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An edge lit luminaire includes a light source. A housing has an interior cavity for receiving the light source. The housing includes a heat sink for directing heat away from the light source. At least one optional end cap is secured to an end of the housing that covers the cavity. A lightguide is se

An edge lit luminaire includes a light source. A housing has an interior cavity for receiving the light source. The housing includes a heat sink for directing heat away from the light source. At least one optional end cap is secured to an end of the housing that covers the cavity. A lightguide is secured inside the housing and has an edge located in proximity to the light source. At least one of a reflector and a lens (e.g., lens optic) directs light from the light source to the edge of the lightguide. The lightguide includes a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from the lightguide. The housing can also feature a channel and slot for mounting the luminaire to a support surface. The lens optic can be designed to have specific dimensions that facilitate efficient design and operation of the luminaire.

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1. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a light source;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said light source, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said light source, wherein said housing includes opposing first and second surfaces, and a channel bei

1. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a light source;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said light source, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said light source, wherein said housing includes opposing first and second surfaces, and a channel being disposed in said housing near said first surface that can receive a head of a fastener for mounting said luminaire to a support surface, a slot being disposed in said first surface in communication with and a smaller size than said channel for receiving a shank of the fastener;at least one end cap secured to an end of said housing that covers said cavity;a lightguide secured inside said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said light source, said lightguide being received in an opening in said second surface, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;at least one of a reflector and a lens for directing light from said light source to said edge of said lightguide. 2. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said light source includes a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs). 3. The edge lit luminaire of claim 2 comprising a printed circuit board on which said LEDs are mounted. 4. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said first surface includes an opening that is larger than a head of the fastener, said opening communicating with said channel. 5. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said housing and said end cap include a plurality of fins at exterior surfaces thereof, and fins of said end caps are aligned with said fins of said housing. 6. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said housing has an hourglass shape as viewed from the ends of said housing. 7. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said housing has a shape of a trapezoid as viewed from the ends of said housing. 8. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said lightguide has a planar or tapered shape. 9. The edge lit luminaire of claim 8 wherein a width of said lightguide extends between two spaced apart ends of said lightguide and said housing is disposed at only one of said ends. 10. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a removable side section permitting access to said cavity. 11. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 comprising a passageway that communicates inside said housing between said channel and said cavity, whereby said passageway receives electrical wires connected to leads of said circuit board that are in electrical connection with said light source. 12. The edge lit luminaire of claim 1 wherein one of said housing and each said end cap includes a boss and the other of said housing and each said end cap includes an opening for receiving said boss. 13. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a light source;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said light source, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said light source;a connecting member that joins two of said housings placed end to end;at least one end cap secured to an end of said housings that covers said cavity;a lightguide secured inside said housings and having an edge located in proximity to said light source, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide; andat least one of a reflector and a lens for directing light from said light source to said edge of said lightguide. 14. The edge lit luminaire of claim 13 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs); a support structure on which said LEDs are mounted; and said housing includes said interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located. 15. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said support structure comprises a printed circuit board, wherein said circuit board is metal clad or an unclad polymer. 16. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said housing includes opposing first and second surfaces, said lightguide being received in an opening in said second surface, and a channel being disposed in said housing near said first surface that can receive a head of a fastener for mounting said luminaire to a support surface, a slot being disposed in said first surface in communication with and a smaller size than said channel for receiving a shank of the fastener. 17. The edge lit luminaire of claim 16 wherein said first surface includes an opening that is larger than a head of the fastener that communicates with said channel. 18. The edge lit luminaire of claim 16 comprising a passageway that communicates inside said housing between said channel and said cavity, whereby said passageway receives electrical wires connected to leads of said circuit board that are in electrical connection with said LEDs. 19. The edge lit luminaire of claim 16 wherein one of said housing and said end cap includes a boss and the other of said housing and said end cap includes an opening for receiving said boss. 20. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said housing and said end cap include a plurality of fins at exterior surfaces thereof, and said fins of said end cap are aligned with said fins of said housing. 21. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said housing has an hourglass shape as viewed from the ends of said housing. 22. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said housing has a shape of a trapezoid as viewed from the ends of said housing. 23. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said lightguide has a planar or tapered shape. 24. The edge lit luminaire of claim 23 wherein a width of said lightguide extends between two spaced apart ends of said lightguide and said housing is disposed at only one of said ends. 25. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said housing includes a removable side section permitting access to said cavity. 26. The edge lit luminaire of claim 14 wherein said LEDs are spaced apart from each other by a pitch length, and first said LEDs in adjacent said housings are spaced apart from each other by a distance D2 ranging between one and two said pitch lengths. 27. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs);a support structure on which said LEDs are mounted;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;at least one end cap secured to an end of said housing that covers said cavity;a lightguide secured inside said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide; andat least one of a reflector and a lens that directs light from said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide,wherein said LEDs are spaced apart from each other by a pitch length and a first LED closest to said end cap is disposed at a distance D1 of between ½ and 1 said pitch length from an end of said end cap. 28. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs);support structure on which said LEDs are mounted;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;wherein said housing includes opposing first and second surfaces and a channel disposed in said housing near said first surface that can receive a fastener for mounting said luminaire to a support surface, a slot being disposed in said first surface in communication with and a smaller size than said channel for receiving a shank of the fastener;a lightguide disposed in an opening in said second surface of said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide; andat least one of a reflector and a lens that directs light from said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide. 29. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a support structure, said LEDs being spaced apart from each other by a pitch length P;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;a lightguide disposed in an opening in said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;a reflector that directs light from one of said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide, wherein said reflector has a length that is less than or equal to said pitch length and has a width that is less than or equal to a width of said edge;wherein said optic said reflector includes a cup surrounding said LED, wherein a depth of said cup is approximately equal to a depth of said LED and any inherent optic component of said LED. 30. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a support structure;wherein said support structure comprises a printed circuit board on which said LEDs are connected, said LEDs being spaced apart from each other by a pitch length P;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;fasteners mounting said circuit board to said housing between said LEDs, each said fastener having a head;a lightguide disposed in an opening in said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;at least one of a reflector and a lens optic that directs light from one of said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide,wherein the at least one reflector and lens optic has the following:a width that is less than or equal to a width of said edge and a length that is less than said pitch length P by a distance that is greater than or equal to a diameter of said head of said fastener. 31. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a support structure;said LEDs being spaced apart from each other by a pitch length P;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;a lightguide disposed in an opening in said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs;at least one of a reflector and a lens optic that directs light from one of said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide, said lightguide including a light extraction surface enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;wherein there is a mixing zone height H located between an apex of said LEDs to an outer surface of said housing at said opening, wherein H/P is greater than about 0.8;wherein the at least one reflector and lens optic has a length that is less than or equal to said pitch length and has a width that is less than or equal to a width of said edge. 32. The edge lit luminaire of claim 31 wherein H/P ranges from 0.8 to 1. 33. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a support structure, said LEDs being spaced apart from each other by a pitch length P;a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs and in which said support structure is located, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said LEDs;a lightguide disposed in an opening in said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, and a film on said lightguide that includes letters, symbols, or graphics printed, engraved, or embossed thereon enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;at least one of a reflector and a lens optic that directs light from one of said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide;wherein the at least one reflector and lens optic has a length that is less than or equal to said pitch length and has a width that is less than or equal to a width of said edge. 34. An edge lit luminaire comprising: a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs);a housing having an interior cavity for receiving said LEDs, wherein said housing includes or is a heat sink for directing heat away from said light source;a lightguide secured inside said housing and having an edge located in proximity to said LEDs, a light transmitting film or plate on side surfaces of said lightguide, said film including letters, symbols, or graphics printed, engraved or embossed thereon enabling light to be transmitted from said lightguide;at least one of a reflector and a lens for directing light from said LEDs to said edge of said lightguide; anda clip secured to an edge of said lightguide remote from said housing that retains said film or plate against said lightguide.