초록 ▼

Disclosed is a low profile lighting apparatus that is particularly advantageous for use as a backlight for illuminating a display. The lighting apparatus includes a waveguide coupled to a light source for injecting light into the waveguide. The waveguide includes a plurality of elongate structures f

Disclosed is a low profile lighting apparatus that is particularly advantageous for use as a backlight for illuminating a display. The lighting apparatus includes a waveguide coupled to a light source for injecting light into the waveguide. The waveguide includes a plurality of elongate structures for ejecting light propagating within the waveguide through a predetermined surface of the waveguide. Another embodiment of the waveguide includes a central region of reduced thickness that redirects light propagating within the waveguide. The lighting apparatus has a low profile so it is particularly useful in areas of limited space.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An illumination device, comprising:a waveguide having an illumination coupler embedded in an interior region of said waveguide, said illumination coupler adapted to receive light from a point source within said interior region, and to direct light between generally parallel top and bottom surface

1. An illumination device, comprising:a waveguide having an illumination coupler embedded in an interior region of said waveguide, said illumination coupler adapted to receive light from a point source within said interior region, and to direct light between generally parallel top and bottom surfaces outside said interior region, said illumination coupler comprising a refractive index interface which is inclined relative to at least one of said top and bottom surfaces said interface being configured to reflect light rays emitted by the point source which propagate along a line that forms less than the critical angle of total internal reflection with respect to a line lying in one of said top and bottom surfaces, such that light rays which would otherwise pass out of said waveguide are captured for propagation between said top and bottom surfaces.