Abstract: A light emitting panel, film or substrate assembly includes an optically conductive panel, film or substrate having at least one light input surface defined by at least one edge of a slot, cavity, opening or hole in which at least one LED light source having a greater width than height is positioned adjacent to the light input surface for directing light into the panel, film or substrate. The LED light source is configured to generate light having an output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component, the height component substantially corresponding to or less than the thickness of the light input surface.

Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include an optical panel member having a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one or both sides to cause light to be emitted in a predetermined output distribution. The pattern of light extracting deformities on or in one side may have two or more different types or shapes of deformities and at least one of the types or shapes may vary along the length or width of the panel member. Where the light extracting deformities are on or in both sides, at least some of the deformities on or in one side may be of a different type or shape or vary in a different way or manner than the deformities on or in the other side.

Abstract: Edge lit light emitting assembly includes a panel member having a light input surface at one end of a greater width than thickness and an array of LEDs positioned in close proximity to the light input surface that emit light out of the side of the LEDs closest to the light input surface. At least one reflector around one or more of the LEDs collects light emitted by the LEDs and is shaped to reflect and focus the light at an acceptable angle for entering the light input surface, the focused light being shaped to have a greater cross-sectional width than height corresponding to the width and thickness of the light input surface.

Abstract: Light emitting panel assembly includes an optically conductive panel member having at least one input surface and a greater cross-sectional width than thickness, and at least one light transition emitter having a light emitting surface in close proximity to the light input surface. The light emitting surface has an output distribution defined by a greater width component than height component, a thickness equal to or less than the thickness of the panel member and a greater width than thickness in the width direction of the panel member. A reflector extends around the light source and is shaped to reflect and focus the light emitted from the light source at an acceptable angle for entering the light source.

Abstract: The transreflectors may comprise a transparent substrate having reflective surfaces and other light transmissive surfaces for respectively reflecting and transmitting a greater portion of the light striking opposite sides of the substrate. Alternatively, the transreflectors may comprise two or more transparent substrates of different indices of refraction bonded together, with a pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of one of the substrates and an inverse pattern of optical deformities in the mating side of an other substrate in mating engagement with each other. The transreflectors are used in a transreflector system or display to transmit more of the light emitted by a backlight or other light source incident on one side of the transreflectors and reflect more of the light incident on the opposite side of the transreflectors. The transreflectors and backlight may be tuned to each other to enable the transreflectors to better transmit more of the light emitted by the backlight.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a transparent light emitting panel member having two or more separate parts or modular components each having at least one side edge or end edge facing each other and in close proximity to one another. One or both sides of one or more of the parts or components has a pattern of light extracting deformities for providing a desired light output distribution from the panel member.

Abstract: Light emitting assembly includes at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned between a light source and a display for redirecting at least some of the light emitted by the light source. One side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate may have a pattern of reflective or refractive surfaces or deformities and the other side may have corresponding or aligned optical deformities of well defined shape. Light emitted from the light source that strikes a reflective or refractive surface or deformity on the one side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate passes through the film, sheet, plate or substrate and is redirected by at least one corresponding optical deformity on the other side of the film, sheet, plate or substrate.

Abstract: Light emitting panel assembly includes a light emitting panel member received in a cavity or recess in a tray or housing. The panel member has a pattern of light extracting deformities on or in at least one surface of the panel member to cause light received from at least one LED light source positioned near or against the light entrance surface of the panel member to be emitted from a light emitting surface of the panel member. The tray or housing acts as an end edge and/or side edge reflector for the panel member to reflect light that would otherwise exit the panel member through the end edge and/or side edge back into the panel member for causing additional light to be emitted from the panel member.

Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include a light emitting panel member having at least one light source optically coupled to a portion of an input edge of the panel member. A plurality of individual light extracting deformities on or in at least one panel surface of the panel member are of well defined shape and have a length and width substantially smaller than the length and width of the panel surface. At least some of the deformities have at least one surface that is angled at different orientations relative to the input edge depending on the location of the deformities on the panel surface to face a portion of the input edge to which a light source is optically coupled.

Abstract: Light emitting panel assemblies include a light guide having a pattern of individual deformities of well defined shape that are projections or depressions on or in at least one side of the light guide. At least some of the deformities are quite small in relation to the width and length of the light guide and have two or more surfaces that come together to form ridges. At least some of the ridges are nonlinear over a majority of their length and have opposite end points that intersect the light guide or other deformities where the ridges end.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a generally planar optical conductor having at least one input edge with a greater cross-sectional width than thickness and at least one light source having a light output distribution with a greater width component than height component positioned adjacent to the input edge for directing light into the optical conductor and emission of the light from at least one output region of the optical conductor. A transition region is disposed between the light source and output region that is configured to spread and transmit the light by the light source to the output region. A plurality of faceted surfaces in close proximity to the light source maximize or otherwise change the light emitted from the light source.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a tray that forms a cavity or recess containing one or more light sources. A sheet, film or substrate is positioned over the cavity or recess for controlling the light emitted from the assembly. The tray acts as a back, side or edge reflector, and has one or more secondary reflective or refractive surfaces.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a light emitting panel member having at least one light source positioned, embedded, potted, bonded or otherwise mounted in a shaped slot, cavity, recess, opening or hole in the panel member. Deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member. At least one angled, faceted or curved reflective or refractive surface in close proximity to the light source redirects some of the light to fit a particular application.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light redirecting polymeric film comprising a plurality of polymeric individual optical elements wherein the elements comprise curved wedge shaped features in the plane of the film, having a length in the range of 800 to 4000 micrometers.

Abstract: The light redirecting films include a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of non-interlocking individual optical elements oriented and placed to produce a desired surface coverage of at least one of the surfaces of the transparent substrate of the transparent substrate occupied by the optical elements. At least some of the optical elements may have at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface that may intersect each other to a greater extent on the curved surface than on the flat surface to increase the relative percentage of flat surface area to curved surface area of the intersecting optical elements to increase the on axis gain of light passing through the film.

Abstract: Light redirecting films and film systems include a thin optically transparent substrate having a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape on or in the substrate. At least some of the optical elements may vary at different locations on the substrate to redistribute or redirect light passing through the substrate.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a light emitting panel assembly having a light transition area for receiving light from at least one light source, and at least one angled or curved reflective or refractive surface at the junction between the transition area and the panel member that causes at least some of the light in the transition area to reflect or refract. A pattern of light extracting deformities on at least one surface of the panel member may vary to cause light to be emitted from the panel member in a desired light output distribution.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include a panel member having two or more light sources, and at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate positioned in close proximity to the panel member with an air gap or cavity therebetween. Deformities on at least one surface of the panel member cause light from the light sources that mixes in the panel member to emit from the panel member. The air gap or cavity and the film, sheet, plate or substrate improve the uniformity of the light output distribution from the assembly.

Abstract: Optical assemblies include a light emitter having at least one layer of a transparent film, sheet or plate through which light emitted by the light emitter passes. A pattern of deformities of well defined shape on or in at least one side of the film, sheet or plate control an output ray angle distribution of light emitted by the assemblies to suit a particular application. The film, sheet or plate causes a change in color or color correction in the light emitted by the assemblies.

Abstract: Light emitting assemblies include at least one light source and at least one film, sheet, plate or substrate having optical elements or deformities of well defined shape on at least one surface that have reflective or refractive surfaces for controlling the light output ray angle distribution of the emitted light. The film, sheet, plate or substrate may be positioned near the light emitting surface of a light emitting panel member with an air gap therebetween or over a cavity or recess in a tray through which light from a light source in the cavity or recess is emitted.