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.