Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film with a glass core layer and a thickness less than 0.5 millimeters, a plurality of strips extending from a lightguide region forming a light input surface, a light emitting region, and a light source positioned to emit light into the light input surface. In one embodiment, the light emitting device comprises a cladding layer optically coupled to the glass core layer. In one embodiment, a largest dimension of the light emitting region in a plane comprising the light emitting region divided by an average thickness of the glass core layer in the light emitting region is greater than 500. The light source may comprise a peak wavelength between 350 nanometers and 400 nanometers or between 800 nanometers and 1200 nanometers. The glass core layer may be a borosilicate glass.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film with a glass core layer and a thickness less than 0.5 millimeters, a plurality of strips extending from a lightguide region forming a light input surface, a light emitting region, and a light source positioned to emit light into the light input surface. In one embodiment, the light emitting device comprises a cladding layer optically coupled to the glass core layer. In one embodiment, a largest dimension of the light emitting region in a plane comprising the light emitting region divided by an average thickness of the glass core layer in the light emitting region is greater than 500. The light source may comprise a peak wavelength between 350 nanometers and 400 nanometers or between 800 nanometers and 1200 nanometers. The glass core layer may be a borosilicate glass.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film, a plurality of strips of the film extended from a lightguide region of the film, each strip is folded and stacked such that the strips of the plurality of strips are parallel to each other and ends of the strips of the plurality of strips define a light input surface, light extraction features defining a light emitting region of the film, and at least one light source emitting light into the light input surface, the light propagating through the strips and the lightguide region by total internal reflection where it is directed by the light extraction features to emit a first light flux and the light from the at least one light source has an average light flux density in a cross-section of the light emitting region of the film greater than 100 lumens per square millimeter.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a lightguide formed from a film, a plurality of strips of the film extended from a lightguide region of the film, each strip is folded and stacked such that the strips of the plurality of strips are parallel to each other and ends of the strips of the plurality of strips define a light input surface, light extraction features defining a light emitting region of the film, and at least one light source emitting light into the light input surface, the light propagating through the strips and the lightguide region by total internal reflection where it is directed by the light extraction features to emit a first light flux and the light from the at least one light source has an average light flux density in a cross-section of the light emitting region of the film greater than 100 lumens per square millimeter.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light fixture for illuminating an environment below a ceiling tile comprises a lightguide formed from a film including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining one or more light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. In another aspect a region of the film between the one or more light emitting regions and the strips comprises a bend or fold such that when the film is positioned between the ceiling tile and a ceiling tile rail support with the one or more light emitting regions of the film positioned below the ceiling tile, the at least one light source is positioned above the ceiling tile or above the ceiling tile rail support.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light fixture for illuminating an environment below a ceiling tile comprises a lightguide formed from a film including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining one or more light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. In another aspect a region of the film between the one or more light emitting regions and the strips comprises a bend or fold such that when the film is positioned between the ceiling tile and a ceiling tile rail support with the one or more light emitting regions of the film positioned below the ceiling tile, the at least one light source is positioned above the ceiling tile or above the ceiling tile rail support.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a film-based lightguide including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. The light emitting device may include a light reflecting layer physically coupled to the light emitting device, laminated to a layer of the film, or printed onto a layer of the film proximate the light emitting region of the film. The light emitting device may also include a fastener configured to attach the light emitting device to a wall or ceiling.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a film-based lightguide including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. The light emitting device may include a light reflecting layer physically coupled to the light emitting device, laminated to a layer of the film, or printed onto a layer of the film proximate the light emitting region of the film. The light emitting device may also include a fastener configured to attach the light emitting device to a wall or ceiling.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a film-based lightguide including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. In one aspect, a flux of light emitted in a first direction by the light extracting features is greater than 70% of a total flux emitted from the light emitting regions, the light emitting regions have an average luminous transmittance greater than 70%, and the outermost surface of the device has an ASTM D523-89 60 degree gloss less than 50 gloss units. In one aspect, the device is a light fixture and the color of the object, such as a wall or ceiling, behind the film is unchanged when looking through the film.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light emitting device comprises a film-based lightguide including folded and stacked strips extending from a lightguide region of the film. In one aspect, the film comprises light extracting features defining light emitting regions that extract light from at least one light source positioned to emit light into the stacked end of strips. In one aspect, a flux of light emitted in a first direction by the light extracting features is greater than 70% of a total flux emitted from the light emitting regions, the light emitting regions have an average luminous transmittance greater than 70%, and the outermost surface of the device has an ASTM D523-89 60 degree gloss less than 50 gloss units. In one aspect, the device is a light fixture and the color of the object, such as a wall or ceiling, behind the film is unchanged when looking through the film.

Abstract: A lightguide includes a film including a body having a light emitting region and a light mixing region adjacent the light emitting region. A first bend with a first diameter in a first plane is formed in the film within the light mixing region, wherein a first portion of the light mixing region is positioned behind the light emitting region. A second bend is formed in the film within the light mixing region.

Abstract: A directional front illumination device includes a film-based lightguide, a plurality of strips of the film extended from a lightguide region of the film along one side of the film with the strips folded and stacked such that they are parallel to each other with their ends forming a light input surface, and light extraction features defining a light emitting region of the film where the light emitting region has a high optical clarity and greater than 90% of the flux is emitted in a first direction toward an object. In one embodiment, the optical clarity of the light emitting region is greater than 70%. In another embodiment, the light extraction features have a fill-factor area percentage less than 20%.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lightguide includes cutting into a first region of a film using a first cutting process with a first cutting device to form a plurality of slits in the film defining lateral edges for each of a plurality of coupling lightguides extending from a body of a film, and cutting in a second region of the film different than the first region using a second cutting process different than the first cutting process with a second cutting device.

Abstract: A device disclosed herein includes a component having a frame and an array of protruding teeth extending from the frame. Each tooth of the array of protruding teeth has an angled edge. The device also includes a lightguide formed from a film. The lightguide includes an array of strips extending from an area of the film. The array of strips is positioned adjacent the array of protruding teeth, and the component at least partially restrains the film when each strip of the array of strips is folded across an angled edge of a corresponding tooth of the array of protruding teeth.

Abstract: An optically redundant light emitting device includes a light transmitting film comprising an array of coupling lightguides extending from a light emitting area defined within the light transmitting film. Each coupling lightguide is bent to form a stacked array of coupling lightguides. A first group of light sources comprising at least one light source is positioned to emit light into the stacked array of coupling lightguides, and a second group of light sources comprising at least one light source is positioned to emit light into the stacked array of coupling lightguides. A first optical path of the light emitted from the first group of light sources overlaps with a second optical path of the light from the second group of light sources in each coupling lightguide.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a light emitting device comprises an array of legs extending from a body of film with the bounding edges of the legs stacked, a first light source emitting light of a first color and a second light source emitting light of a second color into the stacked bounding edges where the light emitting region defined within the body is configured to extract light of a third color. In another embodiment, a light emitting device comprises three light sources positioned to direct light into a stacked array of bounding edges. In one embodiment, a method of generating light of adjustable color exiting a surface of a film is disclosed.

Abstract: A solar energy system for collecting light includes at least one stretchable lightguide film configured to optically couple light into a lightguide condition in the at least one stretchable lightguide film. Also disclosed is a method for collecting light with a lightguide film that includes stretching or contracting the lightguide film having one or more coupling features to optically couple light into the lightguide film.

Abstract: A flexible translucent sheet is folded to have portions of its bounding edge closely situated in overlapping relationship, and these overlapping portions are illuminated by a light source. The illumination is transmitted through the interior of the sheet to any adjacent unfolded area of the sheet, which may bear emission areas which are treated so that the light emits from the sheet at these areas. Preferred versions of the invention have a series of legs cut into one edge of the sheet, and the legs are then bundled in stacked relationship, with a light source providing light input into the bundle.

Abstract: A lightguide includes a plurality of coupling lightguides extending from a body of film. The plurality of coupling lightguides are folded and arranged in a stack, wherein a region of the film is wrapped around at least one side of the stack of the plurality of coupling lightguides.

Abstract: A device includes a film-based lightguide and a film adjustment mechanism configurable to adjust an orientation of a region of the film-based lightguide such that an angular light output profile from the device changes when a light source emits light that travels in a waveguide condition through the film-based lightguide.