초록 ▼

A lighting apparatus (10) includes a wave guide (14) formed from a translucent material. The wave guide has a top surface (30), a bottom surface (32) that has a pre-defined curvature, and at least one side surface (34) that receives light (40) injected therein. A plurality of microstructures (36) is

A lighting apparatus (10) includes a wave guide (14) formed from a translucent material. The wave guide has a top surface (30), a bottom surface (32) that has a pre-defined curvature, and at least one side surface (34) that receives light (40) injected therein. A plurality of microstructures (36) is arranged on selected areas of the bottom surface (32) of the wave guide (14). The plurality of microstructures (36) cooperates with the pre-defined curvature of the bottom surface (32) to scatter at least a portion of the light (40) injected into the at least one side surface (34). The scattered light (42) exits the wave guide (14) through the top surface (30). At least one light emitting diode (16) injects light (40) into the at least one side surface (34) of the wave guide (14). The scattered light (42) that exits the wave guide (14) forms at least one symbol viewable by an associated observer.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:a wave guide having a substantially planar light emitting face and discrete microstructures arranged on pre-selected areas of a curved surface within the wave guide, said microstructures interacting with light in the wave guide to scatter at least a portion of the

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:a wave guide having a substantially planar light emitting face and discrete microstructures arranged on pre-selected areas of a curved surface within the wave guide, said microstructures interacting with light in the wave guide to scatter at least a portion of the light out of the wave guide in a pattern, the pattern being determined by a prespecified arrangement of the microstructures and comprises of a series of localized light events each light event being associated with a respective arrangement of microstructures;a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed surroundingly at the wave guide periphery being coupled to the wave guide and injecting light into the wave guide, the plurality of light emitting diodes including:a first sub-set of light emitting diodes emitting light having a first color, anda second sub-set of light emitting diodes emitting light having a second color that mixes with the first color in the wave guide to produce a third color; andan encapsulant surrounding the plurality of light emitting diodes and abutting the wave guide, the encapsulant matching a refractive index of the wave guide.2. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the pattern includes at least one of a letter, a numeral, an arrow, an iconic image of a walking man, an iconic image of a hand, an iconic image of a circle with a slash drawn there through, an iconic image indicating “pedestrian don't walk”, and an iconic image indicating “pedestrian walk”.3. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pattern further comprises:light scattered at wide angles, said light scattered into wide angles by the microstructures, said light being viewable at a wide range of viewing angles.4. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:a cladding comprising one of a surface coating and a cladding material, said cladding being disposed on the surface on which the microstructures are disposed, said cladding cooperating with the microstructures to effectuate the light scattering.5. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wave guide further includes:a tinting whereby the scattered light has a pre-selected color.6. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the surface on which the microstructures are arranged has a pre-selected curvature.7. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:the wave guide defines a planar region; andthe plurality of light emitting diodes is arranged around at least a portion of a perimeter of the planar region and injects light into the planar region of the wave guide.8. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein:at least a portion of the surface on which the microstructures are arranged is tilted with respect to the plane of the planar region such that the tilt cooperates with the microstructures and the plurality of light emitting diodes to effectuate the scattering of the light in the pre-determined pattern.9. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:a refractive index-matching material disposed at least between the plurality of light emitting diodes and the wave guide.10. An optical wave guide for use in conjunction with an associated light source, the optical wave guide comprising:a translucent material formed into a shape having a top surface, an arcuate bottom surface, and at least one side surface in optical communication with the associated light source; anda plurality of microstructures grouped selectively about the bottom surface, said plurality of microstructures cooperating with the bottom surface to scatter at least a portion of light injected from the associated light source, the scattered light exiting the wave guide through the top surface, wherein the scattered light forms a pre-selected light output pattern viewable outside the wave guide, the pre-selected light output pattern including a predetermined sequence of localized light events which sequence forms a human recognizable symbol combination.11. The optical wave guide as set forth in claim 10, wherein the plurality of microstructures includes a surface roughness or texture formed into the bottom surface.12. The optical wave guide as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:a cladding material disposed on the outside of the bottom surface that cooperates with the plurality of microstructures to effectuate the light scattering.13. A lighting apparatus including:a light emissive wave guide including:a substantially planar light emissive face, anda curved bottom surface, which is textured in preselected localized areas, the light emissive wave guide defining a center and a perimeter, wherein a thickness of the light emissive wave guide at the perimeter is greater than a thickness of the light emissive wave guide at the center;an optical cladding opposed to said curved textured bottom surface, and;a plurality of light producing elements arranged around the perimeter of the light emissive wave guide, the light producing elements producing the light substantially along an axis orthogonally disposed relative to the light emissive wave guide, wherein the light interacting with the textured surface is emitted from the light emissive face in a series of preselected symbols each symbol corresponding to the localized area which series of symbols forms a human recognizable symbol combination.14. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the textured surface forms a symbol.15. The lighting apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the textured surface comprises a plurality of microstructures arranged in a pattern on an interior side of the light emissive wave guide.16. A lighting apparatus comprising:a light emissive wave guide including a textured surface;a plurality of light producing elements arranged about a periphery of the light emissive wave guide to produce light which interacts with the textured surface and is emitted by the light emissive wave guide; andan encapsulant surrounding the plurality of light producing elements and abutting the light emissive wave guide, the encapsulant comprises of a prespecified material having a refractive index which matches a refractive index of the light emissive wave guide.