Patent · US Active

Manifold-type lightguide with reduced thickness

US7639918B2 · kind B2 · utility

36Cited by
50References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 2008
Grant dateDec 29, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S385/901
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A light guide includes a body having an elongate shape and a plurality of light-reflecting faces and light-emitting faces extending along the body. The light-reflecting faces extend in a stepped fashion along the body in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the light guide and are configured to reflect light rays by the principle of total internal reflection. Each light-emitting face is disposed along the body opposite a corresponding light-reflecting face. Each light-emitting face is configured to emit light reflected by the corresponding light-reflecting face. The light-emitting faces are also disposed on the body in a stepped fashion. Steps of the light-emitting faces correspond to steps of the light-reflecting faces. In another aspect, the light-reflecting faces are separated by stepped-down faces. The stepped-down faces are oriented at a stepped-down angle in the range of about 1 and 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the light guide.

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