Backlight asymmetric light input wedge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9008486-B2
Application number	US-201113246891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2011
Priority date	May 24, 2006
Publication date	Apr 14, 2015
Grant date	Apr 14, 2015

Abstract

A backlight is disclosed and includes a visible light transmissive body primarily propagating light by TIR with a light input surface and a light output surface and a light guide portion and a light input portion. The light guide portion has a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input portion has opposing side surfaces that are not parallel. One of the opposing surfaces is co-planar with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface. A light source is disposed adjacent to the light input surface. The light source emits light into the light input portion. A reflective layer is disposed adjacent to or on the opposing side surfaces.

First claim

We claim:

1. An illumination assembly, comprising:
an asymmetric diverging wedge defined by a narrow end surface and a wide end, and opposing side surfaces that are not parallel and extend between the narrow end and the wide end;
a solid state light source extending into the asymmetric diverging wedge at the narrow end surface, the solid state light source emitting light into the narrow end surface of the diverging wedge;
a light guide optically coupled to the wide end, the light guide having a light reflection surface as a first major surface and a light emission surface as a second major surface opposite the first major surface with an edge surface between the first and second major surfaces, and one of the opposing side surfaces being co-planar from the narrow end surface to the wide end with either the light emission surface or the light reflection surface;
a reflective layer disposed parallel with and adjacent to or on each of the opposing side surfaces; and
an air gap disposed between the reflective layer and each of the opposing side surfaces,
wherein the diverging wedge and the light guide form a unitary body,
wherein the light emission surface functions as a luminaire, and
wherein the wedge primarily propagates light by total internal reflection.

2. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective layer on the light reflection surface, wherein the reflective layer includes a plurality of light extraction elements.

3. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the solid state light source comprises a light emitting diode.

4. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light emission surface and the light reflection surface are parallel.

5. The illumination assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light emission surface and the light reflection surface are non-parallel.

Assignees

• Bryan William J
• Schultz John C
• Meis Michael A
• Destain Patrick R
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Bryan William J
• Schultz John C
• Meis Michael A
• Destain Patrick R

Classifications

• G02B6/0055

  Reflecting element, sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0028 Primary

  Light guide, e.g. taper · CPC title

• G02B6/0031

  Reflecting element, sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0043

  provided on the surface of the light guide · CPC title

• G02B6/0046 Primary

  Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide · CPC title