Abstract: An article of manufacture includes first and second micro-features of well-defined shape. In some embodiments, the article of manufacture is a light guide or redirecting film and the second micro-features are micro-optical elements configured to disrupt a specular optical path that includes the second micro-optical element. In other embodiments, the article of manufacture is a patterning tool for use in making an optical substrate. Embodiments of the optical substrate are formed by injection molding or embossing using the patterning tool.

Abstract: Light redirecting film comprises a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of individual optical elements formed as projections on a light exit surface of the film. At least some of the projections comprise a dome-shaped surface on the light exit surface.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel having a light output surface and a light redirecting film located to receive light emitted from the light output surface. The light output surface has a non-uniform directional light output distribution. The light redirecting film has a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape that vary at different locations on the light redirecting film to redistribute the light received from the light output surface within a desired light ray angle distribution.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises light sources and a light emitting panel member having an input edge to which each of the light sources is optically coupled at a different location along the input edge. Different sets of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the same direction through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes an edge-lit light guide and a light redirecting member. Light extracting elements at the light guide extract light from the light guide as intermediate light. Light redirecting elements at the light redirecting film are configured to redirect the intermediate light received from the light guide to illuminate a target surface in accordance with a defined illumination profile.

Abstract: A lighting assembly has an edge-lit light guide having a light output surface through which light is extracted by light extracting optical elements. The extracted light has a maximum intensity at low light ray angles relative to the light output surface. A light redirecting member has an arrangement of light redirecting optical elements configured to redirect the extracted light incident thereon to provide a pattern of redirected light. A light focusing member has light focusing optical elements having an angular acceptance range. The redirected light has light ray angles within the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is perceived as a pattern of light. The extracted light not redirected by the light redirecting member has light ray angles outside the angular acceptance range of the light focusing optical elements and is not perceived, or is perceived as background light.

Abstract: A light emitting assembly comprises a light source and a light emitting panel member having a panel surface and an input edge for receiving light from the light source. On or in the panel surface is a pattern of individual light extracting deformities. Each of the deformities has a well defined shape and a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of the panel surface. At least some of the deformities have only two surfaces, each having opposite peripheral edge portions that intersect each other and intersect the panel surface. One of the surfaces of the deformities is substantially perpendicular to the panel surface and is curved in a transverse direction. The other surface of the deformities is a sloping surface.

Abstract: A lighting assembly includes a light guide having a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, a light input edge, and an end edge distal the light input edge. Light input to the light guide through the light input edge propagates by total internal reflection toward the end edge. The lighting assembly further includes light extracting elements at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the light extracting elements configured to extract light through the first major surface in a direction away from the light input edge and away from the first major surface, and a banding reduction element at the end edge configured to redirect light incident thereon in a direction away from the light input edge.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises light sources and a light emitting panel member having an input edge to which each of the light sources is optically coupled at a different location along the input edge. Different sets of individual optical deformities on or in at least one of the sides of the panel member each have at least one surface that is shaped or oriented to extract light propagating in the same direction through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

Abstract: A light emitting assembly comprises a light source and a light emitting panel member having a panel surface and an input edge for receiving light from the light source. On or in the panel surface is a pattern of individual light extracting deformities. Each of the deformities has a well defined shape and a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of the panel surface. At least some of the deformities have only two surfaces, each having opposite peripheral edge portions that intersect each other and intersect the panel surface. One of the surfaces of the deformities is substantially perpendicular to the panel surface and is curved in a transverse direction. The other surface of the deformities is a sloping surface.

Abstract: Optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and an input edge for receiving light from light sources optically coupled to a different location along the input edge. On or in at least one of the sides of the panel member is a pattern of individual optical deformities that are varied throughout the pattern and shaped or oriented throughout the pattern to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

Abstract: Optical assembly includes a generally planar light output surface located on a first major plane, and a generally planar second surface located on a second major plane approximately parallel to the first major plane and superimposed thereon. Both the light output surface and the second surface have respective first and second patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. The optical elements of the first pattern have an apex angle formed by a first sloped surface that is larger in an area closer to at least one light input edge of the optical assembly and smaller in another area further away from the light input edge.

Abstract: A light bulb has a light guide configured as a hollow body surrounding an internal volume. The light guide is open at its proximal and distal ends, and has inner and outer surfaces and an end surface at the proximal end that provides a light input edge. A solid-state light source is optically coupled to the light input edge of the light guide such that light from the solid-state light source travels in the light guide by total internal reflection. The solid-state light source is thermally coupled to a housing at the proximal end of the light guide. The housing contains vents for air flow and convection cooling through the internal volume. Light-extracting optical elements at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the light guide are for extracting light from the light guide.

Abstract: A method of forming a varying pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of an optical panel member involves cutting or forming a pattern or patterns of cavities in a cylindrical or curved substrate or in a sleeve or sleeve segment of the substrate that corresponds to a desired pattern and shape of optical elements to be formed on or in the optical member. The substrate or sleeve or sleeve segment containing the desired pattern or patterns of optical element shaped cavities or depositions or mirror copies or inverse copies thereof is used in production tooling or as a master for production tooling to form the corresponding pattern of optical elements on or in at least the one side of the optical panel member.

Abstract: An optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel having a light output surface and a light redirecting film located to receive light emitted from the light output surface. The light output surface has a non-uniform directional light output distribution. The light redirecting film has a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape that vary at different locations on the light redirecting film to redistribute the light received from the light output surface within a desired light ray angle distribution.

Abstract: Light redirecting film systems comprise a backlight having deformities that cause a majority of the light entering the input edge of the backlight to be emitted from a light output surface of the backlight. In close proximity to the light output surface is a light redirecting film that has a pattern of individual optical elements of well-defined shape to redistribute the light emitted by the light output surface toward a direction normal to the film.

Abstract: Optical assembly comprises a light emitting panel member having opposite sides and an input edge for receiving light from light sources optically coupled to a different location along the input edge. On or in at least one of the sides of the panel member is a pattern of individual optical deformities that are varied throughout the pattern and shaped or oriented throughout the pattern to extract light propagating through the panel member in different directions for viewing from different angles through one of the sides of the panel member.

Abstract: Optical assembly includes a light source adjacent a light input edge and generally parallel and planar first and second surfaces each comprising respective patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. At least some of the optical elements of each pattern include a respective sloped surface for directing at least some light emitted from the light source. The respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of one of the patterns is different from the respective slope angle of the sloped surface of at least some of the optical elements of the other pattern such that more of the light is emitted from one of the surfaces than is emitted from the other surface.

Abstract: Optical assembly includes a light emitting panel member having at least one light input area for receiving light from two or more different colored light sources. A pattern of individual optical deformities on or in at least one surface area of the panel member contains at least two different configurations of optical deformities to promote color mixing within the panel member and cause light of a preferred color to be emitted therefrom.

Abstract: A method of forming a varying pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of an optical panel member involves cutting or forming a pattern or patterns of cavities in a cylindrical or curved substrate or in a sleeve or sleeve segment of the substrate that corresponds to a desired pattern and shape of optical elements to be formed on or in the optical member. The substrate or sleeve or sleeve segment containing the desired pattern or patterns of optical element shaped cavities or depositions or mirror copies or inverse copies thereof is used in production tooling or as a master for production tooling to form the corresponding pattern of optical elements on or in at least the one side of the optical panel member.