Front light devices and methods of fabrication thereof
First Claim
1. An illumination device comprising:
- a light guide having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guide;
a turning microstructure disposed on a first side of the light guide configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guide, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of indentations;
a cover physically coupled to the light guide and disposed over the turning microstructure;
an interlayer between the cover and the light guide, wherein the interlayer physically couples the cover to the light guide, wherein the interlayer comprises a surface energy of less than about 25 dynes/cm; and
a plurality of open regions between the interlayer and the plurality of indentations;
wherein the light guide has a first index of refraction and the interlayer has a second index of refraction and the second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A illumination device comprises a light guide having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guide. A turning microstructure is disposed on a first side of the light guide configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guide, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of indentations. A cover is physically coupled to the light guide and disposed over the turning microstructure. An interlayer is between the cover and the light guide, wherein the interlayer physically couples the cover to the light guide. A plurality of open regions is between the interlayer and the plurality of indentations. Various embodiments include methods of coupling the cover to the light guide while preserving open regions between the cover and plurality of indentations.
202 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An illumination device comprising:
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a light guide having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guide; a turning microstructure disposed on a first side of the light guide configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guide, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of indentations; a cover physically coupled to the light guide and disposed over the turning microstructure; an interlayer between the cover and the light guide, wherein the interlayer physically couples the cover to the light guide, wherein the interlayer comprises a surface energy of less than about 25 dynes/cm; and a plurality of open regions between the interlayer and the plurality of indentations; wherein the light guide has a first index of refraction and the interlayer has a second index of refraction and the second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of manufacturing an illumination device comprising:
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providing a light guide having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guide, said light guide having turning microstructure disposed on a first side thereof that is configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guide, wherein the turning microstructure comprises a plurality of indentations; providing a cover disposed over the turning microstructure; and physically to the light guide by an interlayer such that a plurality of open regions are between the interlayer and the plurality of indentations, wherein the interlayer comprises a surface energy of less than about 25 dynes/cm, and wherein the light guide has a first index of refraction and the interlayer has a second index of refraction and the second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An illumination device comprising:
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a means for guiding light having a first end for receiving light and configured to support propagation of light along the length of the light guiding means; a means for turning light disposed on a first side of the light guiding means configured to turn light incident on the first side and to direct the light out a second opposite side of the light guiding means, wherein the turning means comprises a plurality of means for reflecting light; a means for covering physically coupled to the light guiding means and disposed over the turning means; a means for physically coupling between the covering means and the light guiding means, wherein the coupling means physically couples the covering means to the light guiding means, and the coupling means comprises a surface energy of less than about 25 dynes/cm; and a plurality of open regions between the coupling means and the plurality of reflecting means; wherein the light guiding means has a first index of refraction and the coupling means has a second index of refraction and the second index of refraction is lower than the first index of refraction. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification