Patent · US Expired

Edge-lit illumination system

US6568821B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2000
Grant dateMay 27, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/0065
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An edge-lit illumination system comprising a light transmitting sheet (10) which has a surface treatment, capable of reflecting or scattering light, on at least one of its opposing surfaces (11, 12), a light source (13) positioned in proximity to, and adjacent to, an edge of this sheet, and a reflective surface (14) positioned adjacent to an edge of the sheet, at an obtuse angle (18) to the plane of the sheet and extending away from one surface of the sheet. The reflective surface is preferably disposed adjacent to the edge of the light transmitting sheet having the light source adjacent to it. The obtuse angle preferably ranges from 100 to 145 degrees. This invention gives an increase in the area of illumination across the light transmitting sheet.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.