ILLUMINATION SURFACES WITH REDUCED LINEAR ARTIFACTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A planar illumination device comprising:
- first and second light-guide elements each comprising an illumination surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of externally reflective side walls perpendicular to the illumination and bottom surfaces, the first and second light-guide elements being separated by a gap; and
at least one mirror in opposition to the bottom surfaces of the light-guide elements and underlying the gap.
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Abstract
Illumination surfaces according to the present invention eliminate or at least reduce linear “stitch” artifacts at edges between tiled illumination devices. As a result, light of substantially uniform intensity is emitted across the entire illumination system. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by reflecting, through the gaps between adjacent light-guide elements, light directed through the bottom surfaces of the elements.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A planar illumination device comprising:
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first and second light-guide elements each comprising an illumination surface, an opposed bottom surface, and a plurality of externally reflective side walls perpendicular to the illumination and bottom surfaces, the first and second light-guide elements being separated by a gap; and at least one mirror in opposition to the bottom surfaces of the light-guide elements and underlying the gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15)
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5. A planar illumination device comprising:
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first and second light-guide elements each comprising an illumination surface and an opposed bottom surface, the first and second light-guide elements being separated by a gap; at least one mirror in opposition to the bottom surfaces of the light-guide elements and underlying the gap; and a position changer for changing a position of the at least one mirror relative to the bottom surfaces of the light guide elements. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 12)
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18. A planar illumination device comprising:
first and second light-guide elements separated by a gap, each light-guide element comprising; an illumination surface; an opposed bottom surface; and an externally reflective side wall facing the gap. - View Dependent Claims (16, 19)
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20. A method of illumination comprising the steps of:
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providing first and second light-guide elements each comprising an illumination surface and an opposed bottom surface, the first and second light-guide elements being separated by a gap; providing at least one mirror in opposition to the bottom surfaces of the light-guide elements and underlying the gap; and changing a position of the at least one mirror relative to the bottom surfaces of the light guide elements in response to changes in a width of the gap. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification