Abstract: A lighting system has one or more light guides capable of guiding light, each comprising a core and two optically smooth faces. A cavity adjacent to two of the optically smooth faces has an opening and a reflective-transmissive surface opposite the opening. A cover having a light source is proximate to and occludes the opening. A major portion of any light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflective-transmissive surface of the cavity and is injected into the light guides, and a minor portion of any light emitted by the light source is transmitted through the reflective-transmissive surfaces of the cavity and emitted from the lighting system. A light injection coupler is also disclosed that has an optically transmissive housing and suitable for use to couple ends of at least one light guide thereby making a lighting system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides backlight comprising a front reflector (102) and a back reflector (104) disposed to form a hollow light cavity (106) with a first light source (108) proximate one end of the front reflector (102) and having a tilt angle (110) of from 5° to 90°, and a first asymmetric light collimator (116) extending between at least the first light source (108) and the back reflector (104) for directing light from the first light source (108) into the hollow light cavity (106).

Abstract: A directly illuminated display unit includes a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. The light sources are capable of producing illumination light. A diffusive light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel. The light diverting layer comprises first light diverting elements disposed on one of a first side of the light diverting layer facing display panel and second light diverting elements disposed on a second side of the light diverting layer facing away from the display panel. The diffusive light diverting layer further comprises diffusing particles disposed within a polymeric matrix.

Abstract: Optical film stacks are disclosed. The optical film stacks can include a first reflective polarizer, a second reflective polarizer, and a retardance layer disposed between the first reflective polarizer and the second reflective polarizer.

Abstract: A backlight includes a lightguide, a light source disposed with respect to the lightguide to introduce light into the lightguide and a turning film. Optical structures are formed in one of an output surface and a back surface of the lightguide. The optical structures are arranged to extract light from the lightguide. A back reflector is disposed adjacent the back surface. The optical structures are formed to include a varying pattern arranged to mask non-uniformities in the output of the lightguide.

Abstract: An optical film for use in transparent displays, such as reflective LCDs. The optical film has three-dimensional, prismatic structures that reflect incoming light. The prismatic structures are configured so that the reflecting facets orient the reflected light in desired reflective light pattern. The pattern shape and intensity can be controlled by the shape and dimensions of the various reflecting facets. In one embodiment, the height of the prismatic structure varies along two dimensions of the structure.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is attached to the lower side of the LCD panel. Some, or all, of the light management layers may be attached together as a laminated stack of films. In some embodiments, the diffuser layer is formed with a recessed region on one side and another optical film positioned within the recessed region.

Abstract: A system for projecting changeable electronic content, such as video or digital still images, onto a curved surface. The system includes a housing, a reflector within the housing, and a projector. The housing has an exterior surface and an interior space. At least a portion of the exterior surface is a curved display surface capable of displaying electronic content projected upon it, and at least one portion of the exterior surface has an aperture through the exterior surface to the interior space. The projector is located proximate the aperture for projecting content through the aperture to the reflector. When the projector receives converted content and projects the converted content through the aperture to the reflector, the curved display surface displays the converted content undistorted to a viewer. The system can also provide for display of branded content on a product container having a shape corresponding with the brand.

Abstract: A system for projecting changeable electronic content, such as video or digital still images, onto a curved surface. The system includes a housing, a reflector within the housing, and a projector. The housing has an exterior surface and an interior space. At least a portion of the exterior surface is a curved display surface capable of displaying electronic content projected upon it, and at least one portion of the exterior surface has an aperture through the exterior surface to the interior space. The projector is located proximate the aperture for projecting content through the aperture to the reflector. When the projector receives converted content and projects the converted content through the aperture to the reflector, the curved display surface displays the converted content undistorted to a viewer. The system can also provide for display of branded content on a product container having a shape corresponding with the brand.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.

Abstract: In a directly-illuminated liquid crystal display (LCD), for example an LCD monitor or an LCD-TV, a number of light management films, including a diffuser layer, lie between the light source and the LCD panel to provide bright, uniform illumination. The diffuser layer is attached to a substrate which is separate from the light source and the LCD panel, or may be attached to either the LCD panel or, when using a two dimensional light source, to the light source. The other light management layers may also be attached to the separate substrate or to the LCD panel or two-dimensional light source. High levels of illumination uniformity at the LCD may be achieved with a uniform (non-patterned) diffuser, even with relatively low levels of diffusion, when the diffuser is used with a brightness enhancing layer.

Abstract: A lighting system has one or more light guides capable of guiding light, each comprising a core and two optically smooth faces. A cavity adjacent to two of the optically smooth faces has an opening and a reflective-transmissive surface opposite the opening. A cover having a light source is proximate to and occludes the opening. A major portion of any light emitted from the light source is reflected by the reflective-transmissive surface of the cavity and is injected into the light guides, and a minor portion of any light emitted by the light source is transmitted through the reflective-transmissive surfaces of the cavity and emitted from the lighting system. A light injection coupler is also disclosed that has an optically transmissive housing and suitable for use to couple ends of at least one light guide thereby making a lighting system.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.

Abstract: A backlight includes a light source and one or more light recycling films. The light source generates light that exits the light source with an angular exit distribution. The light recycling films are oriented in relation to the light source so that the prism peaks of the recycling films are oriented away from the light source. The recycling films have a range of optimal incident angles that allow light to pass through the recycling films without recycling. The components of the light source, the characteristics of the recycling films, or both, are configured to control the overlap between the exit distribution of the light source and the optimal incident angle range of the recycling films.

Abstract: An illumination light unit has at least one light source that generates illumination light. The unit also includes a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity. The controlled transmission mirror includes an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements. At least some of the illumination light is reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and is transmitted out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. The illumination light unit may be used for generating light for space lighting, or for illuminating a display. For example, the unit may be used in a backlight to illuminate a lightguide placed behind a display panel.

Abstract: An illumination light unit has at least one light source that generates illumination light. The unit also includes a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity. The controlled transmission mirror includes an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements. At least some of the illumination light is reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and is transmitted out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. The illumination light unit may be used for generating light for space lighting, or for illuminating a display. For example, the unit may be used in a backlight to illuminate a lightguide placed behind a display panel.

Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) array comprises an array of LEDs mounted to a substrate. The LEDs emit light in a direction generally perpendicular to the substrate. An optical sheet is disposed over the LEDs. At least a portion of light entering one side of the optical sheet from the LEDs is guided within the optical sheet in a direction generally parallel to the substrate. Light extraction features direct light from the optical sheet in a generally forward direction. Such an array is useful for several applications, including space lighting, direct information display and backlighting of liquid crystal displays. The light spreading effect of the optical sheet reduces the amount of black space between LED pixels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides backlight comprising a front reflector (102) and a back reflector (104) disposed to form a hollow light cavity (106) with a first light source (108) proximate one end of the front reflector (102) and having a tilt angle (110) of from 5° to 90°, and a first asymmetric light collimator (116) extending between at least the first light source (108) and the back reflector (104) for directing light from the first light source (108) into the hollow light cavity (106).

Abstract: A display system has a controlled transmission mirror disposed between the light sources and the display panel. The controlled transmission mirror includes a light-diverting input coupling element facing the light sources, a light-diverting output coupling element facing the display panel and a multilayer reflector between the input and output coupling elements. The controlled transmission mirror laterally spreads the light, making the illumination of the panel more uniform. The controlled transmission mirror may include a transparent substrate between the input and output coupling elements for additional light spreading. The light sources may be positioned within the controlled transmission mirror, rather than behind it. The output coupling element can be insensitive to polarization, so the light passing out of the controlled transmission mirror is unpolarized, or the output coupling element can be polarization sensitive so that the output light is polarized.

Abstract: A backlight (120) that includes a front reflector (130) and a back reflector (160) that form a hollow light recycling cavity (162) having an output surface (164) is disclosed. The front reflector includes at least four directional recycling films (132). The backlight also includes a semi-specular diffuser disposed between the front reflector and the back reflector, and one or more light sources (166) disposed to emit light into the light recycling cavity.