Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide and a light source. The light guide has opposed major surfaces and side surfaces extending between the major surfaces. The light source is at an apex region between two side surfaces and is configured to input light to the light guide. The side surfaces comprise a stepped reflective side surface extending from the apex region and comprising a first reflective step and a second reflective step, and an output side surface extending from the apex region and comprising a first output region and a second output region. The first reflective step is configured to reflect a first portion of input light through the first output region. The second step is configured to reflect a second portion of input light through the second output region. The second output region comprises segments oriented nominally normal to the reflected second portion of the light incident thereon.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light engine and a light guide. The light engine edge lights the light guide and includes a control assembly that controls light output according to one or more parameters to produce light output from the lighting assembly with a desired characteristic. Lighting assemblies are combined to form a modular lighting assembly.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection and a light input edge. The light assembly also includes a light engine. The light engine has a heat conductive armature having a receptacle for a portion of the light guide that includes the light input edge and a light source retained by and thermally coupled to the armature. The armature functions as a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the light source. The light guide is mechanically retained in the receptacle, and the light guide and the armature cooperate to align the light input edge with the light source for inputting light from the light source into the light guide through the light input edge.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide and light source. The light guide includes light input regions, at least one of the light input regions associated with an optical modifying characteristic, and the light guide is configured to propagate light by total internal reflection. The light source is located adjacent the light input regions. The light source and light input regions are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location at which light is incident on the light input regions such that light emitted from the light source is selectively apportioned between the light input regions. A characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical modifying characteristic of the at least one of the light input regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light input regions.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics and at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.

Abstract: A light bulb includes a base, light guide, and light source. The base is configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power. The light guide includes light input regions, at least one of the light input regions associated with an optical modifying characteristic, the light guide configured to propagate light by total internal reflection. The light source is located adjacent the light input regions. The light source and light input regions are variably positionable relative to one another to vary location at which light is incident on the light input regions such that light emitted from the light source is selectively apportioned between the light input regions. A characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical modifying characteristic of the at least one of the light input regions and the relative positioning of the light source and light input regions.

Abstract: A light bulb includes a base; a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces; and a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which light is input to the light guide such that light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.

Abstract: A light source includes a light emitting device that emits light, and a spectrum adjuster that is positionable relative a light path of the light emitted by the light emitting device. The spectrum adjuster includes a region of continuously-variable spectrum adjusting material, usable for adjusting the spectrum of light passing through the spectrum adjuster. The variable spectrum adjusting material may be color-attenuating material, such as a filtering material, or may be wavelength-shifting material, such as a phosphor. The light source has adjustable spectrum of its output light depending upon the relative positioning of the light emitting device and the spectrum adjuster.

Abstract: A light bulb includes a base, a light source and a light guide having opposed major surfaces and a light input edge that receives light from the light source, the light propagating along the light guide by total internal reflection and the light guide including a light output region on one of the major surfaces. An optical adjuster has a first region having a light modifying characteristic and a second region. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region, the light apportioned to the first region being modified by the light modifying characteristic thereof so that light output from the light bulb is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide to propagate light by total internal reflection and having a light output region on a major surface thereof. The lighting assembly also includes an optical adjuster having a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the light guide's major surface. The optical adjuster has a first region and a second region, the first region having a light modifying characteristic. The optical adjuster and light output region are variably positionable relative to one another to selectively apportion light emitted from the light output region between the first region and the second region. In this way, light apportioned to the first region is modified by the light modifying characteristic so that light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on relative positioning of the optical adjuster and the light guide.

Abstract: A light bulb includes a base for mechanically mounting the light bulb and for receiving electrical power, a light guide, and a light source that directs output light into the light guide. The light source includes a light emitting device that emits light, and a variable spectrum adjuster that is variably positionable relative the light path of light emitted by the light emitting device. The spectrum adjuster includes a region of continuously-variable spectrum-adjusting material, usable for adjusting the spectrum of light passing through the spectrum adjuster. In some embodiments, the spectrum adjusting material is a color-attenuating material, such as a filtering material. In other embodiments, the spectrum-adjusting material is a wavelength-shifting material, such as a phosphor, or another suitable type of material that shifts the wavelength of light incident.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus (500) including a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel (502), a light emitting assembly (501) arranged to illuminate the LCD panel, and a light conditioning element (510) between the light emitting assembly and the LCD panel. The light emitting assembly includes a planar optical conductor (158) characterized by a length and a width. The optical conductor has a light input surface (225), light transmission control elements (151) and well defined light extracting optical elements (157) configured to redirect light received at the light input surface out from the optical conductor. The light transmission control elements divide the optical conductor into independently operable light emitting regions (152). An LED light source (156) is optically coupled to each of the light emitting regions adjacent the light input surface of the optical conductor. Each LED light source is small relative to the length and width of the optical conductor.

