Light-guide apparatus
First Claim
1. A light-guide apparatus comprising a light-guide plate for guiding light rays and a plurality of light extraction features, each light extraction feature comprising a transparent, textured ink that has been applied to the light-guide plate and that has an uneven, irregular exterior surface comprising at least one randomly sized and shaped micro lens-like element, wherein light rays incident upon the uneven exterior surface of the light extraction feature are refracted out of the uneven exterior surface of the transparent textured ink.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light-guide apparatus comprising a light-guide plate for guiding light rays and a plurality of light extraction features is described. The light extraction features comprise a transparent material applied to the light-guide plate so as to form an uneven surface. The transparent material may comprise a textured ink applied to the surface of the light-guide plate via a printing process. The incorporation of an uneven surface provides micro-lens like elements on the surface of the extraction feature which have a higher aspect ratio and so lend themselves to the refraction of the light out of the light-guide plate. In this way a device is produced wherein the size, height, location and surface profile of the extraction features can be carefully controlled. As a result the described light-guide apparatus provides for a highly efficient and relatively uniform light output.
23 Citations
29 Claims
- 1. A light-guide apparatus comprising a light-guide plate for guiding light rays and a plurality of light extraction features, each light extraction feature comprising a transparent, textured ink that has been applied to the light-guide plate and that has an uneven, irregular exterior surface comprising at least one randomly sized and shaped micro lens-like element, wherein light rays incident upon the uneven exterior surface of the light extraction feature are refracted out of the uneven exterior surface of the transparent textured ink.
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21. A method of manufacturing a light-guide apparatus having one or more light extraction features comprising the steps of:
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printing a transparent ink onto a surface of a light-guide so as to define the position of the one or more light extraction features; and drying or curing the transparent ink to form light extraction features, wherein the drying or curing of the transparent ink causes an exterior surface of each light extraction feature to become uneven and irregular and to include at least one randomly sized and shaped micro lens-like element, wherein light rays passing through the light extraction features that are incident upon the uneven, irregular exterior surface are refracted out of the light extraction feature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification