Abstract: An outdoor illuminated display panel assembly backlit by light emitting diodes (LEDs) edge-mounted on the panel assembly. A light pipe or light box distributes light from the LEDs evenly across the panel assembly. An energy management system adjusts battery charging rates and timing, turns LEDs on or off, and adjusts the luminous intensity of the LEDs to conserve battery power, if required. The display panel assembly may be self-supporting or a backmount system may be used to secure the illuminated display panel assembly to a post. Connections between the various parts of the assembly may be made so as to alleviate possible warping or breaking of the components. A solar panel may collect solar energy and a battery or super capacitor may store the collected solar energy so that the panel assembly may be illuminated irrespective of the light level incident on the solar panel.

Abstract: A fiber tail assembly (FTA) with a micro-lens formed in the fiber tip is used to couple the laser light out of the package and along the fiber. The FTA is soldered at two points where metallized bands are deposited on the fiber pigtail, one at a fiber mount near the diode where it can be soldered into alignment with the laser diode, and two at the snout which forms a feed through the housing and seal for the package. Typically, the FTA is metallized along its entire length within the package. In this invention the two-metallized bands are separated by a region that is unmetallized.