Abstract: The attenuation of light per unit length in a waveguide as a result of active pixels (i.e., open pixels) may be corrected or mitigated by injecting apodized light into the waveguide. A light injection system and method is provided to enhance the luminous uniformity of the active pixels in a waveguide-based display. Embodiments of the present invention include a slab waveguide having a first edge and a second edge that intersect at a vertex, a first light source disposed along the first edge, and a second light source disposed along the second edge. The first light source, or the second light source, or both, comprises an apodized light source.

Abstract: A light emitting assembly has a LED light source illuminated optical conductor having a pattern of well defined light extracting optical elements configured to redirect light from an LED light source out from the optical conductor. The optical elements are additionally configured to define elongate higher brightness regions on the major surface of the optical conductor, and a lower brightness region outside of the higher brightness regions.

Abstract: Images are displayed in response to a video signal using a light emitting assembly having one or more optically transmissive substrates, films or sheets, each having at least one pattern of optical elements on or in the substrates, films or sheets. A plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate one or more output areas of one or more of the substrates, films or sheets. The light emitting assembly is configured to emit light through the pattern of optical elements and produce a predetermined luminance profile of the light emitting assembly. At least one of the light sources is dimmed or boosted in response to an input video signal while operating a liquid crystal display as a light valve to illuminate the liquid crystal display by the light emitting assembly.

Abstract: Devices for generating a vapor jet from a source liquid comprise a capillary force vaporizer and a condensation controller. Generally, a capillary force vaporizer comprises a porous vaporizer having capillary-sized pores, an enclosure and a vapor egress orifice. The capillary force vaporizer forms a vapor jet from unpressurized liquid by heating the liquid to vaporization in a substantially confined volume. Vapor output from the liquid vaporization section enters the condensation controller, which may be configured to prevent the condensation of vapor or promote the controlled formation of fine liquid droplets, which are generally less than about 100 ?m diameter. The condensation controller may be maintained at a predetermined temperature. Alternatively, ambient air or other external gases may be introduced into the condensation controller. Various architectures for the vapor condensation controller are disclosed.

Abstract: A micromirror device comprises a reflective element that is supported by at least 1 support wall. Support walls are designed for providing devices with improved mechanical and optical performance. Support walls are supported by a deformable element. The deformable element may be a torsion hinge. The deformable element may be supported by support structures that are designed to limit the deflection of the reflective element. An array of micromirror devices may be used as a spatial light modulator (SLM). Methods of fabricating micromirror arrays comprise the steps of: 1) providing a three-layer substrate, comprising a crystalline layer, a sacrificial layer, and a base layer, with the sacrificial layer being disposed between the crystalline layer and the base layer; 2) forming a deformable element in the crystalline layer; 3) forming support structures for the deformable element; and 4) forming electronic circuits on the base layer.

Abstract: Hybrid inorganic light emitting device/luminescent polymer light-emitting sources for efficient and cost effective white lighting and for full-color applications and their manufacture are disclosed. The hybrid light sources include an inorganic light-emitting source such as a p-n junction diode-containing device capable of emitting a first emitted output of light and a photoluminescent polymer element positioned in the first emitted output of light, the polymer being selected to be capable of being pumped by a first portion of the first emitted output of light and when so pumped of emitting a second emitted output of light which is emitted from the device with that portion of the first emitted output remaining beyond the first portion.

Abstract: Solid state lasers based upon conjugated polymers are disclosed. A conjugated polymer useful in the practice of this invention is a conjugated polymer which has a ground state and an excited state and which, in the form of a nondiluted thin film, meets the criteria of;i. having a strong absorption in the ground state with an absorption coefficient of at least about 10.sup.4 cm.sup.-1 and an absorption depth not greater than about 1 .mu.m,ii. having an efficient luminescence emission from the excited state; this emission being shifted to lower energy relative to the ground state absorption, andiii. providing stimulated emission which is not overwhelmed by photoinduced absorption, such that the thin film exhibits gain narrowing and amplified spontaneous emission. These conjugated polymers have gain lengths in the micron or even sub-micron regime and therefore exhibit laser action with low pumping threshold as thin solid films with thicknesses in the micron or even sub-micron regime.

Abstract: An optical device according to this invention includes a phase modulating optical unit comprising a plurality of optically transparent base members each of which includes an optically transparent electrode and an alignment film formed in this order, and an optically transparent birefringent medium, wherein the optically transparent base members are spaced from one another at predetermined intervals so that the electrode and the alignment film of a base member is confronted to the electrode and the alignment film of another base member, and at least one kind of liquid crystal selected from the group consisting of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), antiferroelectric liquid crystal (AFLC) and smectic liquid crystal having an electro clinic effect (SmA) (or mixed liquid crystals thereof) is injected into gaps between the base members.