second members may be reversibly or permanently mounted on a structure or support at a set distance apart. This has the advantage of allowing the spread of light to be optimised. A further and significant advantage is also that the distance between the first and second side can be markedly increased in order to give access to the rear of the first side such that affixing the termini of the fibre optic members in place can be more conveniently achieved. Subsequent to affixing the termini of the fibre optic members in place, the second side of the panel can be moved into closer proximity to the first side of the parallel yet be arranged so that the two sides remain in parallel and then the second side be fixed in place. Accordingly, placement of the termini of the fibre optic members of the fibre optic members is more convenient and manufacture and installation of the panel is simplified. Accordingly, the invention also provides a method of installation of a product as described herein comprising the steps of: securing the first or second member of the panel to the object on which it is to be mounted, e.g. a subassembly of a vehicle; and the unsecured member is moved relative to the secured member before being fixed in position. Preferably the first member is secured to the object on which it is to be mounted. The invention also provides an intermediate into the manufacturing process of products of the invention. Thus the invention provides a light guide having a first and second surfaces, further comprising a portal or tunnels through the lightguide from the first to the second surfaces. Preferably the tunnel or portal is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. Most preferably the lightguide comprises a multiplicity of tunnels or portals. This configuration has the advantage of allowing fibre optic members to transit the lightguide to provide combined lighting effects as described herein. The apparent disadvantage of providing holes through the lightguide that might disrupt the distribution or even spread of the light output (i.e. by casting shadows, as described herein) may be compensated for by etching, moulding our shaping the material of the lightguide, preferably the emission surface of the lightguide, to yield even light emission from the product. Products of the invention may be for use in a vehicle, furniture, or part of a building. Preferably the product is for use in a vehicle, most preferably wherein the vehicle is an automobile or car. Advantageously, products of the invention and products produced according to methods of the invention have characteristics of sufficient strength and structural stability to comply with the engineering requirements for installation in vehicles, including automobiles. The vehicle may be an automobile, train, boat, or aeroplane (airplane). Products of the invention may be for use in the interior or cabin of a vehicle. Preferably products of the invention are, or are comprised in, the roof or headliner of a vehicle. Advantageously, products of the invention and products produced according to methods of the invention can be coloured or patterned in order to match and accommodate other elements within a vehicle cabin or interior. Installation of the product in a vehicle may by mounting the product on a subassembly of a vehicle. Preferably the subassembly is a carrier structure. The subassembly may be a carrier for inclusion as a component or subassembly in a vehicle roof, preferably a headliner. Accordingly, the invention also provides a vehicle comprising a product of the invention. The vehicle may be an automobile, train, aeroplane, or boat. Preferably the vehicle is an automobile. Examples and Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and examples in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the construction of an illuminated panel 101 comprising fibre optic members 103 transiting therethrough. The lower surface of the panel 105 comprises a cover layer over a surface of a light guide 107 that extends over substantially the whole area of the panel. One or more light sources 109 are located at the edge 111 of the illuminated panel projecting into the light guide 107. In this way, the light is distributed across the area of the panel by the lightguide. Tunnels 113 through the light guide carrying the fibre optic members are cylindrical and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the light guide. Laser etching or engraving of the light guide allows the diffraction of the light within the light guide to be controlled in order to provide homogeneous emitted lighting by compensating for and ameliorating the shadowing of the light caused by the fibre optics located in the light guide and projecting therethrough. Fig. 2a is photograph showing an illuminated panel in which the lower surface of the rear illuminated panel 205 is held in spaced separation from the front panel 203 on which an array of LED elements 201 is located. The array of LED elements is distributed across the rear illuminated panel in a regular array and the surface of the illuminated panel spaced at the optimum distance from the rear illuminated panel in order to provide a homogenous area of illumination over substantially the whole of the illuminated panel. Additionally, fibre optic members 207 are mounted so that they project substantially perpendicularly from the lower surface of the illuminated panel towards the front panel and passing through the rear illuminated panel past the array of LED elements. Thus the fibre optic members run parallel to the light path of the beams emitted by the LED elements, or substantially so, thus preventing the production of shadows in the light field of the LEDs by the fibre optic members. Fig. 2b is photograph looking down at an angle at the rear of the illuminated panel shown in Fig. 2a. Fig. 2c is a close-up photograph of the illuminated panel of Figs 2a and 2b showing the fibre optic elements passing through the back of the rear illuminated panel and past the array of LED elements mounted on the front of the rear illuminated panel (thus the LED elements are not visible in Fig. 2c). Accordingly, both the alternative embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 allow for the provision of an illuminated light panel with two forms of output, firstly a diffuse light output that can reach over substantially all, or part, of the area of the illuminated panel combined with distinct points of light also projected from the same panel. Figure 3a shows a diagrammatic example of the use of backlight to produce a range of views blended across the panel as a background to distinct points of light projected from the terminus of fibre-optic members. Figure 3B illustrates the use of lighting effects to produce a rendering of the aurora borealis, which comprises dynamic and moving lighting effects with changing of colours, in this case combined with the punctate lighting pattern of a starfield. Both the alternative embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 allow for the provision of the output displays shown in Figure 3a and 3b. Example 1 In a first example a layer of material or fabric 105 provides a partially or completely light transmissible base on which a light guide 107 or light guides are mounted. The layer of material or fabric may be shaped or held in position using a supporting structure such as a scaffold, preferably with circumferential members. Preferably the layer of material or fabric is held taut. Light sources 109 are in turn mounted to at least one edge of the light guide. The light guide has pre-drilled holes (tunnels) 113 in the locations where points of light are required to be visible through the base layer. Fibre optic members 103 are passed through the tunnels 113 drilled in the light guide material. The tunnels are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base material. The fibre optic members are secured in position against the base material using an epoxy-resin cement (preferably the cement is transparent; most preferably is a two-part formulation). The light guide is further modified by etching in the vicinity of the tunnels in order to distribute the light to compensate for the shadowing effect of the tunnels and / or the fibre optic members as they travel through the light guide. The terminus of the fibre optics abutting the base material are the proximal ends of the light guides. The distil ends of the light guides are linked to a light source. The light source may be controllable so that each of the fibre optic outputs can be independently controlled. Alternatively, all of the outputs can be controlled at once or a subset can be controlled. The illuminated panel so formed is suitable for installation in an automobile or a building, preferably an automobile in the headliner thereof. Alternatively, such an illuminated panel need not be precisely planar and so can be installed in locations where alternative shapes are required, e.g. as a door panel for an automobile interior. Example 2 In a second version of the invention a translucent or light transmissible base material or fabric is mounted on a retaining structure, frame, or subassembly. A further subassembly is mounted parallel to the plane of the base material on members that are substantially perpendicular to the base material and the second subassembly such that the gap between the second subassembly and the base material can be adjusted. Preferably this is achieved using threaded rods whose heads are secured to the supporting subassembly of the base material and the shank of the rods equipped with nuts and bolts to locate and secure the second subassembly in spaced separation from the base material. In this way the optimum gap of 15 millimetres between the base material and the second subassembly can be achieved simply and repeatedly. The second subassembly is also equipped with an array of LED elements that project from the second assembly across the gap and onto the material of the base layer. In this way homogenous light is projected onto the base layer. The particular gap between the LED elements and the base layer depends on the spacing of the LED elements and the spreading of the light from the LED elements. It is noted that 15 millimetres is the most preferred gap between the LED elements and the base layer for an array of LEDs spaced in a square array at 25 mm separation from one another in the X-Y plane. This array may be extended to form a larger array, preferably this larger array is a rectangular or square array. Fibre optic members are mounted substantially vertically on the base layer in the desired locations and secured in place using an epoxy-resin cement (preferably the cement is transparent; most preferably is a two-part formulation). The fibre optic members are mounted substantially perpendicularly with respect to the base layer and then go through cognate vertically positioned holes in the second subassembly. In this way the fibre optic members are made vertical so that shadowing by the fibre optic members from the light projected from LED elements is minimised. The proximal end of the fibre optic is that which is secured to the base layer. The distal end of the fibre optic members can be attached to control the light sources. The light source may be controllable so that each of the fibre optic outputs can be independently controlled. Alternatively, all of the outputs can be controlled at once or a subset can be controlled. An advantage of this arrangement is that during installation of the panel the base layer can be secured in place and the second subassembly moved to be at a greater separation distance from the base member so that there is greater access to the rear of the base layer. There is then greater access to manipulate, place, and affix the proximal ends of the fibre optic members in the correct positions. Once the base layer is in position and the fibre optics are set in place then the rear subassembly can be moved towards the base layer and located, preferably secured, in the optimum position. In the present example the optimum position is with a gap of 15mm. In this way the convenience of manufacturing and installation of the fibre optic members within the panel is significantly improved. Thus the invention is particularly well suited for producing components for inclusion in vehicles, preferably automobiles, that meet and / or can be adapted to meet specific engineering, design, and / or aesthetic parameters. In particular the invention yields improved methods of producing and installing such products and the intermediate products useful in their production. 12 02 26

