LIGHT BAR INCLUDING TURNING MICROSTRUCTURES AND CONTOURED BACK REFLECTOR
First Claim
1. An illumination apparatus comprising:
- a light bar having a first end for receiving light from a light source, said light bar comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light bar;
a plurality of indentations in the light bar on a first side of the light bar, the indentations configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light incident on the first side and to direct said portion of light out a second opposite side of the light bar, said indentations including sloping sidewalls that reflect light by total internal reflection out said second opposite side of the light bar;
at least one contoured reflective surface comprising a plurality of protruding surface portions, said protruding surface portions reflecting light transmitted through said sloping sidewalls; and
a gap between the light bar and the at least one contoured reflective surface, wherein said protruding surface portions penetrate into said indentations.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination apparatus includes a light bar, a plurality of indentations in the light bar on a first side of the light bar, and a contoured reflective surface including a plurality of protruding surface portions, such that the surface portions reflect light transmitted through sloping sidewalls of the indentations. The light bar has a first end for receiving light from a light source. The light bar includes material that supports propagation of the light along the length of the light bar. The turning microstructure is configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light incident on the first side and to direct the portion of light out the second opposite side of the light bar. The protrusions on the contoured reflective surface and the indentations on the light bar can have complimentary shapes and/or aligned in certain embodiments.
50 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An illumination apparatus comprising:
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a light bar having a first end for receiving light from a light source, said light bar comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light bar; a plurality of indentations in the light bar on a first side of the light bar, the indentations configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light incident on the first side and to direct said portion of light out a second opposite side of the light bar, said indentations including sloping sidewalls that reflect light by total internal reflection out said second opposite side of the light bar; at least one contoured reflective surface comprising a plurality of protruding surface portions, said protruding surface portions reflecting light transmitted through said sloping sidewalls; and a gap between the light bar and the at least one contoured reflective surface, wherein said protruding surface portions penetrate into said indentations. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing an illumination apparatus, comprising:
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providing a light bar having a first end for receiving light from a light source, said light bar comprising material that supports propagation of said light along the length of the light bar; providing a plurality of indentations in the light bar on a first side of the light bar, the indentations configured to turn at least a substantial portion of the light out a second opposite side of the light bar, said indentations including sloping sidewalls that reflect light by total internal reflection out said second opposite side of the light bar; and disposing at least one contoured reflective surface comprising a plurality of protruding surface portions such that said protruding surface portions of said contoured reflective surface penetrate into said indentations on said light bar, said protruding surface portions reflecting light transmitted through said sloping sidewalls; and including a gap between the light bar and the at least one contoured reflective surface.
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42. An illumination apparatus comprising:
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means for supporting propagation of said light along the length of said propagation supporting means, said light propagation supporting means including means for receiving light from a means of producing light; means for turning light incident on a first side of the propagation supporting means and directing said portion of light out a second opposite side of said propagation supporting means, said turning means disposed on the first side of said propagation supporting means, said turning means comprising first means for deflecting light that reflects light by total internal reflection out said second opposite side of the propagation supporting means; and means for reflecting light comprising a second means for deflecting light, said second light deflecting means reflecting light transmitted through said first light deflecting means, said second light deflecting means penetrating into said means for turning light; and means for propagating light between the means for turning light and the reflecting means.
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Specification