Claims

1. A product comprising:a panel for emitting light therefrom comprising a first, front surface member and a second, rear member that define a volume therebetween, wherein the 5 product further comprises:a) a light source mounted on the product that projects light into all or part of the volume between the first and second members; andb) a fibre optic member that transits all or part of the volume between the first, front member and the second member, wherein an end of 10 the fibre optic member is located at the front surface.

2. A product according to claim 1, wherein the product comprises a multiplicity of fibre-optic members.15 3. A product according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the product comprises asecond light source whose output is transmitted by the fibre optic member.

4. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

205. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source comprises a multiplicity of light emitting diodes (LED) arranged as a linear array.

6. A product according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light source comprises a 25 multiplicity of light emitting diodes (LED) arranged in a two-dimensional grid configuration.

7. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein an end of the fibre optic member is located substantially at a right angle to the first member.

8. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein an end of the fibre optic member terminates at or level with the outside surface of the first member.

309. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein volume between the first and second members may be partially or wholly occupied by a light guide.10.A product according to claim 9, wherein the lightguide comprises a portal or 5 tunnel therethrough from the first to the second surface.

11. A product according to claim 10, wherein the fibre optic member transits the lightguide through the portal or tunnel.10 12. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the light source is located ata side of the panel.

13. A product according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the light source is located on the second member.CD15£\J 14. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the first member is flat orcontoured.£\J 15.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second'’“20 members are substantially parallel.16.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the second member is shaped to match the contours of the first member.25 17.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and secondmembers are spaced 10-50 mm apart.18.A product according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second members are spaced 15 mm apart.3019. A product according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the exterior of the fibre optic member is polished.

20. A product according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein a portion of the exterior of the fibre optic member is roughened.

21. A light guide having a first and second surfaces, further comprising a portal or 5 tunnels through the lightguide from the first to the second surfaces.

22. A product according to any preceding claim, for use in a vehicle, furniture, or part of a building.10 23. A product according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle is an automobile,train, boat, or aeroplane.

24. A vehicle comprising a product according to any preceding claim.15 25. A method of installing a product of any of claims 1 to 20 comprising the steps of:securing the first or second member of the product to the object on which it is to be mounted;moving the unsecured member relative to the secured member; and fixing the mobile member in position.2 02 26

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